Can I combine the AICTE International Internship Scheme with an Erasmus+ grant?

Yes, in most cases. The AICTE International Internship Scheme provides Indian government support for travel and living costs, while Erasmus+ grants are paid by European universities to students doing traineeships. They fund different parties and are not treated as double-funding. A student receiving an Erasmus+ traineeship grant at a European university and also receiving AICTE travel support is a common and approved combination. Confirm with both your Indian institution and the European host university before applying.

Does my college need to be AICTE-approved to apply?

Yes. The AICTE International Internship Scheme is exclusively available to students enrolled at AICTE-approved engineering and technology institutions. IITs, NITs, and most state engineering colleges are AICTE-approved. You can verify your institution's approval status on the AICTE portal at aicte-india.org. Pure science, arts, or management students whose colleges are not AICTE-approved are not eligible for this specific scheme.

Which countries are covered by the AICTE International Internship Scheme?

The scheme covers internships at recognised companies, universities, and research institutions worldwide. There is no fixed list of approved countries. The most popular destinations among AICTE-supported interns are Germany, the Netherlands, Singapore, Japan, the USA, the UK, France, and Australia. The host must be a legitimate organisation that can provide an official internship offer letter and a supervisor. AICTE reviewers assess whether the placement is technically relevant to the student's engineering discipline.

When are applications open for the AICTE International Internship Scheme in 2026?

The AICTE International Internship Scheme typically operates on a rolling application basis through the AICTE internship portal. Applications for placements starting in the second half of 2026 (July onwards) are currently open. Students should apply at least 8 weeks before their planned departure date to allow for processing, document verification, and fund disbursal. Do not wait until you have a visa -- apply to AICTE as soon as you have your host company's offer letter.

What documents does AICTE require for the International Internship Scheme?

The core documents required are: (1) Official internship offer letter from the host company or research institution on company letterhead, stating duration and nature of work. (2) Proof of AICTE-approved institution enrollment (college ID card or enrollment certificate). (3) CGPA certificate or transcript showing cumulative grade point average. (4) No Objection Certificate (NOC) from your college confirming the internship is sanctioned. (5) Passport copy. (6) Travel itinerary or flight cost estimate. Complete the application on the AICTE portal at internship.aicte-india.org before submitting documents.

AICTE International Internship Scheme 2026: Funding Amount, Eligibility and How to Apply

Indian engineering student ready for international internship departure, 2026

The AICTE International Internship Scheme provides Indian engineering and technology students up to INR 1,25,000 in travel and living support for approved international placements in 2026. This is a government-funded grant available exclusively to students enrolled at AICTE-approved institutions with a CGPA of 7.0 or above who secure a placement at a recognised overseas company or research institution.

This article is a companion to our guide on stipend internships in Europe for Indian students, which covers paid host-company placements that can be combined with this scheme. The two funding streams -- AICTE government support and host-company stipends -- are not mutually exclusive. Used together, they can cover most of the financial gap of an international internship.

What is the AICTE International Internship Scheme?

The AICTE International Internship Scheme is a structured programme under the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) designed to support Indian engineering students in accessing real-world international industry and research experience. Unlike the broad AICTE Internship Portal which covers domestic placements, this scheme targets overseas placements specifically.

The scheme operates under the broader National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 framework, which mandates that engineering programmes integrate practical internship components. AICTE allocates annual funding to support students whose institutions are accredited by AICTE and who secure qualifying international placements.

Look at a real engineering student profile on our platform to understand what host companies internationally expect before you apply.

How much does the AICTE International Internship Scheme pay in 2026?

Funding component	Amount (INR)	EUR equivalent (approx.)
Travel grant (economy class)	INR 40,000 - 60,000	EUR 440 - 660
Monthly living allowance	INR 25,000 - 50,000 per month	EUR 275 - 550/month
Maximum total (2-month placement)	INR 1,25,000	EUR 1,375
Visa fee reimbursement	Not covered	Student bears full visa cost
Host company stipend	Not paid by AICTE -- separate negotiation	Can be received in addition to AICTE grant

The amounts depend on the destination country's cost of living index and the actual flight cost. Students going to Germany, the Netherlands, or Singapore -- where host companies typically pay EUR 400-800/month in stipend -- are in the strongest financial position. The AICTE grant covers the flight, and the host stipend covers rent and food.

