Possible participants of the programme are students and recent graduates (up to one year after graduation) studying at a European Higher Education institution (Universities and Vocational Education and Training institutions)

Students who can apply are the ones still studying or have recently graduated (students can do the traineeship in the period of up until one year after graduation, but they have to apply for the traineeship before graduating).

The Trainees eligible for the traineeship are the ones studying or graduated from a institution in an EU country or a Partner country in the Erasmus+ programme. These students can get a grant which is sufficient to cover their costs of living.

Students can spend from minimum 2 to maximum 12 months for each cycle of study (maximum 12 months as a Bachelors student, again 12 months during the Master, and 12 months during the PhD). In case of a combined study and traineeship, the minimum duration is 3 months and the maximum duration is 12 months, no matter how the time is shared between studies and traineeship.

Erasmus grant is intended to be a supplement to your existing form of financial support - not a replacement. You should therefore seek to continue receiving your existing grants, loans and awards throughout the placement period.

You can get extra money by working. Any payment provided by the host organisation, for example, does not affect the awarding of your Erasmus grant. Part-time work is also allowed so long as you maintain the activities listed in the agreed program.

The level of grant funding you can get depends on the destination country, with those travelling to more expensive locations getting higher amounts. The actual sum may vary between 450 Euro and 500 Euro per month. If you have special needs you may also receive further supplementary funding.

Once accepted into the program your monthly grant will be calculated and delivered in two payments. The total figure is based on the actual number of months you are on placement. Your first amount will be 70% of the overall total and the second amount will be the remaining 30%. You will receive the first payment early in the internship, and the second payment later on.

Here we have a brief scheme of your grant, according to the official document of the Erasmus+ grant which changes from a group of countries to another.

Firstly, we advise you to get all the information for the grant application from the International Bureau and from the Erasmus coordinator at your institution. Different institutions have different deadlines and conditions for application, it is important to talk to your International Bureau or your Erasmus coordinator at the institution first. Here you will start completing all de documents that you need.

Once selected, you may be asked to complete a language assessment test. Depending on your ability, your current university or college may offer you a free language course or other form of support to prepare you for your time abroad.

It is also your responsibility to ensure you have adequate health insurance, as well as wider insurance covering you for the period of your internship. You are also responsible for travel documentation, including passports and visas.

So, the next step is to find a work placement.

Training Experience will help you to find a receiving organization where you will be working during your traineeship. Students will have the opportunity to do an internship in organizations, institutions, enterprises, training institutions or research institutions.

After the selection process and after being accepted by the receiving organization, institution or enterprise, Training Experience starts to prepare all the paperwork, meaning the documents required by the Erasmus+ programme.

The required documents before the mobility starts are:

• Acceptance Letter/ Letter of traineeship; a letter signed by the receiving organization to confirm they will receive the trainee. The document is not obligatory it depends on the institution if they require it.
• Learning agreement for traineeship; this is a document that defines the learning outcomes, the formal recognition provisions and lists the rights and obligations of the trainee, the sending organization (the University or other higher education institution) and the receiving institution.
• Grant Agreement; the financial agreement document that is prepared by the sending institution and signed by the trainee.

The required documents during the mobility are:

• Arrival letter; a letter signed by the trainee and the receiving organization that confirms the start of the work placement.
• Monthly reports; repots explaining the monthly program of the traineeship, and what the trainee has been doing in the past month, signed by the trainee and the mentor in the receiving organization.(Not always applicable)
• Modifications to the Learning agreement of traineeship; possible changes of the duration of the mobility, the mentor, the content of the work placement; If these changes happen the receiving organization has to insert them into the learning agreement of traineeship and send them to the sending organization for approval.

The required documents after the mobility are:

• Traineeship certificate; a document signed by the receiving organization that confirms the results of the work placement.
• Transcript of Records; an additional document signed by the receiving organization that describes the results of the work placement.

Undertaking an International Internship gives you are greater exposure to the global industry and provides an invaluable international experience.

It will also look very good on your professional CV, and candidates with this international experience are often favoured in job applications for the prospective employers.

A lot of Internships lead to long lasting relationships and business networking connections which become part of your genetic makeup in your area of expertise.