What is the Erasmus+ Programme?

The new Erasmus+ Programme 2021-27 is the latest version of the familiar Erasmus+ exchange programme that has been in existence since 1987. Read more about it.

Erasmus+ gives students the possibility to study or work in another European country and in doing so, to gain credit towards their degree. It’s a great way to gain international experience, expand your academic horizons, meet people from all over the world, improve your language skills, learn about other cultures, develop independence and self-confidence, boost your CV … need we say more?

Student Mobility for Traineeships – what’s it about?

This strand of the Erasmus+ Programme, the main focus of this booklet, allows students to complement their university education by doing a period of work experience at an eligible organisation in a Programme country (in other words, the EU Member States, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Turkey, but not Switzerland).

The following are the basic guidelines set out by the European Commission:

• Students must have completed at least one full year of third-level study in order to participate.
• The traineeship abroad may not last less than two months (60 days) or more than 12 months.
• The traineeship must be entirely based around work experience; attendance at lectures does not count towards it, even if you are working at a university.
• Most companies or organisations that can provide work experience to students are potentially eligible hosts, with the exception of EU bodies, institutions, and agencies.
• During your higher education studies, you may participate in Erasmus+ more than once, but not for more than 12 months in total during any one study cycle (i.e., at Bachelor, Master, or Doctoral levels). The 12 months may include mobility for studies and for training.
• By completing your Erasmus+ traineeship successfully, you will earn ECTS credits towards your University of Galway degree programme.

You will find detailed information on Erasmus+ traineeships (work placements) on our website.

Why consider an Erasmus+ traineeship?

University of Galway has been participating in the Erasmus+ Programme since its inception over 30 years ago and several thousand of our students have availed of the opportunity to study or work abroad. Almost all of them have found it to be a most rewarding experience.

An extended period of working abroad can be of immense value for an individual’s personal and academic development. The experience will also prove to be a valuable asset later on when you are seeking employment, as it will have helped you develop a range of soft skills and strengths such as intercultural awareness, problem-solving, flexibility, adaptability, and confidence. Indeed, some graduates have gone on to find employment with the companies where they did work placements as students. You can read below some comments from our students about their experiences.

I worked at an Equine Therapy Center in Germany as part of my Erasmus + traineeship. I really enjoyed the experience as it incorporated all my interests – Horses, psychology & the German language. It opened up my eyes to the possibility of living and working abroad in the future. I think every student who has the opportunity to take a year abroad should definitely do it – You won’t regret it and the people you meet and experiences you have shape you as a person. It also opens up great career opportunities.

Gosia, work placement in Germany, 2022-23

My internship with The Border Violence Monitoring Network (BVMN) was unequivocal to any experience I have had in the field of international human rights law, migration or asylum law to date. The ten-month placement enabled me to continue my academic studies and research on the topic while also allowing me to apply that knowledge to real life scenarios. The insight into EU law and international human rights law and standards that I learnt in college was definitely an advantage when beginning my internship with BVMN, but the extent of knowledge that I gathered on those same laws during my placement is incomparably deeper and more extensive post-placement. During my internship, I got to work on a variety of legal submissions to the European Commission, the European Court of Human Rights and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees as well as publishing advocacy material for the Network. I also regularly collected testimonies of pushbacks and internal violence, which were then used to advocate with people on the move to respect and uphold their rights. In my opinion, this specific type of experience is invaluable to me in whatever area of law I chose to pursue in the future. It has afforded me the privilege of sitting face to face with communities of people who use groups like BVMN to support and protect not only their legal rights, but also their lives, where States have failed to do so. My internship with BVMN has been one of the greatest endeavours of my life to date. It has aided me with the tools necessary to hopefully pursue a safe, effective and wholehearted career in international human rights law. However, it also showed me the realities and the challenges of what such a career entails. Not only this, but the Network introduced me to many groups, whether it be solidarity workers, people on the move or human rights defenders, that have inspired and will continue to inspire me for years to come. I would highly recommend considering doing a placement with an NGO or a grassroots collective that could really do with the extra help and support of soon-to-be human rights lawyers.

