Erasmus+ Traineeship: Rewards and Benefits
- Gain work experience that will make you more attractive to potential employers.
- Get the chance to work with interesting topics related to your education.
- Improve your language skills and gain intercultural skills.
- Receive funding to help cover living costs during the traineeship period.
- Add an international dimension to your CV (such experience is commonly sought by employers when they are hiring)
- Take advantage of a programme designed to help you take the first step into the job market.
Where can you complete your traineeship?
You can complete your traineeship at a company, organisation, or research and education centre in any Erasmus country outside Sweden. The prerequisite is that the traineeship involves mobility (that is to say, time spent in another EU member state). You cannot complete an Erasmus+ traineeship at an EU institution or organization that coordinates EU programmes.
There are many online databases where companies and organizations list traineeship opportunities. The main website listing these is http://erasmusintern.org. Additional online resources can be found by searching for "Erasmus Internship" or "Erasmus Traineeship".
Field of Study
The traineeship should somehow relate to your field of study; otherwise, there are no limits. If you meet the criteria, then you can apply. You can also use the traineeship period for thesis research or preparation.
Financing
Most traineeships do not pay a wage; however, the Erasmus+ Programme provides grants to help cover some of your living expenses. The grant amount for an internship is 525 €/month for Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Liectenstein, Norway and Great Britain. For other countries, the sum is 465 Euros/month.
The number of grants is limited. You must apply for the grant before you start your traineeship - that is to say, you cannot be approved for a grant after the traineeship has ended
Insurance
You are insured by StudentUT insurance. See our Insurance webpage for more information.
Integrate a Traineeship into Your Studies
Your traineeship will be included in your study results in your diploma supplement, which is an appendix to your degree certificate. Upon completion of your traineeship, you will also receive a "Transcript of Work" from a traineeship coordinator. The mobility period can also be included in a Europass, which is a type of curriculum vitae that you yourself write.
You can combine studies with a traineeship so long as the period is 3 to 12 months without interruption. This is classed as student mobility for study purposes and any grant you receive is calculated on this basis.
You can complete more than one traineeship as long as the total mobility period does not exceed 12 months per level (ie, bachelor, master, PhD).
When To Apply
Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and are processed in chronological order of receipt. You can apply to do a traineeship at any point throughout your studies and up to one year after you complete your studies. You need to apply while you are still a registered student - that is to say, before you apply for your degree certificate.
How To Apply
Before Your Departure
- Ask the employer to complete a Letter of Intent: email this to the Erasmus Coordinator.
- The employer will receive a Learning Agreement: this should be completed, signed by you and your employer, and emailed to Dalarna University.
- Now you apply for a grant: Grant Application Form. You will receive a grant agreement for your signature from Dalarna University.
- You can also take an online Erasmus preparatory course ahead of your exchange: see Erasmus+ Language Courses. Contact our Erasmus Coordinator with questions.
- You will receive the grant from Dalarna University as soon as the traineeship employer informs us that you have commenced your traineeship.
After Your Return
- The traineeship employer will draw up a Trainee Certificate no later than five weeks after you complete your traineeship and should send a copy to both you and Dalarna University.
- You will once again complete an online language test.
- You will receive an email with a link to an obligatory online evaluation for completion.