FAQs for incoming trainees

Yes, you can participate in a mobility programme for a traineeship even if you have previously participated in a mobility programme for study purposes.

If you participate in the Erasmus+ programme, you just need to comply with the 12-month limit for each study cycle (bachelor's, master's or PhD).

If you are a non-EU student, however, the overall limit is 360 days.

It depends on the type of traineeship:

• If the traineeship is curricular (i.e. part of your course of study), you do not need a work permit.
• If the traineeship is voluntary or takes place after graduation, you need authorisation and must comply with the immigration quota regulations laid down by Italian law.

We recommend that you check your situation carefully before leaving.

No, no payment is provided by either the University of Parma or the host organisation.

However, you can check with your home university: in some cases, it is possible to obtain a mobility grant to cover expenses during the traineeship.

To find and apply for an traineeship in Parma, visit our registration page.

Remember that in some cases you must also contact your home university directly to start the mobility procedure.

While no language level is required to apply, the type of activity you will be doing during your traineeship will have an impact.

For instance, trainees in the medical field must demonstrate a certain level of language proficiency.

We generally recommend preparing with OLS courses or other tools to improve your Italian or English, depending on the context.

The number of hours is decided together with your host organisation tutor and must be indicated in your Learning Agreement for Traineeship.

Usually, a full-time internship involves around 30–40 hours per week, but this may vary depending on the project and the agreements made.

The tasks and responsibilities of your traineeship will be agreed with your tutor from the host organisation.

All agreed activities must be recorded in the Learning Agreement for Traineeships (LAT) prior to the commencement of the mobility period.

It depends on the rules of your home department.

Some universities only recognise ECTS credits if the traineeship is part of your course of study and is completed before graduation.

Others consider traineeships to be extracurricular activities that can be completed before or after graduation, but without formal credit recognition.

We recommend talking to your coordinator to find out what applies in your case.

If you wish to extend your traineeship, you must first request authorisation from your tutor, and then from your home university. If your request is approved, you will need to amend the Learning Agreement for Traineeships (LAT) to reflect the updated duration and details of the project.

The updated LAT, signed by all three parties, should then be emailed to the Erasmus Office.