Work-study program

Objective

To allow young professionals to acquire work experience and a professional degree at the same time.

Who can apply?

- The “Contract for the professionalisation of young people” is for those 16 to 26 years of age.
- The “Contract for the professionalisation of adults” is for unemployed adults who are more than 26 years old and are registered in the ANPE (the French national unemployment office).

Type of contracts

The above two contracts are for either a fixed duration and/or are special employment contracts for those unemployed.

Procedure

• 1)Proof of offer of employment (by sponsoring employer).
• 2)Authorization of the offer of employment by the ‘French Regional Work and Employment Administration’ (DDTE)
• 3)Signing of the ‘contract for the professionalisation’ by both the student/employee and the employer.
• 4)The contract must be sent to the DDTE within a month of the beginning of the contract.
• 5)Signing of an ‘education agreement’ between the “Institute of Management and Trade,” the company/employer and the student/employee.

Tuition

For those students enrolled in a work-study program, neither the company nor the student has to pay tuition. It is paid in full by a third-party organization.

Salary: The student/employee salary is indexed to the French minimum salary for full-time employment (called the ‘SMIC’).

Government financial aid to the employer

During the entire period of the contract, the employer is not required to pay the student/employee’s health insurance fees.

FEDE examinations fees

All work-study students are required to pay the full cost of the mandatory FEDE examination fees (see above for more information).