Erasmus+ traineeship: participation requirements

Student has to

• be enrolled in Tallinn University study programme during the time of applying and traineeship;

• have sufficient knowledge of the language spoken in the host organisation (at least B1) ;

• find a traineeship organization.

Erasmus+ traineeship has to

• last between 2-12 months; 
• be made within the compulsory traineeship/or international traineeship subject, or be made within any other subject that could be considered as a traineeship, additionally the student's academic unit shall agree with that.

In sum: Full recognition must be given by the home university for the traineeship made abroad as agreed in the Learning Agreement for Traineeship, and it must be counted as integral part of student's TLU Study Programme;

• The traineeship can also be carried out in summer! 
• The trainee is obliged to purchase both accident and liability insurance (NB! This is not the travel insurance) that covers the duration of the exchange period. The following webpage has a list of Estonian insurance companies and can help you to find the right service and price: www.kindlustusest.ee/student-insurance.

Related to studies at TLU (for all students on English language programmes)

• All tuition fee paying students who have been admitted before the academic year of 2018/19 are exempted from paying the tuition fee to TLU during their semester/year abroad given they will not register for any of the TLU courses during their exchange period (incl. registering for the BA/MA thesis/final exam), as the latter automatically means the obligation to pay tuition fee.
• All tuition fee paying students who have been admitted between the academic years of 2018/19 and 2021/22 (both academic years included), have to pay 50% of their tuition fee to TLU during their semester/year abroad.
• All tuition fee paying students who have been admitted in the academic year of 2022/23, have to pay 100% of their tuition fee to TLU during their semester/year abroad.
• All tuition fee paying students have to carefully follow themselves that they would maintain their full-time student's status at TLU (e.g. they have already earned enough ECTS before the traineeship). The latter is necessary for avoiding the situation where the student does not manage to fulfill TLU Study Programme during the nominal study-period (BA - 3 years; MA -2 years). If student's study-period surpasses the nominal duration, the student has to pay the tuition fee to TLU for each following semester. 

Related to studies at TLU (for non-EU/EEA students on English language programmes)

• NB! Non-EU/EEA students studying at TLU with the "Estonian temporary residence permit for studying"
  Non-EU/EEA students have to carefully follow that they would always maintain full-time student's status at TLU. Maintaining and proving full-time student's status at TLU is a must in order to have the right for Estonian residence permit. Consequently, it is important to also plan the traineeship abroad so that you are able to maintain the full-time student's status at TLU. If you are going abroad to do Erasmus+ traineeship, and know well in advance that during this period your Estonian residence permit expires, please turn in timely manner to TLU International Admission Specialists.
• If the traineeship gives at least 15 ECTS and lasts at least 3 months, the student will be granted official extension of the nominal study-period at TLU by the this semester he/she was abroad as Erasmus+ trainee (however the student needs to pay the tuition fee to TLU for such semester as explained above). Being granted the official extension of nominal study-period (at full-time study-load) can become necessary for the non-EU/EEA students when they need to prove their eligibility for Estonian residence permit for which prerequisites are full-time studies and nominal study-period.

Related to Erasmus+ scholarship

• If student's compulsory traineeship subject gives less than 15 ECTS, yet the planned traineeship lasts longer than 3 months, then the scholarship shall only be provided for 3 months.
• NB! In the case of absence of documents confirming traineeship abroad or incomplete or inaccurate presentation thereof, the university has the right to reclaim the student mobility grant from the student or graduate student in the entire amount. In case of valid grounds, the student or graduate has the right to present a justified declaration to the member of the Rectorate, responsible for taking the decision to pay the mobility grant, for the cancellation of reclaim of the mobility grant. A justified written declaration, accompanied by relevant evidence, must be submitted no later than the end of the intermediary week of the semester following the traineeship abroad, with the exception of graduate students who submit the declaration no later than 30 days after the end of traineeship. The member of the Rectorate, responsible for taking the decision to pay the mobility grant, will pass the decision as regards the justification of the declaration and the decrease or cancellation of the grant to be returned no later than 10 calendar days after having received the declaration

According to the ECTS, the student should work during the traineeship:

• 1 ECTS (26 hours of work) = 2 working days (16 hours) + independent work (10 hours) OR 3 working days (24 hours) and 2 hours of independent work.
• 6 ECTS (156 hours of work) = approximately 40 hours a week for 1 month (including independent work) OR 20 hours per week for 2 months (including independent work).
• 9 ECTS (234 hours of work) = approximately 40 hours a week for 1,5 months (including independent work) OR 20 hours per week for 3 months (including independent work).
• 15 ECTS (390 hours of work)= approximately 40 hours a week for 2 months (including independent work) OR 20 hours per week for 4 months (including independent work).

NB! These are only examples. Working times depend on a particular traineeship organization. The minimum period for a Erasmus+ traineeship is 2 months (60 days).

• Short-term traineeship abroad at the host organization lasts for 5–30 days and is supplemented by mandatory virtual component. In case of doctoral students, the virtual component is not mandatory (doctoral short-term traineeship). No eligibility criteria is set for the duration of the virtual component. The applications are accepted throughout the year, except in July.

