Find a relevant research group
Search for relevant research groups and professors. Visit our research website (research.ku.dk).
Traineeships for bachelor and master students
If you are a bachelor or master student, you can apply for a traineeship at the University of Copenhagen (UCPH) either as:
an Erasmus+ trainee (i.e. if your home university has an Erasmus Charter)an independent trainee (i.e. outside of the Erasmus programme)
Erasmus+ traineeship
Students enrolled at a higher education institution with an Erasmus Charter (i.e. almost all EU/EEA education institutions) in an Erasmus+ programme country can participate in an Erasmus+ traineeship.
Recent graduates may also participate in a traineeship. Recent graduates must be selected by their home institution during their last year of study and must carry out and complete the traineeship abroad within 1 year of obtaining their degree.
While your home institution must be awarded an Erasmus Charter for Higher Education, there is no requirement for a bilateral agreement between your home institution and UCPH.
An Erasmus traineeship must be arranged in direct contact with a department or research group at UCPH. This means that students are responsible for the initial contact with the relevant professor, researcher, or research group and for planning the traineeship.
Search for relevant professors, researchers, and research groups
The International Education office cannot help students find a relevant professor, researcher, or research group. Search for relevant persons here
Please note that students must have a clear motivation and argumentation for doing the Erasmus traineeship before they contact the relevant professor, researcher, or research group.
The Erasmus+ traineeship must last a minimum of 2 months and a maximum of 12 months per study cycle (BA, MA/MSc). The same student may receive grants for mobility periods totalling up to 12 months maximum per study cycle (traineeship and studies).
When both the student and the relevant contact person at UCPH have agreed upon the Erasmus traineeship, a Learning Agreement for Traineeship must be completed and signed by:
- the student
- the home university
- the UCPH department (e.g. the supervisor or head of research group responsible for hosting the student) When the Learning Agreement for Traineeship is completed and signed, it must be sent to incomingmobility@adm.ku.dk.
Once the International Education office have received a fully signed Erasmus traineeship agreement, we will register the student and the student will receive a letter of registration with information regarding access to their UCPH e-mail, ID card, housing possibilities, residence documents, etc.
Please note that Erasmus traineeship students are not allowed to sign up for courses.
Whether or not you need a residence permit depends on your citizenship
EU/EEA/Swiss citizens
You will receive guidance about applying for a residence document from the International Education office when we have received your signed Erasmus+ traineeship agreement.
Non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens
The department/research group where you will be carrying out your traineeship must start the application for your residence permit.
DO NOT start the application yourself. If you have agreed a traineeship stay, contact the department/research group about starting your application.
The application process takes 2–3 months, so it is important that you apply in good time.
Non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens must have a valid residence permit before starting a traineeship.
Note: Non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens enrolled at an EU/EEA/Swiss institution still need to apply for a residence permit. You cannot start the traineeship until you have received your residence permit.
Read more about the conditions and process on the Danish authority’s website
All trainees are strongly recommended to take out liability and accident insurance coverage on their own.
According to Danish legislation, Danish universities are generally not allowed to take out insurance coverage. This means that the trainee will not be covered by any accident or liability insurance taken out by the UCPH during the traineeship.
In case of damage to the property of UCPH caused by a trainee, UCPH will assess the degree of guilt in the specific case:
- UCPH will cover damages assessed to be made inadvertently
- UCPH will not cover any damages assessed to be made deliberately owing to gross negligence or intention
- UCPH will not cover any third-party damages.
Independent traineeship
Students who wish to arrange an independent (i.e. not Erasmus) traineeship at a department or a research group, should contact a relevant professor, researcher, or research group. Students must work directly with the relevant professor, researcher, or research group when planning the traineeship.
Independent traineeship FAQ
An independent traineeship must be arranged in direct contact with a department or research group at UCPH. This means that students are responsible for the initial contact with the relevant professor, researcher, or research group and for planning the traineeship.
Search for relevant professors, researchers, and research groups
The International Education office cannot help students find a relevant professor, researcher, or research group. Search for relevant persons here
Please note that students must have a clear motivation and argumentation for doing a traineeship before they contact the relevant professor, researcher, or research group.
For information on registration, a letter confirming your stay, login information, etc., you must contact the administration of the department or research group where you will carry out your traineeship.
EU/EEA/Swiss citizens
Upon arrival in Copenhagen, EU/EEA/Swiss trainees can apply for a residence document ("EU residence as a person with sufficient funds (self-supporting)").
Read more about the conditions and process on the Danish authority’s website
Non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens
The department/research group where you will be carrying out your traineeship must start the application for your residence permit.
DO NOT start the application yourself. If you have agreed a traineeship stay, contact the department/research group about starting your application.
The application process takes 2–3 months, so it is important that you apply in good time.
Non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens must have a valid residence permit before starting a traineeship.
Note: Non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens enrolled at an EU/EEA/Swiss institution still need to apply for a residence permit. You cannot start the traineeship until you have received your residence permit.
Read more about the conditions and process on the Danish authority’s website
All trainees are strongly recommended to take out liability and accident insurance coverage on their own.
According to Danish legislation, Danish universities are generally not allowed to take out insurance coverage. This means that the trainee will not be covered by any accident or liability insurance taken out by the UCPH during the traineeship.
In case of damage to the property of UCPH caused by a trainee, UCPH will assess the degree of guilt in the specific case:
- UCPH will cover damages assessed to be made inadvertently
- UCPH will not cover any damages assessed to be made deliberately owing to gross negligence or intention
- UCPH will not cover any third-party damages.
Erasmus+ traineeship for PhD students
Traineeships at PhD level must be arranged in direct contact with a department or research group at UCPH. This means that students are responsible for the initial contact with the relevant professor, researcher, or research group and for planning the traineeship.
Note: The International Education office is not involved in traineeships for PhD students. All questions about traineeships (including questions about residence permits, intellectual property rights, etc.) should be directed to the research group or faculty
Clinical stays at Danish hospitals
If your home university has an exchange agreement with UCPH within medicine
If your home university has an exchange agreement with UCPH within medicine, please ask the international/Erasmus office at your home university for more details on how to be nominated for a clinical stay. When you have been nominated, you will automatically receive more information from us on how to apply.
If your home university does not have an exchange agreement with UCPH
If your home university does not have an exchange agreement with UCPH, then we are unfortunately unable to help you.
Signing of documents
Please note that UCPH is only able to sign documents for students who have been nominated for a stay through an exchange agreement.