Erasmus+ traineeship abroad

An Erasmus+ traineeship is to be carried out during your programme studies or in direct connection to your completed studies.

The traineeship should have a clear connection to the trainee’s studies or give relevant work experience. The trainee can also collect data for a degree project through the work duties to be caried out during the traineeship period as long as the work duties are clearly described in the Erasmus+ Learning Agreement for Traineeship (LAT).

You cannot be granted an Erasmus+ traineeship scholarship for reading literature, writing your degree project and/or receive degree project supervision.

An Erasmus+ traineeship can be classified as:

• Semester (long) traineeship
  A traineeship that lasts between 60 and 360 days of physical mobility.

• Short-blended traineeship
  A traineeship that lasts between 5 and 30 days of physical and, includes a virtual component arranged by the host organization.

Funding is only provided for days of physical mobility.

There are three different types of traineeships:

• Embedded in the curriculum
  A traineeship that is carried out within the framework of a traineeship course or degree project, as part of your education at Stockholm University.

• Voluntary
  A traineeship that is carried out in addition to the regular study programme, during the semester or between semesters and before completing the study programme, for example a summer traineeship.

• Recent Graduate
  A non-credit bearing traineeship that is carried out after the study programme is completed. The entire traineeship period must be completed within 12 months of the date of the degree certificate and the application for an Erasmus+ traineeship scholarship must be submitted during the last semester of studies at Stockholm University, before the end of the study programme. If the applicant has completed his/her studies and received his/her degree certificate, the applicant can no longer apply for an Erasmus+ traineeship scholarship.
  

• Full- time traineeship abroad at a company, organisation or educational or research centres.
• Data collection for a degree project or thesis through full-time work that takes place, for example, at a company/school/clinic/lab/hospital.
  Note that for a traineeship that concerns data collection for a project or thesis, the trainee’s work duties must be clearly described in the Erasmus+ LAT; a traineeship scholarship cannot be granted for reading literature, writing a thesis/report or receiving supervision.

• Work-based education (VFU) within teacher education is often seen as studies but can be considered a traineeship if it involves full-time work.
  VFU (webpage in Swedish)

You can carry out an Erasmus+ mobility for studies or traineeship in one of the following countries:

• Member states of the European Union, including the following regions:
  • Outermost regions, OR’s
  • Overseas contries and territories
• Iceland
• Liechtenstein
• Northern Macedonia
• Norway
• Serbia
• Türkiye

The United Kingdom and Switzerland are not participating in the Erasmus+ programme period 2021-2027. It is therefore not possible to apply for Erasmus+ scholarships for studies or traineeship unless carried out at a Civis partner in these countries

Companies or organisations in the public or private sector can be host organisations, as well as embassies, consulates and representations (Swedish ones included) within the EU and the political parties within the European Parliament.

Higher Education Institutions abroad can also be hosts, however, the following conditions apply:

• The student must carry out work duties for the higher education institution and through these duties collect data for a degree project or thesis.
• The student must not be enrolled at courses at the host university (with the exception to VFU if this is counted as a course at the host university).

If the traineeship is credited, it must be credited as a traineeship/degree project/thesis/VFU, not as a regular course.

EU organizations dealing with EU programmes, such as the National Agencies, are not approved as internship hosts. However, the political parties' offices at the European Parliament are not seen as part of the European Parliament and are therefore approved. Find information here:

EU institutions and other EU bodies

If you want to do a traineeship at EU institution, you can do it outside of the Erasmus+ programme.

