Internship Voucher

Internship Voucher is a financial internship subsidy granted by the University of Vaasa. The internship voucher is worth €1,800 and you can use it for an internship period minimum of three (3) months. Internship voucher cannot be granted for unpaid internship.  

In order to support the employment of our international students in SMEs in the Vaasa region, we offer increased support for the years 2023-2025. The amount of the increased support is €3,600.

The voucher is paid to the employer after the internship. The intern has a normal employment contract with the hiring organisation. The employer must pay a monthly salary that meets the minimum requirements regarding the terms of employment in Finland according to Kela. The employer sends an invoice to the university after the internship period.

The internship voucher can be used in a private, public or third sector organisation in Finland or in a Finnish public sector organisation abroad, e.g. a Finnish embassy. The internship voucher cannot be used abroad for internship placement provided by a foreign employer.
 

How to apply for an internship voucher

  • Check the requirements for receiving an internship voucher before applying.
  • There is no separate application period for internship support. Support is applied for when the internship position is secured and if the employer requires the university's support to finance the intern's salary costs. Internship support is applied for using an e-form. Support must be applied for before the start of the internship and it is not granted for an internship that has already started.
  • Apply for an internship voucher by filling in an online application form.

Decision on granting an internship voucher

  • Internship vouchers are granted within allocated budget for students of all Schools.
  • In the selection process the following information given by the student is taken into consideration: the stage of studies, the plan for completing an internship and the need for an internship voucher to support employment within the field of study.
  • All applicants will be informed by email (@student.uwasa.fi) about the result of the grant application within two weeks of submitting the application. 

Using the internship voucher and internship agreement

  • Check the requirements for using an internship voucher
  • Contact the teacher responsible for the internship of your degree programme to make sure that the internship can be accepted as part of your degree.  You will find the right teacher here: https://www.uwasa.fi/en/students/internship
  • Notify the university career services about your received internship placement right after receiving it before the internship begins. 
  • An internship contract is always made for the internship.  The contract will be signed by the intern, the employer and a representative of the University of Vaasa.

Requirements for Internship Voucher

Requirements for receiving an internship voucher

  • The student is an attending basic degree student in the University of Vaasa.
  • The student has at least 160 credits in the study register during the time of application or the student is studying in a Master's degree programme.
  • If a student completes only an upper university degree at the University of Vaasa, she/he must have completed at least 20 credits.
  • The student completes their Master's degree after the internship.
  • The student commits to include the internship as part of their degree.
  • The student has not used an internship voucher before.

Conditions that improve the receiving of an internship voucher:

  • The student has completed a Bachelor’s degree or a degree comparable to a Bachelor's degree.
  • The need for an internship voucher (the employer requires an internship voucher, the application process for internship placement is already ongoing)
  • The student's need for work experience according to their career plan or in their field of study.
  • The student has not received a grant for subsidised internship or used an internship voucher earlier in the University of Vaasa.

Requirements for using an internship voucher

  • The internship voucher cannot be used for an internship whose employment relationship has already started.
  • The student must notify career services of the internship position he/she has received before the internship begins.
  • The internship begins during the year in which the internship voucher is granted.
  • The internship period lasts a minimum of 3 months, or in part-time work a period within which the working hours are equal to 3 months full-time work.
  • The student commits to include the internship as a part of the degree and does not graduate during internship.
  • The teacher responsible for internships has accepted the internship as a part of the degree.
  • The student does not receive Erasmus grant or a grant from the Finnish National Agency for Education for the internship.
  • The work tasks correspond with the student's career plan.
  • The internship is a new job or includes new tasks for the intern.
  • The internship takes place in a private, public or third sector organisation in Finland or a Finnish public sector organisation abroad (e.g. Finnish embassy).
  • The employer pays the intern a salary that meets the terms of employment in Finland according to Kela.
  • The intern has an appointed supervisor at the workplace who is responsible for instructing the intern throughout the internship.

Instructions for the students who have the internship voucher

NB! These instructions apply only for students who have the internship voucher.

An internship agreement is made upon concluding that the internship can be subsidised by the university in order financially suopport the intern (the internship voucher is applicable). It is recommended that, in addition to the internship agreement, the intern and employer also make an employment contract between each other or that a certificate of appointment is given to the intern.

When the student has received an internship placement to which the student wishes to use the internship voucher, the student must notify this to the career services. An agreement is made for the internship, which is signed by the intern, the employer and a representative of the University of Vaasa. Documents are made and signed electronically.

According to the agreement, in order to guarantee a successful internship, the intern must have an appointed supervisor at the workplace who is responsible for instructing the intern into the work and the working environment. Appointing a supervisor ensures that the intern gets to do work that is meaningful and useful and will not be left to work without guidance. The intern has to receive information from the supervisor about the activities of the unit, current issues and interesting events that are related to the work.

Application form

Further information

For more information about internship contact harjoittelu(at)uwasa.fi