You can go abroad for a traineeship as early as the summer after your first year of studies. If you wish, you can combine an exchange period with a traineeship by applying for a placement in the same region during your exchange. This way, you will gain even more in-depth knowledge of your host country.

The Erasmus+ programme offers you the opportunity to gain international experience and financial support for your traineeship abroad. Through the programme, you can apply for a grant to help cover the costs of your traineeship. The traineeship does not need to be long, as Erasmus+ offers two options:

• Short-term traineeship: 5–14 days abroad combined with a mandatory virtual component completed remotely from your home country.
• Long-term traineeship: at least two months (60 days) abroad.

A traineeship supported by an Erasmus+ grant must be included as part of your degree. For more details on Erasmus+ grants, see the section “Grants for international traineeships”.

Discuss with your tutor teacher when would be the best time for you to complete a traineeship abroad in terms of your studies. If you already know at the start of your studies that you definitely want to go abroad as part of your degree, bring it up with your tutor teacher as early as possible.

Your degree programme’s responsible teacher for practical training will guide you through the process, even if you complete your traineeship abroad. The same guidelines that apply to traineeships in Finland also apply to those abroad, so please follow them carefully. If needed, you can confirm the suitability of a traineeship placement with your supervisor or tutor teacher. Credits for the traineeship are always awarded by your degree programme.

Read more about the traineeship guidelines for your field and find the list of traineeship supervisors here: Practical training.

The first step towards a traineeship abroad is finding a suitable host organisation. The application process works the same way as in Finland: you are responsible for finding and applying for a traineeship yourself.

Below, you will find a list of organisations and platforms that offer traineeship opportunities abroad. It is also a good idea to follow the traineeship announcements posted in the Viva Engage group. In addition, check whether your degree programme’s noticeboard has any announcements about open positions.

If you cannot find a suitable traineeship through announcements, you can always take the initiative and contact an international company or organisation that interests you. Send them an open application including your CV, a motivation letter, and, if relevant, a portfolio.

Please note that if one of our partner universities acts as an intermediary for your traineeship – meaning they find the placement, handle the arrangements, and award the credits – this period is considered an exchange study period. In that case, you will be enrolled at the host university as an exchange student and will have access to student benefits during your exchange. Read more about exchange studies here: Exchange studies.

When choosing an internship provider, please note that supervision and guidance during an Erasmus-funded internship must be free of charge. You must not be charged for the arrangement of the internship either. In other words, you should not have to pay to be accepted for an internship at any organisation. If your internship placement involves any fees, please contact LAB’s International Mobility Services.

If you get an internship placement through an intermediary (e.g., a coordinating agency or organisation), the actual host organisation is always considered to be the one that provides the supervision for your internship. This is important to keep in mind when preparing the Placement Agreement to ensure that the agreement and supervisory responsibilities are correctly defined.

You can also read about the experiences of students who have previously completed a traineeship abroad in the LAB Mobility-Online portal. You might even find an interesting traineeship opportunity there!

Good luck with your traineeship search!

Traineeship portals

Please note that some of the services listed below may charge a fee to students. Also, note that the actual placement organisation is the organisation where you will complete your placement in practice, not any intermediary organisation involved in arranging the placement.

Europe

• Erasmus Intern Portal(ulkoinen sivusto, linkki avautuu uuteen välilehteen)
• EURES: European Employment Services(ulkoinen sivusto, linkki avautuu uuteen välilehteen)
• Animafest(ulkoinen sivusto, linkki avautuu uuteen välilehteen) - traineeship positions in Spain
• Job Trust(ulkoinen sivusto, linkki avautuu uuteen välilehteen) - traineeship positions in Greece
• Nordjobb(ulkoinen sivusto, linkki avautuu uuteen välilehteen) - summer jobs in Nordic countries
• Placement Slovakia(ulkoinen sivusto, linkki avautuu uuteen välilehteen)

