Erasmus+ Traineeship

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Important Information:

The Erasmus+ Programme Guide defines a traineeship as follows:

"Traineeship (work placement): time spent in an enterprise or organisation in another country, with a view to acquiring specific competences that are needed by the labour market, gaining work experience and acquiring more understanding of the economic and social culture of that country."

Accordingly, an Erasmus+ Traineeship should consist of a professional traineeship and result in a work experience for the student, developed in a real work context. Thus, students or recent graduates of the University of Minho can, briefly, "…carry out a traineeship in an enterprise, a research institute, a laboratory, an organisation or any other relevant workplace abroad….".

In this context, we advise you to read carefully and attentively the information below, on this page.

Also, we draw your attention to the fact that students, interested in applying for "Erasmus+ Traineeships" must submit/send their complete application to the International Relations Office (IRO), with a minimum period of 2 (two) months in advance of the traineeship start date.

The scholarships are awarded to the candidates by order of submission/completion of the application to the International Relations Office (presenting the Letter of Acceptance and the Learning Agreement for Traineeships, with the indication of the exact dates of beginnig and end of the traineeship, is mandatory). If the mobility lasts for more than the number of months funded by Project, the additional period will be considered as zero-grant. In later stages, and in the event of remaining funds, the opportunity of receiving a complement can occur, but only during the exchange period.

(information updated on 05/11/2025)

Erasmus+ Traineeships

Who can apply?

What types of internship can I undertake?

To which countries can I go and which institutions can I choose?

You can apply for any of the 27 countries of the European Union *, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Macedonia and Turkey (excluding Portugal). The Erasmus+ traineeships should be developed in a corporate environment and the host institution should be approved by the Academic Coordinator.

According to the Erasmus+ Programme Guide the host institution can be:

any public or private organisation active in the labour market or in the fields of education, training and youth. For example, such organisation can be:

a public or private, a small, medium or large enterprise (including social enterprises);
a public body at local, regional or national level;
a social partner or other representative of working life, including chambers of commerce, craft/professional associations and trade unions;
a research institute;
a foundation;
a school/institute/educational centre (at any level, from pre-school to upper secondary education, and including vocational education and adult education);
an Higher Education Institution (HEI), awarded with an ECHE, which allows an experience in work context and which accepts the student/trainee as being a collaborator of the organization.

a non-profit organisation, association, NGO;
a body providing career guidance, professional counselling and information services.

University of Minho does not require the signature of any type of agreement or protocol with the host institution (options above) to validate the traineeship mobility.

The following types of organisations are not eligible as receiving organisations for student traineeships:

EU institutions and other EU bodies including specialised agencies (their exhaustive list is available on the website - http://europa.eu/european-union/abouteu/institutions-bodies_en);
organisations managing EU programmes such as Erasmus+ National Agencies (in order to avoid a possible conflict of interests and/or double funding).

How can I find a traineeship?

You can choose from the following options:
- To make contacts directly with companies of your interest;
- To consult websites that have internship offers and send your application to those that may be of your interest:
-ERASMUSINTERN: http://erasmusintern.org

     - Leo-Net: http://www.leo-net.org > traineeship offers
     - Praxis: http://www.praxisnetwork.eu
     - Europlacement: http://www.europlacement.com
     - Expertise in Labour Mobility (ELM): http://www.labourmobility.com
     - iAgora: http://www.iagora.com
     - ERASMUSINTERN: http://erasmusintern.org
     - Placement Slovakia: http://www.placementslovakia.com
- To contact some lecturers/ course directors in order to obtain guidance on this and information on any international internship which they have;
- In addition, you can contact our Office directly, but all the traineeships offers received by IRO directly are disseminated through the institutional email to all the students.

Advices:

- Finding the traineeship host organization is the responsibility of each candidate. However, in a spontaneous contact with a company/organization, we advise the trainee to send the Curriculum Vitae and a presentation/motivation letter and other documents that he/she sees as relevant.

- The candidate can also consult the "Internship Guide" available on the Arqus Alliance page, which provides important information about this type of mobility, as well as more advices.

How long can the traineeship last for?

How will my traineeship be academically recognised abroad?

How are non-academically recognised traineeships certified?

To take part in this programme, do I have to be enrolled at the University of Minho?

Where and when can I apply?

Before you formalize your application, you should express your interest to participate by filling out the pre-application form available at http://goo.gl/forms/KvZZsOHU9W (Portuguese) or http://goo.gl/forms/9IbFniXwAF (English). The complete application must be presented to the International Relations Office, a minimum of 2 (two) months in advance of the traineeship start date. We emphasize, however, that the scholarship award depends on the availability of funding at the time of its confirmation, so the sooner you formalize the application, the greater the likelihood of funding. In the case of short-term internships for 3rd cycle (PhD) students, the application must be submitted until 31/12/2025.