• Students have to bring back to Tallinn University at least 3 ECTS worth of courses, except doctoral students, given the short-term traineeship period abroad is taken into consideration during doctoral student’s evaluation at TLU.

• Be made within the compulsory traineeship/or international traineeship subject, or be made within any other subject that could be considered as a traineeship, additionally the student's academic unit shall agree with that. In sum: Full recognition must be given by the home university for the traineeship made abroad as agreed in the Learning Agreement for Traineeship, and it must be counted as integral part of student's TLU Study Programme;

• The traineeship can also be carried out in summer! 

• The trainee is obliged to purchase both accident and liability insurance (NB! This is not the travel insurance) that covers the duration of the exchange period. The following webpage has a list of Estonian insurance companies and can help you to find the right service and price: www.kindlustusest.ee/student-insurance.

Student has to

• be enrolled in Tallinn University study programme during the time of applying and traineeship;

• have sufficient knowledge of the language spoken in the host organisation (at least B1) ;

• find a traineeship organization.

Short-term traineeship example

A communications student sees a traineeship opportunity advertised by a private company. The company is looking for a communications trainee to revamp their social media and other communications channels and help draft a new communications strategy for the company. The company offers flexible working conditions for their employees and does not require their trainees to be present at the office physically all the time. The student then agrees with the company to do a blended short-term traineeship. The student first goes on a short-term physical mobility to the company for three weeks to get to know the company, the new colleagues, and to attend a training course for new staff members. After the physical mobility, the student returns to their sending country where they continue working for the company remotely, continually communicating with other staff members and working collaboratively with them online for two more months. The trainee takes part in virtual team meetings and their attendance could be part of the evaluation criteria. The student receives an Erasmus+ grant for the duration of the physical mobility but may also receive a remuneration from the company in addition.

Related to studies at TLU (for all students on English language programmes)

• All tuition fee paying students who have been admitted before the academic year of 2018/19 are exempted from paying the tuition fee to TLU during their semester/year abroad given they will not register for any of the TLU courses during their exchange period (incl. registering for the BA/MA thesis/final exam), as the latter automatically means the obligation to pay tuition fee.
• All tuition fee paying students who have been admitted between the academic years of 2018/19 and 2021/22 (both academic years included), have to pay 50% of their tuition fee to TLU during their semester/year abroad.
• All tuition fee paying students who have been admitted in the academic year of 2022/23, have to pay 100% of their tuition fee to TLU during their semester/year abroad.
• All tuition fee paying students have to carefully follow themselves that they would maintain their full-time student's status at TLU (e.g. they have already earned enough ECTS before the traineeship). The latter is necessary for avoiding the situation where the student does not manage to fulfill TLU Study Programme during the nominal study-period (BA - 3 years; MA -2 years). If student's study-period surpasses the nominal duration, the student has to pay the tuition fee to TLU for each following semester. 

Related to studies at TLU (for non-EU/EEA students on English language programmes)

• NB! Non-EU/EEA students studying at TLU with the "Estonian temporary residence permit for studying"
  Non-EU/EEA students have to carefully follow that they would always maintain full-time student's status at TLU. Maintaining and proving full-time student's status at TLU is a must in order to have the right for Estonian residence permit. Consequently, it is important to also plan the traineeship abroad so that you are able to maintain the full-time student's status at TLU. If you are going abroad to do Erasmus+ traineeship, and know well in advance that during this period your Estonian residence permit expires, please turn in timely manner to TLU International Admission Specialists.
• If the traineeship gives at least 15 ECTS and lasts at least 3 months, the student will be granted official extension of the nominal study-period at TLU by the this semester he/she was abroad as Erasmus+ trainee (however the student needs to pay the tuition fee to TLU for such semester as explained above). Being granted the official extension of nominal study-period (at full-time study-load) can become necessary for the non-EU/EEA students when they need to prove their eligibility for Estonian residence permit for which prerequisites are full-time studies and nominal study-period.

Related to Erasmus+ scholarship

• If student's compulsory traineeship subject gives less than 15 ECTS, yet the planned traineeship lasts longer than 3 months, then the scholarship shall only be provided for 3 months.
• NB! In the case of absence of documents confirming traineeship abroad or incomplete or inaccurate presentation thereof, the university has the right to reclaim the student mobility grant from the student or graduate student in the entire amount. In case of valid grounds, the student or graduate has the right to present a justified declaration to the member of the Rectorate, responsible for taking the decision to pay the mobility grant, for the cancellation of reclaim of the mobility grant. A justified written declaration, accompanied by relevant evidence, must be submitted no later than the end of the intermediary week of the semester following the traineeship abroad, with the exception of graduate students who submit the declaration no later than 30 days after the end of traineeship. The member of the Rectorate, responsible for taking the decision to pay the mobility grant, will pass the decision as regards the justification of the declaration and the decrease or cancellation of the grant to be returned no later than 10 calendar days after having received the declaration