Internship agreement for companies: how it works and what the school does
A well-trained intern is the best start for a growing team. At HTL Online Business School (HTL Escuela de Empresa Online), an online school registered in the State Register of Training Entities of Spain's public employment service (SEPE), the student learns with one of our 46 courses, with up-to-date content that we renew regularly, and applies it in your company from day one. The educational cooperation agreement and the individual annex always go together with the course: the school supports the student, keeps you informed of their progress and reviews the final project that links their training with their work with you.
Training that adds to your team
- Up-to-date content. Every course has around ten units with its own material and a test per unit, in English, Spanish or French. We review and update the content regularly to keep up with what is new in each field.
- Theory and practice together. The internship usually runs alongside the theory. It can take up the course's 180 days or be shorter, as you agree, because there is no minimum number of internship hours to complete the course.
- We track progress. The platform records the percentage of the course completed and the activities done, updated several times a day from the campus.
- We stay in touch with the student. Their course tutor writes when they start, reports their progress every two weeks and answers questions about the syllabus.
- We stay in touch with the company. The company tutor receives the student's progress every two weeks, and three weeks into the internship the school writes to ask how it is going.
- Progress report for the company. From the company panel you can download a PDF report of the student's progress, useful to show the training nature of the internship.
- Final project tailored to the internship. After the theory and the internship, the student gets a final project based on their tasks in the company; the company tutor approves it before they start and the school reviews the submission.
- Company evaluation. At the end of the internship, the company tutor writes their report and the company uploads the internship evaluation certificate from its panel.
- We'll show you. If you'd like to see it, we'll show you the campus, the tracking and a progress report: write to practicas@htlescueladeempresaonline.com.
An internship can be where a well-trained team starts: the person arrives with fresh theory, applies it in your company and already knows how you work.
How it works, step by step
- Online enrolment. The student enrols in the course closest to their tasks in the company (€200). The student or the company can pay; the quote and the invoice are generated from the company panel.
- Automatic paperwork. The company receives the educational cooperation agreement and the annex, with the internship dates, schedule and company tutor.
- Electronic signature. Company and student sign online, usually within 1 working day. Without the signed agreement and annex, neither the internship nor the course can be certified.
- Internship and course in parallel. The internship can start shortly after enrolment and fits within the course's 180 days.
- Wrap-up. The company evaluates the internship, the student submits the final project and receives the course certificate, verifiable by QR code.
Common questions from companies
Is it a "paper-only" agreement? What if Spain's Labour Inspectorate checks it?
Behind the agreement there is a full course, and everything leaves a trail. An inspection checks that the internship is training-based (real training, a tutor and tasks related to what is studied) and that it does not hide a job. To show this you have the signed agreement and annex, the student's progress in the course, the PDF progress report, the company tutor's report required by the agreement and the final project tailored to the internship. What depends on the company is that the tasks are training-based; we recommend that they relate to the course.
What legislation is the agreement based on?
HTL's educational cooperation agreement is drafted by our legal adviser (2026 version) and is based on Spain's Royal Decree-law 2/2023, article 45 of Royal Decree-law 8/2023 and Order PJC/51/2024, which regulate the inclusion of trainees in Spanish Social Security. HTL is registered in the State Register of Training Entities of the SEPE.
Do we have to pay the student and register them with Social Security?
Any allowance or grant for the student is decided by the company, and its amount is stated in the annex. For internships in Spain, registering the student with Social Security (Seguridad Social) is the company's responsibility: under current rules, trainees are registered, and in our case they are processed with the trainee contribution code for paid internships without reductions («becario, prácticas remuneradas no bonificables»). Registration, contributions and deregistration are always the company's; your payroll adviser can confirm it with the agreement in hand.
What responsibility does the company take on? Is there insurance?
The company appoints a tutor who supports the student and evaluates the internship at the end. The relationship is a training one: the agreement does not create an employment contract. During internships in Spain, the student is covered by the school's civil liability insurance.
Do the tasks have to relate to the course?
We strongly recommend it: it is what gives the internship its training value. That is why the student chooses the course closest to their tasks among 46 courses in six areas (business, marketing, finance, technology, hospitality and lifestyle, industry). The school recommends; the decision, and its risk, belong to the company and the student. If you are not sure which course fits a role, send us the job description and we'll tell you.
How long can the internship last? What if we want a year?
The internship has to fit within the course dates, up to 180 days per enrolment, and can be shorter: there is no minimum number of hours. Schedule and dates are set in the annex. For a twelve-month internship, two consecutive enrolments are chained, with the same course in another language (the content is different) or another course related to the tasks.
How long does it take and who handles the paperwork?
After enrolment, the documents arrive automatically and are signed online, usually within 1 working day. From the company panel you can resend signature links, change the internship dates (a new annex is generated and signed again) and end the internship early by attaching the evaluation certificate; in that case the student's course is extended by 180 days so they can finish the theory and the project.
What if the student doesn't study or leaves the internship?
You see it in the company panel and in the tracking the tutor receives every two weeks, and the course tutor reminds the student. If the company paid the enrolment or it is a pack place, the student can be replaced before the course starts or within the following 14 days; the previous student's documents are cancelled and new ones are issued.
Who finds the student?
The company puts forward its candidate, or the student brings the company: the school does not assign internship places. If you already have the person, you can enrol them and pay yourself through company enrolment; for several students there are packs.
Can a foreign student do the internship?
Yes, enrolment is open to any nationality. To do an internship in Spain, the student needs their stay or residence status in order: the agreement does not replace it.
What if the company is outside Spain?
HTL students have done internships in companies in many countries. We can sign our agreement, under Spanish law, or the agreement proposed by the company in its own country. The decision to sign is always the company's: we sell a course with the option of an internship, not an obligation.
Does Spain's Trainee Statute (Estatuto del Becario) change anything?
The draft Trainee Statute lapsed when the Spanish Parliament was dissolved in October 2026 (Royal Decree 806/2026), so it is not in force today. If a new rule is passed, our legal adviser will adapt the agreement and we will let companies know.
How much does it cost and how is it invoiced?
Each course with its agreement costs €200. The student or the company pays; if the company pays, the quote and the invoice are generated from its panel. For several students there are packs.
Are you a student? How internships with an agreement work for students →
Content updated: 8 October 2026