Internship abroad

Gain new experiences and confidence from abroad!

In addition to developing your professional skills and expertise, a traineeship abroad will help you to understand how to work in an international setting. You will get to develop your language skills, your knowledge of different cultures and experience a different kind of working culture. A placement abroad will give you a unique perspective on the work life and personalise your degree.

An internship abroad will challenge you to step outside your comfort zone and provide you with opportunities for both personal and professional growth. Of course, it is also an opportunity to experience an unforgettable adventure.

On this page you will find information about internships abroad. You will find tips on where to look for internships, how to apply for a one, and what kind of funding is available to support your internship.

Where to start

Getting an internship abroad does not differ much from getting one in your own country. It is important to start early, because taking care of practical matters and keeping contact may take longer than in your home country.

Search for jobs through internship programmes, from different job websites or by contacting interesting employers directly. Ask advice from your department and friends or search information from the internet. It is good to find out what the employment situation is like in your target country. If the unemployment rate is low, it is easier also for foreigners to get employed. For example, provides information on employment in European countries.

When looking for a job on the free market, you can focus on applying to organisations that interest you. You can look for tips on internships, for example, from job websites, or ask for them from your faculty's international teachers and researchers, or fellow peers who have done their internships abroad or been on exchange before.

When looking for a job abroad independently, it is especially important to remember to take care of various practical arrangements in good time, such as work permits, insurances and visas. The application periods for internship programmes are often in the spring but in some programmes you can send applications all year. Check the application times from the programme's website. If you are looking for an internship from the free market, notice that the application period for summer jobs often ends in January–February.

Find internships from
is a platform that promotes international employment
is a job search portal among EU countries
is a job search and networking service aimed at researchers and entrepreneurs
In , you can apply for an internship with a grant from the Finnish National Agency for Education
A list of international organisations' recruitment pages (In Finnish, but most of the organisations' names are in English)
You can search for teaching internships in Europe on portal or portal
International Employment Possibilities

Only in Finnish:
(FI/SV)

Applying through the internship programme is easy, especially when the job is arranged through it. The programme organizers can also help you with practical matters. Another advantage is that applying via the internship programme can convince employers that the applicant has sufficient language skills and an education suitable for the position.

Via some internship programs, you can also search for a position independently. However, there are often many applicants applying for the places offered by internship programmes, and the programmes do not always have a job offer in your own field. The disadvantage of some private programmes is that they might have an expensive brokerage fee. When choosing a programme, you should be careful that the programme does not include surprising additional fees.

- practical work experience abroad
- internship programme with a fee
- internship programme for engineering students
- The European Organization for Nuclear Research offers plenty of internships every year
- technical training program in Japan
- The European Space Agency's internship opportunities

When you have found an interesting job

Be on the move on time!

Make sure that your internship can be accepted as part of your studies. Contact the internship contact person in your faculty! Only sign an internship contract after you have received confirmation that the internship is included in your studies.

You apply for an internship just like you would for a job. When you contact the employer, tell them at least the following:

What are you studying and what internship would you like to do?
What interests you about this particular employer?
What can you do and provide for the employer?
- List your skills that are essential for the internship and the job.
How long would the training last and at what time would it take place?

Find out what kind of application and CV is recommended in your destination country.

For job searching in the EU region, the European Union recommends using a European CV template, the instructions for which can be found on the Europass -portal. In the US, instead of a CV, a resume is used, which is a one-page presentation. In some cultures, a letter of recommendation helps in getting an internship. If necessary, you can request it from your faculty.

- tips for applying for a job on abroad
- e.g. CV, CV templates in different languages and language passport for EU/EEA countries
- work in Europe

Contact the employer about a week after sending your application, e.g., by email. Ask, for example, whether your application has arrived and on what stage the selection process is at. When contacting by phone, prepare for a possible phone interview. If you are applying for an open job, you can also call the employer before sending your application. This shows that you are really interested in the job. Ask for details about the job and try to get the employer interested in you.

In internship programmes, the selection is often based on paperwork. In some programmes, those selected for the next recruitment stage are interviewed in Finland. If you are applying for an internship independently, the application process may include a telephone or remote interview. If the job is demanding and long-term, it is more likely that the employer wants to meet the applicant before offering the job. In shorter internships, this is usually not necessary.

It is recommended to make a written agreement with the employer about the internship. In addition to the internship contract, you can also make a regular contract of employment. More information about employment matters on the i pages.

You should start looking for an apartment early on. You can ask your employer for advice or look for an apartment on the open market. There are also rental apartment platforms online, for example, , and . Also, make a plan for what you will do with your current apartment.

Make sure your passport is valid for long enough and find out if you need a visa or a work permit for the destination country.

Check if you need any vaccinations. Find out how the local health care works. It is good to note in which language everyday matters are carried out.

Buy travel tickets and find out which connecting transport you need in order to get to your new home. You should also get travel and luggage insurance.

Find out if you need a local bank account, for example, for salary payments.

Notify The Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela) and the Digital and Population Data Services Agency about your move abroad. Also, find out if you are entitled to social security during your stay. More information in .

Funding the internship abroad

If you are eligible for the Finnish Government study grant and student loan, you can receive those during your internship period too. In addition, you can receive Kela's housing supplement (if eligible). However, take into account the effect of a possible salary on your study grant and whether you will receive enough study points during the internship. You can also apply for a scholarship. Find more information about them below.

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