Other regions

• EDUFI traineeship(ulkoinen sivusto, linkki avautuu uuteen välilehteen)
• Tanzania Volunteers(ulkoinen sivusto, linkki avautuu uuteen välilehteen)
• Global Placements(ulkoinen sivusto, linkki avautuu uuteen välilehteen)
• Jobted(ulkoinen sivusto, linkki avautuu uuteen välilehteen)
• AIESEC(ulkoinen sivusto, linkki avautuu uuteen välilehteen)
• SummerJobs(ulkoinen sivusto, linkki avautuu uuteen välilehteen)
• GetEcuador(ulkoinen sivusto, linkki avautuu uuteen välilehteen)
• Global Crossroad(ulkoinen sivusto, linkki avautuu uuteen välilehteen)
• Work the World(ulkoinen sivusto, linkki avautuu uuteen välilehteen)
• AIP: Asia Internship Program(ulkoinen sivusto, linkki avautuu uuteen välilehteen)
• Hutong School Internship Program in China

Once you have found a traineeship and agreed on it according to your degree programme’s procedures, you must register your traineeship in LAB’s mobility system, Mobility-Online. In the same system, you can also apply for an Erasmus+ grant for your traineeship.

All student mobilities are recorded in the mobility system – this includes all studies and traineeships completed abroad by LAB students. Student mobility means a period when a student goes abroad to study or complete a traineeship, and the mobility period refers to the time you spend abroad on exchange or traineeship. The mobility system is managed by LAB’s International Mobility Services.

You must register your traineeship in LAB Mobility-Online well in advance, at least one full month before the start of your traineeship. For registration, you will need a signed Placement Agreement, which is explained in the next section. Once you have registered your traineeship, International Mobility Services will check your details. You will then receive further instructions by email regarding the next steps and applying for the grant. You can also track the progress of your application in Mobility-Online and see what actions are required from you or what stage your application is in from your application workflow.

Please register in Mobility-Online using your LAB email address. This allows you to log in to the system via HAKA login after your application has been registered.

Please note that all information must be entered in English in Mobility-Online.

Register your international internship in LAB Mobility-Online:

International Internships registration form ➞(ulkoinen sivusto, linkki avautuu uuteen välilehteen)

See the instructions (PDF) for completing the registration form.

Log in to LAB Mobility-Online (for those who have already registered an application):

LAB Mobility-Online HAKA Login ➞

When applying for a grant for a traineeship abroad, you will need certain documents listed below. All required documents and any additional attachments must be uploaded to your application in LAB Mobility-Online for your grant application to be processed.

Placement Agreement

For an international traineeship, you need a Placement Agreement (also called Practical Training Agreement). This agreement specifies the parties involved (the student, the degree programme’s responsible teacher for practical training, and the contact person at the host organisation), as well as the traineeship period and tasks. It also outlines the responsibilities of each party. You will receive the agreement template from your degree programme’s responsible teacher for practical training.

Employment Contract

The employer may also sign an employment/work contract with you, especially if your traineeship is paid. The employment contract is signed only by the student and the employer; LAB does not sign the student’s employment contract. Always read the contract carefully before signing.

Please note that if you are employed by the host organisation, LAB’s insurance does not cover you. In this case, check what the employer’s insurance includes and make sure you have any additional insurance you need.

Learning Agreement

If you are awarded an Erasmus+ grant for your traineeship, you must complete an Erasmus+ Learning Agreement (LA) before the start of your traineeship. This agreement defines the content of your traineeship abroad and how it will be recognised as part of your degree at LAB. The LA must be signed by the student, the degree programme’s responsible teacher for practical training, and the contact person at the host organisation. You can download it directly from LAB Mobility-Online once your application has progressed to that stage.

Note! The LA must be signed by the person at the host organisation who is responsible for supervising your internship. If you receive your internship placement through an intermediary organisation, please remember that the host organisation is not the intermediary, but the actual organisation where the internship will take place.

