How much is the Erasmus+ internship grant per month in 2026?

Erasmus+ internship (traineeship) grants in 2026 range from 350 EUR to 700 EUR per month depending on the destination country group and the student's home country. There is also an automatic traineeship top-up of 100-150 EUR per month above the standard study mobility grant. Students with fewer opportunities (those receiving social support or with disabilities) receive an additional 250 EUR per month. The highest grants go to students going to high-cost countries such as Ireland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.

Can I do an Erasmus+ traineeship if I already did Erasmus+ studies?

Yes. Erasmus+ studies and Erasmus+ traineeship are distinct mobility types within the same programme. You can use both, subject to the total mobility cap per cycle: 12 months per study cycle (Bachelor, Master, PhD). If you used 8 months for Erasmus+ studies, you can still use up to 4 months for an Erasmus+ traineeship within the same cycle.

Which countries can I intern in on Erasmus+?

Erasmus+ traineeships are available in all 27 EU member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Turkey, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Georgia. The host organisation must be a legal entity in one of these Programme Countries and cannot be an EU institution or body (the European Commission, Parliament, etc.). Third countries (outside this list) require the separate Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility track.

Can recent graduates apply for an Erasmus+ traineeship?

Yes. Recent graduates (alumni) can do an Erasmus+ traineeship within 12 months of completing their degree, provided the placement was agreed and the nomination submitted to the national agency before the graduation date. This is a distinctive feature of Erasmus+ traineeships not available for study mobility. The grant and conditions are the same as for enrolled students.

Does Erasmus+ cover health insurance during an internship?

Erasmus+ does not directly provide health insurance, but it requires the sending institution to ensure that participants have adequate coverage. Within the EU and EEA, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) covers emergency care. For destinations outside the EU or for comprehensive coverage, students typically need a private travel and health insurance policy. Many universities include this in their Erasmus+ contract conditions.

How long does an Erasmus+ traineeship last?

The minimum duration for an Erasmus+ traineeship is 2 months (60 consecutive days). The maximum is 12 months per study cycle. Most Erasmus+ traineeships run for 3 to 6 months. Part-time arrangements where the student continues distance study at home during the internship are permitted if the host institution agrees.

Erasmus+

Erasmus+ Internship 2026: Funding Amounts by Country, Who Qualifies, and How to Find a Host

350 to 700 EUR per month, available in 33 countries, open to enrolled students and recent graduates. This is the authoritative reference on Erasmus+ traineeship funding for 2026, including the host-finding process that most guides skip.

20 June 2026 11 min read

Erasmus+ traineeship vs. Erasmus+ studies: what is the difference?

Erasmus+ funds two types of mobility for higher education students: study periods (studying at a partner university abroad) and traineeships (internships at a company or organisation abroad). They are the same programme, but the mechanics differ:

Feature	Erasmus+ Study	Erasmus+ Traineeship (Internship)
Host type	Partner university	Company, NGO, lab, public body
Grant top-up	Base grant only	Base grant + traineeship supplement (100-150 EUR/month)
Eligible after graduation	No	Yes (within 12 months of graduation)
Who finds the host	University selects partner institution	Student finds own host (or uses supported list)
Minimum duration	3 months	2 months

The traineeship route is more flexible but requires the student to identify and confirm a host organisation independently. This is the step where most students stall. We cover it in detail below.

Erasmus+ internship funding amounts 2026 by country group

Grant amounts are set nationally by each country's Erasmus+ National Agency and vary by the destination's cost of living. The figures below reflect the 2025-2026 programme year. Note that these are monthly grants, not salary replacements; a host may also pay the intern separately.

Destination Group	Examples	Base grant	+ Traineeship top-up	Total range
Group 1 (high cost)	Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Ireland, Luxembourg, UK	450-600 EUR	+100-150 EUR	600-750 EUR
Group 2 (medium cost)	Germany, France, Netherlands, Austria, Italy, Spain	350-500 EUR	+100-150 EUR	500-650 EUR
Group 3 (lower cost)	Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Croatia, North Macedonia	300-450 EUR	+100-150 EUR	400-600 EUR
+ Inclusion supplement	Students receiving social support, with disabilities		+250 EUR/month	up to 1,000 EUR

For Belgian students specifically: the Belgian-specific amounts via AEF-Europe differ slightly due to national co-funding. For the UK's equivalent post-Brexit: the Turing Scheme operates on comparable grant levels but is administered entirely separately from Erasmus+.

Who qualifies for an Erasmus+ internship?

The eligibility criteria are broad by design. You qualify if you are:

Enrolled at a Higher Education Institution (HEI) in any Erasmus+ Programme Country, in any field of study at Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD level
A recent graduate within 12 months of completing your degree (application must be submitted while still enrolled)
Going to a host organisation in a different Programme Country than your home country
Doing a placement of at least 2 consecutive months

Excluded: EU institutions themselves (European Commission, Parliament, agencies) cannot be Erasmus+ traineeship hosts. Fully remote placements with no physical presence in the host country are not eligible.

How to find an Erasmus+ traineeship host: the real process

This is the step most students find hardest and most guides treat as an afterthought. Three routes exist:

Route 1: University-supported host list

Many universities maintain a list of approved host organisations from previous Erasmus+ traineeships. These hosts have signed framework agreements with the university and know the Learning Agreement process. Ask your International Office for this list. Competition for popular hosts (consulting firms, media companies, NGOs in capital cities) is real.

Route 2: Self-sourcing a host and getting it approved

You can approach any company, NGO, public body, or research institute in a Programme Country and get them approved as your Erasmus+ host. The organisation needs to sign a Learning Agreement for Traineeships alongside your university. Most professional organisations agree without difficulty once you explain the paperwork is straightforward.

The process: identify an organisation, secure an offer or letter of intent, then bring it to your International Office to initiate the Learning Agreement. The International Office reviews whether the organisation meets the basic Erasmus+ criteria (legal entity, non-EU institution) and co-signs. This typically takes 2-4 weeks once you have an offer in hand.

Route 3: Platform-facilitated matching

Platforms like Internship Abroad match students with European employers who specifically seek Erasmus+-eligible candidates and understand the process. This shortens the time between "I want to do an Erasmus+ traineeship" and "I have a signed offer" from months to weeks. See how the Living Profile approach works for Erasmus+-compatible placements.

Application timeline for 2026-27

Erasmus+ traineeship applications are managed by your university International Office, not by the European Commission or national agencies directly. Timelines vary by institution, but the typical pattern for academic year 2026-27 is:

Target departure period	When universities typically open nominations	Internal deadline (approximate)
Autumn 2026 (Sept-Jan)	March to June 2026	June to September 2026
Spring 2027 (Feb-Jul)	October to November 2026	November to January 2027

Students researching in June 2026 are inside the nomination window for autumn placements. Many universities close their autumn round in September. Contact your International Office now. Do not wait until October.

Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility (ICM): for non-European students

Students from outside the Erasmus+ Programme Countries (including South Africa, India, Brazil, and Southeast Asia) can also access Erasmus+ funding through International Credit Mobility agreements. South African students at institutions with ICM bilateral agreements can do Erasmus+-funded internships in Europe. See the ICM guide for South African students on our ZA site.

For mobility coordinators and career services

Internship Abroad operates as a host network and matching partner for European HEIs running Erasmus+ traineeship programmes. Our employer network spans 17 markets with pre-vetted companies familiar with the Learning Agreement process. If your International Office is looking to expand the pool of approved host organisations available to your students, contact our institutional team.