Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, said: "The latest record figures, showing that we have exceeded our target of 3 million Erasmus students, are testament to the enduring success and popularity of the programme. Erasmus is more important than ever in times of economic hardship and high youth unemployment: the skills and international experience gained by Erasmus students make them more employable and more likely to be mobile on the labour market. Erasmus has also played a tremendous role in improving the quality of higher education in Europe by opening up our universities and colleges to international cooperation. Looking to the future, I'm delighted that our new Erasmus+ programme will enable 4 million young people to study, train, teach or volunteer abroad in the next seven years."
Among the countries participating in Erasmus, the three most popular destinations for students in 2011-2012 were Spain, France and Germany. Spain also sent the largest number of students abroad, followed by Germany and France.
Nearly 205 000 students, around 80% of the total supported by Erasmus in 2011-12 opted to spend an average of six months abroad at a university or other higher education institution, as part of their degree programme. The number choosing the study option increased by 7.5% compared with the previous year. With a growth rate of 18% on the previous year, job placements in companies continue to be increasingly popular. In 2011-12, one in five Erasmus students, almost 50 000 in total, chose this option.
Demand continued to exceed the availability of Erasmus grants in most countries. The average monthly Erasmus grant, designed to cover part of the additional costs of living abroad and travel, was €252. The grant, which has remained stable for the past three years, is topped up in some countries by national, regional or institutional funds.
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