The European Commission increased in more than doubled the number of education and teaching grants available for young people and university staff from countries involved in the 'Arab Spring' uprisings. Thus through 'Erasmus Mundus' programme, funding for a further 559 scholarships, on top of the 525 that were already planned for 2011-2012, are being allocated to Southern Mediterranean countries.

Through the 'Erasmus Mundus' programme, the European Commission is funding a further 559 scholarships for young people and university staff from countries involved in the 'Arab Spring' uprisings in North Africa and the Middle East. This extra funding will join the 525 grants that were already planned for 2011-2012. Thanks to these grants, young people or university staff will be able to spend part of their studies, research or a teaching period in the European Union.

The Commission has provided an additional €10 million to fund the extra 559 scholarships for countries in the Southern Mediterranean. These countries are expected to benefit from further increases in funding for Erasmus Mundus scholarships and grants in 2012-13. In the 2011-2012 academic year, around 6,000 students and researchers from 150 countries have already received scholarships worth a total of €210 million.

For the time being, over three-quarters of the grants offered through Erasmus Mundus since 2004 have been awarded to people in non-EU countries, including more than 3,000 from North Africa and the Middle East. Non-Europeans studying in the European Union receive at least €1000 per month towards their living costs while European students studying outside Europe receive at least €500 per month. Since the launch of the scheme in 2004, more than 12,000 students, 300 doctoral candidates and 2,000 professors have received scholarships for joint Master's degree courses or doctorate programmes.