Traineeships for work life experience
Applying your knowledge and skills to a biological workplace is a valuable way to gain work experience. Our internships give you the opportunity to explore your skills, try out a workplace and develop your network.
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.
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).
Student carrying out an internship at Tovetorp Research Station.
Research traineeship
These courses are offered at both first-cycle (undergraduate) and second-cycle (Master’s) level. The second-cycle courses are available only to students enrolled in one of our degree programmes. For the first-cycle courses, the internship must be carried out at Stockholm University. The second-cycle courses require a Bachelor's degree, and the internship may be undertaken at another university or organisation, provided that research is its primary activity.
If you would like to undertake an internship at a biological institution, for example Stockholm University, Karolinska Institutet, or a research department at the Swedish Museum of Natural History, you should apply for one of our research internship courses.
Research traineeship for freestanding students
If you are applying as a freestanding student, you should apply for these courses through University Admissions (universityadmissions.se). If you are a BIG programme student, you should apply via your programme page in Canvas.
Research Traineeship in Biology I (BL5031)
Research Traineeship in Biology II (BL5032)
Research traineeship for programme students
Apply for these courses via your programme page in Canvas.
Advanced Research Traineeship in Biology I (BL7060)
Advanced Research Traineeship in Biology II (BL8061)
Traineeship in biology
The courses Traineeship in Biology (BL8006 and BL8007) are only open to students admitted to one of the department’s Master's programmes and cannot be taken as freestanding courses. Applications for these courses are submitted via the programme page in Canvas.
An Internship in Biology is carried out at a workplace where biological knowledge is applied, but where research is not the primary activity, such as a government agency, company, or other organisation.
These courses are offered at second-cycle (Master’s) level and require a Bachelor's degree as well as an additional 15 credits in Biology at second-cycle level. The internship may comprise either 7.5 or 15 credits.
Traineeship in Biology 7.5 hp (BL8006)
Traineeship in Biology 15 hp (BL8007)
Traineeship abroad
If you are enrolled in one of our Master's programmes, you may undertake a research traineeship or a traineeship in biology abroad. As a student at Stockholm University, you can apply for an Erasmus+ traineeship grant to carry out an internship at a company or organisation in one of the countries participating in the Erasmus+ programme.
Last updated: 2026-10-09
Source: Department of Biology Education