Internship abroad

Interested in an international career? Want to build a global network? Apply for an internship abroad and take a step towards an international future! 🌍🧰

Completing an internship abroad is just as possible as doing it in Finland. The only difference – apart from the location and language – is that you can receive financial support for an internship abroad. This is a great opportunity to gain international experience during your studies!

On this page, you will find more information on how to arrange an internship abroad and what types of financial support are available for students.

How to go abroad for an internship?
- Timing and supervision of the internship
- Finding an internship position
- Registering your internship
- Required documents and attachments
- Insurance and other preparations
- After the internship
- Changes in the duration of the internship
- Student checklist
Grants for international internships
- Available grants
- Grant conditions and grant notices
- Monthly grant amount
- Travel support, travel days and sustainable travel
- Additional grants
- Payment of the grant to the student
- Example of a student grant
Contact information
Links / Read more

Current news

Academic year 2026-2027

The academic year 2026–2027 has now been opened in Mobility-Online. If your traineeship begins on or after 1 August 2026, please select the academic year 2026–2027.

The 2026–2027 grant conditions are now available. You can find them under “Grant conditions and grant notices”.

Please note that grant applications are not processed during the summer period due to staff holidays.

APPLY NOW: Globalink Research Internship in Canada

Applications are now open for the Mitacs Globalink Research Internship in Canada for summer 2027! The programme is open to undergraduate students from all fields of study. The application deadline is 16 September 2026 at 23:00 Finnish time. During the 12-week internship, students gain experience in Canadian research environments. Selected students will receive a Mitacs scholarship to help cover travel, accommodation, and living expenses. Read more about the programme and application process on the Mitacs website.

APPLY NOW: Trainee - International Mobility Unit at NOVA University Lisbon

NOVA University Lisbon is looking for a trainee to join its International Mobility Unit in spring 2027! Read more about the placement opportunity and how to apply in the placement offer. Students can apply for an Erasmus+ grant to support their placement. Application deadline: 30 September 2026.

How to go abroad for an internship?

Timing and supervision of the internship

You can undertake an international internship, for example, during the summer. If you wish, you can combine exchange studies and an internship by applying for an internship position in the same region during your exchange. This way, you’ll gain even deeper regional expertise in your host country.

The Erasmus+ programme offers you the chance to gain international experience and financial support for your internship abroad. Through the programme, you can apply for a grant to help cover the costs of your internship. The internship doesn’t have to be long. Erasmus+ offers two options:

Short-term internship: 5–14 days abroad, plus a mandatory virtual component completed remotely from your home country.
Long-term internship: Minimum duration of 2 months (60 days).

To be eligible for Erasmus+ funding, your internship must be included as part of your degree. You can find more information about Erasmus+ grants under the section “Grants for international internships.”

Talk to your study counsellor about the best time to complete your internship abroad in relation to your studies. If you already know at the beginning of your studies that you definitely want to do an internship abroad, bring it up with your study counsellor as early as possible.

Your degree programme's internship coordinator will supervise your internship, even if it takes place abroad. The internship guidelines of your degree programme also apply to internships completed abroad, so please make sure to follow them. If needed, your internship coordinator can confirm whether a specific internship position is suitable. Internship credits are always awarded by your degree programme.

Read more about internship guidelines in your field and find the list of internship coordinators here: Work internships.

Finding an internship position

The first step towards an internship is finding a suitable employer. The application process works the same way as it does in Finland: you are responsible for finding and applying for an internship position yourself.

Below is a list of organisations and platforms that offer internship opportunities abroad. If you don’t find a suitable position in the listings, feel free to contact a company or organisation abroad that interests you. Send them an open application including your CV, motivation letter, and, if relevant, a portfolio.

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 LUT'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 internship agreement to ensure that the agreement and supervisory responsibilities are correctly defined.

Good luck with your internship search!

Internship Portals

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

Registering your internship

Once you have found an internship and agreed on it according to the practices of your degree programme, you must register your internship in LUT’s mobility system, Mobility-Online. You can also apply for an Erasmus+ grant for your internship through the same system.

Mobility-Online is used to record all student mobility periods. This includes all studies and internships that LUT students complete abroad. Student mobility refers to going abroad for studies or an internship, and the mobility period is the time you spend abroad. The system is managed by LUT International Mobility Services.

