Work-Study Program
Work-study programs offer a strategic opportunity to gain training while being immersed in the professional world.
A true bridge to employment, it helps students acquire practical skills that can be directly applied in the workplace.
In continuing education, there are two programs that provide access to work-study programs, depending on your status:
- The Professional Training Contract
A private-law employment contract based on the principle of work-study, it enables participants to acquire a professional qualification or to supplement their initial training with an additional qualification in order to qualify for a specific position within the company.
ELIGIBLE POPULATION
– Young people aged 16 to 25 to complete their initial training
– Job seekers aged 26 and older
– Recipients of the Active Solidarity Income (RSA), the Specific Solidarity Allowance (ASS), or the Allowance for Disabled Adults (AAH)
– Individuals who have participated in a subsidized employment program (Single Integration Contract – CUI)
–“New Chance”: job seekers who have been registered on the job seeker list for more than one year
Learn more - Work-Study Program PRO A
The Pro-A program allows employees to change careers or advance in their current roles through work-study training leading to a degree or professional certification.
ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS
– Employees with permanent employment contracts (CDI)
– Employees with permanent Single Integration Contracts (CUI)
– Professional athletes or coaches with fixed-term employment contracts (CDD)
– Employees on partial unemployment
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There are two main categories of degrees awarded by institutions of higher education: national degrees and university degrees (DU). They differ in terms of recognition, purpose, and regulatory framework.
- National Diplomas:
A national degree is a degree recognized by the government and awarded on behalf of the Ministry of Higher Education. It follows a strict national framework (curriculum standards, course load, assessment methods, etc.).
- University or Institutional Degrees:
A DU is a degree created and awarded by a university outside the framework of national degree programs. It is often designed to meet specific needs (occupations, sectors facing labor shortages, career transitions, specialization, etc.).
For more information, please contact us at: sfc-pro@umontpellier.fr
An apprenticeship contract is part of initial training , whereas a professional training contract is intended for those seeking continuing education.
Under an apprenticeship contract, the apprentice signs either a fixed-term contract (CDL) or a permanent contract (CDI). If you opt for a professional training contract, you will sign either a fixed-term contract (CDD) or a permanent contract (CDI).
But then, how do you choose?
Your choice will depend on your age, the duration of your work-study program, and the level of compensation.
The apprenticeship contract is available to individuals between the ages of 16 and 29 (exceptions apply) for a duration of at least 6 months and up to 3 years. The pay rate will depend on your age and level of education but will range from 27% to 100% of the minimum wage.
For more information, contact the CFA for Higher Education
The professional training contract, on the other hand, is available to students between the ages of 16 and 25 who wish to complete their initial training, to job seekers over the age of 26, and to recipients of the RSA, ASS, and AAH, with no age restrictions. Under a professional training contract, you will receive between 55% and 100% of the minimum wage (SMIC), depending on your age and level of education.
For more information, please contact us
The duration of a professional training contract varies depending on the training program and the participant’s profile, but it is generally between 6 and 12 months.
- Minimum duration: 6 months
- Maximum duration: 12 months (up to 24 months in certain special cases, such as for people with disabilities or for certain specific training programs).
In practice, the term of the contract often corresponds to the duration of the work-study program. For example, a one-year program will generally be paired with a one-year contract.
There isn't one. Each program sets its own pace for the work-study program.
When applying for a work-study position, be sure to include your program’s schedule (which you can obtain from the program’s academic advisor) so that the employer can understand the pace of your program and immediately see whether or not it aligns with the company’s requirements and peak periods of activity.
Training costs are fully covered by the OPCO (Skills Operator) responsible for the company hiring the work-study student.
- The OPCO covers all or part of the training costs, based on a flat rate per hour or a cap set by the professional sector.
- The company must submit a request for funding to its OPCO before the contract begins.
- The work-study student therefore does not have to pay any tuition fees.
Please note:
- If coverage is only partial, the company may make up the difference at its own expense.
- Some training programs (particularly those that do not lead to certification) may not be covered: in such cases, a cost estimate is provided to the company prior to approval.
Our team will assist you with the funding application process through the OPCOs.
Under a professional training contract, the work-study student has the status of a full-fledged employee within the company that employs them.
What this means:
Work-study students are subject to the Labor Code and the company’s collective bargaining agreement and enjoy the same rights as other employees:
- Paid Leave
- Social Security (health insurance, maternity benefits, retirement, etc.)
- Access to company benefits (meal vouchers, health insurance, etc.)
- Enrollment in the General Social Security System
Compensation is determined according to a specific pay scale, based on the work-study student’s age and level of education (between 55% and 100% of the SMIC or the minimum wage set by collective bargaining agreement).
As soon as possible!
If you plan to start your training program in September, begin your search as early as March to ensure you find an employer before summer break, when the job market will be tighter and most positions will already have been filled.
Polish your resume and cover letter, and stay on top of the job market!
Yes, we regularly monitor the job market, and when a work-study opportunity aligns with the needs and objectives of one of our programs, we forward it to the Academic Director, who then shares it with the candidates selected for the program.
To help you with your search, feel free to visit theUniversity of Montpellier’s career services website, which lists all employers who have hired graduates from the University of Montpellier.
If you are already a student at the University of Montpellier, you can use ResUM, the university’s professional network. Employers regularly post job and internship openings on this platform.
We recommend the Indeed platform, which is widely used by employers, and don't overlook the social network LinkedIn, where you can interact more naturally with professionals.
Yes, whether it’s through a professional training contract or an apprenticeship contract, it’s entirely possible to complete a work-study program at a nonprofit organization. It’s a private employer.
No, you’re a trainee.
You must be capable of performing the job you’re applying for, even if you don’t meet all the professional requirements; it’s also the company’s role to train you.
Attendance is monitored both at work and in training sessions.
If you are an employee of a company, all your absences must be justified.
Employers must provide us with a list of assignments that will be assigned to you as part of your contract, and these assignments must be approved by the academic advisors for your program.
This ensures that the company you wish to join assigns you tasks that are relevant to your program of study.
That's right; especially when it comes to Master's program applications or admission responses on the Mon Master platform, which often arrive late, the company has no choice but to allow for a delay.
To date, no Bachelor’s Degree (Licence 2) programs are available through a work-study program.
For a program to be offered through a work-study program, its pace must be adapted to this learning model, and time must be set aside for students to work at a company—which requires significant adjustments on the part of academic administrators.
Work-study programs are currently available only during the final years of the General Bachelor's degree program and in a limited number of degree programs.
You can certainly pursue a master's degree through a work-study program, whether under a professional training contract or an apprenticeship contract.
To qualify as a work-study student, you must be enrolled in a program that is affiliated with an educational institution.
If you enroll in one of our programs, you will be enrolled at our university, which is the University of Montpellier.
As a doctoral student, the only ways to pursue a work-study program are through CIFRE theses at a company or a doctoral contract as a university instructor.
In any case, it will be neither an apprenticeship contract nor a professional training contract.
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For more information, please contact us at: sfc-pro@umontpellier.fr