Work experience
The following placement options are available in Greece.
- Erasmus student placements are part of the Erasmus programme and are found through Universities’ careers offices or international relations departments.
- Internship placements in various industries. The host organisations for student placements may be enterprises, research centres, training centres as well as other organisations.
- IASTE or within the framework of Marie Curie – for Master’s or PhD students working within a specific research field
The characteristics of the individual placements are:
- The home HEI must give full recognition for the period spent abroad
- The student must be provided with a Training Agreement, endorsed by the home HEI and the host organisation; this should explain the programme of the placement period.
The period of the placement must be mentioned on the placement contract, which must be endorsed by the home HEI, the sending consortium (if applicable), the host organisation and the beneficiary.
Summer Placements can be found through University Career Offices. They are responsible for promoting the Programme of Summer Placements both among employers and students. The implementation period is June to August with a minimum and maximum duration of 4 to 10 weeks.
Student placements are an opportunity to gain first-hand work experience in a Greek organization, during your semester program.
- http://europa.eu/youth/working/traineeships/index_he_en.html
- http://ec.europa.eu/education/erasmus/placement_en.htm
- http://www.teicrete.gr/iro/en/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=85&Itemid=1
- http://dasta.auth.gr/
Internship and placement advice
There are many practical issues that must be looked into before deciding on a work placement. All arrangements must be made with the training organization, home and host University. It is advisable to plan ahead of time since Greece is a rather bureaucratic country and you may need more time than usual for paperwork to be completed.
Student mobility grants for placements are offered as part of the Erasmus programme and enable students at higher education institutions to spend a placement of between 3 to 12 months in an enterprise or organisation in another participating country. These grants are given to students through their home University and their University Erasmus coordinator should take care of all the practicalities.
Social security and European Health insurance card
Public health facilities in Greece are limited in some areas, especially on the islands and remote areas. For this reason, public authorities are going to invest in building new medical facilities with high tech equipment.
EU students should have the new European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which has replaced the E111 and covers basic medical care whilst visiting European member states. It is advisable to take out private medical insurance to cover any unexpected healthcare needs that are not covered by the EHIC, while you are in Greece.
Safety
Greece is a safe and friendly destination. However, it is always advisable for students studying or working to be cautious when in crowded places, since pickpocketing and incidents of petty theft are common. It is recommended to leave any valuables in safe custody at your hotel or apartment.
- The European emergency telephone number is 112.
- Police number: 100
- Ambulance: 166
- The electricity voltage in the country is 220 V; 50 Hz.
Useful links:
Do I need a visa?
EU nationals do not need a visa to visit Greece, only a valid passport or identification card (issued by the home country).
According to the Greek Immigration Law, all non-European Union students should acquire a student visa, which is valid for 3 months. If their stay exceeds this period, they have to apply for student residence permit.
Students who are accepted for a semester or a full degree program at a university in Greece can apply for a visa to study.
Internship and placement salary
Student placements and internships are usually not paid, but this depends on the industry. There are training jobs available in the hotel and restaurant industry with a relatively good salary and conditions.
http://www.in-careers.com/internships/internships001greece.html
Internship and placement accommodation
Accommodation may be offered by some institutions but, due to the limited number of places available in Student Hostels, it is very difficult to find a place. Rooms and apartments for rent are available in private buildings throughout Athens and Thessaloniki, with the average cost of renting a one-room apartment being approximately €300 per month.
Students searching for accommodation can visit numerous websites that advertise student housing and shared accommodation. It is also a good idea to ask the University’s Erasmus office for any information, before trying to search on your own. Also, word of mouth is sometimes the best means of finding appropriate housing and if you know someone who lives in Greece, you should consult this person.
Useful links