Research snapshot: Edition XV of the ESN survey
ESNsurvey XV Edition: Making Quality Mobility a Reality for All
Published date: 21 Novemeber 2024
The ESNsurvey is a Europe-wide research project focused on mobility and education, conducted entirely by volunteers. It monitors the implementation of mobility programmes, the experiences of international students abroad, and the perceptions of non-mobile students.
The 2024 edition gathered approximately 23,000 responses, including 17,855 from exchange students, 1,856 from full-degree students, and 3,064 from non-mobile students. The XV ESNsurvey report places a strong emphasis on inclusion, accessibility, and quality mobility—key issues at the heart of the Erasmus+ programme and the European Higher Education Area.
This research is valuable for anyone involved in international mobility, including higher education institutions, national agencies, European institutions and student or youth organisations.
This research is being released at a key moment for the future of the Erasmus+ Programme, and we are thrilled that the contributions of students can help shape the future of Erasmus+.
About the authors
Author:
- Rita Dias, Erasmus Student Network
Co-authors:
- Siem Buseyne, Erasmus Student Network
- Yazeed Haadad, Erasmus Student Network
- Kevin Topi, Erasmus Student Network,
- Christie Dear, Erasmus Student Network
- Luca Mistretta, Erasmus Student Network
- Juan Rayón Gonzalez, Erasmus Student Network
- Wim Gabriels, Erasmus Student Network
Key findings from the research:
- Funding issues: 35.63% of students reported that their grant was not enough to cover living costs, making insufficient funding the top issue, while 62.7% of respondents received their grant only after departure.
- Pre-Departure Support: Students reported the importance of receiving information before mobility, especially regarding financial support (15.37%) and the application process (12.43%). They also highlighted the importance of hearing from previous students (11.84%).
- Respect for the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education: The most positively rated aspect of the Erasmus mobility experience was the requirement for a learning agreement signed by all parties, with all activities clearly described for outgoing students by both institutions.
- Connection to Europe and the World: On average, and compared to their perspectives before going abroad, students reported feeling an increasingly strong connection to Europe and the world after returning from mobility. Notably, there is also an increase in their sense of belonging to the European Union.
- Preferred travel method: 71% of respondents report their preferred mode of transportation for travelling to the mobility destination is by plane. However, buses (40.02%) and trains (37.40%) are the preferred choices for overnight trips during their mobility period.
