What Is Green Travel?
Green travel refers to travel undertaken using low-emission and environmentally sustainable means of transport. Travel by train, bus or car-pooling is considered green travel within the scope of the Erasmus+ Programme.
Green travel contributes to reducing the carbon emissions and environmental footprint associated with international mobility. Ankara Science University encourages students and staff participating in Erasmus+ mobility activities to choose environmentally sustainable means of transport whenever practicable.
Conditions for Green Travel Support
To qualify for green travel support:
- Green means of transport must be used for both the outbound and return journeys.
- More than half of the total round-trip distance must be covered using green means of transport.
- The participant must submit appropriate documents demonstrating the means of transport and travel dates.
- The journey must comply with the rules applicable to the relevant Erasmus+ contractual period and mobility activity.
A journey that combines air travel with train, bus or car-pooling may qualify as green travel, provided that green means of transport are used during both the outbound and return journeys and account for more than half of the total round-trip distance.
As a general rule, participants are expected to use low-emission means of transport for distances below 500 kilometres. For distances exceeding 500 kilometres, participants are strongly encouraged to combine different means of transport to make their journey more sustainable.
Travel Distance and Grant Calculation
The travel distance is calculated using the European Commission’s Erasmus+ Distance Calculator. The distance is measured between the location of the sending institution and the location where the mobility activity takes place.
The amount corresponding to the calculated distance band covers the entire outbound and return journey and must not be multiplied by two.
Travel Support Amounts
| Travel distance | Standard travel support | Green travel support |
|---|---|---|
| 10–99 km | EUR 28 | EUR 56 |
| 100–499 km | EUR 211 | EUR 285 |
| 500–1,999 km | EUR 309 | EUR 417 |
| 2,000–2,999 km | EUR 395 | EUR 535 |
| 3,000–3,999 km | EUR 580 | EUR 785 |
| 4,000–7,999 km | EUR 1,188 | EUR 1,188 |
| 8,000 km or more | EUR 1,735 | EUR 1,735 |
These amounts apply to the entire round trip. Grant amounts and eligibility conditions may change according to the relevant contractual period. The applicable call for applications, grant agreement and current Erasmus+ Higher Education Institutions Implementation Handbook shall prevail.
Additional Individual Support for Travel Days
Where necessary, participants may receive individual support for travel days before and after the mobility activity.
- A maximum of two travel days may be supported for standard travel.
- A maximum of six travel days may be supported when green travel is used.
The number of eligible travel days is determined according to the actual journey and the supporting documents submitted by the participant. Additional travel-day support is not automatically granted for the maximum number of days; only necessary and verifiable travel days may be taken into consideration.
Required Supporting Documents
Students and staff wishing to benefit from green travel support must retain and submit documents showing the means of transport used and the dates of both the outbound and return journeys.
The following documents may be requested:
- Train or bus tickets,
- Boarding passes and flight information where different means of transport are combined,
- Documents showing the travel route,
- Passport entry and exit records,
- Documents or declarations relating to car-pooling,
- Invoices or receipts where required,
- Other supporting documents requested by the Erasmus Coordination Office.
The documents must clearly demonstrate that green means of transport were used for both the outbound and return journeys and that more than half of the total round-trip distance was completed through green travel.
Where the participant’s actual point of departure or destination differs from the location of the sending or receiving institution and this difference results in a different distance band, supporting travel documents and invoices may be required.
Application and Notification Process
Students and staff planning to use green travel should inform the Ankara Science University Erasmus Coordination Office before finalising their travel arrangements.
Participants must:
- Inform the Erasmus Coordination Office that they intend to use green travel.
- Plan both the outbound and return journeys in accordance with green travel conditions.
- Retain all relevant tickets and supporting documents.
- Submit the requested documents to the Erasmus Coordination Office after completing the journey.
- Inform the Erasmus Coordination Office of any changes to the planned route or means of transport.
Green travel eligibility and the corresponding support are assessed based on the documents submitted, the type of mobility, the rules of the relevant contractual period and the available Erasmus+ grant budget.
Environmental Sustainability
In line with the principles of the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education, Ankara Science University promotes environmentally responsible practices throughout Erasmus+ activities.
In addition to choosing sustainable means of transport, participants are encouraged to:
- Reduce unnecessary paper use,
- Use digital documents and communication tools,
- Make responsible use of energy and natural resources,
- Reduce waste during their mobility period,
- Choose sustainable accommodation and local transportation options where possible,
- Share environmentally responsible practices with the University community.
Important Information
Green travel support is subject to:
- Compliance with the applicable Erasmus+ rules,
- Submission of complete and valid supporting documents,
- Confirmation that green travel conditions have been fulfilled,
- The type and duration of the mobility activity,
- The Erasmus+ budget available to Ankara Science University.
In the event of any discrepancy between the information provided on this page and the applicable programme rules, the current Erasmus+ Programme Guide, the Erasmus+ Higher Education Institutions Implementation Handbook, the relevant call for applications and the participant grant agreement shall prevail.
Contact
For further information and document submission, please contact:
Ankara Science University Erasmus Coordination Office
E-mail: erasmus@ankarabilim.edu.tr