ERASMUS+ Internships abroad

Students may complete internships abroad with ERASMUS+ in companies or organisations in other European countries. The stays are funded in all programme countries. From the perspective of academic recognition, there are three possible types of internship:
•    Internships that are part of the curriculum (and are credited towards the degree)
•    Voluntary internships (not compulsory for the degree)
•    Graduate internships (directly after completing your studies)

Internships abroad with ERASMUS+

Benefits of an ERASMUS+ internship

Students can receive funding several times in each study cycle (bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate).
Up to 12 months can be funded per study cycle.
Internships of at least two months’ duration can be funded during and after your studies.
EU traineeship agreement between the university, the company, and the student.
Academic recognition of the internship (ECTS, Diploma Supplement, Europass).
Support during the internship from a designated contact person at the home university and in the company.
Funding of additional costs incurred abroad.
Support with preparation (cultural, linguistic, organisational).
Additional grants for students with fewer opportunities.
Travel allowance and additional funding for environmentally friendly travel.

More information on internships abroad (SMP)

Requirements for an ERASMUS+ internship

Application criteria

Funding for internships abroad is possible from the first semester onwards.
Enrolment at the home institution (for internships during your studies).
For graduate internships: application via the International Office while you are still enrolled at HAWK.

The application criteria are the applicant’s previous academic performance, the subject-related justification for the internship abroad and its integration into the study programme, as well as existing language skills in the working language at the internship location.

Funding rates for internships abroad (SMP)

The financial support for ERASMUS+ stays by students is based on the different costs of living in the destination countries (“programme countries”).

From 01.03.2026, the following SMP funding rates of project year 2025 (per month = 30 days) apply, as set uniformly by the DAAD National Agency for all German higher education institutions:

Group 1: € 750,-
Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Sweden

Groups 2 and 3: € 690,-
Bulgaria, Estonia, Greece, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, Czech Republic, Hungary, Cyprus

Through ERASMUS+ International, internships in Switzerland can also be funded in project year 2025. The funding rates of Group 1 apply.

Online Language Support (OLS)

Participants funded through the ERASMUS+ programme receive access to the EU Academy, where the European Commission’s new platform for Online Language Support (OLS) can be found. The EU Academy can be used via EU Login, so that participants funded in the ERASMUS+ programme can use the placement tests and online language courses in all programme languages. The platform is being continuously expanded.

At the HAWK Language Centre and its cooperation partners (such as the adult education centres, VHS), there are also foreign language courses to help you prepare for your stay abroad.

ERASMUS+ Studentencharta

Additional funding for students with fewer opportunities

An essential component of the new ERASMUS+ programme is social participation. ERASMUS+ aims to promote equal opportunities, inclusion and diversity. A key instrument is the additional funding for students with fewer opportunities. This is intended to provide special support for students for whom a stay abroad may be a greater challenge. At HAWK, students with children, students with disabilities or chronic illnesses, working students and first-generation students can apply for this additional funding.

The additional funding amounts to €250 per month abroad.

Realkostenanträge Real cost applications

Students with chronic illnesses or disabilities, as well as students who go abroad with a child, also have the option of submitting a so-called real cost application for costs abroad that cannot be covered by this top-up (e.g. assistive devices, personal assistants, childcare costs). Through a real cost application, additional costs of up to €15,000 per semester can be reimbursed. Applications are submitted via the International Office and require a lead time of 6–12 months.

Travel cost support

All information on travel cost support can be found in the information sheet “Travel days and environmentally friendly travel”.

ERASMUS+ students now also have the option of purchasing an Interrail Pass, which allows them to use both the outward and return journey to the host country as well as train journeys during the stay abroad. Further information is available on the “Interrail Pass for ERASMUS+” page.

Students can find further information on the topic of sustainability in the ERASMUS+ programme on the Green Erasmus Portal.

Reporting obligation

All funded participants who have taken part in an ERASMUS+ mobility measure are obliged, after completing the stay, to complete an online report (EU Survey) via the Beneficiary Module and to submit it, together with further evidence (Traineeship Certificate = “After the Mobility” of the Learning Agreement for Traineeship, experience report), to the International Office at HAWK.

Recognition and credit transfer at HAWK

Recognition and credit transfer of academic achievements completed abroad at HAWK only take place once the student has submitted an application for recognition/credit transfer, including the relevant evidence (such as Learning Agreement, Transcript of Records, internship certificate, grading system of the host institution), to the Examination Office of the respective faculty.

Application

Downloads project year 2025 (for funding from summer semester 2026, funding period until 31.07.2027, in German)