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Courses in France ................................... Compensation: in France, trainees receive a gratuity, not a salary. This is optional
In France, courses are arranged from College onwards to learn about
business and to be initiated into different careers. It is also widespread in graduate
studies.
France is well known for its food and wines, but it is also a leader in the luxury
goods, natural cosmetics and perfume industries, and is at the cutting edge
of technological development thanks to the quality of its engineers and the
development of start-ups (French Tech). It is also the leader in European
agriculture as well as the most visited country in the world.
Name and legal framework
‘Stage’
In France, a tripartite agreement between the student trainee (if the young person
is a minor then the parents must sign), the business and the secondary education
establishment is mandatory to take a course. At the end, the course requires
the drafting of a probationary report; this is taken into account for obtaining any
certification. The trainee is not an employee of the company.
A recent law has been put in place to ensure the quality of the courses and to
avoid abuse. It aims to improve the status of the trainee, in particular through the
company's support structure which should help the student in his search for a
course and designate a referent teacher. The company must designate a guardian
in charge of the hosting and support of the trainee during the probationary period.
However, businesses must observe a maximum quota of trainees in relation to
their workforce.
Administrative formalities
The contract must contain essential information: dates, duration, weekly
schedule, programme, objectives and tasks to be performed, the amount of any
pay, social cover, insurance, guardian's name, etc. Under no circumstances may a
probationary period substitute for or replace a job in a company.
The establishment and the business should consult over the contract, which
must clearly define the skills that the student should acquire. These precautions
should be used a priori to avoid disappointment and courses in 'coffee-making and
photocopying'.
For foreign students, it is the educational establishment in the trainee's country
which must draft and send the course contract to the business for signature.
Duration: the duration of the course depends on the context of the studies
concerned. Its maximum duration is fixed at 6 months (without any possible
exception or dispensation).
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for courses of less than two months (to be negotiated with the employer) but
mandatory for courses of over two months. In case of the absence of a collective
contract, a decree fixes the trainee's salary at 12.5% of the hourly social security
rate.
More information on the Ministry of Labour website travail-emploi.gouv.fr
Practical life
Cost of living: if the cost of studies and health care are generally low in France,
the cost of living is variable and can be high, especially in Paris.
According to the Campus France agency, it is necessary to allow approximately
800 € per month to live in France, but 1,100 € per month in the capital (housing,
insurance, food, recreation).
In the context of a student course, meals can be taken in the university restaurants
for 3.25 €.
Accommodation: the cost of housing is very variable, depending on the region.
Expect to pay less than 350€ for a studio in cities such as Poitiers, Limoges or
Saint-Etienne, around 450€ in Strasbourg and Toulouse, 500€ in Lille or Lyon and
more than that in the Paris suburbs. In the context of the student courses, foreign
students may benefit from housing benefit.
To find accommodation, you can contact agencies:
www.fnaim.fr - www.cnab.net
Other sites: www.leboncoin.fr - www.pap.fr - www.seloger.com
www.location-etudiant.fr
For colocation: www.colocation.fr - www.coopcoloc.fr
Tips on finding a course and useful sites
For the students, all universities have a Course Office which can give information
and obtain the course contracts.
General websites
÷ Courses in the Education Code: www.legifrance.gouv.fr
www.monstageenligne.fr : all the practical information necessary
(legislation, advice and offers of courses in France and abroad)
÷ Guide to courses in companies on the Ministry of Higher Education website:
www.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/enseignement supérieur/insertion
professionnelle – emploi/stage
÷ The French business directory: fr.kompass.com/b/annuaire-entreprises
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