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Internship and Traineeship (Project Oriented Placement)

How to apply

Erasmus+ 

Deadline: at least 1 month before the start date of your placement. Earlier applications are much appreciated. During the summer months it is a good idea to apply even earlier due to summer holidays. 

Step by step guide for the application:

Important document (to be handed in with application):

(please follow this step-by-step guide which highlights what must be filled out in the Erasmus+ learning agreement)

 

SDU Internationalisation Fund

Deadline: no later than 6 months after the end of your placement. You must still be enrolled at SDU when you apply.

Step by step guide for the application:

Important document (to be handed in after stay):

 

Internship or project-oriented placement – what’s the difference?

If you plan an internship/p.o.p. 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 not an employee but still a student. 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. 902 of 27 June 2017) 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 3,000 per month (pre-tax). 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 shall be documented.

Last Updated 07.02.2024