18 November 2025 - The European Commission has officially opened the Erasmus+ European Universities Call 2026, allocating €145.6 million to support existing transnational university alliances across Europe.
This call provides two years of bridge funding to ensure continuity until the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).
🔍 What Is the European Universities Initiative?
The European Universities Initiative brings together higher education institutions across the EU to form long-term alliances.
Their goal: build integrated transnational campuses where students, researchers and staff can study, train and collaborate seamlessly across borders.
The 2026 call continues this mission by strengthening cooperation already achieved within these alliances.
💡 Key Details of the 2026 Call
Budget & Duration
€145.6 million total
24 months of funding (bridge support)
Who Can Apply?
Alliances funded under the 2022 Erasmus+ call
Other existing, formalised transnational alliances of universities
Participation remains open to institutions from Western Balkans countries as full beneficiaries
What the Funding Supports
The call focuses on delivering tangible, scalable activities such as:
expanding successful joint programmes and initiatives,
strengthening long-term institutional cooperation,
increasing mobility opportunities for students and academic staff,
mainstreaming best practices across all partner universities.
The strategic aim is to ensure that alliances maintain development momentum before the next EU budget period begins.
🏅 Seal of Excellence
Proposals that score above 80 points but cannot be funded due to budget limitations will receive a Seal of Excellence.
This distinction confirms the proposal’s high quality and helps institutions seek alternative national funding sources.
📅 Important Dates
Call opened: 18 November 2025
Online info session:
27 November 2025, 10:00–13:00 CET
Hosted by DG EAC and the EACEA
Topics include: policy context, call objectives, and guidance for preparing high-quality proposals.
No registration required.
Full details and application materials are available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.
🎓 Why This Matters
The European Universities alliances are shaping the next phase of higher education in the EU by:
improving academic mobility,
building unified study pathways across countries,
enhancing research collaboration,
and strengthening Europe’s global position in education.
For students, these alliances translate into more opportunities, more flexible study routes, and access to diverse European campuses within a single programme framework.
Source: European Education Area – European Commission
Erasmus+ European Universities Call 2026
(Published 18 November 2025)
👉 https://education.ec.europa.eu/whats-new/erasmus-european-universities-call-2026-opens