Erasmus internship abroad: Complete guide 2024

To qualify for an Erasmus+ internship abroad, applicants must meet certain requirements. These criteria ensure that the program specifically supports students and vocational school students who can benefit from an international internship.

Enrollment at a participating university

A basic requirement for participation in the Erasmus+ program is enrollment at a university that participates in the Erasmus+ program. Students must be enrolled at their home university for the entire duration of the internship abroad.

Internship position in an eligible country

The Erasmus+ program supports internships in the 27 EU member states as well as in Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Turkey, North Macedonia, and Serbia. The internship position must be located in one of these countries, but may not be in the student's home country.

Minimum and maximum duration of the internship

An Erasmus+ internship abroad must last at least two months (60 days) and no more than twelve months. Students can receive funding for up to 12 months within a study cycle, or even up to 24 months in single-track degree programs. The internship can be extended as long as the total duration does not exceed 12 months.

Relevance to the field of study

The Erasmus+ internship should be relevant to the student's field of study and promote their professional development. The connection between the student's studies and the internship is specified in the Learning Agreement and checked by the home university.

In addition to these main criteria, graduates can also complete an Erasmus+ internship within one year of graduating, provided they apply while still studying and the total funding quota has not been exhausted. By fulfilling these requirements, students and vocational school students can take advantage of the many opportunities offered by an Erasmus+ internship abroad and gain valuable experience for their personal and professional development.

There is no standard application procedure for an Erasmus+ internship abroad. Interested students and graduates should contact the Erasmus office or the international office at their university to apply and receive support. The sending institution selects participants according to fair and transparent criteria. Early preparation of 4 to 6 months is recommended, as application documents often have to be submitted 2 months before the start of the internship.

Registration on the university's application portal

At many universities, registration for an Erasmus+ internship abroad is done via an online application portal. For example, students at TH Köln must register with Mobility Online using their campusID and submit their application at least 8 weeks before the start of the internship. The national agency and the program countries determine the exact deadlines and procedures.

Submission of the Learning Agreement for Traineeships

A key document for Erasmus funding is the Learning Agreement for Traineeships. It defines the learning objectives, content, and conditions of the internship and is signed by all parties involved. For organized internships, the provider often provides a template. Changes are possible after the start of the internship, subject to certain deadlines.

Letter of motivation, resume, and transcript

The Erasmus+ application also includes a letter of motivation, a resume, and a current transcript. The letter of motivation should clarify the relevance of the internship to your studies and career aspirations. Good academic performance, your intended degree goal, and previous experience abroad can increase your chances of being accepted. The selection criteria vary depending on the university and department.

Special features of graduate internships

Graduates can also apply for an Erasmus+ internship as long as they are still enrolled at the university during the application process. The internship itself then takes place after graduation. Up to 12 months after graduation, graduates can gain valuable international experience for their career start and develop intercultural skills for the job market.

The Erasmus+ program offers students and graduates comprehensive financial support for internships abroad. The amount of the scholarship depends on the countries in which the internship is completed and the individual requirements of the participants. The funding covers various costs, including travel expenses, living expenses, organizational costs, possible language courses, and special expenses such as visas or financial support for people with disabilities.

Amount of the scholarship by country group

The maximum funding amount for Erasmus+ internships abroad in 2023 was 150 days per semester and depends on the country group. For country group 1 (Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden), it was €600 per month, for country group 2 (Austria, Belgium, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Cyprus) €540 per month, and for country group 3 (Bulgaria, Estonia, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Turkey, Hungary) it was €490 per month. In the 2024 funding year, there will be a slight change in the country classification.

Additional funding for internships and students with fewer opportunities

In addition to the monthly scholarship, there are top-ups of €150 per month for internships and €250 per month for participants with fewer opportunities. This includes students and graduates with a disability of GdB 20 or higher or a chronic illness, with children, from a non-academic family background, or working students. Students traveling abroad with children can also apply for a real cost allowance to cover additional expenses incurred, no later than two months before the start of their mobility period.

Additional amounts for sustainable travel

To promote sustainable travel, participants who use environmentally friendly means of transport such as trains or buses to travel to and from their internship location receive a one-time subsidy of €50. This measure is intended to help offset the costs of climate-friendly mobility and create an incentive to avoid air travel. With financial support from the Erasmus+ program, students and graduates can gain valuable work experience abroad and expand their skills without being deterred by high costs.

The amount of the scholarship depends on the country group. For Sweden, for example, there was a scholarship of €600 in 2023.

Careful preparation for an internship abroad with Erasmus+ also includes language training. The EU promotes the acquisition and improvement of language skills to facilitate communication at the internship location and exchanges with people in the host country. Erasmus+ participants have access to online language courses and can develop their skills in the working or national language.

Online language support from the EU Academy

The European Commission provides comprehensive online language support via its learning management platform, the EU Academy. After registering with the university's Erasmus team, participants gain access to learning content, exercises, and placement tests. Use of the platform is mandatory for all grant recipients with a physical stay of more than 14 days and is an excellent opportunity to improve one's language skills.

Mandatory language tests before the start of the internship

As part of their preparation for the internship abroad, participants are required to take an online language test before departure. This regulation is part of the Grant Agreement concluded between the student and the sending university. The test serves to assess the current language level and enables targeted preparation for the language requirements of the internship.

Recognition of achievements abroad

Another important aspect when planning an Erasmus+ internship is the recognition of achievements abroad. Before the start of the stay, the parties involved – the student, the sending institution, and the host institution – sign a learning agreement. This document specifies the learning content and objectives of the internship and ensures full recognition of the completed training phase. After completion of the internship, the host institution sends a transcript of records, which the home university must recognize without additional examinations. The mobility phase should also be noted in the Diploma Supplement to document the graduate's international experience.