How to apply
How and when to apply depends on the grant:
Erasmus+
Deadline: at least 1 month before the start date of your placement.
Earlier applications are much appreciated. Due to abnormal working hours during the summer months in Denmark as well as in partner countries, we urge you to apply early. In case you cannot meet our deadline, please contact SDU International Office as soon as it has been brought to your attention.
Follow this step by step guide for the application:
Important documents (to be handed in via spoc.sdu.dk):
- Erasmus+ Learning Agreement*
- Preapproval from your study board/the supervisor contract
- Your contract (with the company/organisation)
* Please note that only the Before Mobility part must be filled in before you start your traineeship. Fill in the document carefully and take the notes on the last page into account. The Before Mobility part must be signed by you and your traineeship place before you send it to International Office.
SDU Internationalisation Fund
Deadline: no later than 1 month after the end of your placement. You must still be enrolled at SDU when you apply.
Follow this step by step guide for the application:
Important documents (to be handed in via spoc.sdu.dk):
- Preapproval from your study board/the supervisor contract
- Your contract (with the company/organisation)
Internship or project-oriented placement – what’s the difference?
If you plan an internship/project-oriented placement abroad as part of your studies you need to pay special attention towards how it will affect your SU.
Internship (praktik)
A few study programmes at SDU have an inbuilt mandatory internship period (Professional Bachelor´s degree, Bachelor of Engineering and Journalism). For these study programmes it is possible to receive salary during the internship period instead of SU.
Project-oriented placement (projektorienteret forløb)
For all other study programmes, it is possible to do a project-oriented placement in collaboration with a company or an organisation if it is stated in the curriculum. The project-oriented placement is to be evaluated with an exam after the end of the placement, according to the rules applicable for the curriculum in question.
Many students refer to project-oriented placements as “internships”, but it is important to note that a project-oriented placement differs significantly from the mandatory internships of some specific programs, in that you cannot be paid or receive salary for the placement at the organisation.
When doing project-oriented placement abroad you are still a student - not an employee. The purpose of the project-oriented placement is to use and develop the theoretic knowledge and the competencies and skills built throughout your studies in a practical context.
It is of great importance that an agreement on project-oriented placement includes
- Work tasks/project work
- Skills and competencies to be acquired
- Work period (start and end date, and possibly daily working hours)
The agreement must be signed by the business/organisation, you, and your supervisor or study coordinator (and possibly the head of your study board).
Am I allowed to get paid?
According to the Danish University Act (no. 391 of 10 April 2024) project-oriented placement (for which you gain ECTS and also receive SU) must be unpaid. In short: you cannot be a student and an employee at the same time.
Exemption
You are allowed to receive a monthly payment in case paid internships are a statutory requirement in the country where you have secured an internship (e.g. Germany). In such case you must waive your SU (the Danish State education grant).
Gratuity
The business/organisation with whom you have secured a project-oriented placement is allowed to offer you a gratuity of max DKK 3,375 per month (pre-tax, 2023-level). A gratuity is an appreciation of your contribution to the business/organisation and it must not be agreed upon in advance.
A possible gratuity can be paid at the end of every month of the project-oriented placement or at the end of the project-oriented placement. As a gratuity is taxable the total amount must be stated on the income tax return/form. The gratuity would be part of your tax-free amount according to the SU. You are still entitled to SU despite a possible gratuity.
Payment of transport, food, etc.
Besides a possible gratuity you are allowed to receive payment for transport to and from the business/organisation, lunch, and similar expenses related to your project-oriented placement. Please be aware that such expenses must be documented.