What are the conditions for accessing a work-study program?

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Opting for a work-study program allows you to confront the knowledge acquired at school with the reality of the field through professional experience. The goal is to learn a trade in addition to preparing for graduation. With INSEEC, a business school specializing in management, we deliver RNCP or master’s degree titles at the end of the training. These certifications, with their high rate of employability, are fully recognized by the Ministry of Employment and Labor or Education and Research.

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Who is the work-study program for?

For companies, the work-study contracts are a good way to train the future candidate in the company’s culture and working methods. Its use is therefore to have training for a given trade and to integrate more easily into the world of work. The system is designed in two phases: the practical side and the theoretical side. The alternation of the two, leads to a transition to employment and increased professional integration. There are two types of work-study contracts: the apprenticeship contract and the professionalisation contract . The aim is to enable the trainee to gain skills and obtain a professional qualification (diploma, certificate of qualification, etc.) that meets the immediate expectations of the position. For INSEEC, the delivery of the RNCP is synonymous with the professionalization of students. Recipients of work-study training can have various profiles. On the one hand, we have young people between the ages of 16 and 25 who wish to complete their initial training. On the other hand, this type of education is aimed at job seekers aged 26 and over. People who receive minimum social benefits such as the RSA, ASS or AAH or those who have benefited from a CUI can also benefit from it.

Characteristics of the sandwich course

Work-study programs are in high demand in France. Its main strength lies in the academic and professional achievements of the students. A sandwich course is a training model that combines theoretical instruction at a training center with professional practice in a company. INSEEC, as a management-oriented business school, offers its students this type of training. In concrete terms, the principle of a sandwich course is based on the division of training time into two parts. The academic part includes the conventional training and the second part for the practical training takes place in the company.

The goal is to integrate the student professionally while following courses according to a rhythm defined by a contract. In France, work-study programs provide a guarantee of a stable professional future. Students who are tired of theoretical courses see in work-study programs the perfect formula. It provides an effective solution foremployability at the end of the training. In the institutions that offer this program of study, the work-study formula has specificities from one school to another. There are essentially two types of work-study contracts: the apprenticeship contract and the professionalization contract. Some companies only offer one of these. It is important to find out if the contract provided meets the requirements of the schools. One of INSEEC’s main assets is to offer students both forms of contracts.

The two types of contracts in work-study training

INSEEC, as a business school specialized in company management, offers its students ten specializations and four study programs from Bac to Bac +5. Those who opt for a work-study program do so to gain experience in a professional environment on the one hand, but also to finance their training. Regardless of whether you choose an apprenticeship or professionalization program, in both cases, the tuition fees are covered by the OPCO and the company, and a monthly salary is paid to the student.

The apprenticeship contract

This type of contract is primarily aimed at training future professionals. It concerns young people between the ages of 16 and 29. The goal is to prepare a young apprentice for a diploma in exchange for the employer’s commitment to provide full vocational training. The employment contract is either a fixed-term contract or an open-ended contract for a minimum of 6 months up to 36 months. The cost of the training depends on the diploma code and varies between 7,500 and 10,000 euros per year, depending on the agreement with the OPCO (skills operator).

The professionalization contract

The professionalization contract is only open to candidates over 26 years of age who are registered with the French employment agency. The contract can be a fixed-term or permanent contract. The duration of the training is around 12 to 24 months. The hourly rate varies between 9.15 and 17 euros per hour depending on the OPCO.

And for any other questions you may have, you can read our Frequently Asked Questions, attend an information meeting or be contacted by our teams.

Updated 2 August 2023