wearefreemovers x ESN: Together for international mobility
Where curiosity meets community, and studying abroad becomes a shared journey
Nicolò Branchi – CMO at wearefreemovers | October 16, 2025
When we talk about studying abroad, two paths often come to mind: Erasmus and Free Mover.
Two different ways of crossing borders, with different rules, frameworks, and levels of support, yet both driven by the same heartbeat: the desire to explore, the courage to grow, and the ambition to live something bigger than yourself.
For decades, the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) has been the pulse of the Erasmus experience, a community that turns new cities into home and strangers into friends, making sure no one ever feels alone in a foreign country.
At the same time, wearefreemovers was born with the same spirit: by students, for students, but focused on a group that often walks the road less traveled: those who go abroad on their own, as Free Movers. No exchange agreement to smooth the way, just motivation, curiosity, and a bit of brave chaos.
That’s where our partnership began. We realized Erasmus and Free Mover aren’t two worlds in competition, they’re two sides of the same journey. Different routes, same destination: helping students live the international experience that truly fits them.
Table of contents
A common vision
Every student has different needs, backgrounds, and motivations. Some want the structure of Erasmus: a defined set of partner universities, scholarship opportunities, and a process managed by their home institution. Others prefer the flexibility of Free Mover mobility: choosing their own destination, applying directly, and building a personalized academic path.
There is no universal answer, no single “best” choice. There’s only the right choice for each student.
And yet, universities don’t always explain this clearly. Too often, students hear only one side of the story.
We remember that feeling all too well, the confusion, the lack of clear information, and that frustrating sense that your options were limited simply because no one ever told you about the alternatives. Back then, we didn’t fully understand the full range of possibilities for studying abroad, and it often felt like we had to figure everything out on our own.
That’s exactly why, together with ESN, we created a guide that explains the differences between Erasmus and Free Mover mobility, highlighting pros, cons, and when each path makes more sense.
This guide marks the start of something bigger: a world where students finally have clear information, less bureaucracy, and the confidence to choose what’s right for them.
From pre-departure to post-arrival
But our collaboration doesn’t end with helping students choose.
For many Free Movers, the real challenge starts right after the acceptance letter arrives. It’s that strange mix of excitement and uncertainty. You’re thrilled to start a new chapter abroad, but at the same time, everything feels unfamiliar.
While Erasmus students often arrive in a new country with a ready-made community waiting for them, Free Movers sometimes find themselves stepping into the unknown, trying to figure everything out on their own.
We’ve been there too. We know what it’s like to arrive in a new city where you don’t know anyone, to scroll through Facebook groups hoping to find a flatmate or a friend, to walk through a campus full of people already connected and wonder where to start. It’s part of what makes the experience so real — but it can also make it harder than it should be.
That’s where ESN makes the difference. With their incredible network of local sections, they can now welcome not only Erasmus students, but Free Movers too.
And that changes everything. Arriving in a new city now means being welcomed by a community, people ready to help you settle in, share experiences, and make you feel part of something bigger.
Studying abroad is a collection of moments, like shared dinners, unexpected adventures, small victories, and friendships that turn a foreign place into a second home.
And now, thanks to ESN’s community, Free Movers can finally feel that same sense of belonging from day one, the comfort of knowing that, wherever you go, there’s someone ready to say: “Welcome. You’re not alone.”
First steps together
What began as a shared vision is now becoming reality, with real opportunities for students to experience the world in new ways.
- ITECE 2025 Contest
One of our first initiatives together was the contest Il Tuo Erasmus con ESN (ITECE), one of the most important scholarship programs connected to Erasmus mobility in Italy. For the very first time, thanks to our collaboration, the contest was opened also to Free Movers. This was a symbolic and practical step: acknowledging that Free Mover students are part of the same global movement of mobility.
Our CEO & co-founder, Andrea Pellini, joined the third-level jury, reviewing essays and selecting the best projects alongside ESN representatives. A true collaboration, built side by side with ESN to ensure Free Movers were heard, valued, and included in the conversation. - EGM Ancona 2025
Another milestone was our participation in the EGM (Erasmus Generation Meeting) in Ancona. With a dedicated stand, we engaged with students in person, answering their questions and hearing their stories directly.
For us, it was a powerful reminder. Just a few years ago, we were the ones walking into those events, looking for answers, chasing opportunities, and dreaming about going abroad. Meeting today’s students, with the same mix of curiosity and ambition, felt like coming full circle, and made us even more determined to keep building for them.
Looking ahead
And this is just the beginning.
Together with ESN, we want to take this collaboration beyond borders, reaching more countries, more universities, and, most importantly, more students ready to live their own version of the study abroad dream.
Our vision is simple: whether you go abroad through Erasmus or as a Free Mover, you should always feel part of something bigger. A shared community of students who decided to take that leap, chase curiosity, and open their world to new perspectives.
Studying abroad means growing through experiences, building friendships, and living moments that change how you see yourself and the world around you.
No student should ever have to go through that journey alone. And now, they don’t have to.
Whether you choose Erasmus or Free Mover, there will be people guiding you before departure, a community waiting when you arrive, and friends to share the ride with.
With wearefreemovers and ESN, students don’t just apply for a program, they join a movement.
A movement built by students, for students, to make studying abroad open, simple, and full of human connection.
