For many schools, 19 February is the most important Erasmus+ date of the year! It marks the deadline for key school mobility actions such as KA121 and KA122, which fund student and staff mobilities across Europe. With competition increasing and evaluation standards becoming more structured, submitting an application on time is not enough! The quality of preparation, clarity of objectives and alignment with Erasmus+’ programme priorities now make a real difference.
Here are five practical ways to strengthen your Erasmus+ application before the deadline.
1. Align Your Project With Erasmus+ Priorities (Not Just Your Own Goals)
Many applications fail because they only focus on school needs and forget the EU’s priorities. In 2026, evaluators expect projects to clearly integrate environmental sustainability, digital and media literacy, inclusion and equal access, active citizenship and European values.
However, rather than just adding these themes at the end of your application, always embed them into your project objectives, your planned activities, your intended learning outcomes and your evaluation methods. Remember, strong alignment increases your scoring potential significantly.
2. Be Specific About Your Learning Outcomes
Avoid vague phrases such as “students will gain experience” or “improve skills.” Instead, clearly define what your students will learn, how your teachers will benefit professionally, which competencies will be developed and how progress will be measured. Concrete outcomes show evaluators that your project is realistic, structured and educationally meaningful.
3. Choose Your Partners Carefully (It’s Quality Over Quantity!)
Strong partnerships matter more than having many partners. Before submitting your application, do confirm your partner/s’ commitment, clarify responsibilities, align expectations and agree on communication methods. Well-coordinated partnerships reduce implementation risk and improve credibility during evaluation.
4. Build a Clear and Realistic Mobility Plan
Evaluators value feasibility. Your application should clearly explain who will participate in your planned mobility abroad, when the mobility/or mobilities will take place including their length and what activities will occur while your students are abroad. Furthermore, you should include how your students will be prepared for their placements. Do avoid overambitious schedules. Realistic planning improves approval chances and simplifies later reporting.
5. Check Technical Details Before Submitting
Many strong projects fail due to technical mistakes. So before clicking submit, always review your budgets carefully, check participant numbers and duration of mobilities, ensure Erasmus+ plan alignment (for accredited schools), verify all required attachments and proofread objectives and descriptions. Remember, a final technical review can prevent unnecessary rejections.
Bonus Tip: Don’t Wait Until the Last Day To Submit Your Application!
Submitting early reduces stress and allows time to fix unexpected technical issues. It also gives coordinators the opportunity to: review applications calmly, double-check data accuracy and improve clarity and structure. Early submission is one of the simplest ways to navigate avoidable problems.
Erasmus+ February Deadline FAQs
Q: What actions close on 19 February?
A: KA121 (accredited school mobility) and KA122 (short-term mobility projects) for school education.
Q: Can schools edit applications after submission?
A: No, once submitted, applications cannot be modified.
Q: Is it better to submit early or close to the deadline?
A: Early submission is always safer and allows time to resolve technical issues.
To Sum Up
With the February deadline approaching, strong preparation is the key to Erasmus+ success. Doing so ensures your school is aligned with EU priorities, with defined clear learning outcomes and the ability to build strong partnerships. What’s more, early submission and strong preparation enables you to plan realistic mobilities and review technical details and that means you stand a much higher chance of securing funding.
If your school wants expert support reviewing or strengthening your Erasmus+ application before the February deadline, TravelEdventures can help you submit confident, competitive proposals that turn mobility ideas into approved projects. Click here to talk to us about your applications.