Internships

Statement of Insurance

Planning an internship in the Netherlands as an international UU student? 

See the Nuffic site for special rules and conditions regarding permits and insurance. Utrecht University has an additional clause about liability insurance:

"According to Dutch law (art. 7:661 lid 1 Burgelijk Wetboek) the student-trainee that causes damage to the host organisation during his/her internship is, in principle, not liable for this. Deviation from this principle can only be done in written agreement and as far as the student-trainee is insured for this (art. 7:661 lid 2 BW)."

Utrecht University had included in its liability insurance the students of Utrecht University, without limitation of faculty, during their external internships, provided that this internship is done under the auspices and with the knowledge of the University.

Insurance

Health insurance

The validity of your health insurance while completing your internship depends on such factors as the amount of internship pay, the length of your internship, and your age. Visit the WilWeg website (in Dutch) for further information about health insurance.

Liability insurance

It is important to make sure you thoroughly check your individual situation beforehand and an agreement is signed. This includes research on which insurance you (should) have and how things are handled according to law and the internship agreement.

An internship abroad will take more time to arrange than an internship in the Netherlands. You should start at least six months to one year prior to your anticipated internship, taking the following things into account:

• Download the international internship agreement by the EAIE and additional information on liability.
• You will need to register your internship abroad in Osiris:
  • Go to www.uu.nl/osirisstudent
  • Click on the tab 'abroad'
  • Go to 'new request'
  • Choose 'internship/(field)research/other stay abroad'
  Once you have submitted your registration, be sure to inform your internship coordinator of this by email.
• International internships can be expensive. Fortunately, there are all manner of strategies to minimise the costs:
  • It is often possible to retain your DUO student grant during your stay abroad and to reimburse your student public transport. Be sure to finalise all arrangements with DUO at least two months prior to departure.
  • If you complete your internship in an EU Member State, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Turkey, you may be eligible for an Erasmus grant.
  • wilweg.nl: for a public/private fund for financial support to cover the costs of living abroad,
  • if you have already found a potential fund, you may require a letter of recommendation from the student counsellorer as part of your application.
• Visa and premits
  • If you complete your internship in the EU, you do not require a visa or a work permit.
  • If you complete your internship in a non‑EU country, you will always require a work permit and/or a visa. Bear in mind that the processing time for visa/work permits can be long. Some developing nations can take up to a year to complete these administrative procedures.
  • Visit the WilWeg website (in Dutch) for more detailed information about 50 countries.
• Insurance
  • The validity of your health insurance while completing your internship depends on such factors as the amount of internship pay, the length of your internship, and your age. Visit the WilWeg website (in Dutch) for further information about health insurance.
  • It is important to thoroughly check your insurance before an agreement is signed. This includes research on which insurance you (should) have and how things are handled according to law and the internship agreement.
• Health and safety
  • The Ministry of Foreign Affairs website (in Dutch) publishes travel advisories for nearly every destination in the world. Each country is rated in terms of safety, ranging from Level 1 (no notable safety risks) to Level 6 (travel to this country discouraged).
• Travel advisories
  When considering possible destinations, please bear in mind that Utrecht University adheres to all travel advisories issued by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Students with a disability may face more challenges in finding an appropriate internship. Fortunately, a growing number of companies are aware of the needs of students with a disability and are taking steps to make it easier to complete internships. Please bear in mind that it may take longer to find an appropriate internship.

For information on internships for students with a disabilty, you can visit the websites:

• Expertise Centrum Inclusief Onderwijs (ECIO)
  Expertise centre for studying with a disability for such resources as the Stagewijzer (‘Guide to Internships’) in Dutch.  If you are considering studying abroad, this website also includes everything you need to know to ensure that preparations go smoothly.
• Nuffic website
  For a subsidy scheme in support of an international internship. 
• Studying without Limitations (for and by students)
  Trainings, internships and traineeships for students and alumni with a disability (in Dutch).
• Foundation for Specialised Study and Work (SWOM)
  SWOM helps and guides highly educated young people with a disability to a suitable internship or workplacement.

Student athletes may face more difficult challenges in finding an appropriate internship. Fortunately, a growing number of companies are aware of the needs of this group of student interns and are taking steps to make it easier for this target group to complete internships (e.g. flexible working hours and a longer internship duration).

Medical programme

If you are combining a Utrecht University medical programme with a sports career ask your student advisor whether you are eligible for a declaration to minimise the distance you have to commute to your internship post (known in Dutch as a ‘dichtbijverklaring’). This document will, for instance, enable you to serve as a junior house officer at a hospital in your place of study or where you train.