Additional attachments

If you are applying for additional grants, you must attach the required supporting documents (e.g., Declaration on Honour). You can download these attachments directly from LAB Mobility-Online. Make sure all attachments are properly signed.

You may also upload other relevant documents to your application in LAB Mobility-Online if you consider them necessary. If needed, International Mobility Services can remove any unnecessary attachments.

Before going abroad for your traineeship, you must have adequate insurance coverage. Please make sure you have all the necessary insurance in place before you travel.

For a traineeship, the following types of insurance are recommended:

• Travel insurance
• Health insurance
• Liability insurance
• Accident insurance

If you are not employed by the host organisation and only have a Placement Agreement, LAB’s student insurance coverage (liability and accident insurance) will apply. However, if you are employed by the host organisation, LAB’s insurance does not cover you. In that case, make sure the host organisation provides insurance for you or arrange sufficient coverage yourself. LAB’s insurance also does not cover you if you fail to register your traineeship in LAB Mobility-Online.

Please note that LAB’s liability insurance is not valid in Canada or the United States.

Read more about student insurance here: Student's Insurances and Insurances for your exchange period.

If your traineeship is paid and you receive Finnish student financial aid (Kela), please read Kela’s instructions on reporting income earned abroad. Kela’s website also provides additional information about studying abroad.

For other important preparations, see: Preparations for studies and placement abroad.

If you received an Erasmus+ grant for your traineeship, you must submit a few documents after your traineeship ends. These documents must be uploaded to LAB Mobility-Online:

• Placement Report: Complete the electronic questionnaire in LAB Mobility-Online. Other students can read the responses in the portal (answers are anonymous).
• Employment/traineeshipn Certificate: Request a work or traineeship certificate from your employer/host organisation before you return. The certificate must include the exact start and end dates of your traineeship and be signed by a representative of the host organisation.
• Transcript of Records: Transcript of records showing the study credits and completion of your placement abroad.

In addition, you must complete:

• Erasmus+ Participant Report: After your traineeship, you must complete the Erasmus+ programme’s participant survey. Please note that completing this survey is mandatory and a condition of your grant. You will receive a link to the survey by email towards the end of your traineeship or after it has ended. The link is valid for 30 days, so make sure you complete the survey on time! Read more about the survey here: Erasmus Participant Report.

Once you have uploaded all the required documents to LAB Mobility-Online and completed the surveys, International Mobility Services will check that everything is in order. You will receive an email once the check is complete and your application in Mobility-Online has been closed.

Please remember the following:

• Make sure your degree programme’s responsible teacher for practical training records the credits for your traineeship after you have completed the process according to your degree programme’s instructions. International Mobility Services does not award credits or make entries in the study register.
• Missing documents, interruption of the traineeship, or violation of grant conditions may lead to recovery of the grant. Contact International Mobility Services immediately if there are any changes to your plans.

Sometimes unexpected changes may affect the duration of your traineeship. In such cases, always contact LAB International Mobility Services immediately.

Extending the traineeship

It is possible to extend your traineeship, and you may also receive a grant for the extended period, provided it meets the grant conditions. The extension must start immediately after the original end date. For this, you need to update your Learning Agreement, and you will also receive an updated grant agreement. Please inform us about the extension as early as possible! Your degree programme’s responsible teacher for practical training must also be informed.

Interrupting the traineeship

If your traineeship ends earlier than planned and you have received a grant, you may need to repay the grant either partially or in full. The amount to be repaid depends on whether the shortened traineeship still meets the grant conditions. The Learning Agreement and grant agreement must also be updated if the traineeship remains eligible for a grant.

Cancelling the traineeship

If your traineeship is cancelled completely before it begins, inform LAB International Mobility Services immediately. There must be a valid reason for the cancellation, such as a reason beyond the student’s control. If you have already received a grant and it has been paid, you must return the full amount.

Here is a summary of everything you need to remember when preparing for your traineeship abroad.

