What is a Training Agreement (Learning Agreement) for an internship in Spain?

A Training Agreement — also called a Learning Agreement or convenio de cooperación educativa — is the formal document that defines the educational objectives, duties, working hours, and supervision structure of an internship in Spain. It is signed by the student, the home institution, and the Spanish host company. It is required for Erasmus+ compliance, academic credit recognition, and most student visa applications.

Is a Training Agreement required if I am not doing an Erasmus+ programme?

Yes, in most cases. Most universities require a Training Agreement for any internship that is part of a formal degree programme, regardless of Erasmus+ participation. It protects the student legally, enables academic credit, and satisfies the Royal Decree 592/2014 requirement that all external academic placements in Spain be governed by a written convenio. Some host companies also insist on it as a condition of accepting an intern.

Who signs the Training Agreement?

The Training Agreement is signed by three parties: the student, an academic supervisor (tutor académico) at the home institution, and a representative of the Spanish host company — usually the legal representative plus a designated company tutor (tutor de empresa). Spain Internship facilitates coordination between all parties and can countersign or witness as the intermediary organisation.

Can the Training Agreement be updated during the internship?

Yes. If tasks, learning objectives, or the internship schedule change materially after the agreement is signed, it can be amended with written consent from all three parties. Universities use a formal amendment (anexo modificativo) that must be co-signed by the same three parties. Erasmus+ programmes require any change to be logged within 30 days on the Erasmus+ Dashboard or Online Learning Agreement platform.

Is the Training Agreement the same as a work contract?

No. A Training Agreement is an educational document, not an employment contract. It does not create an employer-employee relationship under Spanish labour law — you accumulate no vacation days, no severance, no unemployment rights, and no seniority. For paid internships, the stipend is treated as an income transfer for training purposes and is subject to Social Security contributions since October 2023 under RD-Law 2/2023.

How long does it take to prepare a Training Agreement?

A standard Training Agreement can be drafted and ready for signatures within 3–5 business days, once the internship tasks and dates are confirmed by the host company. Erasmus+ Learning Agreements typically take 5–10 business days because of the multi-party electronic signature workflow via the Online Learning Agreement (OLA) platform. Urgent cases with fixed consulate appointment dates can often be turned around faster.

Do I need a Training Agreement for my Spanish student visa application?

Yes, in most cases. Spanish consulates require a signed acceptance letter or internship agreement as proof that the internship is formal and educational. The Training Agreement, signed by both the student and the host company (and preferably countersigned by the home institution), typically satisfies this requirement and is the document Spain Internship prepares for visa submissions. Some consulates additionally ask for a separate carta de aceptación on host-company letterhead.

What happens if my host company has never signed a Training Agreement before?

This is common, especially for smaller SMEs and startups. Spain Internship acts as the liaison — we explain the document to the host company, provide a pre-approved template in Spanish and English, walk them through their obligations, and coordinate the signing process. The host company does not need any prior experience with Erasmus+ or university internship systems; the framework works as long as they can provide a real workplace, a named tutor, and defined tasks.

How many hours per week can I work under a Training Agreement in Spain?

Under Royal Decree 592/2014, curricular internships (part of an official degree programme) are capped at 50% of the standard working day — typically 20 hours per week. Extra-curricular internships can run up to 100% of the working day, but the total duration cannot exceed 50% of the academic year. Erasmus+ traineeships generally run 30–40 hours per week over 2–12 months. Your Training Agreement must specify the exact schedule.

Can I do a Training Agreement internship remotely from another country?

Fully remote placements from outside Spain are usually not accepted by Spanish universities or Erasmus+ because they defeat the mobility objective. Hybrid arrangements (2–3 days in the office, remainder remote from a Spanish address) are increasingly common and can be reflected in the Training Agreement. Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs) explicitly combine short in-person periods with remote work — these need their own template.

What is the difference between a convenio de prácticas and an Erasmus+ Learning Agreement?

