Supporting documentation for internships

If you are planning to undertake an internship in Europe, the Careers Centre can provide you with documentation you may legally require. 

There are different types of documentation depending on what country your internship is taking place in:

• Convention de Stage – France
• Convenio De Colaboración – Spain
• Tripartite agreement – any other European country.

Students who wish to undertake an internship in France are required by French law to have a Convention de Stage (French for 'internship agreement’). Some other European countries may also ask for this agreement.

Students who wish to undertake an internship in Spain are required by Spanish law to have a Convenio De Colaboración (Spanish for collaboration agreement).

Students who wish to undertake an internship in any other European country will likely be required to have a Tripartite agreement.

All of these documents are three-part agreements which must be signed by you, the internship provider, and the University of St Andrews. It states:

• the dates of the internship
• the general tasks of the intern
• that the internship is supported by the University.

The Convention de Stage will need to be completed in both French and English and the Convenio De Colaboración will need to be completed in both Spanish and English.

Note: You may simply need a Letter of Support which we can also provide to prove you study at the university.

Eligibility

Convention de Stage, Convenio De Colaboración and Tripartite agreements are available for current, fully enrolled students, who start their internship before graduation.

The University cannot sign these supporting documentations for individuals who have completed their course of study and are arranging an internship in a personal capacity.

How to request and complete supporting documentation

You should request a blank Convention de Stage (or other applicable documentation) by emailing careers@st-andrews.ac.uk at least one month before the start date of your internship (which you should already have set up). Failure to do so may risk the document not being available before you start your internship.

When you email us, please let us know:

• Your current level of study
• The name of the company you are undertaking your internship with
• The country where your internship is taking place so we can forward you the correct documentation.

You and the internship provider should then complete and sign your sections of the document, and return it to careers@st-andrews.ac.uk.

The supporting documentation will then be signed on behalf of the Careers Centre, University of St Andrews.

The Careers Centre requires you to allow ten days for the document to be signed and returned.

Please note: We ask that you do not convert the document to a PDF before returning to us. Once we have signed the documentation, we will convert the document and send it back to you.

Insurance cover

Ensure you have personal and health insurance in place before working abroad. You will not be covered by the University’s insurance policy.