Study Abroad Program Types Explained: Erasmus+, Bilateral, ISEP, DAAD and More (2026)
Getting study abroad program types explained clearly matters — funding, eligibility and experience differ significantly across programs. Most people hear “study abroad” and think Erasmus. But Erasmus+ represents only about 30% of international student mobility worldwide. The other 70% — students from Asia, North America, Latin America, Africa, and non-Erasmus-eligible European countries — access study abroad through bilateral agreements, government scholarships, private programs, or self-arranged exchanges.
This guide explains every major program type: who it is for, what it covers, how competitive it is, and how to apply.
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In this guide
Study Abroad Program Types Explained: Quick Reference Guide
| Program | Who It’s For | Covers Tuition? | Monthly Grant? | Competitiveness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erasmus+ | EU/EEA students at partner European unis | Yes (waived) | Yes (€250–700/mo) | Medium |
| Bilateral exchange | Any enrolled student at a partner university | Yes (waived) | Usually not | Low–Medium |
| ISEP | Students at 300+ member universities worldwide | Yes (waived) | No | Low–Medium |
| DAAD | All nationalities (scholarship focus: non-German going to Germany and Germans going abroad) | Varies | Yes (€850–1,200/mo) | High |
| Campus France | Non-French students going to France | Varies | Sometimes | Medium |
| JASSO | Japanese students going abroad and international students going to Japan | Varies | Yes (¥80,000/mo) | Medium |
| GKS | International students going to South Korea | Yes | Yes (~KRW 900,000/mo) | High |
| Fulbright | US citizens going abroad + international students going to US | Yes | Yes | Very High |
| Self-arranged | Any student willing to do the admin themselves | Not covered | No | None |
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1. Erasmus+ (KA131 and KA171)
What it is: The European Union’s flagship student mobility program. Funded by the EU, administered by national agencies in each member country.
Who it is for:
- KA131 (European mobility): Students enrolled at a higher education institution in an EU/EEA country or partner country with bilateral Erasmus+ agreements. You must be going to another participating European university.
- KA171 (International mobility): Exchange between European institutions and universities worldwide — allows students from outside Europe to come to Europe, and European students to go further afield.
What it covers:
- Tuition waiver at the host institution (you pay fees only to your home university)
- Monthly grant: €250–700 depending on home and host country cost-of-living tier
- Optional top-ups for students with fewer opportunities (disability, financial need, etc.)
How to apply: Through your home university’s International Relations or Erasmus office. Selection is competitive — usually by GPA and motivation letter. Apply 1–2 semesters before your planned departure.
Key limitation: Only available if your home university has a specific bilateral Erasmus agreement with the target institution. Not all university combinations exist. Check your university’s list of partner institutions first.
Best for: EU students who want financial support and a structured program within Europe.
Top Erasmus destinations by city: Barcelona · Paris · Amsterdam · Berlin · Lisbon · Vienna · Warsaw · Rome
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2. Bilateral (Direct) Exchange Programs
What it is: A direct agreement between two specific universities to exchange students, independent of any external program or funding body.
Who it is for: Any student enrolled at a university that has a bilateral agreement with the target institution — regardless of nationality. This is how most Asian, North American, and Latin American students study abroad in Europe.
What it covers:
- Tuition waiver at the host institution (you pay fees only to your home university)
- No monthly grant from the program itself (you fund your living costs independently)
- Housing priority may or may not be included — depends on the specific agreement
How to apply: Through your home university’s international office. Requirements typically include: minimum GPA, language proficiency, and a motivation statement. Deadlines are usually 6–9 months before departure.
Key advantage over Erasmus+: Far wider geographic range. Your university may have bilateral agreements with institutions in Japan, South Korea, Canada, Australia, Brazil, and dozens of other countries — not just Europe.
Key disadvantage: No financial grant. You need to fund your living costs, which means budgeting carefully (see our Study Abroad Budget Guide 2026).
Best for: Students whose nationality makes them ineligible for Erasmus+ (non-EU), or students who want to go outside Europe.