Annie, Law and Human Rights placement in Greece, 2022-23

Being thrown into the deep end into an island I had never been to before and doing it all on my own has taught me so much not only about myself as a person but also about another culture and language.

Although I have been teaching English I have learned so much about the Spanish language by being surrounded by it on a daily basis. I have met people from all over the world and by being somewhere completely new to me I have been inspired to try new things, and gaining invaluable skills which I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I have really enjoyed my time this year and I would recommend the traineeship to anyone looking to really experience a new culture and meet new people.

Aoife, teaching assistantship in Tenerife, 2018-19

The opportunity to work in a different health care system was invaluable to my learning. There were many challenges adjusting to a different system, but it was an experience I would not have got here in Ireland for my final clinical placement. The NHS have many specialist areas to choose from. Completing the Erasmus programme in the UK strengthened my application for a clinical post which I will begin after graduation. Thank You Erasmus for this amazing opportunity!

Imelda, Occupational Therapy placement, UK 2018

I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to go on Erasmus placement to Lleida, Spain for 3 months. It was unbelievable experience; getting to meet new people and experience a new culture, while studying for my BSc degree. It was definitely one of my fondest times of the 4 years and I would highly recommend it to other students.”

Sarah, Biotechnology placement, 2018

I would describe my Erasmus experience as the best part of college so far. You get to gain experience into the working world and office life without the pressure of a trial period/ heavy expectations. You get to take the time to learn and get as much from the experience as possible. It also allows you to enjoy yourself and create a great work-life balance! It is so worthwhile and beneficial for your both your learning and personal development.

Student on placement with EY Luxembourg, 2019

Everything was new, exciting and challenging. The hospital really demanded a high level of French to be of any help there, but everyone there was very understanding of our lower language skills. We will never get the opportunity to ski every weekend for €25 a day all inclusive again and the location and access to the Alps has to be one of the best things about an Erasmus in Grenoble specifically.

Brian, Medicine Year 3 Clinical Placement, 2019

Which University of Galway students can participate in Erasmus+ traineeships?

The following are currently the principal traineeship opportunities for University of Galway students.

• In the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Celtic Studies, students may avail of an overseas placement as part of the BA in Children’s Studies, the BA in Journalism, the BA in Human Rights, and the BSc in Social Sciences. This will make up part or all of their Third Year, depending on the programme and its requirements, and the availability of suitable placement opportunities.
• Also in the College of Arts, BA International (language) students who succeed in being selected for a teaching assistantship can use this to fulfill the Year Abroad requirement for that programme, in lieu of a year-long study period at a university abroad.
• In the College of Business, Public Policy, and Law, students on the BComm (Global Experience or Accounting) programmes may be selected for six-month or twelve-month placements with leading accountancy firms, usually in Luxembourg.
• Within the College of Science’s BSc Biotechnology programme, students may avail of an Erasmus+ traineeship to carry out their Third Year placement working in a laboratory at one of University of Galway’s Erasmus+ partner universities.
• Undergraduate Engineering students have the possibility of completing their PEP placement under the Erasmus+ Traineeship programme.
• In the College of Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences, Erasmus+ traineeships may be an option for Third Year internships and are normally of 3-4 months’ duration.

What kind of work placement is eligible?

You can be considered for an Erasmus+ traineeship if:

• a work placement or period of off-campus practical experience is an integral and recognised component of your programme of study at University of Galway;
• the proposed placement is of at least two full months’ duration (i.e., at least 60 days);
• the proposed placement is to take place in one of the eligible countries (see previous page);
• your academic coordinator or programme director pre-approves the proposed placement in the context of your degree studies and confirms that, once completed satisfactorily, it will result in you earning ECTS credits towards your degree.