Initial and refresher courses for language teachers: Comenius Funding / Grundtvig, Teachers

Comenius Funding for language teachers

As part of the European Union’s Lifelong Learning Programme, the Comenius program is designed to help young people and educational staff better understand the range of European cultures, languages and values. Comenius is split into three headings: “Mobility”, “Partnerships” and “Multilateral Projects”.

In-service training for teachers and other educational staff

Under the heading of “Mobility”, the “In-service training for teachers and other educational staff” sub-section deals with funding for language teacher training and refresher courses. If you are a teacher of modern languages interested in a training/refresher course in Switzerland or an EU country/overseas territory that speaks the language you teach (but where you do not work or reside), you can apply for Comenius funding. Among other things, Comenius aims to “encourage language learning, innovative ICT-based content, services and better teaching techniques and practices” and “enhance the quality and European dimension of teacher training.”

Who can apply for Comenius in-service training funding?

Language teachers and people working in education.

Teachers who teach other subjects in a foreign language (Content and Language Integrated Learning or CLIL) may receive funding for training or a language course.

Language Teachers who have had a break and are re-entering the profession may also be eligible for Comenius funding.

Some things to consider when making the application:

Firstly, the course that you would like to undertake must be eligible for Comenius funding. See the next section of this page for more information on eligibility.
What are the demonstrable benefits of combining the training with travel? You will have to be explicit in your application.
Your national agency may have specific priorities which can vary from year to year. These priorities can be useful for tailoring your application.
When is the course you would like to take? Many teacher development courses take place during the school summer holidays but be aware that there are three separate deadlines for applications (in January, April and September) depending on when you wish to take the training.
The grant usually covers travel costs, course/conference/seminar fees, visa costs and subsistence. You can also apply for linguistic preparation, such as a course or self study (e.g. books or CDs).
Travel insurance is not covered by the grant.
Applications must be made individually to the national agency in the country where you work.
Grants are paid in Euros and you will have to cover any fees that your bank may charge for currency conversion.

Different countries can have slightly different criteria, so be sure to check exact requirements with your national agency.

What kinds of courses can be covered by Comenius grants?

Courses which can be proven to be beneficial to your skills as a language teacher and involve travel between two participating countries may be eligible. Courses marked as either “refresher” or “initial” on this site may be eligible. You will need to apply personally so be clear about why you are applying.

Training must take place in a country other than the country in which you normally work or reside.
The training abroad must have a greater potential learning value than similar training in the country where you normally work.
Pure language courses are not usually covered (except in particular circumstances, such as CLIL teachers who can demonstrate a need for stronger language skills), but courses that mix methodology and language training may be.
Training activities may last between one and six weeks.

Comenius funding application procedure

The exact process will depend upon the national agency to which you are applying (this is the agency in the country in which you work). Deadlines, however, are set at EU level.

The following should be used for guidance only and you should always check with your national agency before making your application.

Approximate Comenius funding timetable for teacher training courses to be undertaken between 1st May and 31st August

September to December
This is the time to think about the course that you would like to study and where you would like to go. Have a look through our website or brochure. Give us a call or email to find out more about a course that is of interest to you.

Remember, to be eligible for funding, you must be able to demonstrate how you will get added value from taking the course abroad instead of at home.

Once you have decided on a course that meets your training needs, contact us for a pre-registration. We will then pass it on to the school and provide you with a letter of acceptance for pre-registration from the school. You will need this letter to apply for funding.

For some courses, you will be required to complete an online language level assessment or short interview.

At this point, you should contact your national agency for a Comenius funding application form.

Late December/Early January
The Christmas holidays are a good time to complete the Comenius funding application form. The deadline for applications is usually around the middle of January for courses to be taken over the summer.

Be very careful when filling in your Comenius funding application as an incorrectly ticked box can be the difference between a successful and failed application. Also think carefully about the tone of your application. See our tips for a successful Comenius application at the end of this page.

In some countries, your application must be sent through the institution at which you work and signed by the head of that institution. This doesn’t apply for teachers looking to re-enter the profession.

Send the completed application to the correct part of your national agency.

March to Early May
This is when you will hear back from your national agency. Contact us as soon as you hear back from your national agency and let us know if you want to go ahead with the course. If you want to go ahead, we will invoice you for the training at this point. Be quick to get back to us as these training courses are in high demand and we must confirm reservations promptly.

Successful applicants will receive their grant in Euros via a bank transfer.

After the training has been completed
You will have to report back to your agency and let them know how the grant was spent and how you have benefitted from the training.

Application dates

For courses between 1st September and 31st December 2012, your application must reach your national agency by 30th April 2012.

For courses held between 1st January 2013 and 30th April 2013, your application must reach your national agency by 17th September 2012.

For courses held in Summer 2012, your application must reach your national agency by 16th January 2012.

Funding dates are set at EU level and can be found on national agency websites.

Tips for a successful Comenius application form:

Write your application with the Comenius goals in mind. For example, unifying Europe is a key theme throughout the Comenius actions so explain clearly in your application how the course you wish to undertake will lead to greater cultural understanding.

Explain specifically how the training course meets your personal training needs. How will this benefit your institution and your students?

Explain how you wish to swap experiences and knowledge with teachers from other European countries in an international environment. This is one of the most important things that you will gain from taking one of our teacher development courses. Why will you, your institution, your students and Europe gain more from you studying this course abroad than in the country where you usually work?

You must explain how you will apply the knowledge that you gain from the training to your work when you get back home and how this will benefit those you teach and work alongside.

Naturally, having an active and enjoyable holiday may be a strong motivation for taking a language teacher training course abroad, but it is not a reason that will make the EU want to fund your trip! Think about the goal of European unity. Think about your national agency’s goals (these should be available on their website). Think of how your students and colleagues will benefit from your training.

Grundtvig funding

Comenius funding is for teachers of children and young learners. A parallel system called Grundtvig exists for teachers of adults (over 25s) and those over 18 but not in education or vocational training.

Teachers working in adult education can apply for Grundtvig funding. In this context, adult education relates to learning for personal development where the focus is on non-vocational/non-formal learning (i.e. learning for the love of learning). In contrast, vocational education relates to the development of knowledge and skills to enhance employability; this is not eligible for funding under the Grundtvig programme.

In some countries (including the UK, Ireland and Germany) the national agency responsible for managing Grundtvig funding differs from that responsible for Comenius funding. See our list of national agency websites.

Socrates funding

The EU Socrates programme previously supplied funding for grants similar to Comenius and Grundtvig. Socrates has now finished its second phase (2000 - 2006) and has been replaced by the EU Lifelong Learning Programme, which includes Comenius and Grundtvig.

What's the next step?

To start the process, first find the course on our website that you would like funding for. To find out more about applying for Comenius, check out your national agency's website, which will include location-specific information and highlight any current local priorities.

Who was Comenius?

Johann Comenius (1592 – 1670) was born Jan Amos Komenský in what is now the Czech Republic. Comenius was a philosopher, teacher and writer who believed that only through education could man achieve his full potential and live a harmonious life. He was one of the founding fathers of modern education and, according to legend, the inventor of the textbook.