LAB students can receive an Erasmus+ grant for a traineeship abroad, provided the traineeship meets certain conditions. You can read more about these conditions below. You can also find them in the grant notice published for each academic year. Grants are awarded to students as long as funding is available for the academic year in question.

If your internship is not part of the Erasmus+ programme, you may be eligible for a LAB Travel Grant of €400. To be eligible, your traineeship must be long-term, with a minimum duration of two months, and it must meet the criteria for long-term traineeship funding (see below for details). This grant can only be awarded once during your studies.

The following conditions apply to long-term traineeships abroad. If you are completing a short-term blended traineeship, see the section below.

• Registration: You must register your traineeship abroad and upload all required documents and attachments to LAB Mobility-Online well in advance, at least one full month before the start of your traineeship.
• Duration: The traineeship must last at least 2 months (60 days) at the host organisation. Travel days covered by travel support are not included in the minimum duration. Grants are awarded for a maximum of 6 months of full-time traineeship.
• Workload: You must earn at least 5 ECTS credits per month. The traineeship must be full-time (approximately 35–40 hours per week). For example, a 3-month traineeship must earn at least 15 ECTS credits.
• Location: The traineeship must take place physically abroad in the host country. The host country must be an Erasmus+ programme country or partner country. Grants are not awarded for traineeships in the student’s country of residence at the time of the traineeship.
• Recognition: The traineeship must be included as part of your degree at LAB. Your degree programme approves the traineeship as part of your studies.
• Overlapping grants: You cannot receive overlapping grants. If you are already receiving a grant from another programme for your studies, you cannot receive Erasmus+ funding for the traineeship.
• Recent graduates: LAB does not award traineeship grants to recent graduates.

Short-term blended traineeship

The Erasmus+ programme also allows short-term blended traineeships.

• Duration: The physical period abroad must last 5–14 days at the host organisation. You may add travel days (0–6 days) before and after the physical period, making the total maximum duration 20 days.
• Content: The traineeship must include a mandatory virtual component, which can be completed remotely from your home country (e.g., remote work). There is no set duration for the virtual component, but no grant is awarded for this period.
• Workload: At least 3 ECTS credits.
• Other conditions: Registration, location, recognition, overlapping grants, and recent graduate rules are the same as above.

Grant notices

Please read the detailed terms and conditions in the grant notice for the relevant academic year:

Grant notice for academic year 2026-2027 ➞

Grant notice for academic year 2025-2026 ➞

The Erasmus+ grant is paid on a monthly basis. You will receive a grant for each full month of your traineeship, and if your traineeship lasts longer than a full month, you will also receive a daily rate for the extra days.

The amount of the grant depends on the host country. In the Erasmus+ programme, countries are divided into groups based on the cost of living – the higher the cost of living, the higher the grant. Check the current amounts and country groupings in the grant notice for your academic year.

The monthly grant amount is the same as for student exchange, but in addition, you will receive a traineeship top-up of €150 per month.

For short-term blended traineeships, the grant is paid on a daily basis. Please check the current rates in the academic year-specific grant notice.

In addition to the monthly grant, the Erasmus+ grant includes travel support and a daily allowance for travel days.

Travel support is based on the distance of the journey (straight-line distance) and the mode of travel. The distance is calculated using the Erasmus+ distance calculator. The distance is measured as a one-way trip from the Lappeenranta campus (regardless of your home campus) to the city where your host organisation is located. If the student’s home address is not in Finland, the departure location is considered to be either the Lappeenranta campus or the home address, whichever is closer to the traineehsip destination.

If you travel using an environmentally friendly method as defined by the Erasmus+ programme, you are entitled to Green Travel support. This support is higher than the standard travel support, and you may also receive additional travel days. Read more about green travel here: Sustainability on exchange period.

A daily allowance is granted for 0–2 travel days. If you travel green, the allowance can be granted for 0–6 travel days.

