Green Travel

Train travel
Are you going on an exchange within Europe? How you travel to your host country has a major impact on your carbon footprint. By choosing to travel green, you can receive extra travel support from Erasmus+ of at least €56 + up to 6 travel days in total — while also reducing your carbon emissions by over 90% compared to flying.

What is considered green travel?

  • Green travel means travelling using low-emission transports, such as trains, buses, or carpooling. 
  • at least 50% of the journey or one of the directions must be completed using green transport. 
  • Boats, ferries, or flights can be used as part of the journey as long as at least 50% of the total journey is completed using green transport.

A trip from Helsinki to Berlin can be completed by combining ferry (Helsinki–Stockholm, 396 km) and train (Stockholm–Berlin, 811 km). Since at least 50% of the journey, 811 km of the total 1207 km, is by green transport the trip qualifies for the green travel grant. 

How big is the green travel grant?  

Students participating in an Erasmus+ exchange, internship, Summer or Winter School, as well as staff and teachers taking part in exchanges, are eligible to apply for the grant. The grant does not apply to freemovers.

The Erasmus+ green travel grant is based on the distance between Hanken and your host university. Use the Erasmus+ Distance Calculator to determine the distance and see your grant amount in the table below. When travelling green you can also get support for up to a total of 6 travel days (€16–18 per day), instead of the usual 2.

green travel

The grant for Helsinki to Berlin (1,207 km) amounts to a total of €453 since you get €417 for journeys of 500–1,999 km and €36 for two travel days (€18/day for Germany).

Why should I travel green? 

  • You reduce your carbon emissions by avoiding flying.
  • You experience more during the joureny – see more than just airports and make stops along the way.
  • Yo avoid airline baggage limits – trains and buses usually allow you to bring more luggage without extra fees.
  • By choosing night trains you save both time and hotel costs.
  • Train and bus stations are often closer to city centers than airports, making it easier to travel to and from your host university.

Trains are the most environmentally friendly way to travel. Buses and carpooling are also better options than flying. If you must fly, choose a direct flight.

How do I plan my trip?

It is a myth that traveling by land is expensive and complicated! Use our tips when planning your green trip:

  1. Use benefits: Interrail Youth Pass, EURail Interrail Global Pass for Erasmus+
  2. Trip planners: Deutsche Bahn (also outside Germany), Google Maps, Maata pitkin matkustaminen, Rome2Rio
  3. Night trains: Night Train Map
  4. Buss trips: Flixbus, Comparabus
  5. Scenic train rides: Europe's 10 best scenic train rides
  6. Facebook groups: Tågsemester, Maata pitkin matkustavat
  7. Travel stories: Going on student exchange by train, Green travel ambassadors encourage green student exchange, The fair traveller's guide, 40 Green Travel Tips

If you know other students going to the same country, carpool for all or part of the trip. Compare your emissions from train, car, or plane using ecopassenger.com.

How do I apply for the grant? 

  • Apply after your exchange by filling out the compensation form. Fill out (leave “Project number” blank), sign and send the form, together with all receipts and travel tickets, to outgoing.mobility(at)hanken.fi no later than: 
    • 28 February if you were on exchange during the autumn semester 
    • 31 July if you were on exchange during the spring semester 
  • The green travel grant will be paid to the bank account you have registered in Mobility Online. 

For more information on green travel, visit the Green Erasmus website.

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