Top bilateral exchange destinations by country: Germany · France · Spain · Netherlands · Canada · Sweden · Italy
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3. ISEP (International Student Exchange Programs)
What it is: A US-based consortium of 300+ universities worldwide that facilitates student exchanges through a shared pool of places.
Who it is for: Students enrolled at any ISEP member institution worldwide. Check if your home university is a member at isep.org.
What it covers:
- Tuition waiver at the host institution
- Housing is often included (varies by host institution)
- ISEP charges a program fee (~$500–1,000) covering coordination and insurance
- No monthly living grant
How it differs from bilateral: In a bilateral exchange, your home and host university have a direct 1-to-1 relationship. In ISEP, you apply to a pool of partner institutions and are matched based on availability and preferences — giving more flexibility to students at smaller universities with fewer bilateral agreements.
How to apply: Through your home institution’s study abroad office. ISEP has two programs: Direct (you choose a specific host) and Exchange (pool-matching system).
Best for: Students at smaller institutions with limited bilateral agreements; students who want flexibility in destination choice.
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4. DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service)
What it is: Germany’s largest public funding organisation for international academic exchange. Offers scholarships and fellowships for study and research.
Who it is for:
- International students going to Germany (undergraduate, master’s, doctoral)
- German students going abroad
- Researchers and academics at all career stages
Key scholarship programs:
- Research Grants: For doctoral and postdoctoral researchers
- Study Scholarships: For foreign graduates starting a master’s or short program in Germany
- Undergraduate Scholarship: For students enrolled in a German degree program
- DAAD Scholarship for foreign students: For non-Germans pursuing a degree or research stay in Germany
Funding: €850–1,200/month depending on program and qualification level + travel allowance + health insurance contribution.
Competitiveness: High. DAAD is globally competitive. Strong academic profile and research/motivation statement required.
How to apply: Through daad.de. Most programs require applications 8–12 months before the planned start.
Best for: Academically strong students with a clear research or study goal specifically in Germany.
Top DAAD-relevant cities: Berlin · Munich · Cologne · Gothenburg (DAAD also funds exchanges to Nordic countries)
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5. Campus France
What it is: The official French agency for the promotion of higher education abroad. Manages the application and pre-admission process for international students going to France.
Who it is for: Non-French students who want to study at a French university or grande école. Campus France manages the “Études en France” (EEF) procedure, required by most countries for French student visa applications.
What it covers:
- Coordination of visa application and university admission process
- Some scholarship programs for specific nationalities and bilateral agreements
- Campus France scholarships exist but are smaller and more targeted than DAAD
Key requirement: Students from most non-EU countries must complete the Campus France EEF procedure before applying for a French student visa — even for exchange semesters. Start this process 4–6 months before departure.
Best for: Students going to France from outside the EU who need to navigate the admission and visa process.
Top destinations: Paris · Toulouse · Montpellier · Marseille
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6. JASSO (Japan Student Services Organization)
What it is: Japan’s primary government body for student support, including outbound and inbound scholarship programs.
Key programs:
- Monbukagakusho (MEXT) Scholarship: Japan’s flagship government scholarship for international students going to Japan. Covers tuition, housing, and provides a monthly stipend of ~¥117,000–145,000. Extremely competitive.
- JASSO Short-term Exchange Program: For international students participating in Japanese universities’ short-term exchange programs. Monthly allowance: ¥80,000.
- JASSO Outbound Scholarship: For Japanese students going abroad on short-term exchanges. ¥80,000/month.
How to apply: MEXT applications are made through Japanese embassies or nominated by Japanese universities. JASSO programs are applied through Japanese universities directly.
Best for: Students going to Japan, or Japanese students going abroad.
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7. GKS (Global Korea Scholarship)
What it is: South Korea’s government-funded scholarship for international students, funded by the National Institute for International Education (NIIED).
What it covers (undergraduate and graduate programs):
- Full tuition waiver
- Monthly allowance: ~900,000 KRW (~€620)
- Round-trip airfare
- Korean language training (1 year)
- Health insurance
Who it is for: International students from countries with diplomatic relations with South Korea. Undergraduate and graduate tracks available. Exchange-semester track also available through some Korean universities.
