Frequently Asked Questions

You can find more information on the specific Social Security website.

Which activities are subject to contributions?

Any external academic internship, whether paid or unpaid, carried out by students of any university degree, or vocational training centers or similar.
It applies to curricular internships (subjects such as Placements, External Internships, Practicum or similar).
It applies to extracurricular internships (those carried out voluntarily).

What is exempt from contributions?

• Teaching laboratory internships.

• Internships carried out abroad in mobility programs that involve enrollment in another foreign university.

• Internships carried out in Spain by foreign students in Erasmus and Destino programs.

Can I choose not to contribute for my internships?

No, it is a mandatory legal requirement. Internships can only be carried out through this registration and deregistration process.

Will I be paid for doing internships?

No, internships are not automatically remunerated. Unless the host entity decides otherwise, in which case it must appear in the corresponding internship annex.

Will a contract be signed?

No, you will be registered in the General Social Security Scheme as assimilated to an employee, which means that there is no employment contract.
However, it is mandatory and prior to the internship, to sign an agreement between the entity, the student, and the university that sets out the information about the internship. This agreement is formalized through annexes and/or internship agreements. In the case of curricular internships, following the instructions of the subject’s teaching staff. In the case of extracurricular internships, you must follow the instructions (https://observatorio.umh.es/pildoras-de-conocimiento/).

What do I have to pay?

• In the case of paid internships, the entity, when paying the corresponding amount as a study grant, will deduct the corresponding Social Security and IRPF contributions.

• In the case of unpaid internships, you do not pay anything, everything is covered by the entity or the UMH depending on the type of internship.

Do I have the right to unemployment benefits?

No, this type of contribution only covers professional contingencies (accidents during internships) and retirement.

Who will pay the contributions?

• In the case of paid internships, the entity that pays the study grant.

• In the case of unpaid internships:

  • If they are curricular (linked to subjects) or if they are internal unpaid extracurricular internships at UMH: UMH will be responsible.

  • If they are extracurricular: the host entity where the internships take place.

Do I need to do anything to be registered?

The University or the collaborating entity, as appropriate, must know your Social Security Affiliation Number.
Methods have been set up so that you can provide it automatically through the Occupational Observatory website (universite.umh.es/observatorio). Internships cannot be assigned if this requirement is not met.

In the case of students from third countries (non-EU), they must have legal residence or a valid study visa (or have applied for its extension) at the time of assignment/application for internships. Internships cannot be assigned if this requirement is not met.

In cases where UMH is responsible for the registration, it will be done officially between the start date of the internship and 10 days afterwards.

How can I check if UMH already knows my Social Security number?

To check if UMH already has this information, you can consult your personal data in the internship application of the Observatory (universite.umh.es/observatorio).

Can I do internships if I am on sick leave or maternity/paternity leave?

No, if the student undertaking training internships is on Temporary Disability (TD) due to common illness, occupational or non-occupational accident, or maternity/paternity leave, it would not be compatible with carrying out the internships.

When an employee in the General Scheme or a Special Scheme (MUFACE, MUGEJU, ISFAS) is on TD and is enrolled in Unpaid Training Internships (UTI), while the TD situation lasts, they cannot carry out such internships. Medical leave disqualifies you from doing internships.

But if I am on paternity/maternity leave or TD, when can I do the internships?

You must wait until the situation ends. Depending on the moment of the academic year in which it occurs, it may be possible to complete the internships or not. You must inform your academic tutor. If it is not possible to carry out the internships in the academic year of your enrollment, you must do them in the following academic year.

If I receive a pension or unemployment benefit, can I do internships without affecting it?

In general, the Social Security Treasury states that doing internships is compatible in these cases. In the case of civil servants and pensioners, Social Security rejects registration acts by default. In other cases, the General State Administration has established measures to avoid problems with these benefits and registration in Social Security. In any case, it is advisable to consult the body that grants the benefit.

In the case of paid internships, it is advisable to contact the body (SEPE, INSS) and report this situation.