A practical, step-by-step guide to securing European funding for teacher training mobility — from first registration to project approval.
Erasmus+ Key Action 1 funding has transformed teacher professional development across Europe. If your school has never applied — or has tried and not succeeded — this guide walks you through the entire process clearly and practically.
KA1 stands for Key Action 1 — Learning Mobility of Individuals. It is the Erasmus+ funding strand that supports organisations in sending their staff and students abroad for professional development, training and educational activities.
For schools, KA1 funding can cover:
Who Can Apply?
Applications are submitted by organisations — not individual teachers. Eligible organisations include primary and secondary schools, VET institutions, adult education centres and other accredited educational bodies.
Before submitting any Erasmus+ application, your school must register on the European Commission's Beneficiary Register to obtain an Organisation ID (OID). This is a one-time requirement and takes only a few minutes online.
You will need your school's legal name, address, VAT number (if applicable) and the name of the legal representative.
A strong KA1 application tells a clear and coherent story. Before writing anything, your school should define:
Applications that align mobility with strategic priorities — particularly digital transition, inclusion or sustainability — are consistently stronger.
Decide which type of activity best suits your objectives — structured courses, job shadowing or teaching assignments. Then select certified training providers in your chosen destination.
Destinations like Lisbon are particularly popular due to course availability, accessibility from across Europe and competitive costs relative to other Western European capitals.
Applications are submitted through the official Erasmus+ National Agency in your country via the Beneficiaries Portal. Annual deadlines typically fall in early spring — check your National Agency's website for the exact date each year.
The application form will ask you to describe your organisation's needs, the planned activities, the expected outcomes and your dissemination strategy.
If your application is approved, your National Agency will issue a grant agreement specifying the allocated budget. Funding is calculated based on:
Funds are typically released in two tranches — a pre-financing payment at the start and a final payment after submission of the completion report.
"Schools that treat Erasmus+ mobility as a long-term strategy — not a single project — consistently achieve stronger outcomes for students and staff alike."
Many first-time applications are unsuccessful not because of poor intentions, but because of avoidable weaknesses. The most common reasons include:
Practical Tip
Before submitting, ask a colleague who was not involved in writing the application to read it. If they cannot clearly understand what the school wants to achieve and why, reviewers will not either.
Casa da Educação works with schools across Europe to support their Erasmus+ journey — from course selection and letters of confirmation to post-mobility documentation and Europass certificates.
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