More information about traineeships at EU institutions

To be eligible to participate in Erasmus+ traineeship you need to fulfil the following requirements:

• Be a registered and active student at Stockholm University at the time of application. This means that you need to be registered and participating in an ongoing course at the time of application.
• You intend to graduate at Stockholm University (does not apply to “recent graduate”)
• Have an eligible internship/traineeship/work placement and get it approved by your home department
• Will do a full-time traineeship/internship at an eligible organization, in an eligible country, according to your Learning Agreement for Traineeship, for a minimum of 60 days, but no more than 360 days per education cycle (bachelor, master or PhD level)
• Not been on an Erasmus+ mobility before during the same study cycle so that the total mobility period exceeds 360 days (previously and planned mobility)
• Get the Erasmus+ traineeship recognized by your home department (higher education credits, or at least by a note in the diploma supplement - doesn’t apply to “recent graduate”)
• Sign a Grant Agreement before departure
• Submit Arrival Certificate, Traineeship Certificate and Erasmus+ Participant report during and after the mobility.
• Not accept any other scholarships from the EU or the Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR) at the same time.

Please note that your department may have additional requirements. For further information about Erasmus+ traineeship and how it can fit into your study programme, contact the international coordinator at your home department.

The target group for short blended mobility is students who cannot participate in a longer mobility, for example because of limitations in the study programme or for other personal reasons such as children in the household.

To be eligible to participate in a short-blended traineeship you need to meet the general Erasmus+ traineeship requirements in addition to:

• The traineeship needs to contain a physical mobility, in the host country for 5-30 days.
  
• The traineeship needs to contain a virtual component organised by the host organisation that enhances the learning outcomes and has a clear result.
  
• The complete mobility should correspond to at least 3 ECTS.

Please note that your department may have additional requirements. For further information about Erasmus+ traineeship and how it can fit into your study programme, contact the international coordinator at your home department.

Students who meet the requirements for Erasmus+ traineeships may apply for funding via Erasmus+.

The traineeship scholarship should be considered a contribution to expenses and other costs associated with the traineeship period abroad and is not intended to cover all expenses.

You can only be granted a traineeship grant for the days you do a traineeship physically on site in the host country. Activities carried out remotely from Sweden or another country are not eligible for the traineeship grant.

The Erasmus+ traineeship scholarship consists of the following:

• Traineeship grant
• Travel support grant
• Additional grants (if applicable)

The traineeship grant is calculated based on the length (the number of months and days) and the host country of the traineeship. Please note that within Erasmus+, 1 month equals 30 days.

Grant amount for short-blended traineeships (5 – 30 days)
The traineeship grant is calculated based on the number of days you do a traineeship on site at the host organisation.

The traineeship grant can only be granted for days of physical mobility:

• 79 EUR per day up to the 14th day

• 56 EUR per day from the 15th day on (max. 30 days)

The travel support grant is calculated based on the distance between the place of origin (Stockholm) and the city in which the Erasmus+ studies or traineeship will be carried out and, can be higher depending on whether you travel in an environmentally friendly way (Green travel) as pe the table below:

When the distance to the exchange/traineeship destination is less than 500 km from Stockholm, participants are expected to travel in an environmentally friendly way.

You can travel by train, bus or carpool (at least two people in the car), and the trip both to and from the host city must be environmentally friendly. You indicate in the online application how you plan to travel and the travel support grant will be calculated based on this information.

Travel days

Preliminary travel days are added to the traineeship scholarship for travel to and from the host city and based on the travel means indicated in the application. Travel days are only paid if the student/trainee arrives in the host city the day before the exchange/traineeship will begin and travel backs to Stockholm at the earliest the day after the exchange/traineeship ended.

For non-environmentally friendly travel up to 2 travel days (1 day to and 1 day from the host city) can be granted and for environmentally friend travel up to 6 travel days (3 days to and 3 days from the host city).

The travel itinerary should be reasonable and the most direct possible from the origin (host city) to the destination (Stockholm).

The final number of travel days will be determined after the exchange/traineeship ended and the supporting documents have been submitted. If you are unable to submit correct and complete documentation, the number of travel days will be adjusted or deducted from the final scholarship payment.

Please note that granted travel days do not count as part of the traineeship period, that is, they cannot be counted as part of the minimum requirement for the number of days (minimum 5 days for short blended traineeships or 6 days for semester (long) traineeships.

