Erasmus began in 1987 with only 3,200 students.

Omissions

• The first cohort came from 11 participating countries (Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom), not from the present-day EU of 27 member states.
• Some Commission communications and academic accounts give the first-year figure as 3,244 students rather than 3,200; the difference is marginal and reflects rounding/reporting conventions.
• The programme was formally adopted on 15 June 1987 and launched on 1 July 1987, i.e. the 'start' refers to the 1987/88 academic year.

Sources

• PrimaryEuropean Commission — Erasmus+ 'Marking 37 years of Erasmus+: Key numbers and achievements'"In 1987, 3 200 students from 11 European countries (Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, ..."
• PrimaryEuropean Commission — Erasmus+ programme statistics overview"Erasmus was established in 1987 as an exchange programme for higher education students. Ever since the first year, when 3,200 students from 11 ..."
• PrimaryEuropean Commission — Erasmus+ 'Erasmus to Erasmus+: history, funding and future'"The 'Erasmus' programme is adopted by the Council on 15 June 1987, and officially launched on 1 July 1987."