Students at the Iceland University of the Arts can apply for an Erasmus+ grant to complete a traineeship in Europe for a minimum of two months.
For a shorter stay, students can apply for a Nordplus grant for internships in the Nordic and Baltic region, for a period of one to eight weeks.
In both cases the internship must contribute to the student’s professional development in relation to their studies.
When can I go?
Students can apply for grants for an internship during the summer break, which will render 2 ECTS that will appear on the student’s transcript of records.
Two study programmes, Theatre and Performance Making and Contemporary Dance, offer internships as a part of the study programme for up to 30 ECTS (the equivalent of one semester). The internship will appear on the student’s transcript of records.
Graduating students can apply for an ERASMUS+ grant to complete an internship after graduation. It is important to apply for the grant before graduation, and the grant has to be used within 12 months from graduation. Interns do not receive credit points for this type of internship but will receive a document stating acquired knowledge and skill.
The minimum placement period is two months and the internship must contribute to the students’ professional development in relation to their studies.
What kind of internship can I do?
A traineeship gives students the opportunity to obtain training in the field and within a particular field of profession. The training has to be related to the student’s field of study and bring about opportunities for enhancing the student’s skills and competences in the given field.
The student is able to test/explore the knowledge and skills obtained during studies and apply those in the field (real-life setting).
Traineeships should culminate in: the expansion of student’s network, building up of a resumee, increased opportunity for employment and enhanced inter-cultural skills.
Traineeships should entail service and benefits for both: the student works on the tasks designated by receiving institution and obtains training/guidance from the mentor in return. The position of a trainee can be paid or unpaid, but should always be a temporary position.
The Training agreement defines the objectives of the training, its tasks and learning outcomes, as well as an overall workplan.
By signing the agreement the receiving partner commits to providing the training, and the student commits to the work and assignments as described in the agreement.
The sending institution is responsible for the mobility scholarship and will provide assistance in case of complications or conflict.
The scholarship is granted on the condition that the student‘s study department approves the training as described in the training agreement.
Who can be a receiving partner / mentor?
Receiving partner can be a company, institution, an organisation or a self-employed artist/designer. The receiving partner should have extensive experience in the field and should preferably have a university degree. The mentor should have the competence to supervise the trainee according to the objectives set forth in the training agreement. In this way, the traineeship is usually not a peer-to-peer learning experience.
The receiving partner should keep the training and its objectives in mind when determining the tasks of the trainee.
A trainee should never become a replacement for a regular employee.
The receiving partner should see to it that the training is both professional and appropriate. It is important that the receiving partner understands its role as a supervisor and does not manipulate the efforts of the student for his/her own good.
The receiving partner should guarantee adequate work premises for the student, in line with his/her duties.
In general terms, the receiving partner can take up to two students from IUA for training on annual basis, but not more.
How do I find a traineeship?
Students are responsible for finding a suitable destination for their training.
Programme leaders and teachers can give advice and possibly through their own networks point students towards suitable mentors.
The website erasmusintern.org advertises available internships.
Code of Ethics - Things to keep in mind
Students’ friends or current collaborators are not seen as relevant receiving partner/mentor.
Grants are not awarded to collaborative projects or individual student work supervised by a mentor.
The training grant covers the period spent abroad for training at the place of the receiving partner.
Training taking place in Iceland cannot be covered – not for distance related work nor for projects of receiving partner taking place in Iceland. If part of the training takes place in Iceland, then this period should be deducted from the total number of days of training.
The trainee should not be obliged to work on tasks other than those mentioned in the traineeship agreement, especially those not related to his/her field of study.
The trainee is not obliged to work more hours than indicated in the training agreement.
Should conflicts arise, eg. regarding issues mentioned above, then the student should turn to the international office of IUA for advice.
In case of discrimination or harassment, the student should contact IUA immediately (student councellor or international office) to seek advice and assistance.