How To Find an Internship in Belgium as an International Student?

Getting an internship in Belgium is crucial for international students. If you’re enrolled in an internship program in Belgium, you will reach an enriching blend and immense professional growth, and the culture is immense. Do you know if you are eligible to get an internship in Belgium? If not, we have come up with a complete guide that will help you understand the rules about how to get internships in Belgium as an international student with other necessary details for more insight, read below to mention detailed information.

Benefits of Doing an Internship in Belgium 

Understanding and respecting Belgium’s cultural norms and customs is essential when participating in an internship program in Belgium:

• Belgium is open to new talent and offers graduate students and international students a variety of possibilities to gain real-world experience.
• Belgians value a certain amount of formality in work environments. The working culture in Belgium is frank; they also treat all employees with equality.
• A healthy work-life balance is highly valued by Belgians. Observe personal time boundaries and refrain from contacting coworkers after hours unless absolutely required.

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Types of Internships Available in Belgium 

Here we have mentioned a few of the types of best internship programs available in Belgium for international students: 

• Obligatory Internships Tied to Education: Internships that are required by a school’s curriculum are known as “obligatory internships.” They are an essential component of the curricula at universities and other higher education establishments.
• Belgian Technical Cooperation (BTC/Enable) Internships: The official organization in charge of overseeing Belgium’s foreign development initiatives is the Belgian Development Agency, or Enable. Permit students to participate in development projects in Belgium and in affiliated nations.
• Transition Internships for Job-Seekers (Transitie-stage): A special kind of internship is available in Belgium for job seekers, especially those in the 18 to 30 age range. Its goal is to facilitate the move from school to the workforce.
• BELSPO or Research Internships: concentrate on carrying out research and making contributions to ongoing projects in educational or scientific settings.
• Voluntary Internships: aimed at recent graduates who wish to advance their knowledge and obtain work experience in a related subject of study.
• Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Internships: Internships are frequently offered by organizations to people who want to have a good social influence.

Eligibility to Get an Internship in Belgium as an International Student

The prerequisites for internship eligibility are rather simple for Belgian nationals. The following criteria must be met for EU citizens to be eligible for internships in Belgium:

• Language Requirements: Knowing one of Belgium’s official languages—Dutch, French, or German—can greatly improve an EU citizen’s chances of landing an internship, even though it’s not always required. English is frequently utilized in many international organizations and businesses in Belgium, therefore being proficient in it is particularly advantageous.
• Work Permit: Before submitting an application for a work permit, interns from non-EU nations must have a signed internship agreement with their intended Belgian employer.
• Visa Requirements: The intern may then apply for a visa through the Belgian embassy or consulate in their native country when the work permit has been granted. Documentation for the visa application includes passport-sized photos, a current passport, evidence of adequate funds to cover the stay, and proof of lodging in Belgium.
• Residency: Without a work permit, EU nationals are allowed to reside and work in Belgium. As a result, they have the same opportunities to apply for internships as Belgian nationals. When they arrive, it is advised that they register as residents with the local government.

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How to Look for an Internship in Belgium as an International Student?

In Belgium, some of the most popular methods to hunt for an internship are:

• Campus employment centres are excellent resources for matching your academics with an internship and receiving support during the search.
• Look at the career pages of companies if you have a specific job in mind. If they don’t have an appropriate role, you may always send them an email that makes a strong case!
• Jobs boards include Glassdoor, Indeed, LinkedIn, and Startup Jobs.
• The alumni network at your university is a great resource for knowledge and useful connections.
• websites for internships such as Aiesec and Erasmus Intern.

Institutes offer Internships in Belgium 

The organizations listed below are also beneficial. Typically, they maintain an inventory of businesses and associates that hire interns all year long:

• Belgian professional federations and associations
• The administration for the three regions in Belgium
• The French Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• VDAB, the official employment agency in Flanders
• European institutions (European Parliament, EU Council, European Commission, Economic and Social Committee, Regions Committee)
• Youth centres. 

Tips to Apply for an Internship in Belgium as an International Student

Here we have mentioned the following tips that will help you apply for an internship in Belgium as an International student: 

• Students need to update their LinkedIn profiles in order to be considered for internships.
• Consider what kind of internship best suits your interests, values, abilities, skills, and professional goals after doing some research.
• Connect with the organisations and submit a customized, attention-grabbing CV/Resume and cover letter to apply for the internships.
• For a smooth hiring process, start getting ready for your interview.
• Make a project proposal with your internship supervisor’s assistance.
• Get your approval for your internship proposal from the university and the firm.

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