Are you are an apprentice, at least 16 years old, and have ideally already completed your second year of training? Then Europe is waiting for you: Apply for a work placement abroad! This means living and working in another country for a few weeks. Here you will get to know a different culture, another language and new working techniques. And of course, lots of other young people.

IFA helps you organize your work placement abroad! This is how it works:

Two or three times a year, there is an announcement of current opportunities for apprentices. This is your chance to complete a work placement abroad in a small group together with other apprentices from Austrian companies. The placements take place in various European countries, last between 4 and 8 weeks and are completed in small groups of apprentices from different professions and branches. The opportunities are open to apprentices from all over Austria. All you have to do is apply! To find out what you need for your application, check out the latest announcement!

IFA then selects a group of four to twelve apprentices, organizes the entire stay abroad including the travel arrangements, accommodation, work placement, etc.

Have you found your own work placement or has your company or vocational school found a work placement for you?

Then it works like this: You organize the work placement and IFA organizes the funding. Just be sure to contact IFA early enough!

The following applies to all apprenticeship placements abroad:

A work placement abroad during your apprenticeship will be recognized for your training. Your apprenticeship will not be extended as a result.
The work placement is unpaid, but you will still receive your usual apprenticeship income.
The best part is: You will receive funding for your travel and accommodation costs. You can claim this funding up to one year after completing your apprenticeship. If you complete your placement abroad before completing your apprenticeship, you can also receive funding for a language course that you attend abroad to prepare for the placement, as well as a bonus for each day you spend there. And your training company can apply for funding for your apprenticeship income for the time it releases you for the placement abroad.
The funding is handled directly by IFA for you. For a four to six week stay abroad, you must calculate to pay a personal contribution of around €300 to €1,000 (deductible).
By the way: There is also a free online language tool for preparation for many languages.
Find out more at IFA!

Questions? IFA is there for you:

Simply call us at +43 (0)1 366 55 44-0. We will be happy to tell you more about your work placement abroad!
Or visit us on Facebook and Instagram.

Apprentices and training companies can also find answers to frequently asked questions here (in German only):
FAQ – Apprentices
FAQ – Training Companies 

Are you a VET student and at least 16 years old? You are attending a vocational middle or secondary school and ideally have already finished your 3rd year? Then apply for a work placement abroad! Your chances are best if you have good grades in your professional and language courses.

Discover the world with IFA

A work placement abroad means that you will spend a few weeks living and working in another country. There you will learn not only new work techniques, but also get to know a new culture, the people and the language they speak.

A work placement abroad means that you will spend a few weeks living and working in another country. There you will learn not only new work techniques, but also get to know a new culture, the people and the language they speak.

IFA funds work placements abroad for students who arrange their own work placements and for graduates of a vocational middle or secondary school within one year of completing their training.

Have you found your own work placement or has your company or vocational school found a work placement for you?

Then it works like this: You organize the work placment, IFA organizes the funding. Just be sure to contact IFA early enough! At the very latest four weeks before the start of the work placement. Simply call us or send us an email

By the way: For many languages, there is also a free online language tool. You can even apply for financial support for certain languages that are necessary for your work placement abroad. Contact IFA for more information!

Questions? IFA is there for you:

Simply call us at +43 (0)1 366 55 44-0, or visit us at Facebook. We will be happy to tell you more about your work placement abroad.

IFA has been organizing and funding experience exchanges abroad for trainers and experts in vocational education since 1995. Today, international experience is essential for professional development. Stays abroad offer a lasting opportunity to deepen your skills and guarantee the overall quality of the training you provide.

Who can participate?

Trainers are those who train apprentices at companies, human resource managers, teachers at vocational schools and experts in vocational training. Funding is provided for multipliers who pass on their experience to young people or adults in vocational training.

What funding is provided?

As part of the European program Erasmus+, the participants receive a grant towards travel and accommodation expenses for the experience exchange in other European countries.

During the stay abroad you will visit companies, schools and other educational institutions that are responsible for the content and implementation of the training programs. The purpose of the stay abroad is to share your own experience with the approaches in other countries. Often, lasting partnerships with companies in other European countries can also be established.

This benefits the participants, the Austrian companies and training institutions, the vocational training and Austria as a business location as a whole:

• Get to know the working methods and training systems of other European countries!
• Broaden your intercultural and language skills!
• Take advantage of the opportunity to make new international contacts!

Interested in an experience exchange abroad? IFA is there for you:

Call us at +43 (0)1 366 55 44-0 and we will be happy to tell you how we can assist in organizing an experience exchange abroad.