Types of internships in Luxembourg
When discussing student internships, the primary step is to understand this concept and identify the categories within this definition.
These internships should not be confused with student jobs, such as working as a cashier at McDonald's, as their purpose is completely different. From the student's point of view, the purpose is not only financial but also to put into practice the theory acquired at school. From the company's point of view, the purpose should not be to cover staffing needs or replace employees but to facilitate learning and professionalization. An intern cannot be assigned tasks with a performance or responsibility similar to that of a worker and must always be supervised by a mentor whose job is to support, guide, and advise them throughout the internship.
Furthermore, not all student participation in companies, even if for educational purposes, can be considered an internship. There is one circumstance in which students must participate in a company's activities as part of their studies but which is not considered a student internship or a job: activities carried out under what is called an apprenticeship contract. This type of contract is a dual vocational training model in which the student alternates between paid practical periods in a company and theoretical training in an educational center. These periods in the company are not called student internships, they are governed by a different legal framework, their characteristics and conditions are different, and they fall outside the scope of this article.
Excluding jobs without an educational purpose and apprenticeship contracts, internships in companies for educational purposes are divided into two main categories:
- 🧑🎓 Compulsory internships: these are compulsory internships provided for as part of a training program at a Luxembourg or foreign educational institution, such as internships required for a bachelor's degree, BTS, or master's degree, and internships that are part of training programs preparing students for regulated professions such as doctors, healthcare professionals, teachers, or architects, among others. This type of internship has no maximum duration and can be either full-time or part-time.
- 🙋 Volunteer internships: open to pupils and students enrolled in an educational institution in Luxembourg or abroad and to holders of a high school diploma, BTS or bachelor's degree who have completed their studies less than 12 months ago and are no longer enrolled in an educational institution. These interns can work for a maximum of six months at the same company within two years and can do so full-time or part-time, depending on their availability and that of the company.
Internship compensation in Luxembourg
One of the most important points when discussing internships is the salary for internships in Luxembourg, as this is strictly regulated. The salary depends on the intern's level of education and the duration of the internship, bearing in mind that internships completed with the same supervisor, whether during the same school year or academic year, or during the 12 months following the last school enrollment, are added together and considered as a single internship.
The following table summarizes the minimum monthly salary for an intern in Luxembourg in each case. Naturally, the company is free to pay compensation above the minimum required by law if it so wishes.
| Duration of course | Trainee not having completed 1st cycle of higher or university education | Trainee holding a 1st cycle higher education or university degree |
| Less than 4 weeks | Not required | Not required |
| 4 to 12 weeks inclusive | 40% of the minimum social wage for unskilled employees = €1,081.50 | 40% of the minimum social wage for skilled employees = €1,297.80 |
| 13 to 26 weeks included | 75% of the minimum social wage for unskilled employees = €2,027.81 | 75% of the minimum social wage for skilled employees = €2,433.37 |
Main regulations
Regulations governing student internships are not limited to salary and establish certain requirements or characteristics that must be met. The most important of these are listed below:
- 📍Place of internship: internships can be carried out in a company, an association, a public institution, or in the Luxembourg concerted sector.
- 🕒Duration of internship: there is no limit on compulsory internships, while voluntary internships are limited to six months within a 24-month period with the same employer.
- 🕵Internship supervisor: the intern must be assigned an internship supervisor, who may be the company director or their delegate. The internship supervisor may delegate tasks related to the internship carried out at the company to another trusted person, in particular the head of personnel or the training manager.
- 🔎Monitoring: each intern must be assigned a mentor who is responsible for integrating them into the company as effectively as possible, monitoring their progress on a regular basis, answering their questions, and providing advice and guidance. For internships lasting at least four weeks, the mentor must provide a detailed critical assessment at the end of the internship.
- 🎓Nature of the internship: the internship must be informative, provide guidance, and offer professional training. Interns cannot be assigned tasks that require a level of performance comparable to that of an employee. They must not replace a permanent position or a temporarily absent employee, nor be used to cope with temporary increases in workload.
- 📝Internship agreement: an internship agreement must be signed by the intern, the internship supervisor, and, where applicable, the educational institution. The internship agreement must, at a minimum, mention the activities assigned to the intern, the start and end dates of the internship, the maximum weekly hours of attendance, the conditions for authorized absences, the internship pay (Luxembourg minimums duly respected), the appointment of a mentor, any benefits to which the intern may be entitled, the social security coverage enjoyed by the intern, and the conditions for unilateral or mutual termination of the internship agreement before the end of the internship.
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Doing an internship in Luxembourg is a unique opportunity for students and recent graduates who want to gain professional experience. It is not just a requirement to complete your studies, a break from school, or a way to earn some money; it is an important opportunity to gain experience, apply the knowledge acquire at university, make professional contacts, and open a path to the job market.
As seen in the article, internships in Luxembourg are regulated in terms of both salary compensation and characteristics. Although the main regulations have been clarified here, you may still have questions. If this is the case, remember that EasyBiz can help you clarify them. Contact us and we will help you.