A convenio de prácticas (or convenio de cooperación educativa) is the Spanish-university-native template governed by Royal Decree 592/2014, signed between the university, host company, and student. An Erasmus+ Learning Agreement for Traineeships is the EU-standardised template used when the mobility is funded by Erasmus+. In practice, when both apply — an Erasmus+ intern placed at a Spanish company under a Spanish university convenio — both documents are signed and stored side by side.

What happens if the internship ends early or the host company terminates it?

The Training Agreement must include a termination clause covering early exit by either party. In practice, if the student leaves early, the university may partially recognise ECTS pro-rata; if the host company terminates for cause (unauthorised absence, breach of confidentiality, etc.) the mobility can be lost. Spain Internship mediates any dispute and, where possible, arranges a replacement host so the mobility can be completed and credited.

Key internship document

What is a Training Agreement? — the essential document for your internship in Spain.

A Training Agreement (also known as a Learning Agreement) is the formal document that outlines the educational and professional objectives of your internship in Spain. It is required by universities, host companies, and Erasmus+ program coordinators.

A Training Agreement (or Learning Agreement) is the tripartite document signed by the student, home institution, and Spanish host company that defines internship tasks, learning objectives, hours, and supervision. It is mandatory for Erasmus+ compliance, academic credit, and most Spanish student visa applications.

Get help with your agreement Browse internships

Erasmus+ partner since 2009
50,000+ students placed
Reply within 2 business days

By Spain Internship Editorial Team · Editorial team

Published January 2024 · Updated August 2026

Our service

What we handle for you

Get help with your agreement Browse internships

Curated host-company shortlist matched to your profile
Learning Agreement & Erasmus+ paperwork end-to-end
Visa, NIE and insurance orientation
Accommodation guidance in every host city
Local coordinator from day one to evaluation
Mid-term and final reports for your university

On this page

A Training Agreement is not a formality — it is the legal and academic backbone of your internship in Spain. It establishes a clear, signed commitment between three parties: you as the student, your home university or VET school, and the Spanish company hosting you. Without this document, your internship cannot receive academic recognition from your institution, your Erasmus+ grant cannot be disbursed, and in most cases your student visa application lacks the evidence of formal study that Spanish consulates require.

The document typically runs 2–4 pages and covers all the material details of your placement: exact start and end dates, weekly working hours (typically 30–40 hours), a task description aligned to your field of study, measurable learning objectives, the name of your academic supervisor and company mentor, insurance coverage details, and payment arrangements if the internship is remunerated. Erasmus+ Learning Agreements follow a standardised European Commission template; non-Erasmus university agreements use institutional templates that vary by country.

Spain Internship handles the preparation and coordination of Training Agreements for all students placed through our network — including students whose host companies have never dealt with this document before. We draft the agreement, explain it to the host company, coordinate signatures, and deliver the finalised document in time for visa appointments or university submission deadlines. If your tasks or schedule change mid-internship, we also manage the amendment process.

What a Training Agreement contains

The content of a Training Agreement is standardised across Erasmus+ mobility programmes and closely follows the European Commission's template. For non-Erasmus university internships, the structure is similar but the format varies by institution. In all cases, the document must unambiguously identify the student, the host organisation, the supervising institution, and the specific educational purpose of the placement — a vague task list or missing dates are the most common reasons why institutions reject a submitted agreement.

Personal details: student name, date of birth, contact information, and the host company's full legal details
Internship specifics: confirmed start and end dates, weekly hours, and a clear description of tasks and responsibilities
Learning objectives: specific skills and knowledge to be gained, linked to the student's field of study
Monitoring and evaluation: scheduled check-ins with academic supervisors and company mentors, plus assessment methods
Financial details: whether the internship is paid or unpaid, plus any stipends, Erasmus+ grants, or funding arrangements
Insurance coverage: health, liability, and accident insurance valid for the internship duration in Spain

Why you need a Training Agreement

For Erasmus+ participants, the Learning Agreement is a non-negotiable programme requirement: without it, the Erasmus+ grant is not disbursed and the mobility is not considered valid. But the requirement extends well beyond Erasmus+. Most universities across Europe make a Training Agreement a condition for awarding ECTS credits for internship periods, and Spanish consulates routinely ask for the signed agreement as part of the student visa documentation. Even for self-funded internships that are not formally part of a degree programme, having a signed agreement protects you legally in the event of any dispute with the host company.