You must register your internship in Mobility-Online well in advance, at least one full month before the internship begins. To register, you will need your transcript of records and your personal study plan (PSP). Once you’ve registered, International Mobility Services will check the details of your internship. You will receive further instructions by email regarding the next steps and how to apply for the grant. You can also follow the progress of your application directly in Mobility-Online, where the workflow shows what actions are required and what stage your application is in.

Please make sure to register using your LUT email address. After registration, you can log in to Mobility-Online via HAKA login to view your application.

Note: All information in Mobility-Online must be filled in in English.

Register your international internship in LUTMobility-Online:

International Internships registration form ➞(ulkoinen sivusto, linkki avautuu uuteen välilehteen)(external site, link opens a new tab)

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

LUT Mobility-Online HAKA Login ➞

Required documents and attachments

When applying for a grant for an internship abroad, you will need to upload certain documents to your application in LUT Mobility-Online. All required documents and any additional requested attachments must be uploaded to ensure your application can be processed.

Transcript of Records and Personal Study Plan (PSP)

As a first step, upload your up-to-date transcript of records and your personal study plan (PSP). Before your grant application can be processed, your internship must be approved by both your study counsellor and your degree programme. They need information about your study plans and schedule.

Employment/Work Contract

Your employer may provide you with an employment contract, especially if the internship is paid. The contract is signed only by you and the employer. LUT does not sign student employment contracts. Please read the contract carefully before signing. Make sure to check whether the employer provides insurance, what it covers, and arrange any additional insurance you may need yourself.

Learning Agreement (LA)

If you are awarded an Erasmus+ grant for your internship, you must complete an Erasmus+ Learning Agreement (LA) before the internship begins. This agreement outlines the content of your internship abroad and how it will be recognised as part of your degree at LUT. The LA must be signed by you, your degree programme's internship coordinator, and the contact person at the host organisation.

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 include the required supporting documents (e.g. Declaration on Honour). Please ensure that all attachments are properly signed.

You may also upload other relevant documents related to your internship to Mobility-Online if you feel they are necessary. If needed, LUT International Mobility Services can remove any extra attachments.

Insurance and other preparations

Before going abroad for your internship, you must ensure that you have adequate insurance coverage. Please make sure that all necessary insurance policies are valid before your departure.

The following types of insurance are mandatory for internships:

Travel insurance
Health insurance
Liability insurance
Accident insurance

Unfortunately, the insurance provided by the university does not cover exchange studies or internships abroad. Therefore, it is your responsibility to ensure that your internship host provides insurance or to arrange sufficient coverage yourself.

You can read more about student insurance here: Students' insurances. For information about health and safety during your exchange or internship, visit: Health and safety abroad.

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

After the internship

If you received an Erasmus+ grant for your internship, you must upload a few final documents to LUT Mobility-Online after your internship ends:

Placement Report: Complete the electronic questionnaire in Mobility-Online.
Work Certificate: Request a work or internship certificate from your employer or host organisation before returning home. The certificate must clearly state the exact start and end dates of your internship and be signed by a representative of the host organisation.
Updated Transcript of Records: Upload an updated transcript showing the completion and credits of your international internship.

In addition, you must complete the following:

Internship Report for Your Degree Programme: Follow your degree programme’s instructions and write a report about your internship. Submit the report to the teacher who awards the credits and records the completion.
Erasmus+ Participant Report: After your internship, you must complete the Erasmus+ participant survey. This is mandatory and a condition of your grant. You will receive a link to the survey by email towards the end of your internship or after it ends. The link is valid for 30 days, so please make sure to complete it on time.

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

Please remember:

Make sure your degree programme's internship coordinator records the credits for your internship after you have completed all required steps. International Mobility Services does not award credits or record completions.
Missing documents, early termination of the internship, or failure to meet grant conditions may result in repayment of the grant. If your plans change, contact International Mobility Services immediately.

Changes in the duration of the internship

Sometimes unexpected changes may affect the duration of your internship. In such cases, please contact LUT International Mobility Services immediately.

Extending Your Internship

It is possible to extend your internship, and you may also be eligible for additional Erasmus+ funding, provided the extension meets the grant requirements. The extended period must begin immediately after the original end date. You will need to update your Learning Agreement, and you will receive a revised grant agreement. Please inform Mobility Services about the extension as early as possible! Your degree programme's internship coordinator must also be informed of the extension.

Interrupting Your Internship

If your internship ends earlier than planned and you have received a grant, you may be required to repay part or all of the grant. The amount depends on whether the shortened internship still meets the grant conditions. You must also update your Learning Agreement and grant agreement if the internship remains eligible for funding.

