Working abroad is a fantastic opportunity to combine professional development and cultural immersion, which is why so many students choose this option for their placement year or to gain valuable course related work experience over the summer. 

Having industry experience by graduation is good, but having industry experience abroad is even better! Companies and organisations also benefit from hiring a foreign intern due to the fresh outlook and work ethic they bring in, so securing a traineeship abroad may be easier than you think. 

Every year, many BU students work abroad either as part of their compulsory placement year, an internship or for voluntary work-based learning related to their studies. 

  • You can search for opportunities on MyCareerHub, or you can find a traineeship using your own contacts or by conducting research online
  • The Erasmus+ fund can help you cover some of the expense incurred by undertaking an overseas traineeship in Europe. Erasmus+ funding is for traineeships that are 60 days or longer and take place in the European Economic Area (EEA)
  • The Turing Scheme funding can you cover some of the expense incurred by undertaking an overseas traineeship or work experience globally
  • You can also use the ‘GoinGlobal Overseas Job Vacancy System’ in MyCareerHub to search for overseas job opportunities and read practical information about cost of living, accommodation and more.

Eligibility criteria for funding

There are certain criteria you must meet to be eligible for funding through Erasmus+

  • If your overseas traineeship is part of your official BU placement year, then it must have been approved by your faculty's Placement Coordinator before you apply for funding
  • If your overseas traineeship is voluntary (ie not part of your BU placement) then you will need to evidence how it relates to your BU degree subject area
  • Your application for funding must be submitted before you start your traineeship and, in some cases, a few months in advance.

Please note that additional eligibility criteria may apply. You can find more details about this, and how to apply for funding, on the Erasmus+ pages.

Important information about traineeships in Europe

Please be aware that some European companies and/or internship agencies will insist on obtaining a contract signed by the student, BU and the company. Please note that we will not sign any contract other than the Erasmus+ Traineeship agreement. As the Erasmus+ programme is well known throughout Europe, this shouldn’t pose a problem, but you may need to explain our terms to your potential employer.

What our students say

Read about Martha’s experience as an Erasmus+ trainee in Greece.