Work-study track

What is "Work-study"?

Our programmes offered on a work-study track are subject to specific admissions requirements and conditions. To maximise your chances of being accepted on a work-study track, here is some useful information and helpful advice:
- Personal interview: Candidates are strongly advised to submit a CV and a cover letter. How you perform on the day of the interview and the quality of these documents, even if optional, are all part of the assessment..
- Grant holders: as part of its commitment to social inclusion, when it comes to work-study, Excelia gives preferential consideration to applicants with grants.

Excelia firmly believes in the value of carrying out studies on a work-study track and has been a pioneer in this field since 1997 when it first offered its Master in Management programme via an apprenticeship contract. As a result, today Excelia has proven pedagogical expertise in terms of the work-study approach, with a strong network of partner companies. At the start of the 2021 academic year more than 1000 students chose a work-study track. Subsequently, in 2020 we launched the EXCELIA Apprenticeship Training Centre, with a view to offering apprenticeship opportunities across all our programmes, further demonstrating our commitment and desire to develop the professional skills of our students.

As a proven method of enhancing your company, the work-study track on Excelia's programmes enables companies to benefit from young talent for periods of 12 - 24 months or to develop the skills of their current employees with a view to obtaining a qualification.

Often as a student’s first employer, the experience at your company will provide the professional element to complement their academic studies. By hosting a student on a work-study track, you can convey the values, skills and ambitions of your company to future graduates who may well turn out to be your key employees of tomorrow.

Why choose to recruit a student on a work-study track? Your company will be able to...

train a future employee for the specific needs of your company
benefit from financial incentives
benefit from the partial or total financing of the cost of the training through an OPCO (OPérateur de COmpétences) organisation
convey your knowledge and expertise through the various projects that you entrust to the student
benefit from the positive effects on your current teams of an enthusiastic and motivated student
recruit versatile profiles, which are a real asset for diversity

Management

Bachelor in Business - equivalent to 3 years of post High School education

By combining the fundamentals of management and business with working closely alongside companies, the Bachelor in Business provides students with all essential skills... technical, human (self-awareness, autonomy, sens of responsibility, etc.) and cultural, to enable them to successfully adapt to their working life in a company.

Find out more the Bachelor in Business
Find out more about work-study on the Bachelor in Business

BBA International - equivalent to 4 years of post High School education

The BBA International enables students to acquire th 4 keys skills expected by companies today :

Applying international management techniques
Managing multicultural teams
Identify business issues to be able to make decisions
Making good use of information technology to drive the strategy of an international company

Find out more about the BBA International
Find out more about work-study on the BBA International

Masters of Science (MSc) – equivalent of 5 years of post High School education

The MSc aims to provide students with :

a vision and an understanding of their future working environment, enabling them to take a step back from the situation and to envolve accordingly
the ability to master the concepts and methods involved in people and situation management in order to carry out their responsibilities as managers an leaders
the 7 principles of Corporate Social Responsibility, in a cross-disciplinary way and in all areas of activity

Find out about the MSc
Find out more about work-study on the MSc

Master in Management – equivalent to 5 years of post High School education

The Master in Management is a programme offering general management studies with an international dimension, focussing on the issues faced by companies. It aims to provide students with the necessary knowledge, savoir-faire, and interpersonal skills required in the corporate world.

Find out about work-study on the Master in Management

Communication / Digital

Bachelor in Communications and Digital Strategies - equivalent to 3 years of post-High School education

This programme enables students to acquire the 3 keys skills expected by companies today :

Having a knowledge and understanding of the main artistic and cultural references of today's world, and know how to draw inspiration from them to enhance creativity
Understanding Internet buying behaviour and the essentials of customer relations and customers loyalty
Developing their full potential and learning how to work with others effectively as a team

Find out more about the Bachelor in Communications and Digital Strategies

Master of Science (MSc) in Digital Communications and Influencing Strategy – equivalent of 5 years of post-High School education

Find out more about the Master of Science (MSc) in Digital Communications and Influencing Strategy

Master of Arts in Design Direction and Creative Media– equivalent of 5 years of post-High School education

Find out more about the Master of Arts in Design Direction and Creative Media

Tourism Management

Bachelor in tourism and Hospitality - equivalent to 3 years of post-High School education

This programme enables students to acquire the 3 key skills expected by companies today :

Being enable to design, market and implement products and services
Managing operating and investment budgets
Organizing and coordinating teams

Read our Bachelor in Tourism & Hospitality Management brochure (in French only)
Find out more about work-study on the Bachelor in Tourism & Hospitality Management

What are the terms and conditions of a work-study contract ?

