Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship

At ICN, professionalize before you graduate and ensure your employability through apprenticeship!

Available as part of the Bachelor in Management program (Bac +3), the Master in Management (Bac +5) and MSc programs (Bac +5 - DESSMI), apprenticeships give you a head start in developing the skills companies are looking for.

ICN has set up its own CFA in Nancy and Paris since 2020, to support you in your professional integration.

The Careers and Internships Department also runs a wide range of activities to help you find the right company: individual coaching, workshops, physical and virtual company forums, job dating, job postings via the school's career center, etc.

The benefits of apprenticeship

No tuition fees

As part of an work/study, your host company pays all your
tuition fees
. So you don't have to pay for your program at the school.

A regular income

In addition to paying the school and training you in your future profession, the host company pays you a monthly salary for the duration of your contract, according to the statutory scale.

Create a network

At your host company, you'll be able to multiply your contacts and expand your professional network. What's more, if the company likes your profile, why not stay on?

Become a professional

A work-study program will enable you to develop the hard & soft skills that employers are looking for, and professionalize you even before you graduate: professional integration guaranteed!

Bachelor in Management (Bac+3) in apprenticeship

Apprenticeships are only available from the 3rd year of the Bachelor in Management program on our Nancy ARTEM and Paris La Défense campuses. Discover the modules of the 3rd year of the Bachelor in Management :

The 3rd year of the Bachelor in Management

During the final year of the program, take advantage of an à la carte curriculum, with a choice of 4 pathways!

  • Pathway 1 - Skills enhancement and professionalization

Work-study or conventional // In Nancy or Paris // In English or French

By choosing this path, you will have to choose one of the 6 specializations among :
International Business // Luxury // Innovation // Communication and Events // E-Business // Banking and Insurance Customer Relations

  • Pathway 2 - English Track

Conventional // In Nancy or Paris // In English

By choosing this path, you will have to choose one of the 6 specializations among :
International Business // Luxury // Innovation // Communication and Events // E-Business // Banking and Insurance Customer Relations

  • Pathway 3 - International exchange and internship

Conventional // Abroad

With 90 partner universities in 45 countries, you can choose to spend a semester abroad. The second semester includes a 5-month internship.

  • Pathway 4 - The international double degree

Conventional // Abroad

With 10 partner universities in 8 countries, you can choose to spend an entire year abroad to earn a double degree. Destinations include :

China // South-Korea // Japan // Germany // Irland // Russia // Sweden // Guatemala

Master in Management & DESSMI (Bac+5) in apprenticeship

The specializations in the Master in Management are offered on a work-study basis, on the Nancy and/or Paris campuses. Doing your Master in Management on a sandwich course will give you a direct entry into the professional world.

All DESSMI specializations are offered on a sandwich course basis, on our 3 campuses. Doing a work-study MSc is the perfect way to round off your studies. What's more, all our MSc programs are now available as CGE-certified courses of excellence: MSc Master of Science in Management by Innovation.

Discover our specializations:

Contact us

Corporate recruitment

Are you a company looking to recruit
an ICN student on a work-study program?

Apprenticeships FAQs

Where can I be an apprentice?

Apprenticeships can be offered at all businesses in the private sector, including non-profit organisations, provided they have implemented the required measures to take on an apprentice.

Employers must give assurances that the business's equipment, techniques, working conditions, health and safety standards, and the professional and teaching skills of the apprenticeship supervisor are suitable to ensure satisfactory training.

Public institutions may under certain circumstances take on apprentices.

Why do an apprenticeship?

Apprenticeships are both a catalyst for learning and a career accelerator. Here are a few examples of the benefits of doing an apprenticeship:

For the business:

• Training in the company’s methods

• A way to pass on knowledge and expertise about the business and, if necessary, a way to prepare for the future
• A way to recruit new employees
• The business may be eligible for additional payments and funding

For the apprentice:
• The opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge
• Free training
• An employment contract and the opportunity to earn money while you train
• Makes it easier to enter the job market

What is an apprenticeship contract?

