Erasmus Work Placements

Erasmus Work Placements are a fantastic opportunity for you to test your career ambitions, test your motivation and gain credit towards your Exeter degree. You’ll immerse yourself in another culture, improve your language skills, make new friends and gain all important work experience.

How does it work?

You can work in all 27 European Union Member States, EEA countries and candidate countries, as well as Switzerland, please see Where can I work?

You can work in a variety of employment sectors. Placements must be full-time, a minimum of 3 months and a maximum of 12 months.

Technical Requirements

For those students who are doing or have already decided to do an Erasmus placement, the technical requirements, and Erasmus work abroad hanbdbook are available. Requirements vary from year to year, so please ensure you follow the appropriate link:

Who can take part?

You must be a registered University of Exeter student. Typically these placements are taken as part of a year abroad in year 3.

The placement must form part of your degree i.e. you must be able to take it as part of an approved module. At present this option is only available to students studying:

a language (including as part of a joint or combined honours degree)
a business degree with European studies
a fleixible combined honours degree

You are advised to have sufficient capacity in the language of your chosen country to meet the requirements of the work placement and to have enough language skills to cope at a social level. Funding is available for in-country language tuition in some European countries (not France, Germany, or Spain) prior to your work placement. See EILC for further details and to apply.

Why should I consider an Erasmus Work Placement?

The bulk of British trade is conducted with our partners in the European Union.
It is now more important than ever for you to gain concrete work experience during your degree.
Improve your language skills in a non English speaking country
Enhance your CV and gain personal skills that employers are looking for.

Tips on finding a placement

Tips on finding an international work placement or graduate vacancy

Where can I work?

You can work in all 27 European Union Member States, EEA countries and candidate countries:

EU member states: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden
EFTA-EEA countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway
Candidate country: Turkey
Switzerland

Further information and how to apply

Eligible enterprises include ‘all undertakings engaged in economic activity in the public or private sector whatever their size, legal status or the economic sector in which they operate, including the social economy’.
EU institutions (such as the European Commission) and other EU bodies, Organisations managing EU programmes (such as National Agencies) and national diplomatic representations (embassies/consulates) are NOT eligible.
Most students organise their own placement or use existing college contacts. You should also check out the University’s jobsurfing site for internship opportunities.
Erasmus grants are awarded only for mobility taking place between 1 July 2011 to 30 September 2012.
The value of the grant varies form year to year but is typically around 365 € paid in two instalments, usually late November and June.
Your placement must be approved by your Erasmus Academic Co-ordinator
For those students who are doing or have already decided to do an Erasmus placement, the technical requirements and forms are available.