Erasmus Student Mobility for Placements

What is Erasmus student work placement?

Erasmus student work placement is part of the Erasmus programme that facilitates student mobility. The programme enables students to work as interns for the duration of 3 - 12 months in an enterprise or organisation in another participating country. Working should be full-time (meaning approximately 30 hours / week).

The objectives of the work placement are to increase the knowledge and skills of students and prepare them for international work communities and tasks that require international experience and language skills. To begin with, working in a foreign language develops language skills. Moreover, it gives practical experience that enables the students to deepen their knowledge of their field of study in a foreign language. This in turn makes it easier for students to do research or work in international communities and settings.

The application period for Erasmus Student Mobility Placements is open all the time; there is no separate schedule for the applications. However, the application process and finding a placement may take time.

For information about residence permirts and insurance, see the checklist for outgoing students.

For whom?

• Degree students of the University of Lapland including first year students
• Students who already have been granted a Erasmus student exchange grant and / or a Work placement grant by the faculty
• Students of the University of Lapland studying abroad with Erasmus programme at the present moment

Finding the placement

The students are required to look for the work placements on their own from enterprises or organisations form other member states of the European Uniond or from Norway, Island, Liectenstein and Turkey. However, the organisation cannot be
- Any organisation in the European Union such as the parlament or the comission
- Any organisation governing programmes of the European Union
- An embassy of the student’s home country abroad

The students should discuss the work placements also with their own faculties as it is important that the work placement is approved in the faculty and is included in the degree.

The career services is a good source of information for students preparing for the necessary documents like CV and for possible work placements.

Check out 6 Steps for Working Abroad -info collected by Turku EURES office.

Language training

Students doing Erasmus work placements can apply for Erasmus Intensive Language Courses (EILC) that are organised for the more uncommon languages. In other words, the courses are not held for students studying in English, Spanish, German or French, for example. The language courses are free for Erasmus exchange students and students doing Erasmus work placement. In addition, Finnish students can get an additional 400 Euro grant for the EILC language course.

Visit the EILC website for more information.

Erasmus work placement grant

The grant for Erasmus Student Work Placement is in the Academic Year 2011-2012 290€ per month. The duration of the work placement is 3 – 12 months. The total amount of work placements in the University of Lapland may have an effect on the grant. The work placement should form a part of the student’s degree.

How to apply?

1. Application
The students should look for a work placement on their own. When a work placement is offered, the students should make sure that they have the approval of the faculty as the placement should be included in the student's degree.

2. Forms
The next step is to fill in the Training Agreement and get it approved and signed by the host organisation and by a member of staff of the field of study. The expected credits should be also confirmed from the field of study.

In addition, a separate contract of employment is recommended. Check the EURES website for more information about the laws, social security, taxes in the member countries of the European Union.

The student should also fill in the Information form for Erasmus Placements as well as the Placement Agreement.

3. These forms should be returned filled in to Jaana Severidt, the Head of International Student Services.

4. After returning the necessary forms the International Office can grant the student the Erasmus Work Placement grant.

5. After the Work Placement
The students should attain a signed Transcript of Work form the organisation or enterprise where they have been working. This transcript should include the tasks and duration of the work placement according to the Training Agreement. A copy of this certificate should be returned to the International Office
Within two weeks after the ending of the work placement period the students should fill in the evaluation form. The feedback received from the Erasmus work placement is important as it helps other students in preparation their work placements and the International Office in developing their services. If the Transcript of Work is not handed in or the evaluation survey filled in, the International Office can require the work placement grant back.

Necessary forms for the Erasmus Work Placement

BEFORE THE WORK PLACEMENT

1. Training Agreement
The training Agreement includes the programme for the work placement, tasks of the student and the student’s objectives. The Training Agreement includes furthermore an evaluation. The training Agreement should be approved and signed by the student, the sending institution and the host organisation. Changes to the Training Agreement should be done within a month from the beginning of the Work Placement.

The Training Agreement also includes an Erasmus Quality Commitment that defines the responsibilities of the student, the sending institution and the host institution.

A contract of employment that covers the legal framework of the country in question is also recommended. Check the EURES website for more information about the laws, social security, taxes in the member countries of the European Union.


2. Information Form for Erasmus Placements
Return this form for the Head of International Student Services. 

3. Placement Agreement
The student should fill in the spaces meant for the student and then hand in the form to Jaana Severidt. The agreement is signed by both the student and the Head of  International Student Services

AFTER THE WORK PLACEMENT

4. Transcript of Work
The Transcript of Work is a document written by the host organisation that includes the tasks of the students. If the student does not follow the agreed rules or does not fulfil the professional requirements of the host organisation, the Transcript of Work can be left undone.

5. Online Final Report
The student should fill in the Final Report form within 2 weeks after the ending of the work placement. If the Report is not filled in, the grant may be taken back.