Which are the application documents?

Before submitting your complete application, you should indicate your interest by filling out the online form: http://goo.gl/forms/KvZZsOHU9W (Portuguese) or http://goo.gl/forms/9IbFniXwAF (English).

After filling out the form, you must submit the following documents at least 2 (two) months before the start of the placement:

- Scan of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

- Letter of acceptance from the host institution, respecting the following requirements:

* Printed/issued on letterhead paper;

* Indication of the duration of the traineeship;

* Identify the name and supervisor contacts;

* Contain a brief description of the work plan to be developed;

* Indicate the amount of compensation/support to be awarded (if applicable).

- Learning Agreement for Traineeships duly filled out, validated and signed by the host institution.

- In the case of traineeships for recent graduates, Proof of Degree Completion must also be handed over as soon as possible.

You can download all relevant documents on: https://alunos.uminho.pt/EN/students/mobilityprograms/Pages/Formularios.aspx

How is the work programme to be performed in the host organisation defined?

At the University of Minho all fields of studies have an Academic Coordinator who will assist in the definition of your work plan (in conjunction, if applicable, with your traineeship/thesis supervisor), along with the head of the host institution. Before you go, your work plan which establishes a Learning Agreement for Traineeships, should be agreed on and signed by you, your Academic Coordinator and by your supervisor at the host organisation. As an integral part of the Learning Agreement, is also drawn up (if applicable) an Academic Recognition Plan, which is an internal document that clarifies the equivalence between the work plan in the host institution and the University of Minho. The work programme (Learning Agreemento for Traineehip) of each participant/trainee, in the context of a Higher Education Institution, must ensure the development of professional skills, contribute to their employability and enhance the institutional activity of the host organization, as well as evidence that the way in which the activity is carried out fits into the host institution project/activity.

Should I study a foreign language before going abroad?

Will I have any language support during the mobility programme?

Where am I assessed?

Where will I live and who takes care of accommodation?

Who will take care of my trip? Do I need a VISA?

Are there any compulsory procedures before going abroad?

What should I do if I am ill abroad?

What about scholarships?

All students selected for these traineeships become automatically eligible for the Erasmus+ Mobility Scholarship. The methodology institutionally adopted aims to fund the largest possible number of students. The scholarships are awarded to the students by order of submission of the application to the International Relations Office (presenting the Letter of Acceptance and the Learning Agreement for Traineeships, with the indication of the exact dates of beginnig and end of the traineeship, is mandatory).

If more than one Erasmus+ project runs at the same time, the University of Minho must implement first the one that ends first and should apply the necessary efforts to execute the number of mobilities and 100% of the funding awarded by the National Agency in each project. Therefore, the number of months and the monthly amount of scholarship awarded to the student depends on the Erasmus+ Project to which the mobility is allocated, following the order and rule mentioned above: confirm the scholarship amounts and numbers of months here.

For the academic year of 2025/26, University of Minho awards a maximum of 5 months of scholarship. If the mobility lasts for more than the number of months defined, the additional period will be considered as zero-grant. In later stages, and in the event of remaining funds, the opportunity of receiving a complement can occur, but only during the exchange period. If students do not complete the entire period financed, they will need to return the value of the scholarship corresponding to the number of days not justified, provided that the minimum duration of the mobility period is respected. Thus, if, during the mobility period, the duration of stay is longer or shorter than the included in the Erasmus+ Contract, students should inform the IRO at least 1 (one) month before the end of the mobility period.

Undertaking an Erasmus traineeship does not necessarily imply receiving an Erasmus+ Mobility Scholarship. Besides, should you already benefit from an FCT scholarship, please inform IRO that you are a beneficiary of this type of scholarship and you should contact your grant manager at FCT to confirm if you can be awarded with an Erasmus+ scholarship at the same time.

How much are the “Erasmus+ Mobility Scholarships”?

The values of the scholarships vary depending on the host country, and the actual duration (number of days) of the traineeship. It should be noted that Erasmus+ scholarships are not maintenance scholarships, but mobility scholarships, which aim solely to offset the difference between the living standards of the home country and the host country. Therefore, Erasmus+ Mobility Scholarships are not intended to cover all normal student living expenses, but mostly the additional costs resulting from the completion of a exchange in another country. The value of the scholarships is determined annually but you may refer to the reference values in the following table.

Can I receive an “Erasmus+ Mobility Scholarship” if I am already the beneficiary of another scholarship?

What if I am not eligible for an “Erasmus+ Mobility Scholarship”? Do I have to give up?

As a social services scholarship beneficiary, am I entitled to additional financial support?

Is there any additional financial support for students with financial difficulties and for disabled students?

If I do not like it there, can I return? What are the consequences?

I was already an Erasmus+ Exchange Student. Can I apply again?

Is this activity recognised in the Diploma Supplement?