Erasmus+ compliance: mandatory for all KA1 mobility participants — without it, grants are not released
Legal protection: clearly defines tasks, responsibilities, and goals so both parties share the same expectations
Academic recognition: enables your home institution to award ECTS or equivalent credits for the placement
Visa support: Spanish consulates require it as formal proof that the internship meets educational standards
Non-Erasmus+ students also need it if the internship is part of their accredited degree programme

How Spain Internship helps with your agreement

Collaboration with your university to ensure all academic requirements are correctly reflected in the document
Tailored agreements drafted around the host company's specific tasks and your learning objectives
Ongoing support throughout your internship to ensure objectives remain aligned with the original agreement
All documentation required for your student visa application, including the signed Training Agreement
Liaison between you and the host organisation so both parties are aligned on expectations and evaluations
Guidance for host companies unfamiliar with the document — we can facilitate the entire drafting process

The Spanish legal framework — RD 592/2014 and RD-Law 2/2023

Every academic internship in Spain sits inside a specific legal framework, and understanding it prevents the two most common problems: signing a document that isn't actually valid, or being pushed into a placement that fails to comply and puts the credit at risk. Royal Decree 592/2014 (RD 592/2014) is the umbrella regulation for external academic placements at Spanish universities. It defines what a convenio de cooperación educativa must contain, distinguishes curricular from extra-curricular internships, caps working hours, and sets out the obligations of the tutor académico and the tutor de empresa.

Royal Decree-Law 2/2023 changed the landscape materially by requiring Social Security registration for all interns, paid or unpaid, starting January 2024. Contributions are paid by the host company (for paid internships) or by the host or university (for unpaid internships), at a reduced rate. This does not turn the internship into an employment contract — the Training Agreement is still the governing document — but it does mean every intern now has a Social Security number that will show contributions on their historic laboral for the internship period.

RD 592/2014 governs all external academic placements at Spanish universities — the convenio is legally required
Curricular internships: capped at ~50% of the standard working day (typically ~20 hours/week)
Extra-curricular internships: up to full time, but capped at 50% of the academic year
RD-Law 2/2023: all interns, paid or unpaid, must be registered with Social Security since January 2024
For paid interns the host company pays the reduced contribution; for unpaid interns, the host or the university pays it
The Training Agreement remains the legal document — Social Security registration does not convert the placement into employment
Erasmus+ Learning Agreements coexist with the Spanish convenio when both apply; both must be signed

Timeline and workflow — from confirmation to signed PDF

The single biggest cause of internship start-date slippage is late Training Agreement preparation. Universities and Erasmus+ National Agencies enforce hard deadlines that student visa timelines don't wait for, and host companies — especially SMEs — need lead time to route the document through their legal department. The workflow below reflects our target turnaround; add a week of buffer if your home university uses paper signatures rather than digital, and add two weeks if your host company is a corporate group with a centralised legal team.

Day 0: Host company confirms role, dates, weekly hours, tutor, paid/unpaid status in writing
Days 1–2: Spain Internship drafts the tripartite template with your university's format requirements
Days 3–5: Learning objectives and evaluation criteria co-drafted with your academic coordinator
Days 6–8: Host company reviews and signs (digital signature preferred; wet ink accepted)
Days 8–10: Home university coordinator signs; student signs last
Day 10: Signed PDF distributed to all parties, university mobility office, and — for non-EU applicants — the visa file
Erasmus+ OLA workflow adds 2–3 days for the electronic signature routing through the Erasmus+ Dashboard

Common mistakes that get a Training Agreement rejected

University international offices and Spanish consulates reject Training Agreements at surprising rates — we see 15–20% of first-submission agreements come back with corrections. Almost all of these come down to the same handful of avoidable errors. Reviewing the agreement against this list before circulating it for signature saves a full round-trip week.