Eligibility criteria for the AICTE International Internship Scheme

Institution type: Enrolled at an AICTE-approved engineering or technology institution (B.Tech, B.E., M.Tech, MCA students all qualify).
CGPA minimum: Cumulative GPA of 7.0 out of 10.0 across all completed semesters. No rounding. Calculated at time of application.
Year of study: Must have completed at least 5 semesters (i.e., minimum 3rd year of a 4-year programme). First and second year students are not eligible.
Internship duration: Minimum 8 consecutive weeks (2 months) at the host organisation.
Host organisation type: Recognised company, university research lab, or government-affiliated research institution in the destination country. Must provide an official offer letter on letterhead with supervisor details.
NOC requirement: Your AICTE-approved institution must issue a No Objection Certificate confirming the international internship fits within or alongside your academic programme.

How to apply -- step by step on the AICTE portal

Secure your host company placement first. AICTE does not help you find a placement. You must already have an offer letter in hand before applying to the scheme. Use the free internship toolkit to prepare your application materials before approaching companies.
Log in to the AICTE internship portal at internship.aicte-india.org using your college-registered email address. First-time users complete AADHAAR-linked registration.
Submit your international internship application. Select "International Internship" as the placement type. Fill in host company details, destination country, internship start and end dates, and nature of technical work.
Upload required documents: (a) Host company offer letter on official letterhead, (b) CGPA transcript, (c) College NOC, (d) Passport copy, (e) Economy class flight cost estimate or purchased ticket.
Institution verification step. Your college's internship coordinator must countersign the application through the institution's AICTE portal account. Follow up with your TPO (Training and Placement Officer) immediately after submission.
AICTE processing: 3-5 weeks for review and approval. You will receive a sanction letter by email. Do not book flights or apply for a visa before receiving the sanction letter.
Post-internship disbursement: The grant is disbursed after you submit (a) boarding passes and tickets, (b) a host company completion certificate, and (c) a 500-word experience report on the AICTE portal. Disbursement takes 2-4 weeks after submission.

Apply at least 8 weeks before your planned departure. Do not wait until your visa is ready -- apply to AICTE as soon as you have the host offer letter.

AICTE Scheme vs. other funding options for Indian engineering students

Scheme	Amount	Who can apply	Deadline
AICTE International Internship Scheme	Up to INR 1,25,000	AICTE-approved institutions, CGPA 7.0+	Rolling applications, 8 weeks before departure
Erasmus+ Traineeship grant	EUR 600-900/month (paid by host university)	Students going to Erasmus+ partner universities only	Varies by European host university
DAAD WISE Programme (Germany)	EUR 934/month + travel allowance	B.Tech/B.E. students (STEM), CGPA above 8.0 typically	October-November for following summer
NSP (National Scholarship Portal)	Varies	Income-based; does not specifically target international internships	Annual; check NSP portal

The practical strategy for most Indian engineering students: apply for AICTE funding for the travel component, pursue host companies in Germany or the Netherlands that offer stipends (read our guide on stipend internships in Europe for Indian students), and check whether your destination university has an Erasmus+ traineeship grant available for incoming international students.

When to apply for fall 2026 and beyond

Students targeting placements starting September-December 2026 should apply to the AICTE portal now. The 8-week processing window means you need your host offer letter confirmed by early July at the latest. Schengen visa processing for Germany and the Netherlands adds another 4-6 weeks -- so the timeline from offer letter to departure is approximately 10-12 weeks if everything moves smoothly.

Start your international placement search now via Internship Abroad. Once you have a confirmed offer letter, the AICTE application process is straightforward.

AICTE International Internship Scheme 2026: funding amount, eligibility and how to apply