Inclusion is one of the main priorities of the Erasmus+ programme and the aim is for more people with fewer opportunities underrepresented groups to participate in international exchanges and mobilities.

Extra grant

In addition to the traineeship grant, you can apply for an extra grant in the form of a top-up for students who need extra support in order to be able to do a traineeship abroad.

• Semester (long) traineeship: top-up of 250 Euro per month
• Short-blended traineeship: top-up of 100 Euro for a traineeship between 5 and 14 days or a top-up of 150 Euro for a traineeship between 15 and 30 days.

The top-up grant can only be granted once for one or more of the following categories:

If you have minor (underage) children

Students who undertake an Erasmus mobility for studies or traineeship and have minor children can get an extra top up in addition to the traineeship grant, regardless of whether the child accompanies them during the mobility period or not.

You apply for the top up for children in the online application. Attach to the application a family certificate from the Swedish Tax Agency that proves that you have children.

Students who have minor children and are participating in an Erasmus exchange and where the extra costs because of this exceeds the amount of the top up can apply for up to 100 percent coverage for actual costs. Please contact the Erasmus team at the International Office as soon as possible if there are additional costs because of children that are not covered by the top-up: erasmusutbyte@su.se

If you have a permanent disability

Students who undertake an Erasmus mobility for studies or traineeship and have a permanent disability, including disability caused by physical or mental illness, can get an extra top up in addition to the traineeship grant.

You apply for the top up for disability in the online application and you will be contacted by email with more information about the necessary documentation to be submitted.

If additional costs are expected during the stay abroad in relation to the disability that exceed what a top up can cover, it is possible to apply for up to 100 percent coverage for actual costs. Additional costs mean the increase costs incurred by the student/trainee or the host organisation that are not financed in another way, such as transport, adapted accommodation, assistant or medical follow-up in the host country.

Students who wish to apply for funds to cover the actual costs due to their disability should contact the Erasmus team at the International Office in good time for more information on how to submit an application: erasmusutbyte@su.se

If you have or have had protection status

Students who undertake an Erasmus mobility for studies or traineeship and currently have, or have had, protection status in Sweden, either refugee or subsidiary protection status, can get an extra top up in addition to the traineeship grant.

You apply for the top up for disability in the online application. Attach to the application a decision regarding this status from the Swedish Migration Agency.

The application process is relatively long and requires planning. Before you can access the online application, your Erasmus+ Learning Agreement for Traineeship (LAT) needs to be completed and signed. You get the Erasmus+ LAT through your department’s international coordinator or the person responsible for approving the traineeship in the department.

The online application must be submitted no later than 6 weeks before the planned start of the traineeship and all Erasmus+ requirements need to be met at the time of application.

It is your own responsibility to find an eligible traineeship/internship/work placement according to the criteria described on this webpage. Keep constant contact with your department’s international coordinator, or person responsible for approved traineeships, in your department during this process. In some cases, the department can advise you on where to look for a traineeship. You can also take a look at the following webpages:

Adverts received centrally at Stockholm University
Adverts received by the Swedish Council for Higher Education

The Erasmus Student Network has a website that serves as platform for organisations that offer traineeship to students who are looking for one. Read more:
ErasmusIntern.org

Once you have found and been offered a traineeship that meets the criteria and you meet the Erasmus+ requirements, contact your department’s international coordinator / responsible person for traineeship for an assessment of the traineeship-

If your department determines that the terms of the traineeship can be approved on academic grounds and you meet the Erasmus+ requirements, all three parties (you, the department and the host organization) should formalize the traineeship by creating and signing an Erasmus+ Learning Agreement for Traineeship (LAT).

You can obtain the Erasmus+ LAT template from your department’s international coordinator.