Missing signature from any of the three parties — student, home institution, host company legal representative
Vague task descriptions like 'general office support' — universities and consulates want 3–6 concrete tasks tied to competencies
Working hours exceeding the RD 592/2014 caps for curricular placements
Start and end dates that don't align with the requested visa duration (dates on the agreement drive the visa dates)
No named tutor de empresa or missing tutor contact details on the host-company side
Missing insurance clause — private health insurance policy number and dates should be embedded
Non-Erasmus placement submitted on the Erasmus+ OLA template — universities detect the mismatch and reject
Older template that no longer reflects post-RD-Law 2/2023 Social Security registration language

Paid vs. unpaid — how the Training Agreement handles both

Whether the internship is paid or unpaid must be stated explicitly in the Training Agreement, along with the exact monthly bolsa de ayuda al estudio (student stipend) if paid. Spain's typical internship stipend range is €300–€800 per month for full-time placements, though technical roles in Madrid and Barcelona routinely exceed €1,000. The stipend is not a salary — it is a study support transfer — but it is subject to the reduced Social Security contribution regime introduced by RD-Law 2/2023, and above certain thresholds it is subject to IRPF withholding at 2% for the intern.

Unpaid placements are legal in Spain when they are curricular (part of the degree) or clearly linked to a formal Training Agreement. They are not legal as a way to substitute for paid work. If the host company asks you to perform the tasks of a regular employee without a stipend, or the placement extends beyond the RD 592/2014 duration caps, the arrangement can be reclassified by the Labour Inspectorate as concealed employment (falsos becarios), with fines up to €225,000 for the host company.

State the monthly stipend explicitly in the Training Agreement — €300–€800 is typical, higher in Madrid/Barcelona tech
Paid internships require Social Security registration by the host company (reduced-contribution regime)
Unpaid internships also require Social Security registration since January 2024 — paid by host or university
Stipends above the exempt threshold are subject to 2% IRPF withholding (declared on the intern's annual return)
Unpaid placements must remain within RD 592/2014 caps and must show real training content — not a substitute for paid work
Falsos becarios (interns doing the work of employees without pay) risk reclassification and fines to the host of up to €225,000

How Spain Internship helps with your agreement

Collaboration with your university to ensure all academic requirements are correctly reflected in the document
Tailored agreements drafted around the host company's specific tasks and your learning objectives
Ongoing support throughout your internship to ensure objectives remain aligned with the original agreement
All documentation required for your student visa application, including the signed Training Agreement
Liaison between you and the host organisation so both parties are aligned on expectations and evaluations
Guidance for host companies unfamiliar with the document — we can facilitate the entire drafting process
Templates in Spanish, English, French, and Portuguese, pre-approved by 200+ European university partners

Internship destinations across Spain

Madrid — bilingual schools, language academies, tech companies, and corporate headquarters
Barcelona — internationally focused NGOs, startups, and innovation hubs
Valencia — youth-focused education projects, public schools with Erasmus+ experience
Seville — cultural education programmes, early childhood settings, and heritage institutions
Malaga — growing tech and digital marketing sector alongside tourism and hospitality
Bilbao — architecture, green technology, engineering firms, and VET-aligned placements
Training Agreements can be amended mid-internship with university approval if tasks or goals change

Frequently asked

Questions, answered.

Quick answers to what students, parents and partners ask most often. Don't see your question? Ask our team.

Cite this guide

Referencing this page in an article, thesis, or AI answer? Please use:

Spain Internship Editorial Team, Spain Internship. "What is a Training Agreement? — the essential document for your internship in Spain.." 2026. https://spain-internship.com/training-agreement-spain

Keep reading

Related guides

Erasmus+ Mobilities in Spain

The Learning Agreement is the core Erasmus+ document. See how Spain Internship manages the full KA1 documentation package for students, graduates, and staff.

Student Visa for Spain

Your signed Training Agreement is a key document in the student visa file. Learn what else you need and how the consulate application process works.

Internships in Spain

Browse open vacancies or request a personalised placement — Spain Internship prepares the Training Agreement as part of every placement service.

Next step

Ready to take the next step?

Tell us about your goals and we'll reply within two business days with a tailored proposal.

Get help with your agreement Read the FAQ