Erasmus+ traineeships pay EUR 350 to EUR 1,200 per month for internships in 33 countries -- the exact amount depends on your destination, not your country of origin. You can do an Erasmus+ traineeship in any sector: finance, engineering, social work, communications, healthcare administration, hospitality, or research. The minimum duration is 2 months. The process goes through your university's International Office, and in most programmes, you find your own host organisation.
This guide covers eligibility, the full grant table by destination, step-by-step application instructions, and the 2026 deadline situation for autumn starts. It is written for students, not for administrators. Skip to the section most relevant to you.
What Is an Erasmus+ Traineeship and Who Qualifies?
An Erasmus+ traineeship (also called an Erasmus+ work placement) is a funded period of work experience at an organisation abroad within the Erasmus+ participating countries. It is different from an Erasmus+ study period -- you are working, not studying.
Eligibility criteria:
- Enrolled at a higher education institution in an Erasmus+ country (EU member states, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, and a few others)
- Any level: Bachelor, Master, PhD, or short-cycle/associate degree
- Any field of study -- there is no sector restriction
- Destination: must be a different Erasmus+ country from your home institution
- Duration: minimum 2 months (60 consecutive days), maximum 12 months per study cycle
Recent graduates are also eligible if they arranged the traineeship before graduation and it starts within 12 months of their graduation date.
How Much Is the Erasmus+ Traineeship Grant in 2026?
The European Commission divides destinations into three groups based on cost of living. Your monthly grant is determined by your destination country, not where you come from. National agencies sometimes add top-ups funded nationally, so actual amounts can exceed the base table below.
| Grant group | Destination countries | Monthly grant (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1 (highest) | Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden | EUR 600-700 |
| Group 2 | Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain | EUR 460-540 |
| Group 3 | Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, North Macedonia, Turkey | EUR 350-410 |
Additional top-ups available on top of the base grant:
- Green travel bonus: EUR 50 extra/month if you travel by train or bus (not air)
- Fewer opportunities background: EUR 100-250 extra/month if you come from a lower-income household (criteria set by national agency)
- Disability: additional support for students with disabilities (amount varies)
- Travel grant: one-time flat amount based on distance (EUR 180 to EUR 1,500)
Note: Switzerland's grant under Erasmus+ bilateral equivalence can reach EUR 1,050-1,200/month for Swiss students going abroad, and EUR 700-900 for incoming trainees. Check with your national agency for Switzerland-specific rules.
How to Apply for an Erasmus+ Traineeship in 2026 -- Step by Step
- Find a host organisation. This is your responsibility in most programmes. The host must be a legally registered organisation in an eligible Erasmus+ country -- a company, NGO, research institute, hospital, or public body. Universities in the host country are excluded (you would need a study exchange for that). See how students in different fields present themselves: business profile example, engineering profile example.
- Get written confirmation. You need a letter or email from the host organisation confirming your start date, duration, tasks, and whether they will pay a salary or stipend.
- Apply to your university's International Office. Submit before their internal Erasmus+ deadline. Each university has its own timeline -- typically 2-4 months before your intended start date.
- Sign the Learning Agreement for Traineeships (LAT). Three parties sign: you, your home university, and the host organisation. This document confirms the learning objectives and content of the traineeship.
- Receive the grant and travel. Your university pays out 80% of the grant before you leave. The remaining 20% is paid after you submit a final report and EU Survey on return.
If you need help finding a verified host organisation, our company database lists organisations across 16 European markets that regularly host Erasmus+ trainees. Alternatively, register as a student and our placement team can match you with suitable hosts in your sector.
Erasmus+ Traineeship Deadlines by Country in 2026
The deadlines below are for national agency applications and are approximate. Your home university's internal deadline will be earlier. Always check with your International Office first.
| Country | National agency | Autumn 2026 deadline (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | DAAD (daad.de) | Varies by university -- typically March-May 2026 |
| Netherlands | Nuffic / EP-Nuffic | Varies by university -- typically March 2026 |
| Spain | SEPIE (sepie.es) | Varies -- typically February-April 2026 |
| France | Agence Erasmus+ France / Education Formation | Varies by institution |
| Austria | OeAD (oead.at) | Varies -- typically March-June 2026 |
| Italy | INDIRE | Varies by institution |
| Poland | FRSE (frse.org.pl) | Varies -- typically April 2026 |
| Sweden / Nordic | Swedish Institute / national agencies | Varies -- typically March-April 2026 |
Peak application season is now. Most national agencies close the autumn 2026 funding round for universities in June 2026. Students who want to start a traineeship in October 2026 need to have their host confirmed and their university application submitted by the end of June.
Which Destinations Are Most Popular for Erasmus+ Traineeships?
According to European Commission Erasmus+ statistics, the five most popular traineeship destinations are Spain, Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands -- in that order. Together they account for over 60% of all Erasmus+ traineeship mobility.
- Spain: High volume of English-friendly internships in tourism, marketing, international trade, and hospitality. Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, and Valencia are the main hubs. German students can find more guidance on internshipabroad.de.
- Germany: Engineering, automotive (BMW, Bosch, Volkswagen supplier network), tech, and life sciences. Strong preference for structured CVs and German language skills. See the DAAD comparison guide for German-speaking students.
- Netherlands: English-language country, logistics, fintech, sustainability, agri-tech, and international trade around Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Eindhoven.
- France: Fashion, luxury, food and beverage, international organisations (OECD, UNESCO, WHO). Paris dominates but Lyon and Bordeaux are rising.
- Italy: Fashion, design, architecture, food industry, and heritage management.
Act Now: Autumn 2026 Window Is Open
The autumn 2026 Erasmus+ traineeship window is open. Most national agencies and universities close applications for October starts in June 2026 -- that is this month. If you are a European student considering a traineeship abroad in autumn 2026, the time to act is now.
Already have a company in mind? Contact your International Office today to confirm the grant application deadline at your institution. Need to find a host? Register with Internship Abroad and our team will identify verified host organisations in your target market within 72 hours.