Sustainable study abroad experience

Studying abroad is a unique opportunity to explore new cultures and places, but it also comes with responsibilities—especially regarding our environmental impact. It is important to consider how our actions can support sustainability and to make choices that reduce our ecological footprint. From transportation to daily habits, green practices not only help protect the planet but also enrich your experience by fostering a deeper connection with local communities and eco-friendly traditions.

Green Erasmus Portal

About Green Erasmus

The Green Erasmus Portal provides guidance on how to be green and sustainable before, during, and after your learning mobility. In the portal, you will find tips for eco-friendly travel, sustainable living abroad, as well as engaging games and quizzes to test your knowledge. While the portal is developed for the Erasmus program, it offers valuable green ideas for anyone going abroad to study or intern.

Green Travel in the Erasmus+ Program

The Erasmus program values environmentally responsible behavior by encouraging learners to choose sustainable travel options. If more than half of the journey in both directions is completed using green travel methods (such as train, bus, or carpooling with other participants), additional financial support may be available. This can include an extended grant period to account for longer travel times (extra travel days) and a higher travel allowance. Your home university’s Erasmus coordinator, who manages your scholarship, will provide the necessary guidance. Interrail, in cooperation with ESN (Erasmus Student Network), offers students participating in study mobility the opportunity to purchase a train pass that allows travel across Europe (including on Elron trains in Estonia).

Interrail Pass for Erasmus+ Students

Calculate your ecological footprint

Want to know your impact on the environment? The ecological footprint calculator helps you assess your resource use and emissions to understand how your daily choices and travel habits affect our planet. Calculate your ecological footprint and find ways to reduce it.

Ecological footprint calculator

Get around by bike

Once you arrive in your study abroad destination, make an eco-friendly transportation choice. Many European cities offer bike-sharing options, often the fastest, most flexible, and healthiest way to get around.

An environmentally friendly way to experience all that Tartu has to offer.

How does the University of Tartu contribute to the sustainable development goals?

Sustainable development means a development path that seeks a balance between the Earth's ecological limits and meeting the needs of humanity, so that the well-being of future generations is not compromised. The University of Tartu has established the Centre for Sustainable Development. The center brings together researchers, students, and knowledge from various scientific fields at the University of Tartu to collaboratively search for solutions to the complex problems caused by the climate crisis, which transcend national and sectoral boundaries.

Sustainable development at the University of Tartu
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