Erasmus+ has a language all of its own. KA1, KA2, KA121, accreditation, mobility, ErasmusPro. These terms get thrown around constantly in education circles, sometimes by people who understand them precisely and sometimes by people who are using them as shorthand for “something to do with Erasmus+.” If you’ve ever sat in a meeting where someone confidently referenced a KA number without being entirely sure what it meant, you’re not alone. This guide explains the main Erasmus+ terms clearly, so you know exactly what you’re applying for, what you’re getting, and what questions to ask.

Why the terminology trips people up

One of the most common things IBD encounters when working with schools and colleges new to Erasmus+ is confident misuse of the terminology. A coordinator will ask about “doing a KA2” when they actually mean a KA1 mobility project. Someone will reference “KA121” without being clear whether that’s the activity they want or simply the code on a form they’ve seen. The numbers sound technical and authoritative, which makes people reluctant to admit they’re not entirely sure what they refer to.

The reality is that the numbering system is logical once you understand the structure. You don’t need to memorise every code, but understanding the basic architecture of the programme makes every conversation about it easier, including conversations with your National Agency.

Key Action 1 (KA1): Individual Mobility

KA1 is what most schools, colleges, and youth organisations are thinking about when they talk about an Erasmus+ project. It covers the movement of individuals: students travelling abroad for study or work placements, teachers and staff going on professional development visits or job shadowing, youth workers attending training courses, and so on.

The defining feature of KA1 is that the learning happens through travel. One person, or a group of people, goes somewhere, experiences something, and comes back having developed professionally or personally. The Trento project IBD delivered for a Year 6 class from a London primary school was a KA1 project: students travelled to Italy, engaged with a host school, visited cultural sites, and returned with confidence and cultural awareness that their teachers described as genuinely lasting. The Kent sport students who spent twelve days in Valencia training with Spanish football coaches were on a KA1 work placement. The Swedish students who completed work placements in Portsmouth across retail, healthcare, and hospitality were KA1 participants, as was the group of Latvian art teachers who spent a week job shadowing at design schools in Valencia.

All different types of participants, all different destinations and activities, all KA1.

The KA1 Sub-Codes: What KA121, KA122, KA131 Actually Mean

This is where the confusion usually starts. KA121, KA122, KA131 and similar codes aren’t different levels of funding or different programmes within KA1. They are administrative codes that identify the specific sector and activity type within KA1.

The most common ones you’ll encounter:

KA121 refers to KA1 mobility in the school education sector for organisations that hold an Erasmus accreditation. KA122 refers to KA1 mobility in school education for organisations applying through short-term projects, without an accreditation. KA131 and KA132 follow the same pattern for higher education. KA151 and KA152 cover VET (vocational education and training). KA161 and KA162 cover adult education. KA171 and KA172 cover youth.

The pattern is consistent: the first two digits after KA identify the sector (12 for schools, 13 for higher education, 15 for VET, and so on), and the final digit indicates whether the application is going through the accreditation route (1) or the short-term project route (2).

So when someone says “we’re applying for a KA121,” what they mean is: “we are a school with an Erasmus accreditation applying for KA1 mobility funding.” When they say “KA122,” they mean: “we are a school applying for KA1 mobility through a short-term project, without an accreditation.” The code is a description of what you are and how you’re applying, not a tier of programme quality or funding level.

Key Action 2 (KA2): Cooperation Partnerships

KA2 is a fundamentally different type of activity from KA1, and this is where the most common misunderstanding sits. KA2 is not a bigger or more advanced version of KA1. It doesn’t primarily fund travel. It funds collaboration between institutions in different countries working on a shared project over one to three years.

A KA2 partnership might involve two or three schools in different countries developing shared curriculum resources, a VET college and an employer network creating jointly developed training materials, or a group of universities collaborating on a research project. The output is typically a product of some kind: a report, a set of teaching materials, a methodology, a joint course. Some travel between partner institutions is involved, but it’s incidental to the collaboration rather than the purpose of it.

KA2 requires more administrative capacity than KA1, a longer planning horizon, and genuine institutional commitment from multiple partners. It’s typically suited to organisations with some existing international experience. For a school thinking about Erasmus+ for the first time, KA1 is almost always the right starting point.

