Exchange Programs

Erasmus+ Program:

The Erasmus+ Program is the European Union's new program for education, training, youth, and sport for the period 2021-2027, replacing the Lifelong Learning and Youth Programs implemented between 2007-2013. It includes both project-based and individual activities.

The Erasmus+ Higher Education program encourages cooperation between higher education institutions and with the business world.

Erasmus+ Internship Mobility:

This involves a student enrolled at a higher education institution completing an internship at an enterprise abroad. An "internship" refers to a period of vocational training and/or work experience undertaken by a participant at an enterprise or organization in another participating country.

This mobility aims for the student to gain practical work experience related to their field of study.

While not necessarily a mandatory part of the student's degree program, the internship sector must be relevant to the student's current field of vocational education.

Student Internship Mobility allows a registered student to undertake an internship related to their academic field at an enterprise, research institute, laboratory, or other relevant institution or organization abroad. Attending courses at a host higher education institution does not qualify as an internship. The mobility duration is between 2 and 12 months for each study cycle. Internships can be conducted during any academic year or by final-year students within 12 months post-graduation. For post-graduation internships, the application must be submitted before the student graduates. Graduated students cannot apply for the first time after graduation. Post-graduation internships must be completed within 12 months of the graduation date. If the graduate is conscripted for military service during this period, the military service period is added to this 12-month timeframe. The total duration of post-graduation internship and any mobility undertaken during the same study cycle must not exceed 12 months. Higher education institutions may choose not to offer post-graduation internship mobility. Institutions opting out must take a formal senior management decision and announce it to students before the relevant application period begins. If no such decision is announced beforehand, the option cannot be applied retroactively.

Examples of Suitable Internship Places:

Any public or private organization operating in the labor market or in the fields of education, training, youth, research, and development, based in a eligible country, can host an internship. Suitable organizations include, but are not limited to:

• Small, medium, or large public or private enterprises
• Local, regional, or national public institutions
• Embassies or consulates of the sending country abroad
• Business-related organizations such as chambers of commerce, trade unions, stock exchanges
• Research institutes
• Foundations
• Educational institutions (from pre-school to high school, including vocational and adult education centers)
• Non-profit organizations, associations, NGOs
• Career guidance, professional counseling, and information service providers
• Higher education institutions (in program countries must hold an ECHE; in non-program countries must be recognized by a competent authority and have a bilateral inter-institutional agreement with the sending institution before the mobility)

Ineligible Host Organizations for Erasmus+ Internships:

• European Union institutions and EU agencies (see: https://europa.eu/european-union/about-eu/institutions-bodies_en)
• Organizations managing EU programs, such as National Agencies.The evaluation of the suitability of the internship place and the internship program to the content of the student's diploma program is made by the faculty/department authorities of the relevant department.

The relevance of the internship placement and program to the student's diploma program is assessed by the relevant faculty/department authorities.

The exchange programs coordinator for our department is Assoc. Prof. Dr. Merve Şeyda KARAÇİL ERMUMCU. Please contact her for detailed information regarding the application process.

For information on other exchange programs available at our university, please contact the Office of International Relations.