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Work-Study Programs and Internships
What if your professional experience began even before you graduated?
What if your professional experience began even before you graduated? You may be wondering what life in the workplace is really like, and whether you’re ready to take on that challenge before you even graduate. That’s precisely the point of work-study programs and internships: two different ways to get a foot in the door of the professional world while you’re still in school, without waiting until you graduate to discover a career.
These aren’t just mandatory requirements in your curriculum. They’re an opportunity to test out a career in a real-world setting, build a genuine professional network, learn to work as part of a team on concrete responsibilities, and often, turn that first experience into a job offer upon graduation. And the icing on the cake: both are paid positions.
3iL Ingénieurs is a private higher education institution serving the public interest (EESPIG), which means there are tuition fees. But if you choose the work-study program, here’s the good news: these fees are covered by your employer, not by you or your family.
Work-Study Programs and Internships : 3 Key Points
Before we get into the details, here are the key points to remember :
These are two different systems, not two competing options
An internship is a key part of your academic career as a student, regardless of your program. A work-study program, on the other hand, can replace your student status for one or more years, if you wish and if your program allows it.
Both are paid
But not in the same way: a work-study program gives you full employee status with a monthly salary, whereas an internship entitles you to a stipend after two months of participation.
In a work-study program, your tuition is covered by the company
Not by you. That’s one of the major benefits of this position, in addition to the salary.
In practical terms, how much is that per month?
≈ €1,867 before tax / month
Work-study, full-time
Minimum Wage (SMIC) based on a 35-hour workweek (June 2026): a real monthly salary, not a token allowance, plus your tuition covered by the company.
≈ 693 € / month
6-month internship
Minimum bonus for 2026, on a full-time basis, tax-exempt up to the annual minimum wage.
| PROGRAM | PLANNED INTERSHIPS | WORK-STUDY OPTION AVAILABLE |
|---|---|---|
| Preparatory Program | 2nd year: at least 6 weeks | Not available |
| Engineering Program (3 years) | 4th year: at least 4 months 5th year: at least 6 months | 1, 2, or 3 years, depending on the entry level (Bac+3, Bac+4, or Bac+5) |
| Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity and AI (3 years) | 1st year: at least 2 months | 2nd and 3rd years of apprenticeship |
| Bachelor Degree – Développeur Web Full Stack / Administrateur Systèmes, Réseaux et Cybersécurité (1 year) | At least 3 months | Entire program (apprenticeship or professional contract) |
| Master Degree – Expert en Architecture et Développement Logiciel / Expert Réseaux, Infrastructures et Sécurité (2 years) | 4th year: at least 4 months 5th year: at least 6 months | 1 year or the entire program |
Work-Study Program : a real status, a real salary, and school fees covered
If you choose an apprenticeship contract, you will receive remuneration that varies depending on your age and increases with each new year of the contract. The minimum wage is a percentage of the SMIC, or the minimum wage set by the collective bargaining agreement for your job if you are over 21 years old.
If you choose a professional training contract instead, note that this contract is reserved for students under 26 years of age (the category for those over 26 is open to job seekers and certain exceptions). Your pay is also a percentage of the SMIC, but it varies based on your level of education or qualifications prior to the contract, in addition to your age.
In both cases, your host company covers your tuition fees at 3iL Ingénieurs: this is an important point to keep in mind, since 3iL is a private EESPIG institution, and tuition fees (except for work-study programs) are otherwise your responsibility.
For your information, the gross hourly minimum wage has been €12.31 since June 1, 2026, which amounts to €1,867.02 gross per month based on a 35-hour workweek. Collective bargaining agreements or contractual provisions may provide for more favorable compensation.
Internships: A Right to Financial Compensation, Not a Favor
If your internship lasts more than two months, whether consecutive or not,at the same company and during the same school year, you are eligible for a financial reward: a certain amount of money paid to you that is exempt from income tax up to the annual minimum wage (SMIC).
Specifically, each period of at least seven hours of attendance (whether consecutive or not) counts as one day, and each period of at least 22 days of attendance counts as one month. The minimum amount of this stipend is set at 15% of the hourly Social Security ceiling, or €4.50 per hour of internship in 2026—an industry-wide collective bargaining agreement or an extended professional agreement may provide for a higher rate.
Unlike work-study programs, internships do not cover your tuition: the stipend is intended as supplemental income, not as a means to pay for your education.
Finding a Place to Live During Your Work-Study Program: Financial Assistance Is Available
If you are a work-study student, there are several programs available to help you with housing through Action Logement :
- help paying your rent;
- VISALE, to find a guarantor if you’re looking for a place to live;
- Financial help up to 1,200 € if you need to pay a security deposit;
- a temporary housing platform, to provide quick assistance.
And if you are an employee under the age of 30, in the broadest sense, other forms of assistance may also be available to you.
FAQ
FAQ – Your Questions, Our Answers
3iL Ingénieurs is a private higher education institution serving the public interest (EESPIG), which means that students are required to pay tuition.
Your host company covers your tuition, whether you are on an apprenticeship contract or a professional training contract.
No, these are two programs that are structured at different stages of your academic journey: internships are integrated throughout your studies as a full-time student, while work-study programs can replace that status for one or more years, depending on your program.
The apprenticeship contract is primarily intended for young people in initial training, with pay that increases each year. The professional training contract is reserved for those under 26 (with some exceptions), and pay depends mainly on your level of qualification prior to the contract.
No. It’s a flexible option: depending on your program, you can fund 1 year, 2 years, or your entire course through a work-study scheme.
No, the bonus is only payable after two months’ service – whether consecutive or not – with the same company during the same academic year.
She is exempt from income tax up to the annual minimum wage.
Action Logement offers several schemes: rent assistance, the VISALE guarantee, help with security deposits of up to €1,200, and a temporary accommodation platform.
No. You can choose your program without having decided on the work-study scheme: that decision is made once you have enrolled, depending on the opportunities available to you and your preferences at that time.