Is the implementation of the European Student Card (ESC) mandatory?

All higher education institutions holding an Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE) commit, as part of the charter, to implementing the technical standards of the European Student Card Initiative, which includes the implementation of the ESC.

Higher education institutions participating in European Universities alliances also commit to the implementation of the European Student Card Initiative as part of the call for proposals.

This obligation to implement the ESC is reinforced by key political commitments, including the Council Recommendation of 5 April 2022 on building bridges for effective European higher education cooperation and the Council Recommendation of 13 May 2024 ‘Europe on the Move’ – learning mobility opportunities for everyone. These commitments call on EU countries to actively support the adoption of the European Student Card Initiative, which includes the European Student Card. These commitments call on EU countries to actively support the full adoption of ESCI.