Cancelling Your Internship

If your internship is cancelled entirely before it begins, notify LUT International Mobility Services immediately. There must be a valid reason for cancellation, such as circumstances beyond your control. If your grant has already been paid, you will need to return the full amount.

Grants for international internships

Available grants

Grant conditions and grant notices

These conditions apply to long-term internships abroad. If you are completing a short-term blended traineeship, please refer to the section below titled “Short-Term Blended Internship.”

Registration: You must register your internship abroad and upload all required documents and attachments to LUT Mobility-Online well in advance, at least one full month before the internship begins.
Duration: The internship must last at least 2 months (60 days). Travel days covered by the travel grant are not included in the minimum duration. Grants are awarded for a maximum of 6 months of full-time internship.
Credits: You must earn credits for your internship. The minimum is 5 ECTS per month, or according to your degree programme’s guidelines. The internship must be full-time (approximately 35–40 hours per week).
Location: The internship must be completed physically abroad in the host country. The host country must be an Erasmus+ programme or partner country. Grants are not awarded for internships carried out in your country of residence at the time of the internship.
Recognition: The internship must be included as part of your degree at LUT. Your degree programme must approve the internship as part of your studies.
Overlapping Grants: You cannot receive overlapping grants. If you are already receiving a grant for your studies, you are not eligible for Erasmus+ funding for the internship.
Thesis Work During Internship: You may work on your thesis during the internship. In this case, the internship must be part of your degree and must also earn credits. However, internship credits must be separate from thesis credits.
Recent Graduates: Erasmus+ grants are also available for recent graduates. You must be accepted for the internship before graduation, and the internship must start and end within one year of graduation.

Short-Term Blended Internship

The Erasmus+ programme also supports short-term blended internships.

Duration: The physical part of the internship must last 5–14 days. You may add 0–6 travel days before and after the physical period, making the total duration up to 20 days.
Content: The internship must include a mandatory virtual component, which can be completed remotely from your home country (e.g. remote work). There is no grant for the virtual part, and its duration is not limited.
Credits: You must earn at least 3 ECTS.
Other Conditions: Registration, location, recognition, overlapping grants, thesis work, and recent graduate eligibility follow the same rules as for long-term internships.

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 ➞

Monthly grant amount

The Erasmus+ grant is paid monthly. You will receive funding for each full month of your internship. If your internship lasts longer than a full month, the extra days will also be funded accordingly.

The amount of the grant depends on the host country. In the Erasmus+ programme, countries are grouped based on cost of living - the higher the cost, the higher the grant. Please check the current amounts and country groupings in the grant announcement for the 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.

Travel support, travel days and sustainable travel

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 your home address is outside Finland, the starting point is your actual home address.

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 and green travel during exchange studies and internship abroad.

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.

Additional grants

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:

Social obstacles
1. Students with children under 18.
2. Students who are official caregivers (with a municipal care agreement).
Disabilities
1. Students with an EU Disability Card or eligibility for one.
2. Students with disabilities or functional limitations (at least moderate).
Health obstacles
1. Students with serious or chronic health conditions (at least moderate).
Migrant background
1. 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. LUT 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 LUT 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.

Payment of the grant to the student

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 internship. 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 LUT Mobility-Online at least one full month before your internship begins! For example, if your internship 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 internship 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 internship has started. Therefore, students should be prepared to cover travel and accommodation costs themselves if the grant payment is delayed.

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).

Example of a student grant

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.

Contact information

You can contact LUT International Mobility Services with any questions related to grants, the Learning Agreement, using LUT Mobility-Online, the instructions you have received by email, or the content of this page. You can reach the team by email at: internships@lut.fi. Please always use your LUT email address when contacting us.

If you have questions about the content of your internship, please contact your degree programme’s internship coordinator and/or the contact person at the host organisation directly.

Before applying for an internship position, always discuss your plans with your study councellor or your degree programme’s internship coordinator. Make sure that the internship can be included as part of your degree at LUT.

International Mobility Services, Internships abroad

internships@lut.fi

Keywords: internship abroad, internship, traineeship, work internship, practical training, international internship, internationalisation

Links

Degree Programmes' internship instructions Health and safety abroad Sustainability and green travel during exchange studies and internship abroad Students' insurances

Internship abroad

Internship abroad

Contents

Current news

Academic year 2026-2027

APPLY NOW: Globalink Research Internship in Canada

APPLY NOW: Trainee - International Mobility Unit at NOVA University Lisbon

How to go abroad for an internship?

Grants for international internships

Contact information

Links