It is a special type of employment contract. The employer agrees to pass on professional skills and knowledge to an apprentice and pay them a salary. In return, the apprentice has to work at the company and undergo additional training at an apprentice training centre. Contracts last from 6 months to 2 years depending on the type of qualification. The duration can be adjusted depending on the initial skills of the apprentice . The duration of the contract can be extended by up to a year in certain circumstances.

Can I do an apprenticeship in the public sector?

Yes, the public sector takes on apprentices under the same conditions as the private sector.

In the public sector, the minimum apprenticeship wage is higher than in the private sector.

The increase in minimum wage is 20% if the apprentice is working towards a level III qualification (BTS, DUT, DEUST). The 20% increase is not a requirement for level I and II qualifications (Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, etc.).

You can sign an apprenticeship contract with a public or private sector business that is a legal entity in France.

I have a disability, can I do an apprenticeship?

People with a disability can do an apprenticeship to obtain a professional qualification. The apprenticeship takes place at a company and a training centre, and reasonable adjustments must be made to accommodate people with a disability.

To inform us about your disability and/or to get more information, you can contact our disability advisor, Madeleine OSTROWSKI.

Will I be paid?

Yes, the pay you receive from your employer is calculated according to your age, level of study and the length of your contract.
The amount you receive is based on a percentage of the minimum wage.

Studying at the training centre counts as working time, meaning your pay is not calculated on a pro rata basis.

How do I find a host company?

Once you’ve enrolled on the programme, the Careers and Internship service will help you find a host company:

You can visit the ICN Career Centre to discover all available apprenticeship opportunities, to see a list of companies who have taken on ICN apprentices over the years, and to get advice and information to help you with the application process. You will also find a variety of business events and webinars aimed at improving your employability:

  • A chance to meet recruiters every year as part of virtual or in-person ICN recruitment forums
  • Employability workshops covering a range of topics: writing a CV and covering letter, interview preparation, networking, looking for a job, negotiating a salary, etc.
  • Support that is tailored to your needs

Can I do an apprenticeship abroad?

An apprenticeship contract is a specific feature of French labour law, and the host company must be registered in France and have a valid business registration (SIRET) number.

I am a foreign national, can I do an apprenticeship?

Yes, you don’t need to be a French national to do an apprenticeship and there is no separate procedure for EU and Swiss nationals.

Apprenticeships are open to applicants from other countries but there are specific guidelines for non-EU nationals; whether you can do an apprenticeship depends on your administrative situation. If you are from a country outside the EU, you must have completed a year of study in France as part of a formal education programme before you can secure an apprenticeship and obtain the necessary work permit from the Regional Directorate for Enterprise, Competition, Consumption and Employment.

Will I be eligible for any financial support?

You will no longer be eligible for any higher education grants or student finance.

You will, however, be eligible for financial support from the apprentice training centre or ACTION LOGEMENT (for housing costs) during your apprenticeship.
Contact your apprenticeship service for more information

Some host companies even cover certain expenses (e.g. food, transportation).

Do I have to pay the application fees?

No, training costs are covered by the host company via its Skills Operator (OPCO) throughout your apprenticeship contract.

However, if you haven’t signed an apprenticeship contract before the legally specified deadline (28 February for the 2020-21 academic year), you will revert to student status and will have to pay tuition fees on a pro rata basis for the remaining period of study.

Do I still get school holidays?

No, you will be entitled to 5 weeks paid leave like any other employee.
Paid leave is taken with the approval of your apprenticeship supervisor and outside periods spent working at the host company.

What health insurance do I get?

Like any other employee, you’ll come under the general social security scheme.
You’ll be covered for illness, old age, and occupational accidents, including during your time spent at the training centre.

Once your apprenticeship contract has been signed, you must inform the CPAM of your change in status: www.ameli.fr.

Will I need to pay tax?

The money you receive as an apprentice is tax free as long as it is below the annual minimum wage.

If you go over this limit, tax only needs to be paid on the amount above the threshold and you must declare this by filling in an income declaration form.

If you are hired during the course of the year, which is often the case, the limit is calculated on a pro rata basis, taking into account the time you have spent as an apprentice. The same rule applies if you finish an apprenticeship during the course of the year.