Erasmus-exchange in Europe

Erasmus traineeship is an exchange where you can work or receive training in an organization, institution, or company. The traineeship must last between two and twelve months. 

This exchange should, similar to a study exchange, be part of a degree program, either as a replacement for a semester or as an (extra) voluntary semester in the degree. You will receive an Erasmus grant of €150 in addition to the regular Erasmus grant. 

The Erasmus grant is €530 to Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and Sweden, and €470 to all other program countries. Note that the grant rates for students on traineeships may vary from the grant rates for students on exchange programs.

To apply for an Erasmus traineeship, you must have a Training Agreement. This agreement must be signed by (1) the student, (2) a representative from the department at UiB (usually a study advisor), and (3) the workplace. The agreement should ensure that the traineeship is approved as part of the study program at UiB. Click here to see the Training Agreement. 

How to apply?  

• The application must consist of a completed Training Agreement, signed by the study program/faculty to confirm their pre-approval of the traineeship.  

• The application is sent to erasmus@uib.no. Students applying for a traineeship as part of a degree will be prioritized if we receive many applicants.  

• If you are accepted for a traineeship, you must sign a scholarship agreement with UiB.  

The departments at UiB do not have agreements with external partners to send students on Erasmus traineeships (with few exceptions). This means that the student must find a company/organization/institution to complete the traineeship and apply to the department/faculty to have the traineeship approved as part of the degree. 

You can look for traineeships on these websites, among others: 

• www.erasmusintern.org (run by the organization Erasmus Student Network, ESN) 

• www.iaeste.no (The International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience).  

Erasmus Traineeship after Degree Completion

It is also possible to go on an Erasmus traineeship after completing a degree. The traineeship must be arranged, and the traineeship agreement signed while you are a graduate student, but the traineeship itself can be completed within 12 months after the degree is completed. The same rules apply for regular traineeships, but it is not a requirement that the internship is part of the degree. 

Note! There is a limit of 12 months of Erasmus exchange per degree level, so if you have already been on an Erasmus exchange during the degree you are completing, there is a limit to the number of months you can receive traineeship grants for. 

Students who go on traineeships after completing their degree, must apply to their faculty for post-study rights for the time on the traineeship exchange after completing their degree. This provides better insurance coverage at the workplace if you are a student on a traineeship. 

United Kingdom left EU on January 1, 2021, but we can still maintain Erasmus agreements with institutions in the UK. Students applying for an exchange under an Erasmus agreement in United Kingdom will not receive an Erasmus grant, but the Erasmus agreement ensures that students do not have to pay tuition fees for exchanges to the UK. 

For students going on exchange to the UK, the duration of the exchange is significant: 

• Norwegian citizens do not need a visa for stays in the UK for up to six months. 

• For stays exceeding six months, a visa is required. This triggers additional requirements such as an official language test (confirmation from UiB alone is not sufficient) and a separate mandatory health insurance.  

• For stays less than six months, official language tests are increasingly required. Check if the university you wish to exchange to requires an official language test.