If you are not sure what you want to do after your studies, an internship is a way to test a workplace for a few weeks to feel if it is right for you. If you know exactly what you want to do next, internships are a way to get a foot in and show what you go for.

Julia Johner scything during a traneeship at Sollentuna City Council. Photo: Kristoffer Ruist.

Two types of traineeships

There are two different types of internships, which course you should take depends on the workplace where you plan to do your traineeship, described below. If you are unsure of which course you should take, contact the examiner (see Course structure for the respective course).

Traineeship in biology

The traineeship in biology is conducted at a workplace where biological knowledge is relevant but where research is not the main work, e,g,. the Enivronmental Protection Agency, Public Health Agency or the Natural History Museums public work. This is an advanced level course which requires that you have a Bachelor's degree and an additional 15 ECTS credits of biology at advanced level. It is offered as 7.5 or 15 credits.

Traineeship in Biology 7.5 hp (BL8006)

Traineeship in Biology 15 hp (BL8007)

Research traineeship

If, on the other hand, you want to do a traineeship at a biological institution, e.g., here at Stockholm University, Karolinska Institute or one of the research departments at the Natural History Museum, then you should take one of our research traineeship courses. These courses are offered at both basic and advanced level.

For the courses at basic level the traineeship should be conducted at Stockholm University. The advanced level courses require that you have a Bachelor's degree and can be conducted outside of Stockholm University, as long as the main work is research.

Research Traineeship in Biology I (BL5031)

Research Traineeship in Biology II (BL5032)

Advanced Research Traineeship in Biology I (BL7060)

Advanced Research Traineeship in Biology II (BL8061)

Traineeship abroad

Both types of internships can be completed in Sweden or abroad. As a student at Stockholm University, you have the opportunity via Erasmus+ to apply for a scholarship to practice at a company or organization in one of the countries included in the Erasmus program.