Work placements and international experience

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Venice.
Photo: Chalmers student William Jörnelius.

In addition to exchange studies through Erasmus+ and Global Exchange programs, there are other opportunities to gain international experience and broaden your skills. Through the alliances and networks that Chalmers is part of, students can participate in internships, summer schools or double degree programmes.

Two people stand by a whiteboard with text, discussing with each other.
Photo: Unitech International

Combine exchange studies with internships

Unitech International

UNITECH is an exclusive program that gives you the opportunity to:
  • Study abroad at one of the network’s nine leading European universities.
  • Complete an internship at a top international company.
  • Develop your leadership skills through personal coaching and workshops.
The program is open to students enrolled in year 3 of a professional degree of engineering program (civilingenjörsprogram). Participation takes place during year 4 and offers a unique chance to build a network and work in a borderless Europe.
Within UNITECH, universities collaborate with companies to create an exchange where the internship is tailored to your education. The internship lasts at least 12 weeks and can be carried out almost anywhere in the world.

Within UNITECH International, universities collaborate with companies to create an exchange with internships adapted to the programme. An internship must last at least twelve weeks and can be done basically anywhere in the world.

In total, 90 ECTS credits must be completed by the end of the program.

List of collaborating companies

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Berlin.

Traineeships

Erasmus+ Grant for traineeship

Note: In this text, the terms traineeship and internship are used interchangeably.

Application periods

You can apply for an Erasmus+ traineeship grant twice a year:

  • 15 February – 1 April: for traineeships starting between June and December.

  • 15 August – 1 October: for traineeships starting between January and May of the following year.

Eligibility

You can apply for an Erasmus+ traineeship grant as an active student at Chalmers if you plan to do an internship at a company, organization, or research centre in Europe. It is also possible to do an internship abroad to collect data for your thesis at a university or company, provided this is approved by your supervisor/examiner at Chalmers.

To be eligible, the traineeship period must be at least 60 days and can last up to 12 months.

Grant information

The grant is not intended to cover all costs. It provides additional financial support to help cover expenses during your internship period.

Application tips

You are responsible for collecting the necessary information prior to your application and you are expected to manage many steps independently. Make sure to prepare your application well in advance of the internship start date.

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Chalmers student Shiyu Chen doing an IAESTE internship in Kenya, 2025.

IAESTE 

Seize the opportunity to gain international experience and personal development by working within your field of study. IAESTE offers paid internships for engineering and architecture students in more than 80 countries worldwide.

You can apply for a summer work placement of 2–3 months, or a longer internship ranging from six months up to one year.

For more information, visit the IAESTE website

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at iaestesweden@chalmers.se 

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Italy. Photo: Chalmers student Petra Hjelm.

IDEA League Student Grant 

The IDEA League Student Grant gives students the opportunity to carry out a research exchange at one of the IDEA League partner universities. The exchange can take place in connection with an internship or during parts of a master’s thesis project, for example to collect data or conduct experiments for your thesis.

Please note that the grant is not intended to cover the full thesis work.

An internship is not a mandatory part of the study plan at Chalmers, and therefore no ECTS/credits will be awarded for the internship period funded by the grant.

As an applicant, you must organize your planned stay at the partner university independently before applying for the grant.

Application periods:

  • 1 March–1 April (for project during autumn term)
  • 1 September–1 October (for project during spring term)

Note: The IDEA League Student Grant cannot be used in combination with an Erasmus+ Traineeship Grant.

About IDEA League

The IDEA League is a network of five leading European universities of science and technology. The member universities are TU Delft, RWTH Aachen, ETH Zürich, Politecnico di Milano, and Chalmers University of Technology.

You can read more about the network on the IDEA League website

IDEA League coordinator at Chalmers

Ann-Marie Endresen
  • Coordinator, Student and Education Office, Chalmers Operations Support
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Summer schools

ENHANCE Summer and Winter Schools

Summer and winter schools within the ENHANCE alliance offer students the opportunity to participate in activities addressing current technological, social, and environmental challenges with a strong focus on sustainability and inclusiveness.

More information about ENHANCE summer and winter schools.

IDEA League Summer Schools 2025 – open for application

IDEA League summer schools offer a unique opportunity to explore new directions within your ongoing studies or research, while further developing your skills and academic competence.

Are you a master’s or doctoral student interested in working on exciting projects related to sustainability, artificial intelligence, and mobility this summer, while connecting with students from other IDEA League universities?

Then you should apply!

Application deadline

11 April, 2025 at 14.00 CET (Chalmers Summer School)
25 April, 2025 at 14.00 CET (all other Summer Schools)

Costs

There are no registration and accommodation fees. Students from IDEA League member universities selected to participate in a summer school only have to pay for their own travel costs where applicable.

Double Degree

Cooperation with University of Stuttgart in Germany

Through our collaboration with the University of Stuttgart in Germany, students have the unique opportunity to earn a double Master’s degree. By completing one year of studies at Chalmers and one year at the partner university, you will graduate with two Master’s degrees. This additional qualification offers significant advantages, especially if you plan to pursue a career in the country where you studied.

University of Stuttgart (Tyskland)

A Nordic cooperation with Nordic Five Tech

You can earn a double Master’s degree through a well-established Nordic collaboration among Chalmers, KTH, NTNU in Norway, Aalto University in Finland and DTU in Denmark, with the University of Iceland participating in a specific programme track. The Nordic Five Tech scheme involves one year of study at Chalmers and one year at one of the partner universities, though not both at Chalmers and KTH.

Learn more on Nordic Five Tech's website