The internship agreement is the document everyone knows should exist but that often gets postponed, simplified, or forgotten. Until something goes wrong. Then it suddenly becomes the most important document in the room.
Why Do You Need an Internship Agreement?#
An internship agreement is a written contract between the school, the student, and the workplace about the terms of the internship period. It protects all parties:
- The student knows what is expected and what rights they have
- The workplace knows its responsibilities and boundaries
- The school has documentation for quality assurance and legal security
Without an agreement, there is no formal basis to stand on if problems arise, regarding everything from working hours to insurance and confidentiality.
Which Types of Internships Require an Agreement?#
All of them.
| Internship Type | Agreement Required | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
| LIA (YH) | Yes, mandatory | School/student |
| APL (upper secondary) | Yes, mandatory | School |
| VFU (teacher education) | Yes, via the university | University |
| Prao (lower secondary) | Yes, often via the municipality | School/municipality |
| Voluntary internship | Strongly recommended | The student |
Most schools and education providers have ready-made templates. What varies is the details.
What Should an Internship Agreement Include?#
1. Parties#
Complete information about everyone involved:
- The student: name, personal identity number (or date of birth), contact details, program of study
- The workplace: company name, organization number, address, supervisor's name and contact details
- The school/education provider: name, contact person, phone, email
2. Internship Period#
- Start date and end date
- Working hours (e.g., Monday–Friday 08:00–17:00)
- Any exceptions (holidays, exam periods, study days)
Be as specific as possible. "Spring term 2026" is not sufficient, specify exact dates.
3. Learning Objectives and Tasks#
Describe what the student should learn and what types of tasks they will perform. It doesn't need to be a detailed list, but it should provide direction:
- What competencies should be developed?
- Which departments/projects will the student participate in?
- Are there specific requirements from the education program?
This is often the part that gets neglected, but it's the most important one for making the internship meaningful.
4. Supervision and Contact#
- Who is the student's supervisor at the workplace?
- Who is the contact person at the school?
- How often does follow-up occur?
- How do parties contact each other if problems arise?
5. Insurance#
Clarify who is responsible for insurance. In most cases:
- APL and prao: the municipality has accident insurance
- LIA: the education provider is responsible (verify with the school)
- VFU: the university is responsible
- Voluntary internship: the student should check their home insurance
Important: The student is normally not covered by the workplace's occupational injury insurance, since it is not an employment.
6. Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure#
If the student will have access to sensitive information, customer data, trade secrets, personal data, the agreement should include a confidentiality clause.
Formulate it clearly:
- What type of information is covered?
- How long does the confidentiality obligation last after the internship?
- What are the consequences of breaching confidentiality?
7. Absence and Illness#
Rules for:
- Who the student contacts in case of illness
- How absences are documented
- Whether there is a requirement to make up missed days
8. Termination and Reassignment#
What happens if the internship doesn't work out? The agreement should describe:
- Under what circumstances can the internship be terminated?
- Who initiates it?
- What is the process, meetings, written documentation?
- Is reassignment to a new placement possible?
9. GDPR and Personal Data#
If the student handles personal data during the internship, the agreement should reference the workplace's GDPR policy. The student should be informed about:
- Which personal data they will have access to
- How it should be handled
- That the data must not be saved privately or shared
10. Signatures#
The agreement should be signed by:
- The student (or legal guardian if the student is under 18)
- The supervisor or responsible manager at the workplace
- The contact person at the school
Digital signatures are legally valid and save an enormous amount of time compared to print-sign-scan workflows.
Common Mistakes in Internship Agreements#
Unclear working hours. "By agreement" leads to misunderstandings. Be specific.
No confidentiality clause. Even if the student isn't actively working with sensitive data, they may be exposed to it.
No procedures for termination. If no one knows what to do when things aren't working, the situation becomes unnecessarily difficult.
Agreements written after the fact. The agreement should be signed before the internship starts. Not in week two.
Incorrect insurance information. Always verify that the right party has the right insurance. It costs nothing to double-check, but it costs plenty in the event of an injury.
Template: Internship Agreement Sections at a Glance#
_101. Parties (student, workplace, school)_102. Time period (dates, working hours)_103. Learning objectives and tasks_104. Supervisors and contact persons_105. Insurance_106. Confidentiality/non-disclosure_107. Absence rules_108. Termination and reassignment_109. GDPR/personal data_1010. Signatures
An Agreement Is Security: Not Bureaucracy#
It takes 20 minutes to fill in a proper internship agreement. It can take weeks to sort out a situation that arose because the agreement was missing. Don't see it as an obstacle but as the foundation for a safe and professional internship period, for everyone involved.