Before your Learning Agreement for Traineeship is signed by all parties, check that:

• the document is complete,
• your name and correct academic year are indicated in the header,
• the scope of your traineeship is full-time, i.e 40 hours per week as in Sweden-
• the traineeship starts and ends on a weekday. If you will be working weekends, this needs to be clearly stated in the learning agreement, under “Detailed programme of the traineeship”,
• your work tasks are clearly described under “Detailed programme of the traineeship”. General descriptions are not approved!

Once you have had your traineeship approved by your department, filled out an Erasmus+ LAT, and met all the requirements for an Erasmus+ traineeship, send your Erasmus+ LAT to the International Office to gain access to the online application:

erasmusutbyte@su.se

The purpose of the Erasmus+ Learning Agreement for Traineeship (LAT) is to provide a transparent and effective preparation for the traineeship period abroad while also describing how the traineeship will be recognised by the sending department upon completion.

The Erasmus+ LAT consists of the following sections:

• Administrative data
  This section contains information about the trainee, the sending organisation (Stockholm University) and the host organisation.
  
• Before the mobility
  This section contains 3 tables in which the traineeship programme is described, its recognition and the commitments of all parties are formalised.
  
• During the mobility
  This section is used only if, during the traineeship period, there are changes to the originally planned activities, for instance the length, work duties and/or changes of supervisor at the host organisation.
  
• After the mobility
  This section is filled out at the end of the traineeship period. The supervisor at the host organisation provides an assessment of the trainee’s performance as well as describes the work duties and actual start and end date of the traineeship.

• The Erasmus code of Stockholm University is S STOCKHO01
• The contact person at Stockholm University is usually the international coordinator at your department but, this role can also be held by another person who has the delegation/mandate to approved the traineeship on academic grounds at the department. Check with the international coordinator at your department who can approve the traineeship and sign your Erasmus+ LAT.
• The contact person at the receiving organisation/enterprise is the person who will be the contact person towards your department. It is common that the contact person is the person responsible for the trainee’s supervision, assessment and evaluation that is, the supervisor, and is the person who signs the traineeship certificate at the end of the traineeship period.
• The mentor at the host organisation is a person who offers support in practical matters in connection to the beginning of and during the traineeship.

Table A – Traineeship Programme at the Receiving Organisation/Enterprise
Table A is completed with information about the traineeship and in detail describe your work duties during the traineeship.

• Planned period of the physical mobility
  The start and end date of the traineeship should be the first and last day you will physically work on site at the host organisation and that day should be a regular work day. If your traineeship will start and/or end during the weekend, it needs to be clearly stated under “Detailed programme of the traineeship” that you will work on weekends.
• If applicable, planned period(s) of the virtual mobility
  Only filled in if the Erasmus+ LAT describes a short-blended traineeship.
• Traineeship title
  The title of the traineeship should concisely describe what your traineeship will be about, for example “marketing intern”, “customer service intern”, “research assistant”, “laboratory assistant” or “thesis intern”.
• Number of working hours per week
  The number of hours that you will be working during the week must clearly be show that your work duties are full-time. If the number of hours you will be working differs significantly from the 40 hours work week in Sweden, it is important that this is described in detail under “Detailed programme of the traineeship”
• Detailed programme of the traineeship
  The trainee’s work duties and role at the host organisation must be clearly described. General descriptions of the project and the traineeship are not accepted! The focus of this section is on the work duties and not technicalities. Anyone who reads the text should be able to understand what you will be working on.
  If the Erasmus+ LAT describes a short-blended traineeship, the virtual element should also be described in detail.
• Traineeship in digital skills
  Tick yes if your traineeship includes any of the following activities: digital marketing (e.g. social media management, web analytics); digital graphical, mechanical or architectural design; development of apps, software, scripts, or websites; installation, maintenance and management of IT systems and networks; cybersecurity; data analytics, mining and visualisation; programming and training of robots and artificial intelligence applications.
  
