EU CONNECTS Erasmus+ Youth Exchange 2026 Opens Funded Places in Hungary
Young people interested in European citizenship, leadership and digital skills can now apply for the YE: EU CONNECTS Erasmus+ Youth Exchange, taking place in Eger, Hungary, from October 1 to October 9, 2026.
The nine-day international exchange will bring together 36 young people from Portugal, Hungary, Bulgaria and Türkiye. ProAtlântico – Associação Juvenil is currently recruiting eight participants and one group leader for the Portuguese delegation.
This is not a university scholarship, degree programme or conventional classroom course. It is a short-term Erasmus+ mobility project built around workshops, discussions, simulations, group activities and intercultural learning.
The opportunity is particularly suitable for applicants who want their first international youth experience because previous participation in Erasmus+ is not required.
What Is the EU CONNECTS Youth Exchange About?
The EU CONNECTS project aims to help young people understand European identity and become more active in their communities.
Participants will explore topics including:
- Active citizenship and democratic participation
- European identity, history and values
- Advocacy and public speaking
- Leadership and teamwork
- Digital literacy
- Critical thinking
- Intercultural communication
- Social responsibility
The project will use non-formal education rather than lectures and examinations. Participants should therefore expect workshops, debates, role-playing exercises, teamwork and activities that require active involvement.
Erasmus+ defines Youth Exchanges as short international meetings where groups of young people learn together outside the formal education system. These exchanges normally use workshops, debates, simulations and outdoor activities instead of academic classes.
EU CONNECTS Youth Exchange at a Glance
| Project detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Project name | YE: EU CONNECTS |
| Location | Eger, Hungary |
| Dates | October 1–9, 2026 |
| Duration | Nine days |
| Participant age | 18–30 years |
| Group leader age | At least 18, with no stated upper age limit |
| Working language | English |
| English requirement | At least B1 level |
| Participating countries | Portugal, Hungary, Bulgaria and Türkiye |
| Total participants | 36 |
| Portuguese vacancies | Eight participants and one group leader |
| Travel budget | Up to €395 |
| Previous Erasmus+ experience | Not required for regular participants |
The vacancy remains listed among ProAtlântico’s open opportunities, with eight participant places displayed at the time of review on July 15, 2026.
Who Can Apply for the EU CONNECTS Erasmus+ Exchange?
You can apply as a participant if you are between 18 and 30 years old, can communicate in English at approximately B1 level and are willing to participate actively throughout the project.
You do not need previous Erasmus+ experience. The organizers are more interested in your motivation, willingness to learn, ability to work with others and readiness to contribute before, during and after the exchange.
Gender balance will also be considered during participant selection.
The current ProAtlântico call is for the Portuguese national group. Under Erasmus+ rules, Youth Exchange participants must reside in the country represented by their sending or receiving organization. Therefore, applicants using ProAtlântico as their sending organization should normally be resident in Portugal.
Applicants residing in Hungary, Bulgaria or Türkiye should look for the partner organization recruiting participants in their own country rather than applying for one of the Portuguese places.
Who Can Apply as the Group Leader?
The group leader must be at least 18 years old, but this project does not state an upper age limit for the leadership position.
Unlike regular participants, the group leader should have previous experience with Erasmus+ projects, youth work or supporting groups of young people. The selected leader must also attend an online preparatory meeting before the exchange.
A group leader is not simply another participant. The leader helps prepare the national team, supports participants during activities, promotes a safe group environment and communicates with the organizers when practical problems arise. Erasmus+ rules require each national group to have at least one group leader.
What Expenses Are Covered?
Accommodation, meals and project-related activities are fully covered under the Erasmus+ project and the participants will receive:
- Shared accommodation in Eger
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Coffee breaks
- Access to all official workshops and activities
- Eligible travel reimbursement of up to €395
Rooms will be allocated according to gender but will include participants of different nationalities. This arrangement is intended to encourage interaction between national groups.
The €395 travel budget is a reimbursement limit, not an unrestricted travel allowance. Applicants whose tickets cost more than the approved amount may have to pay the difference themselves.
Will Participants Have to Pay for Travel First?
You may have to purchase your ticket before receiving reimbursement.
ProAtlântico advises participants to send their proposed itinerary for approval before buying tickets. Reimbursement up to the approved travel limit may be issued during the exchange or after the project, depending on the hosting organization’s procedure.
Participants who ask ProAtlântico to purchase their tickets may be required to pay a registration deposit. The organization says this deposit is returned after the exchange, minus any travel cost exceeding the approved project budget.
Do not buy a non-refundable ticket until the organizer has confirmed your selection, approved your travel route and explained the reimbursement process in writing.
