Both paths take you abroad, both look good on a CV — but they lead to very different outcomes. Here's how to think through the decision based on what you actually want from the experience.
What Erasmus+ gives you
Erasmus+ is a semester or two at a partner university, funded by an EU grant. You stay enrolled at your home institution, your credits transfer (in theory), and you return with your original degree. The grant covers a portion of living costs — the amount varies a lot by destination country, ranging from around €300 to €800/month.
- Lower financial risk — you keep your home tuition fee structure
- Shorter commitment — one or two semesters
- Built-in social network through Erasmus communities (ESN)
- Easier visa process — typically covered under student status
- You graduate with a degree from your home country
What a full degree abroad gives you
A full international degree means applying to a foreign university, paying their tuition (or winning a scholarship), and spending three to five years building a life in that country. You graduate with a foreign degree, a local network, and often a much stronger claim to work there afterward.
- A degree with genuine standing in the destination country
- Real integration — language, culture, professional network
- Better pathway to post-study work visas
- Potentially free or low-cost tuition (Germany, Norway, Hungary with scholarships)
- Stronger signal to local employers than an exchange semester
The honest trade-offs
Erasmus is lower stakes but also lower impact for your long-term career in the destination country. If your goal is to build a life abroad, a full degree is almost always the better move. If you want international exposure while keeping your existing degree track, Erasmus makes more sense.
💡 If you're unsure: ask yourself whether you want to work in your home country or the destination country after graduating. That answer usually decides it.
Combining both
Some students do an Erasmus exchange first to test whether they want to commit to a full degree in that country. It's a legitimate strategy — you build contacts, test the language, and see whether you'd actually want to stay. Several students convert their Erasmus networks into master's programme acceptances at the same university.
Key resources
- Erasmus+ grants: check with your home university's international office
- Full degree scholarships: see our country pages for DAAD, Stipendium Hungaricum, Chevening, and others
- Tuition-free options: Germany, Norway, and (with scholarship) Hungary offer low or zero tuition
📎 Scholarship directory: Browse all country portals →