Erasmus+ traineeship
As a student at Karolinska Institutet (KI), you have the opportunity to apply for an Erasmus+ grant to support a traineeship or degree project abroad. This can take place at a company, research center, university, or other eligible organization in an EU or EEA country, as part of your education.
Four ways to carry out Erasmus traineeships
Part of regular exchange studies (embedded in the curriculum) where clinical courses are included as traineeship in the Erasmus+ agreement with the partner institution. Read more at Exchange studies.
Part of your degree project or (clinical)course (embedded in the curriculum). You will be registered in Ladok and examined at KI, but collect data for your degree project/project course or carry out the traineeship at an eligible institution/organisation/company. The course director at KI must approve your traineeship period/data collection and sign your Learning Agreement.
Outside your regular study programme e.g. as summer internship. You cannot transfer any credits for your traineeship. The traineeship will be noted in your Diploma Supplement. Your programme director will sign the Learning Agreement to confirm the academic relevance.
Recent graduates, after you completed your studies at KI. The traineeship will be noted in your Diploma Supplement. To take part in Erasmus+ traineeship recent graduate, you need to apply during your final semester/course at KI, before graduation, but no later than 4 weeks before the end of your final semester. The Erasmus+ traineeship must take place within 12 months after graduation. Your programme director will sign the Learning Agreement to confirm the academic relevance.
If you already completed your studies and applied for your degree certificate you are no longer eligible to apply.
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
Erasmus+ traineeship can be applied for internships/thesis work within the EU/EEA as well as certain islands and other areas outside Europe that belong to or are connected to the EU.
- EU: the 27 EU member states (as KI student you cannot apply for a traineeship in Sweden)
- EEA countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, North Macedonia, and Turkey
- Outermost regions: Canary Islands, Madeira, Azores, Mayotte, Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Réunion, Saint Martin, and Saint Barthélemy
- Anguilla, Aruba, Bermuda, Bonaire, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curaçao, Falkland Islands, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Territories, Greenland, Montserrat, New Caledonia and Dependencies, Pitcairn, Saba, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, Turks and Caicos, Wallis and Futuna Islands.
Traineeship in Swizerland or the United Kingdom
To qualify for an Erasmus grant for an traineeship in Switzerland or the United Kingdom, a Learning Agreement must be established with a company or organisation. You can only apply for a grant for a traineeship at a Brittish or Swiss university if you are officially admitted as an exchange student. It is your responsibility to find the contact person responsible for receiving you.
If you still plan to undertake a traineeship at a university in Switzerland or the United Kingdom, you can still do so with the approval of the course leader/programme director, but without an Erasmus grant.
To apply for a visa for a traineeship in the United Kingdom, a so-called sponsorship, Certificate of Sponsorship, may be required, which the receiving organisation applies for. This is often a time-consuming process, which is good to consider when planning your application. KI cannot assist with the sponsorship application. Read more on the British government's website.
Application
Begin by discussing your plan with your course- or programme director. They are responsible for approving your traineeship.
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 Grant Agreement 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.
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 insurance Student UT. EU citizens should also bring their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
Frequently asked questions
- Duration: At least 60 consecutive days, and it must be full-time at one location. The maximum duration is 12 months per level of education, including both studies and internships.
- Internship in your home country: You can apply for an internship in your home country (except Sweden), and you can receive the grant even if you are not a Swedish citizen.
- Traineeship at a university abroad: It is possible to do an traineeship at a university, provided that you work as an trainee and are not enrolled in courses. Exceptions apply to Switzerland and the United Kingdom.. If you enroll in courses, it is considered a study period and you are not eligible for the grant.
- Multiple participations: You can participate in Erasmus+ more than once, as long as your total time abroad does not exceed 12 months per level of education.
- Multiple grants: You cannot receive multiple EU or Swedish government grants for the same mobility period, but you can apply for CSN and other scholarships simultaneously with the Erasmus grant.
- Termination of traineeship: If you terminate your traineeship prematurely, you may be required to repay part or all of your grant.
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 Erasmus+ traineeships contact your international coordinator and for questions regarding traineeships outside a pre-established agreement please contact Giulia Mikrut Grillo.