Erasmus Accreditation: What It Is and Why It Matters

Erasmus accreditation is a status granted by a National Agency to organisations that demonstrate a genuine, long-term commitment to using Erasmus+ mobility as part of their institutional development. Accredited organisations can apply for KA1 funding on a simplified, recurring basis, submitting an Erasmus Plan rather than a detailed project-by-project application each year.

The practical benefit is significant. Instead of competing for funding annually and writing a full project application each time, an accredited organisation receives a multi-year funding agreement that allows them to plan mobility activity across the medium term. For schools and colleges running regular Erasmus+ programmes, accreditation reduces administrative burden considerably.

Importantly, previous Erasmus+ experience is not required to apply for an accreditation. Many organisations assume it’s only for established players with years of project history behind them. It isn’t. The application assesses your organisation’s commitment, planning, and approach to internationalisation, not how many projects you’ve already run. IBD has guided institutions through accreditation applications at various stages of their Erasmus+ journey.

ErasmusPro: Long-Term VET Placements

ErasmusPro sits within KA1 and refers specifically to longer-term work placements for vocational learners, running from three to twelve months. Standard KA1 work placements are typically short-term, ten days to three months. ErasmusPro is designed for learners who want or need a more sustained period of professional experience abroad, the kind that genuinely changes how someone works rather than simply broadening their perspective.

ErasmusPro attracts higher funding rates than short-term placements and is particularly relevant for VET colleges whose learners are training in sectors where longer periods of supervised professional practice are standard, healthcare, engineering, and skilled trades among them.

The National Agency

Every country participating in Erasmus+ has a National Agency responsible for administering the programme at a national level. Institutions apply through their National Agency, not directly to the European Commission. In the UK, once participation resumes from January 2027, the British Council is expected to resume its role as the UK National Agency. In Ireland, Léargas handles school education and youth, with the Higher Education Authority covering universities.

The National Agency is the organisation you’ll be in direct contact with throughout the application and reporting process. Understanding which National Agency handles your sector and type of application matters, because guidance, deadlines, and specific requirements can vary.

Mobility: What the Word Actually Means

In Erasmus+ language, “mobility” simply means the movement of a person from one country to another for a learning or professional development purpose. A student going abroad for a work placement is on a mobility. A teacher attending a job shadowing visit is on a mobility. The word doesn’t imply anything about the length, the type of activity, or the sector. It’s just the programme’s term for a funded international learning experience.

You’ll see it used in phrases like “learner mobility,” “staff mobility,” “outbound mobility” (people leaving your country), and “inbound mobility” (people arriving in your country). When the UK rejoins Erasmus+ in 2027, both directions become possible again, something the Turing Scheme, which only funded outbound activity, never covered.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between KA1 and KA2 in Erasmus+?

KA1 funds individual mobility, people travelling abroad for learning or professional development. KA2 funds cooperation partnerships between institutions in different countries working on shared projects. They serve different purposes and require different levels of administrative capacity. Most schools start with KA1.

What do the numbers after KA1 mean, such as KA121 or KA122?

The numbers identify the sector and application route. The middle digits indicate the sector (12 for schools, 15 for VET, 16 for adult education, 17 for youth), and the final digit indicates whether the application is through the accreditation route (1) or the short-term project route (2). KA121 means a school with Erasmus accreditation applying for KA1 mobility. KA122 means a school applying through a short-term project without accreditation.

Do you need previous Erasmus+ experience to apply for accreditation?

No. Erasmus accreditation is open to organisations without prior Erasmus+ project history. The application assesses your organisation’s commitment, planning capacity, and approach to internationalisation rather than a track record of past projects.

What is ErasmusPro?

ErasmusPro is a specific type of KA1 mobility for vocational learners involving longer-term work placements of between three and twelve months. It attracts higher funding rates than short-term placements and is designed for learners who benefit from a sustained period of professional experience abroad.

When can UK institutions apply for Erasmus+ again?

The UK is expected to rejoin Erasmus+ from January 2027, with applications anticipated to open in November 2026 through the British Council as National Agency.

IBD Partnership Group has been delivering Erasmus+ mobility projects since 2005, supporting more than 50,000 participants across the UK and Europe. If you’re trying to work out which Key Action applies to your project, or where to start with an Erasmus+ application, get in touch with our team today.