The EU's Erasmus programme for studying abroad is growing in popularity in the countries of central and eastern Europe, according to figures published on 13 May by the European Commission.
Overall though, the rate of growth of the Erasmus programme slowed to 3.2% between the academic year 2005/06 and 2006/07, the figures show. The previous year, the growth had been 7.2%.
In the countries of central and eastern Europe, the numbers of students making use of the Erasmus programme rose by 18.5% in Latvia, 15.5% in Slovakia, 13.9% in Hungary, 12.4% in Poland, 11.9% in Estonia, 10.6% in Slovenia, 9.0% in Lithuania, 7.5% in the Czech Republic, 6.3% in Bulgaria and 2.7% in Romania.
In some countries – Denmark, Finland, Greece, Ireland and Spain – the number of students going abroad grew, but the pace slowed. That was also true in Cyprus and Malta, though an extra, complicating factor in their cases was the expansion of domestic universities. Numbers held steady in Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden.
In the UK, where numbers of outgoing students had previously fallen, the number rose again, from 7,131 students to 7,235. That is still a long way short of the 1994/95 figure, when the UK sent 11,988 students on Erasmus programmes.
Germany continues to be the country that sends most students on the Erasmus programme (23,884 this year). It is followed by France (22,981 students), Spain (22,322) and Italy (17,105).
Spain is still the most popular destination, taking on 27,464 Erasmus students this year, followed by France with 20,673 students, Germany with 17,878 students and then the United Kingdom with 16,508 students.
The Commission spends around €450 million each year (which includes an average monthly grant of around €192 per student) on Erasmus schemes in all 27 member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Turkey. The number of students from Turkey going on the Erasmus programme rose by 55.6%, to 1,586. Numbers fell in Iceland and Norway.
The most popular subject for Erasmus students is business studies. Languages and philology are second, with social sciences third.