• Knowledge, skills and competences to be acquired by the end of the traineeship
  Describe what the trainee is expected to learn/develop during the traineeship, what the intern is expected to achieve during the traineeship period.
• Monitoring plan
  Describe how the supervisor at the host organisation will follow up and support the trainee throughout the traineeship. It is recommended to agree on follow up meetings (including the periodicity) both during and after the traineeship.
• Evaluation plan
  Describe how the supervisor at the host organisation will evaluate the trainee’s performance and how it will be communicated to the trainee and Stockholm University. For example, describe whether any presentation and/or reports will be the basis for the supervisor’s assessment of the trainee.
• Level of language competence
  Indicate the langue of the traineeship and the level of the trainee in the language. If you are unsure on the level, you can take the OLS language test, see below under “Language assessment and courses for outbound Erasmus students”

Table B – Sending Institution
Table B is completed in by your department’s international coordinator / person responsible for approving the traineeship and describes how the traineeship will be recognized depending on the traineeship type. This table also contains information about the insurance that applies to SU students during traineeships.

Table C – Receiving Organisation/Enterprise
Table C is completed by the host organisation at describes any compensation and/or insurance they offer. It also includes the host organisation’s commitment regarding the work environment and reporting (Traineeship Certificate) at the end of the traineeship.

Table A2 - Exceptional Changes to the Traineeship Programme at the Receiving Organisation/Enterprise

Table A2 is completed only if there are changes to the originally planned traineeship. Complete according to the instructions for Table A indicating the changes and must be signed by all parties.

Table D - Traineeship Certificate by the Receiving Organisation/Enterprise

Table D is completed at the end of the traineeship by the supervisor of the host organisation. The content is based on what has been written in Table A, or Table A2 if applicable and in this table, the supervisor reports on completed tasks and evaluates the trainee’s performance.

Students who undertake an Erasmus mobility for studies or traineeship through Stockholm University are covered by the Student UT insurance via Kammarkollegiet.

The Student UT insurance is free of charge and covers from two weeks before to two weeks after the mobility period and only in the host country.

Read through the Student UT insurance terms and make an assessment whether your need to take out a supplementary Insurance.

Kammarkollegiet’s Student UT insurance

If you are traveling within the EU or EEA you should also bring a valid European Health Insurance Card,

The card is free, valid for three years and can be order at: www.forsakringskassan.se.

Students studying or doing a traineeship through Erasmus+ must complete a language assessment in connection with the mobility period.

The language test is mandatory for mobilities that last longer than 13 days and will be carried out in the main language of your studies or work. Tests are available in the following changes:

Bulgarian (BG), Croatian (HR), Czech (CS), Danish (DA), Dutch (NL), English (EN), Estonian (ET), Finnish (FI), French (FR), German (DE), Greek (EL), Hungarian (HU), Icelandic (IS), Irish (GA), Italian (IT), Latvian (LV), Lithuanian (LT), Macedonian (MK), Maltese (MT), Norwegian (NO), Polish (PL), Portuguese (PT), Romanian (RO), Serbian (SR), Slovak (SK), Slovene (SL), Spanish (ES), Swedish (SV – not as native language), Turkish (TR).

If the main language of your exchange/traineeship is not listed above, you do not need to do a language test.

• Join the “Learn a New Language Community"
• Within the group, search and join the desired language community for example “English Learning Community and Resources”
• Take the language test found under “Spotlight” (the test takes between 10-45 minutes)
• After completing the test, you will be able to see your level immediately (A1-C2, according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, CEFR)
• Download and save your certificate which is available under “*Language* Placement Test Certificate”

Once you have competed the language test, you will be able to attend a language course online. You can participate in various courses and tests with a focus on reading and listening, grammar, and pronunciation. You can also ask questions to language teachers (answers within 24 hours). In addition to the courses, there is also learning material available such as articles, vocabulary and grammar material.

If you experience any technical issues, report this directly to the OLS system administrator. You find their contact information on the login page.

For other questions, please contact: erasmusutbyte@su.se