Socrates is the European Community action programme for cooperation in the field of education, dating from March 1995. It is applicable to the 15 member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, as well as to a number of states of Central Europe, Cyprus and Malta.

The overall aim of Socrates is to help improve the quality and relevance of education for children, young people and adults, by enhancing European cooperation and increasing access to the range of learning opportunities available across the Union. It seeks to provide learners of all ages and social groups with insights into the European dimension of the subjects which they are studying, to increase opportunities for personal experience of other European countries, to develop a stronger sense of sharing a European identity, and to foster the ability to shape and adapt to changes in the economic and social environment.

Socrates supports activities in a number of sectors; among them, the higher education sector is covered by Erasmus sub-programme. It applies to all types of higher education, up to postgraduate courses including doctoral level.