Recent graduates’ internships

Category of recipes: Internationalisation through national and international students; Internationalisation through partnerships; Internationalisation through pedagogical activities and development of international skills.

Objective of the recipe: Fostering international skills in a professional setting abroad; Enhancing graduates’ employability and global career prospects; Strengthening links between higher education and the labour market through international experience; Providing opportunities for recent graduates to gain hands-on experience in a different cultural and linguistic environment.

Short description:
Support for mobility activities for students who go abroad for a fixed period for the purposes of work placements. The placement may take place in a European country or anywhere in the world.
This internship programme can be applied for future graduates of bachelor's, master's or doctoral degrees, in any scientific field, after completing all the curricular units of the study plan and who apply while they are still final-year students. All participants must complete the internship by the day before they finish their degree programme. The main aim of this specific programme is to promote links with the workplace, with the possibility of carrying out internships in small, medium or large public, private or public-private institutions or companies.

Academic recognition: ECTS credits may be granted if applicable. Internship will be considered an extracurricular internship and will be added as a supplement to the diploma.

Level of difficulty: Basic.

Calendar and time needed:
This opportunity is for outgoing mobility activities only. Students must start planning this internship at the beginning of the last year of their course in order to be developed after ending all the curricular units of the study plan. The internship must be developed up to a maximum of twelve months after the end of your studies (it must be completed within 12 months of graduation).
Students will be selected by their Higher Education Institution during their final year of studies and the period for the internship includes twelve months from the date of obtaining their degree.

Cost summary: €€.

Language and level required: B2 level in the working language of the host institution is recommended.

Roles and Responsibilities:
>Granting organisation:

Establish criteria and rules for the mobility programme.
Allocate grant funds to universities.
Ensure compliance with funding regulations.
Advise institutions on internship implementation.

Apply for funds and manage financial allocation.
Implement individual mobility programmes according to funding rules.
Provide guidance on eligibility, application, and enrolment.
Complete mobility documents and distribute grants.
Promote internship opportunities and provide country-specific guidance.

Advise students about the mobility internship possibilities.
Approve the learning agreement for internships.

Student:

Apply for the internship and complete all required documentation.
Fulfil internship duties according to predefined conditions.

Host institution:

Employ the student during the mobility according to the predefined conditions.
Provide mentorship and professional experience.

Advisor in Internationalisation (if there is such a person in the university):

Ensure that internship placements align with institutional internationalisation goals.
Provide strategic guidance for expanding partnerships with host institutions.

Pedagogical Engineers (if there is such a person in the university):

Support the design of training materials for internship preparation.
Develop resources to enhance employability and intercultural skills.

Ingredients:
Declaration of honour.
Learning agreement for internships.
Declaration of insurance.
Mobility to or from a programme country, in a partner university, private/public company, NGO/NPO, etc.
For each study cycle (bachelor, master, doctorate), one or more periods (minimum of two months to a maximum of twelve months, in total combining mobility for study or work placement purposes).
An application and nomination for a mobility activity are possible only before the start of the mobility period abroad.
For outgoing mobility activities only: the placement is possible up to a maximum of twelve months after the end of your studies (it must be completed within 12 months of graduation).
A grant for eco-responsible travel may be awarded to students who choose a means of transport with low CO2 emissions, such as train, bus or car-pooling.

Steps:
Step 1: Provide information on mobility opportunities (destinations, conditions, grant amounts, subsidies for people with special needs, eco-responsible mobility, etc.).

Step 2: Communicate registration deadlines.

Step 3: Take registrations for mobility.

Step 4: Check candidate eligibility.

Step 5: Inform successful candidates.

Step 6: Forward and have signed the Declaration of Commitment and the Learning Agreement for Internships.

Step 7: Communicate the expectations of the placement report to the students.

Step 8: Provide advice and guidance to participants (visas, insurance, language courses, etc.) or refer to the International Relations Office.

Step 9: Make sure that the Learning Agreement is signed before departure.

During mobility: Adapt the Learning if changes are necessary and obtain approval from all parties (student, sending and host institution).

After mobility:
Step 1: The academic report of the period can be evaluated by the professors (optional).

Step 2: Recognise/validate the mobility period.

Step 3: If any problems are identified in the final report, propose an interview with the student.

Budget description:

- Check with your university if grants are available for internship mobility abroad (e.g., Erasmus+ Student Mobility for Internships grants).
- International Relations Offices provide guidance on financial support options.
- Grants are allocated according to the Erasmus National Agency’s funding rules.
- Students can apply for additional funding for eco-responsible travel (e.g., Green Travel grants).