Erasmus+ traineeship

There are three different ways for you to carry out your Erasmus+ traineeship:

• As part of ordinary exchange studies where clinical courses are included in the Erasmus+ agreement with the parnter university as traineeship. Read more at Exchange studies.
• Within the framework of your thesis. You will be registered in Ladok and examined at KI, but collect data for your thesis at an eligible organisation/company. The course director of your degree project course at KI must approve your traineeship period/data collection and sign your agreement.
• Between semesters or directly in conjunction with graduating and without a contact person at KI. You cannot transfer any credits for your traineeship, but it will be noted in your Diploma Supplement when taking out your degree from KI, if the traineeship is carried out before you graduate. It is possible to carry out an Erasmus+ Traineeship within 12 months from your graduation at KI, but you must apply for the traineeship scholarship during your final semester at KI while still being an active student here and no later than 4 weeks before the end of your final semester. Your program director will sign the agreement.

Finding a traineeship

You are responsible for finding your own traineeship. It can be helpful to speak with your course director or other teaching staff for suggestions or contacts. You can also reach out directly to companies or organizations that interest you, or search for internship opportunities listed on their websites.

A helpful resource is ErasmusIntern.org, a nonprofit platform created by the Erasmus Student Network, where internship providers and students can connect.

In general, you may not register as a student at another university during your traineeship. However, exceptions can be made if you are working in a laboratory or under the supervision of a researcher as part of your thesis.

List of EU-institutions and other bodies

Eligible countries for Erasmus+ traineeships

You can apply for an Erasmus+ scholarship for a traineeship in any of the 27 EU member states, including certain associated regions. Additionally, EFTA countries such as Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway, as well as Croatia and Turkey, are eligible.

Some islands and areas outside of Europe that are connected to the EU are also eligible for traineeships. These include Aruba, the Azores, French Polynesia, Greenland, Martinique, and La Réunion.

If you choose to do a traineeship in a company in Switzerland, you are eligible for an Erasmus+ grant. For studies, you would be eligible for an INK grant instead. If you wish to do a traineeship at a university in Switzerland, you can receive an Erasmus+ grant if the university agrees to sign an individual Erasmus agreement. For assistance, please contact your International Coordinator. Read more about Erasmus+ internships in Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Application 

Begin by discussing your plan with your course or programme director. They are responsible for approving your traineeship, not the international office.

Applications must be submitted at least one month before your traineeship begins or before the end of the semester. Since there is a limited number of grants, it is recommended to apply as early as possible.

Your application must include:

• A fully completed and signed Learning Agreement
• A transcript from Ladok showing your completed studies
• Any other documents specified in the application form

The application should be sent to the address provided in the form. You will receive a decision within approximately one month.

After your traineeship

Once your traineeship is finished, your host supervisor must complete the “After the Mobility” section of the Learning Agreement and provide a Certificate of Attendance. You must also fill out an online evaluation. When all of this is completed, the remaining portion of your scholarship will be paid out, and the traineeship will be recorded in Ladok as part of your Diploma Supplement.

Financial support

The Erasmus+ grant is paid in two parts. You will receive 80 percent after your contract is signed, and the remaining 20 percent once your traineeship is complete and all documentation is submitted.

Grant amounts vary depending on the destination country. You will be informed of the specific amount after acceptance, and payments are made in Swedish kronor (SEK) based on the exchange rate at the time the grant is allocated.

Terms and conditions

To be eligible to apply for a traineeship grant within the framework of the Erasmus+ programme you must:

• be a registered student at Karolinska Institutet
• be eligible to continue your studies at KI the coming semester, or be about to finish your studies at KI
• carry out the traineeship before taking out your degree certificate
• have agreed with a company or organisation that you will carry out the traineeship full-time for 2 to 12 months, within the contract period (1 June - 30 Sept the following year). The traineeship should be carried out in one single location over a continuous period of time
• have received a signed "Learning Agreement" from the company/organisation
• ensure that the traineeship will be recognised in your Diploma Supplement within your study programme at KI
• carry out your training in an approved country and at a place approved by the Erasmus+ programme
• apply for the grant before the traineeship period has begun. No grant can be granted after completion of the traineeship period
• follow the conditions stipulated in the Erasmus+ Traineeship application and in the contracts to be drawn up

You commit to:

• return the grant if, through a misunderstanding or for some other reason, you have incorrectly stated that you meet the requirements for the scholarship
• return the unused portion of the grant if the practical training is terminated early
• submit an evaluation report on the traineeship carried out, no later than one month after returning to Sweden.

Insurance

All Erasmus+ traineeship students are covered by Kammarkollegiet’s Student UT insurance. If your traineeship is not part of your formal studie, such as during the summer or after graduation, KI will arrange a separate policy for you. EU citizens should also bring their European Health Insurance Card.

Frequently asked questions

• The minimum duration of a traineeship is 60 consecutive days, and it must be full-time in a single location. The maximum duration is 12 months per education level, including both studies and traineeships.
• You may apply for a traineeship in your home country, and you can receive the scholarship even if you are not a Swedish citizen.
• It is possible to do a traineeship at a foreign university, provided you are working as a trainee and not enrolled in courses. If you enroll in classes, it is considered a study period and not eligible for the traineeship grant.
• You may participate in Erasmus+ more than once, as long as your total time abroad does not exceed 12 months per study level.
• You may not receive multiple EU or Swedish government scholarships for the same mobility period, but you are allowed to apply for CSN and other scholarships alongside the Erasmus+ grant.
• If you cut your traineeship short, you may be required to repay part or all of your scholarship.
• Once your application is complete and approved, the first payment will be made after your stipend application is processed. Exact timing depends on your bank and KI’s administrative processing.

Inspiration

To understand how the process works, you can watch a video featuring student Tina Sayari explaining her experience. For inspiration, another student, Johanna Jung, shares her story about doing a traineeship in England.

Contact

For questions regarding outside a pre-established agreement (degree projects and traineeships outside your ordinary study programme).