Step 5. Things to arrange before your departure

Before departure you have to arrange a number of things. Below we mention the most important.

Apply for a visa or residence permit

Check if you need a visa or residence permit for the country where you will do your internship. You find this information on the website of the embassy or consulate of the country of your destination.

Proof of Enrolment

You may need a Proof of Enrolment of HZ for your visa application. This must state that as part of your studies at HZ, when precisely your internship will take place (exact period) You can request this proof from the Student Office: csa@hz.nl

When you follow your internship in Spain you NEED a NIE number.

Getting this can be quite difficult so you could use the following agency. You have to settle a fee for this service.
www.niebarcelona.com
+34 634 34 11 64

Apply for a grant

You can apply for an Erasmus+ grant if you do an internship within or outside the EU. The amounts are quite interesting. For an internship in Germany for instance, the amount is about € 420,- per month. Financially it is quite attractive to do an internship within the EU. For information on all grants you can apply for through HZ, including destinations outside the EU, go to the page on grants and scholarships.

DUO student finance/grant and request OV allowance

If you study in the Netherlands and are an EU student who works at least 32 hours per month, you might be eligible for Dutch student finance. The student finance consists basic study grant, a supplementary grant (depending on the income of your parents), a study loan and the 'travel product'.
To see if you qualify, look on the website of DUO.

Of course you will not work the 32 hours in the Netherlands during your internship abroad. Do you have to cancel your DUO finance/grant?
You don’t have to stop your DUO grant/study loan but you have to send DUO some documents as proof that you go abroad:
- Letter of Enrolment at HZ stating that your semester abroad is part of your study at HZ (ask the Student
Admissions Office, csa@hz.nl)
- Letter of Acceptance (or similar document) of the host company.
- You have to ask DUO to get an exemption to work 32 hours during this period.
This information may be subject to change, so always check the information on the website of DUO.

Questions or do you need assistance in this application process?
Would you like assistance in filling out the above form or do you have questions? Send an e-mail to issp@hz.nl, Ms. Monique Schreurs will answer your question. Then, have it signed by a representative of the Student Office. You can e-mail the form to csa@hz.nl.

Conclude insurances

  • Travel insurance: contact your insurance company to check whether you are insured during your entire stay abroad.
  • Liability insurance: contact your insurance company to check whether you are insured during your entire stay abroad.
  • Health Insurance: if your duties during the internship are considered as 'labour' (read: you receive payment) you have to conclude health insurance in the host country. Mind you: a compensation for board and lodging is also considered as a payment. Here's a list of European social insurance institutions that you can consult to ask about this minimum payment. If you are insured in the Netherlands, the obligation on a basic insurance is cancelled when you have to conclude health insurance abroad.
  • Consult your insurer whether you're sufficiently insured.
  • Inform your insurer that you will go abroad for a longer period. This is mandatory for some insurers.
  • All-in packages for students are offered amongst others by: AON, OOM and Allianz.

Vaccinations

Consult the local health authorites, GGD, whether you need any vaccinations for the country where you will do your internship including the ones you might travel to before, during or after your internship. Sometimes you have to take vaccinations a few months before departure!

Deregister with the municipality?

  • If you are going to live at the same address again after returning to the Netherlands from your internship abroad and are going abroad for less than 8 months, you do not have to deregister from the municipality. In principle, you will keep the house where you already lived.
  • If you cancel your room because you're going abroad for your internship, you do have to deregister. Regardless of whether you are going to be abroad for shorter or longer than 8 months.

Install important apps

For instance:

  • The travel app of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as HZ follows that travel advice. The app is in Dutch but easily understandable.
  • KopieID (CopyID) is a Dutch app but easy for you to understand. It makes digital copies of your ID, enabling you to remove your social security (or other personal) number preventing identity fraud.

Make copies of important documents

Not only on your telephone but printed copies as well, in case something happens to your phone.

Attend the Pre-Departure evening

Each year in May or June the HZ International Office organises the 'Pre-Departure evening'. The evening is for all HZ-students that will go abroad the following year. Parents are invited as well. During this evening important topics are discussed, such as insurance, safety and grants. You will automatically receive an e-mail in May if you have informed us about your internship abroad.

Safety

Also read the information about safe travel and stays abroad.

Emma, Nathalie and Teun tell you about their Nursing internship in the smiling coast of Africa, The Gambia

"We are following an internship at the Lamin Health Center in Lamin. The Health Center is a small clinic where people can visit the doctor or can be admitted if necessary. We work together with the local nurses and international doctors. We live together with four other Dutch students and two doctors from the UK. The purpose of this internship is to conduct research that fits our education.

The reason that we wanted to do an internship abroad is because we knew it would be a lifelong experience that we will never forget. It's super interesting to experience health care in a foreign country. It shows the difference and makes us realise that not everything is obvious.

Why The Gambia? Besides broadening your experience as a nurse, we discovered the most beautiful places and the nicest people. If you are open to the people, the food, the culture and its customs you will see this place as your second home.’

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