What Is ESN?
Students helping students.
Erasmus Student Network is a European, volunteer-run student association. In 43 countries, local sections help international students make the most of their exchange.
One of Europe's largest student associations, run entirely by students.
ESN works directly with international students. Local volunteers welcome them, help them settle into a new university and city, and connect them with local students.
The network is rooted in peer-to-peer support: students who have lived an exchange, or want to, helping the next ones through it.
ESN also works with universities, institutions and youth organisations to improve mobility programmes, starting from what students actually experience.
Our mission
Enrichment of society through international students.
Every exchange creates encounters between people, perspectives and cultures, and those encounters strengthen society as a whole.
Our vision for 2031
Empowering the Erasmus Generation.
Mobility as a space to build skills and take part, for young people who want to become change-makers.
The network
43 countries. 510 local sections.
ESN is present across Europe and beyond. Select a country to find its national ESN organisation.
What we do
From arrival to belonging.
Support for international students before, during and after their exchange.
Welcome
Helping students discover their new city, university and community.
Connect
Creating moments where local and international students meet.
Support
Practical peer help with paperwork, housing and everyday life.
Represent
Bringing international students' needs to universities and institutions.
What we stand for
Seven values. One network.
Every ESN section, in every country, works from the same principles.
Unity in diversity
Different backgrounds connected by a shared purpose.
Students helping students
Peer support, empathy and shared experience.
Fun in friendship and respect
Relationships built on enjoyment and trust.
International dimension of life
Curiosity and openness beyond borders.
Europe and beyond
Cultural exchange, cooperation and dialogue.
Openness and tolerance
Accepting differences and learning from them.
Cooperation in integration
Making internationalisation part of everyday life.
Our story
Started by exchange students, for exchange students.
- 1987
Erasmus begins
The European Community launches the Erasmus exchange programme.
- 1989
ESN is founded
Former exchange students create a network to help the students who come after them.
- 2014
Erasmus+
The programme opens to more countries, sectors and forms of mobility.
- Today
43 countries
About 500 local sections and around 15,000 volunteers.
ESN in Italy
More sections than
any other country.
With 52 local sections, Italy is the largest country in the ESN network. Discover how ESN Italy works and find the section in your city.