In this guide
Fast answer
An Erasmus+ traineeship pays you a monthly grant to do an internship at a company or organisation in another country, for 2 to 12 months. You can do it while you study or as a recent graduate, as long as your university selects you during your final year and you finish within a year of graduating. You get the same grant as an Erasmus study exchange plus EUR 150 a month, and you find the host company yourself.
- How much will you get in each country? See the Erasmus grant by country.
- Looking for housing at the same time? Start with Erasmus student residences.
An Erasmus traineeship works almost like an Erasmus study period, with two differences that change everything: there are no ready-made places at partner universities, so you have to find the company, and the window closes one year after you graduate. The rules below come from the Erasmus+ Programme Guide and the European Commission’s traineeship page, checked in October 2026.
Erasmus traineeship vs Erasmus study exchange
| Study exchange | Traineeship | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | A partner university of yours | Any company or organisation worldwide (except EU institutions) |
| Who finds the place | Your university offers the places | You, helped by the international office or internship portals |
| Length | 2 to 12 months | 2 to 12 months, or 5–30 days as blended mobility |
| Grant | The monthly grant for the host country | The same grant + EUR 150 a month |
| Recent graduates | No | Yes, if selected in your final year and finished within a year |
| Key document | Learning Agreement for Studies | Learning Agreement for Traineeships |
How much you get
The grant depends on the host country. The Commission sets ranges; your national agency and university set the exact figure:
| Group | Countries | Monthly reference grant |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (higher living costs) | Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden | EUR 348–674 |
| 2 (medium) | Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Latvia, Malta, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain | EUR 292–606 |
| 3 (lower) | Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Türkiye | EUR 225–550 |
On top come EUR 150 a month for a traineeship and, if you qualify as a participant with fewer opportunities, another EUR 250 a month; the two add up. Many companies also pay a salary or allowance, which you can combine with the grant.
Who can apply
- Students enrolled at a university with an Erasmus Charter (bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate), or recent graduates.
- Recent graduates: your university must select you during your final year, and the traineeship must be finished within one year of graduating. Some universities opt out of graduate traineeships, so ask early.
- The work must fit your degree. Tasks are set in the Learning Agreement for Traineeships, signed by you, your university and the company.
- Months left in your cycle. Each study cycle allows a maximum of 12 months abroad with Erasmus+, studies and traineeships together; 24 for one-cycle degrees such as medicine.
Finding a company
- Your international office: many have their own offers or company partnerships.
- Erasmus Intern: the traineeship portal run by the Erasmus Student Network.
- Speculative applications: write to companies in your field in the city you want, in English or the local language, saying you come with an Erasmus grant. It costs the company nothing.
- Excluded: EU institutions and agencies cannot host Erasmus traineeships; they have their own Blue Book traineeship programme.
Step by step
- Ask your international office for the traineeship deadline and whether it accepts graduates.
- Find the company and get an acceptance letter with dates, tasks and a supervisor.
- Sign the Learning Agreement for Traineeships with all three parties before you leave.
- Sort housing and insurance: check what your EHIC covers and whether you need liability or accident insurance for the traineeship.
- At the end, the company signs the traineeship certificate, which closes the grant and lets your university recognise the credits.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an Erasmus traineeship pay?
The monthly grant for your host country (EUR 225–674 depending on the group and your university) plus EUR 150 a month for the traineeship, and EUR 250 more if you qualify for the fewer-opportunities top-up.
Can I do an Erasmus traineeship after graduating?
Yes, if your university selects you during your final year and you finish the traineeship within one year of graduating.
Do I have to find the company myself?
Usually yes. Your university may have offers and Erasmus Intern lists many, but most students get their place by writing to companies directly.
Can I do an Erasmus traineeship outside Europe?
Yes, the host can be in any country, but your university decides which destinations it funds, and grants outside Europe follow different rules.
How long is an Erasmus traineeship?
Between 2 and 12 months. There is also a blended format with 5 to 30 days on site plus an online part, funded per day.
Can I combine an Erasmus study exchange and a traineeship?
Yes, as long as the total stays within 12 months in the same study cycle: for example one semester of study and six months of traineeship during your bachelor’s.