Please check the current rates and distance categories in the academic year-specific grant notice.

The Erasmus+ programme also supports the mobility of students who have fewer opportunities to go abroad. These students can receive fixed top-up amounts in addition to the standard individual grant. In addition, all students can apply for inclusion support based on actual costs. Additional grants must be applied for at the same time as the basic grant and cannot be applied for retroactively.

Fixed top-up for individual support

Students belonging to the following groups are eligible for a fixed top-up:

1. Social obstacles
   • Students with children under 18.
   • Students who are official caregivers (with a municipal care agreement).
2. Disabilities
   • Students with an EU Disability Card or eligibility for one.
   • Students with disabilities or functional limitations (at least moderate).
3. Health obstacles
   • Students with serious or chronic health conditions (at least moderate).
4. Migrant background
   • Students with international protection status (refugees, asylum seekers, or those with subsidiary or temporary protection; the student has or has had a relevant residence permit or refugee travel document).

Students in these groups can receive a fixed additional grant of:

• €250 for a long-term traineeship
• €100 for a short-term traineeship.

To receive the additional grant, you must sign a Declaration on Honour and, if requested, provide supporting documents proving your eligibility. LAB will store the declaration with your application but will not keep any additional documents.

Inclusion support

Inclusion support (also called accessibility support) can be granted if studying abroad causes extra costs that cannot be covered from other sources. These costs may result from, for example, a physical or mental health condition, disability, or learning difficulties. The support is always based on an assessment of actual additional costs.

You must inform LAB of your need for inclusion support well in advance, either when applying for mobility in the application form or by email before applying. The Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI) makes decisions on inclusion support on a case-by-case basis.

The grant is paid to the student as a single instalment. The amount includes the monthly grant, travel support, and any additional grants, if awarded.

Grants are paid twice a month, on the 15th and the last day of the month. The aim is to pay the grant before the start of the traineeship. As a general rule, the grant is paid on the next possible payment date within the calendar month after you have submitted your grant application. Therefore, make sure to complete your application in LAB Mobility-Online at least one full month before your traineeship begins! For example, if your traineeship starts in October, you should register your traineeship in Mobility-Online by the end of August and submit your grant application on 1 September. In this case, your grant will be paid at the end of September, so you can use it when your traineeship starts.

Your application must include all required information and documents before the grant can be processed for payment.

In some exceptional cases, such as during the summer, the grant may be paid after the traineeship has started. Therefore, students should be prepared to cover travel and accommodation costs themselves if the grant payment is delayed.

The Erasmus+ grant is intended to support and facilitate international mobility and should be considered a contribution towards the costs of studying or training abroad. Students are expected to ensure that they have sufficient financial resources to support themselves throughout the mobility period. Grant payment schedules are determined in advance and apply equally to all participants. Individual arrangements regarding the payment schedule cannot be made.

You will be informed of the payment date as soon as your grant application has been approved.

Please note: Grant payments are not processed during staff holiday periods (July–August and Christmas time).

A student is going on a traineeship in Lisbon, Portugal. The traineeship is scheduled to start on 15 September 2025 and end on 31 January 2026.

Monthly grant: The traineeship lasts 4 months and 18 days. Portugal belongs to Group 2, where the monthly grant is €490, plus a traineeship top-up of €150.
Total monthly amount: €640.
Daily rate for extra days: €16.33.
Calculation: 4 × €640 + 18 × €16.33 = €2,853.94.

Travel support: The distance between Lappeenranta and Lisbon is 3,565 km.
Standard travel support: €580
Green travel support: €785

Travel days:
If travelling by plane: 2 travel days. Calculation: 2 × €16.33 = €32.66
If travelling green: up to 6 travel days. Calculation: 6 × €16.33 = €97.98

Additional grant: The student has a child under 18 and is eligible for a fixed top-up of €250.

Total grant amount: If travelling green and eligible for the additional grant: €3,986.92. If travelling by plane and/or car: €3,716.60.