Documents and Items Participants Should Prepare
Applicants should initially prepare a concise CV and a project-specific motivation or cover letter. Selected participants will also need:
- A valid passport or national identity document
- A European Health Insurance Card or private travel insurance
- Personal medication and essential health items
- Food or drinks representing their country for the intercultural evening
- Suitable clothing for workshops and local weather
- Any documents requested by the sending organization
Every team should also have access to at least one laptop, although each participant is not required to bring one.
Travel insurance or a European Health Insurance Card is mandatory for this project. The wider Erasmus+ guidance also recommends that participants in international activities hold the European Health Insurance Card where applicable.
How to Apply for the EU CONNECTS Youth Exchange
The circulated opportunity announcement asks applicants to send a CV and cover letter to: intercambios@proatlantico.com
However, the official project page instructs candidates to create an account, log in and submit an application through the ProAtlântico European Exchanges portal. The safest application method is:
- Register on the official ProAtlântico exchange platform.
- Log in and open vacancy number 484, titled YE: EU CONNECTS.
- Complete the online application.
- Prepare a short CV and targeted motivation letter.
- Email the organization only if the documents are requested or you need confirmation that the application is complete.
Your motivation letter should explain why active citizenship, European identity, leadership or digital literacy matters to you. Avoid sending a generic letter that merely says you enjoy travelling.
Frequently Asked Questions About EU CONNECTS and Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges
Is the EU CONNECTS Erasmus+ Youth Exchange fully funded?
Accommodation, meals and official project activities are fully funded, while travel is reimbursed up to €395. It should therefore be described as a funded Erasmus+ opportunity rather than promising that every possible personal expense will be covered.
Do I need IELTS to apply for the EU CONNECTS Youth Exchange?
No IELTS certificate is listed as a requirement. You need at least B1-level English so that you can understand the activities, communicate with participants and contribute to group discussions.
Can I apply without previous Erasmus+ experience?
Yes. Previous Erasmus+ experience is not required for regular participants. Motivation, teamwork and active participation are more important for this vacancy.
The group leader position is different because leadership applicants are expected to have previous Erasmus+ or youth-work experience.
Do I need to be a university student?
No. Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges are not restricted to university students. They are non-formal learning opportunities for eligible young people and do not require admission to a college or university.
Can someone who has already graduated apply?
Yes. Your student status is not the deciding factor. You can apply if you meet the age, residence, language and project-specific requirements.
Can a non-EU citizen apply for an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange?
A non-EU citizen may be able to participate if legally residing in the country represented by the relevant sending organization and if the organization accepts the application.
For this ProAtlântico call, the important issue is residence in Portugal and eligibility to join the Portuguese group. A non-EU passport holder should also confirm Hungary’s entry requirements and any visa arrangements before accepting the place.
Can applicants from any country apply directly to ProAtlântico?
No. This particular call is recruiting the Portuguese delegation. Applicants residing in Hungary, Bulgaria or Türkiye should apply through their respective national partner organization.
People from countries not represented in this project cannot simply join through another country’s delegation.
Is an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange the same as studying abroad for a semester?
No. A Youth Exchange normally lasts between five and 21 days and uses non-formal learning activities. An Erasmus+ university exchange is a separate mobility route connected to a higher education institution and may last several months.
Will I receive a certificate after the exchange?
Participants in Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges commonly receive a Youthpass documenting their participation and learning outcomes. The certificate can record skills developed through non-formal learning, although it is not an academic degree or university qualification.
Can I attend only part of the programme?
No. Active participation is required before, during and after the project. Applicants should only accept a place if they can attend the full programme from October 1 to October 9, 2026, including the scheduled arrival and departure arrangements.
Can a participant be older than 30?
Regular participants must be no older than 30 when the activity starts. Erasmus+ age eligibility is assessed at the beginning of the exchange.
The group leader can be older than 30 because group leaders must be at least 18 but are not subject to the regular participant age ceiling.
Is Erasmus+ only for people with excellent academic grades?
No. Academic grades are not listed as a selection requirement for this project. Youth Exchanges focus on motivation, participation, inclusion, intercultural learning and personal development rather than university grades.
Should You Apply?
You should apply if you are resident in Portugal, aged 18–30, comfortable communicating in English and genuinely interested in citizenship, leadership, democracy and international teamwork.
You should not apply simply because the trip is funded. The organizers expect meaningful participation before, during and after the exchange, including workshops, group tasks and follow-up activities.
For a first-time Erasmus+ applicant, however, EU CONNECTS offers a practical entry point: no previous exchange experience is required, academic grades are not central to selection, and most essential costs are covered.