Erasmus+ internships for doctoral students
To better meet the diverse learning and training needs of doctoral candidates and to ensure equal opportunities with
those that have the status of higher education staff, doctoral candidates and recent graduates (‘post-docs’) 39 can
undertake short-term or long-term physical study or traineeship mobility periods abroad. Adding a virtual component
to physical mobility is encouraged.
When student mobility is carried out for the purpose of internship (educational practice), the host organization may be:
A public or private organization of the program country or partner country operating in the labour market or in the fields of education, training, youth, scientific research and innovation. These may be, for example, the following organizations:
- a public or private, a small, medium or large enterprise (including social enterprises);
- a public body at the local, regional or national level;
- embassies or consular offices of the sending EU Member State or third country associated with the Programme;
- a social partner or another representative of working life, including chambers of commerce, craft/professional associations and trade unions;
- a research institute;
- a foundation;
- a school/institute/educational centre (at any level, from pre-school to upper secondary education, and including vocational education and adult education);
- a non-profit organisation, association, NGO;
- a body providing career guidance, professional counselling and information services;
- a HEI from an EU Member State or third country associated with the Programme awarded with an ECHE, or a HEI from a third country not associated to the Programme recognised by competent authorities that have signed inter-institutional agreements with their partners from an EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme, before the mobility takes place.
Program countries: 27 EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Serbia, Turkey and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
Partner countries: regions 1-14 (page 33 of the Erasmus+ program guide).
All full-time third-cycle (PhD) students registered with VDA.
Procedure for organizing the competition
The competition takes place throughout the year. A VDA doctoral student can apply several times a year, but priority is given to students who have not participated in the Erasmus+ program.
The Erasmus+ grant is awarded to:
- who meet the requirements of the Erasmus+ program;
- who have the consent of the host institution;
- who have the consent of the head of the VDA study program.
Doctoral students wishing to receive an Erasmus+ grant must submit a fully completed online application form at least 4 weeks before the scheduled start of the internship.
Application form for VDA doctoral students
Mobility of doctoral students for the purpose of internship (educational practice): 5-30 days.
How is an internship abroad organized?
After receiving the consent of the institution abroad and the head of his study program, the doctoral student must submit a fully completed and signed Study Agreement for the internship to the International Relations Office.
The doctoral student himself takes care of travel and accommodation during the internship. If necessary, the International Relations Office can provide consultation within the department's competencies.
If for essential reasons, a doctoral student decides to refuse an internship abroad, he must immediately notify the International Relations Office.
ERASMUS+ grant for doctoral students
Doctoral students can receive an Erasmus+ grant, which would partially cover the expenses incurred due to the mobility period spent abroad.
Students do not pay any additional fees or charges related to the organization or administration of their mobility period, and the payment of the student's national grant or loan must not be interrupted during the period spent abroad.
The following basic individual support amounts are established:
| Duration of the physical mobility activities | Amount (regardless of the Program country or Partner country) |
| Until the 14th day of activities | EUR 70 / a day |
| 15th-30th activity days - EUR 50 | EUR 50 / a day |
Individual support can also be provided for one travel day before the start of the activity and one travel day after the end of the activity.
Disadvantaged students and recent graduates receive an additional amount of EUR 100 the individual support of their EU Erasmus+ grant for a physical mobility activity period of 5th-14th days and EUR 150 for a period of 15th-30th days.
Contribution to individual needs of students with disabilities
Contribution for individual needs is eligible if they fulfil the general eligibility conditions set in the grant agreement. They will be used for enrolled students (with or without scholarship) with disabilities (e.g. long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments), such as those related to the acquisition of particular items or services (e.g. assistance by third persons, adaptation of work environment, additional travel/transportation costs).
The contribution may be awarded to PhD students selected for Erasmus+ mobility to cover the costs listed below.
For additional costs for facilities and/or services depend on the nature of special needs, illness/disability. The need for these expenses must be based on medical documents, i.e. the need for the measures and/or services for which you are requesting additional support must be confirmed in an extract from medical records issued by a doctor. It should be noted that the latter document must clearly indicate what and how many services the person will need during the period of study abroad. The contribution will be based on actual costs incurred. Living and travel expenses of the accompanying person, if reasonable.
After returning from an Erasmus+ internship abroad, it is mandatory to submit the following documents to the VDA International Relations Office:
A document confirming the completion of an internship abroad (Traineeship Certificate);
At the end of the Erasmus+ internship, the European Commission will send an e-mail form by mail, which must also be filled out.
Doctoral students can also participate in long-term Erasmus+ mobility activities for studies and educational practice (duration from 2 to 12 months of physical mobility) (study mobility may include a complementary traineeship period if planned), excluding travel time.
