Training and recruitment through internships and work-study programs
Businesses in France can host interns or recruit trainees to train future talent. These programs combine training and professional experience, while meeting businesses’ skills needs.
In a nutshell
- An internship enables a student to gain professional experience as part of their studies.
- Work-study programs combine theoretical training with practical experience in a company.
- There are two types of work-study contracts: apprenticeships and professional training.
- These programs enable businesses to train and recruit future employees.
What training and recruitment programs are available for businesses?
Businesses can use several methods to welcome future employees, depending on their objective: to introduce them to a professional environment, to provide training for a specific job or to prepare for recruitment. Internships and work-study programs follow different but complementary approaches.
| Scheme | Aim | Who it applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Internship | Discovery of the working environment and professional experience | Students |
| Apprenticeship | Work-study training programme | Young people aged 16 to 29 |
| Professional training contract | Professional integration or retraining | Young people and jobseekers |
What are the advantages of internships and apprenticeships for employers?
Businesses can host interns or recruit work-study trainees to develop their internal skills and prepare for future recruitment. These programs enable them to:
- Train future employees.
- Transfer skills and expertise.
- Strengthen teams while contributing to the development of young talent.
Students and young professionals therefore benefit from practical experience in a company while continuing their education.
What is a student internship?
An internship is a period of practical, real-world experience undertaken as part of a training program. It enables students to acquire professional skills related to their academic program.
The internship is based on a relationship between three parties:
- The intern.
- The educational institution.
- The host organization.
The internship must be part of a training program with a minimum of 200 hours of instruction per academic year.
Job-shadowing internships
Job-shadowing internships for secondary school students (middle and high school) and internships providing lifelong vocational training are not affected by this situation.
The tasks assigned to the intern must be consistent with the educational project defined by the educational establishment. An intern cannot be recruited to perform certain tasks.
In particular, it is forbidden:
- To replace an absent employee, for whatever reason.
- To hold a permanent position in the company (the intern has no production obligations).
- To cope with a temporary increase in workload.
- To fill a seasonal position.
The internship must be arranged by an internship agreement signed by the student, the educational establishment and the host organization.
This tripartite agreement specifies, in particular:
- The title of the course or training program.
- The skills to be acquired.
- The tasks assigned to the intern.
- The name of the supervising professor and the tutor.
- The dates and duration of the internship, as well as the maximum weekly attendance.
- The conditions for supervision, monitoring and authorized absences.
- The amount of any compensation.
- Any benefits.
- The social security coverage.
- The procedures for suspension and termination.
- The procedures for validating the internship in case of interruption.
- The clauses of the host organization’s internal regulations.
- The conditions for issuing the internship certificate.
For further information, find out about the employer’s obligations regarding internships on the service-public website. You can also access internship agreement templates.
Each intern must be supervised by two mentors. They will benefit from:
- A faculty mentor within the educational institution.
- A tutor within the host organization.
These mentors provide academic and professional guidance throughout the internship
Internship register and certificate
The employer must register the intern in a specific section of the employee register. At the end of the internship, the host organization must provide the intern with an internship certificate.
Intern remuneration
Interns are not considered employees and do not receive a salary. However, they must receive payment when the internship lasts more than two months.
In the absence of a collective agreement, the minimum remuneration is 15% of the hourly social security ceiling, which was €4.50 as of January 1, 2026.
Payment is made monthly to the intern.
Calculating the minimum amount of remuneration
You can calculate the minimum amount of remuneration for an intern using an online simulator.
The employer is exempt from paying social security contributions up to the limit of the social security exemption. This exemption is calculated by multiplying 15% of the social security ceiling by the number of hours worked during the internship in the month (15% limit x number of hours). Beyond this limit, social security contributions are payable by the employer.
The number of interns who can be hosted simultaneously depends on the company’s workforce. In principle:
- A maximum of three interns in companies with fewer than twenty employees.
- 15% of the workforce in companies with twenty or more employees.
The maximum duration of an internship is six months. The intern is subject to the business’s applicable rules regarding working hours and rest periods.
What is a work-study program?
A work-study program combines periods of theoretical instruction with periods of work in a company. It enables students and young professionals to acquire a recognized qualification while developing professional experience.
Work-study is based on an employment contract between the employer and the student.
Two types of contracts exist:
- Apprenticeships.
- Professional training.
Apprenticeships
An apprenticeship enables a student or young professional to prepare for a diploma or professional qualification while working in a company.
The placement alternates between:
- Periods of theoretical instruction.
- Periods of practical training in a company.
Apprenticeships are primarily intended for:
- Young people aged 16 to 29.
- Those over 29, if they are:
- People with disabilities, regardless of age.
- Individuals planning to start or take over a business
- Apprentices preparing for a diploma or qualification higher than their previous one.
Apprenticeships enable you to prepare for various levels of qualification.
In particular, they enable you to obtain:
- A vocational secondary education diploma (CAP, Bac Pro, BEP, etc.).
- A higher education diploma (BTS, BUT, Licence Pro, Master’s, etc.).
- A professional qualification registered with the French National Directory of Professional Certifications (RNCP).
The apprentice’s remuneration depends primarily on their age and the year of the contract. It is calculated as a percentage of the minimum wage or the standard wage as per the collective agreement.
Professional training
The professional training contract is a work-study placement that enables individuals to acquire a recognized professional qualification. It is intended, in particular:
- For young people aged 16 to 25 in initial training.
- For jobseekers aged 26 and above.
- For certain beneficiaries of professional integration programs.
The placement alternates between time spent in a company and time at a training organization.
What about international talent?
Foreign nationals can complete an internship or work-study program in France under certain conditions.
The rules vary depending on their immigration status and place of study.
| Situation | Internship | Work-study programme |
|---|---|---|
| EU / EEA / Swiss student | – | – |
| Non-EU student already in France | Internship agreement and student residence permit | Apprenticeship or professional training contract, and work authorisation where applicable |
| Student coming from abroad | Long-stay intern visa and approved internship agreement | Long-stay visa and prior work authorisation |