The number of students taking part in the EU's student exchange programme Erasmus rose by 6.3% in the academic year 2004/05 compared to the previous year, meaning a total of 144,037 university students were spending 3-12 months studying in another country. Some 20,877 teachers also participated in the exchange programme, an increase of 12.9% compared to 2003/04.
The biggest impact of Erasmus was, however, noted in the new member states: in the academic year 2004/05, student exchanges rose on average by 36% and teacher mobility grew by almost 77%. Student exchanges between the Central and Eastern European Countries under the Erasmus scheme were not permitted before full membership of the EU.
Spain remained the most popular destination for students, followed by France, Germany and the United Kingdom whereas Germany was again the primary destination for teaching staff, followed by France and Italy.
