Hosting an Erasmus+ trainee is one of the most cost-effective ways for a European company to bring in motivated international talent. The key idea: Erasmus+ funds the student, you provide the placement. The EU grant, managed by the student's university, covers their living and travel costs, so the funding does not come out of your budget. This guide walks through eligibility, the steps, the Learning Agreement, and what hosting actually involves.
The one-line version. Erasmus+ is a funding rail, not an agency. A student arrives already funded by the EU through their university. Your job is to offer a real, supervised placement that matches their studies, and to co-sign one core document: the Learning Agreement.
What an Erasmus+ traineeship is
Erasmus+ is the European Union's programme for education, training and youth. One strand funds traineeships: a student (or recent graduate) does a work placement at a company abroad, while the EU contributes a grant towards their costs through their home university. For the company, it means access to internationally mobile, motivated students whose living costs are partly covered by the programme, not by you.
Traineeships typically run 2 to 6 months. Recent graduates can also take part within a year of finishing their studies. The placement must be a genuine, supervised role that fits the student's field.
The five steps to host a trainee
Check that you can act as a host organisation
Almost any company, NGO or public body established in a programme or partner country can host an Erasmus+ trainee. You do not need a special licence or accreditation. You simply provide a real, supervised placement that matches the student's field of study.
Define the placement and learning outcomes
Erasmus+ placements are framed around learning outcomes, not just tasks. Write the role with the skills and knowledge the trainee will gain, the duration, and who will supervise them. This becomes the basis of the Learning Agreement.
Find an Erasmus+ trainee
Source candidates through a marketplace such as Internship Abroad, through university Erasmus+ offices, or via the platforms students use to find placements. The student's sending university manages their grant, so you focus on the fit.
Sign the Learning Agreement
The Learning Agreement is the core document. It is signed by three parties: the trainee, the sending university, and you as the host company. It sets out the tasks, learning outcomes, supervision, duration, and any company contribution.
Onboard and supervise the trainee
Assign a supervisor, deliver a structured induction, and mentor the trainee against the agreed learning outcomes. At the end you confirm completion, often with a short evaluation or a traineeship certificate that the student needs for recognition.
The company's responsibilities
Hosting is lighter than most companies expect. Your responsibilities are:
- Provide a real, supervised placement that matches the agreed learning outcomes.
- Assign a supervisor or mentor who guides the trainee and is available for questions.
- Ensure safe, fair working conditions in line with local law.
- Sign the Learning Agreement before the placement starts.
- Confirm completion at the end, usually with an evaluation or traineeship certificate.
The administration of the grant itself stays with the sending university. You are not responsible for paying the EU funding or for the student's enrolment.
The Learning Agreement explained
The Learning Agreement for Traineeships is the document that makes the placement official. It is a three-way agreement between the trainee, the sending university, and the host company. It typically covers:
| Section | What it states |
|---|---|
| Tasks | The work the trainee will do day to day |
| Learning outcomes | The skills and knowledge they will gain |
| Supervision | Who mentors the trainee at the company |
| Duration and dates | Start and end of the placement |
| Monitoring and evaluation | How progress is checked and completion confirmed |
Sign it before the start date. It protects all three sides and is required for the student's grant and academic recognition.
What it costs you
This is the part founders are often surprised by. The EU grant covers the student's living and travel costs, so as the host you usually pay little or nothing in cash:
- Stipend: optional. Some companies add a top-up; it is not required unless local law mandates a minimum.
- Agency fee: none, if you source through a direct marketplace like Internship Abroad.
- Your real cost: supervision time and a structured onboarding.
For a full comparison of stipends, agency fees and hidden costs, see what it costs to hire an intern.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Almost any company, NGO or public body established in an Erasmus+ programme or partner country can host a trainee, with no special accreditation needed. You provide a genuine, supervised placement that fits the student's field and sign the Learning Agreement.
Not necessarily. Trainees receive an EU grant through their sending university that contributes to living and travel costs, so the funding does not come from the host company. Some companies add a top-up, but it is optional unless local law requires a minimum. This is a main reason hosting is cost-effective.
The Learning Agreement for Traineeships is the core Erasmus+ document, signed by three parties: the trainee, the sending university, and the host company. It sets out the tasks, learning outcomes, supervision, duration, and evaluation. It is required for the grant and for academic recognition.
Typically 2 to 6 months, with shorter and longer placements allowed in some cases. Recent graduates can also do a traineeship within a year of finishing their studies. Agree the exact dates in the Learning Agreement before the trainee starts.
Provide a real, supervised placement matching the agreed learning outcomes, assign a supervisor, ensure safe working conditions, sign the Learning Agreement, and confirm completion at the end. The grant administration stays with the sending university.