Competitiveness: Very high for full scholarship track. Exchange-semester track through university bilateral agreements is more accessible.
How to apply: Through the Korean embassy in your country or through a Korean university directly.
Best for: Students with strong academic profiles who want to study in South Korea, especially in STEM, Korean studies, or business.
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8. Fulbright (US Department of State)
What it is: One of the most prestigious international exchange programs in the world, funded by the US government. Awards US citizens grants to study, research, or teach abroad, and brings international students to the US.
Key programs:
- Fulbright U.S. Student Program: For US citizens to study or research abroad for 1 academic year. Covers living expenses, health insurance, and some tuition. 140+ countries.
- Fulbright Foreign Student Program: For international students and young professionals to study or research in the US.
Competitiveness: Extremely high. Fulbright is one of the most competitive scholarships globally. Top academic performance, clear research purpose, and demonstrated community impact are required.
Best for: Graduate-level US students or exceptional undergraduates with a clear, well-articulated purpose for international study.
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9. Self-Arranged Exchange
What it is: Independently organizing a semester or year abroad without formal institutional exchange support — applying directly to a host university as a visiting or non-degree student.
What it covers:
- No tuition waiver (you pay full visiting student fees at the host institution)
- No grant
- Full credit recognition must be negotiated with your home university in advance
Why students choose it:
- Target institution has no formal agreement with their home university
- More control over timing, destination, and course selection
- Some universities have excellent visiting student programs with straightforward applications
Key risks:
- Cost: no waiver means potentially paying full fees
- Credit recognition: not guaranteed without pre-approval from home university
- Administrative burden: visa, housing, registration — all without institutional support
Best for: Students with a specific institution or research context that is not covered by their university’s formal agreements.
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Which Program Is Right for You?
| If you are… | Best option |
|---|---|
| Enrolled in an EU university | Erasmus+ (check for your target institution) |
| Non-EU student wanting European semester | Bilateral exchange via your home university |
| Student at smaller university with few bilateral links | ISEP |
| Academically strong, want to study in Germany | DAAD scholarship |
| Going to France from outside EU | Campus France procedure (mandatory) + bilateral/Erasmus |
| Going to Japan or Japanese student abroad | JASSO / MEXT |
| Going to South Korea | GKS |
| US citizen wanting funded year abroad | Fulbright |
| Target institution not covered by any agreement | Self-arranged visiting student |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I do an exchange if I am not eligible for Erasmus+?
Yes. Erasmus+ is only for students at EU/EEA institutions with European partner agreements. Students from Asia, North America, Latin America, Africa, and elsewhere typically use bilateral exchanges, ISEP, or government scholarship programs. Most universities have bilateral agreements with dozens of institutions worldwide — check with your home university’s international office.
Does Erasmus+ cover the cost of living?
No. The Erasmus+ grant (€250–700/month depending on country tier) is a contribution to living costs, not full coverage. Monthly living costs in European exchange cities range from €700 (Eastern Europe) to €1,900 (Paris, Amsterdam). Plan to supplement your Erasmus grant with personal savings, parental support, or a part-time job.
What is the difference between ISEP Direct and ISEP Exchange?
ISEP Direct lets you apply to a specific host institution. ISEP Exchange uses a pool-matching system where you list preferences and are matched based on reciprocity and availability. ISEP Exchange offers more placement options for students at smaller institutions.
Can I do multiple exchange programs during my degree?
Yes, in most systems. Some restrictions apply: Erasmus+ grants are capped per cycle (typically 12 months at bachelor’s level, 12 at master’s, 12 at doctoral). Bilateral exchanges typically allow one exchange per degree cycle. However, combining programs across degree levels is common — for example, an Erasmus exchange at bachelor’s level and a DAAD scholarship at master’s level.
How competitive is it to get into a bilateral exchange program?
Competition depends on the destination’s popularity at your home university. Top destinations (Barcelona, Paris, Amsterdam, Tokyo, Toronto) often have more applicants than places — GPA and language proficiency are the main selection criteria. Less popular destinations (Eastern Europe, Latin America, lesser-known cities) are often undersubscribed and much easier to get into — with identical academic content and significantly lower costs.