Who can study on a work-study track ?

Apprenticeship contract

16- to 29-year-olds looking to continue their studies
In certain cases, the age limit is extended to 31 years + (e.g. disabilities, starting a business, etc.)

Contrat de professionnalisation

16- to 25-year-olds
Job seekers aged 26 and over
Company employees

Salary

Apprenticeship contract

Age of student	Pay scale - Apprenticeship contract
Age of student	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3
18 - 20	43%	51%	67%
21 - 25	53%	61%	78%
26+	100 % of SMIC or SMC*	100 % of SMIC or SMC*	100 % of SMIC or SMC*

^{* Salary is calculated as a % of the SMIC (or of the SMC if this proves more advantageous for those aged 21 and over)

Note:

SMIC = Salaire MInimum de Croissance: monthly gross minimum wage

SMC = Salaire Minimum Conventionnel: conventional monthly gross minimum wage}

Professional training contract

Pay scale – Professional training contract (excluding public sector)
Age of student	Holders of a professional/technological Baccalaureate or professional qualification of an equivalent level
Under 21	At least 65 % of the SMIC*
21 - 25	At least 80 % of the SMIC*
26 and over	At least 58% of the SMC* (with a minimum of the SMIC*)

Possible host organisations

Apprenticeship contract

All privately-run companies including associations
Non-industrial and commercial public sector: Government services (central administrations and decentralised services), local authorities, public administration bodies and public hospitals, etc.

Professional training contract

All privately-run companies which finance vocational training, with the exception of Government services, local authorities and public administration bodies.
Non-industrial and commercial public sector e.g. RATP, SNCF, Office national des forêts (Forestry Commission), etc.

Financing the training

Apprenticeship contract

The levels of funding for apprenticeships are set and published by France Compétences by means of a decree. The host organisation needs to contact the appropriate OPCO to determine the level of funding available for the training - this will vary according to the professional sector and the qualification being studied for. Depending on the cost of the study programme, this level of funding will determine the remaining balance to be invoiced directly to the employer. A Convention de Formation par Apprentissage (apprenticeship training agreement) and an employment contract (CERFA FA13) will need to be completed and signed.

For more information about France Compétences (available in French only)

Find out more about private sector apprenticeship contracts (available in French only)

Find out more about public sector apprenticeship contracts (available in French only)

Professional training contract

The company covers the tuition fees of its employees. It needs to contact the appropriate OPCO to determine the level of funding available for the training which will then determine the remaining balance to be invoiced directly to the employer. Once the funding has been validated by the company, the OPCO, and the training organisation, a Convention de Formation Professionnelle (vocational training agreement) and an employment contract (CERFA EJ20) will need to be completed and signed.

Find out more about Professional training contracts (available in French only)

Financial assistance

The Government is introducing financial assistance in order to boost the Apprenticeship initiative launched in 2019 (16 % more contracts compared to the previous year).

To limit the effects of COVID-19 and to boost the recruitment of apprentices for the 2020 academic year, the Government has introduced incentives that were detailed during a Cabinet meeting on 10th June:

Financial assistance will be granted to employers, up to a maximum of €8,000 in the first year of the contract, for apprentices studying for a qualification of the equivalent of 3 years of post-High School education.
- This financial assistance is available to all companies of less than 250 employees and, subject to certain conditions, to companies with more than 250 employees. The latter will need to prove that 5% of their workforce will be carrying out work-study training between now and 2021 to qualify for the financial assistance. If they fail to meet the conditions, they will have to repay any money received.

Overview of the Government’s plans to boost apprenticeships (available in French only)

Other forms of financial assistance

Subject to certain conditions, financial aid and exemptions may be granted to host organisations.

Some useful contacts and links:

Contact the relevant OPCO

For more information about Government initiatives (in French only)

travail-emploi.gouv.fr or legifrance.gouv.fr

Financial simulation (in French only)

alternance.emploi.gouv.fr

How to recruit our students

Submit your work-study offers online and monitor their progress in real time (validation, number of views, modifications, etc.).

Create or access your personal Recruiter Account

Submit an offer in 3 easy steps

Contact a member of our Corporate Relations team

Take part in our work-study recruitment events

Annual Recruitment Forum: every year at the start of April
Recruitment session(s) specially for your company: Simply tell us what you need and we will organise interviews for you on our campus