Apprenticeships

You must:

• Be under 30 years old on the starting date of the apprenticeship contract (dispensations possible > in French)
• Have the prerequisites necessary for enrolling in the apprenticeship programme
• Have signed an apprenticeship contract with a company

Like all employees, you will receive a monthly salary for the entire duration of your contract.

The minimum salary is set as a percentage of the French minimum wage (SMIC) or as the minimum contractual salary (salaire minimum conventionnel) whichever is higher, based on your age and the training level.

• Refer to the Apprentice Pay Chart (in French)
• Simulate your pay (in French)

Good to know:

• Gross = Net: up to age 26, your salary is not taxable up to the annual minimum wage (SMIC), including if you are declared as part of your parents' tax household.
• If you are over 18 years old, you can receive the employment allowance (prime d’activité) provided your net monthly income is over 974.12€.
• Vocational Bachelor degrees and Master 2 degrees are considered as year 2 programmes in terms of pay.
• An apprentice's salary is exempt from social security contributions, with the exception of contributions for workplace accidents and work-related illness.

You are entitled to:

• a salary,
• employee status and a 45-day trial period in the company,
• social security coverage, including while you are attending classes,
• paid holidays,
• a student ID card,
• support from an educational adviser at the university and a company supervisor.

You must:

• enroll at the university,
• abide by the university and company rules and regulations,
• carry out the tasks assigned by the company and comply with all non-competition clauses,
• keep your apprenticeship handbook and records up to date, fill it in, sign it and have it signed,
• attend classes, tutorials and practical/lab work. Attendance is mandatory,
• take exams in order to receive your degree.

About absences:

• Excused absences: if you are ill, you must notify your apprenticeship supervisor, the CFA and your academic adviser, then send a doctor's certificate within 48 hours to the Caisse Primaire d'Assurance Maladie (CPAM) and to your employer, with a copy to the CFA and your academic adviser.
• Absence for legal reasons (marriage, death in the immediate family, special/emergency medial exams, administrative summons): you must send written proof (i.e. certificate) to the CFA, your academic adviser as well as the company HR department and/or your apprenticeship supervisor.
• All other absences are considered unexcused. In the event of unexcused absenteeism, wages may be withheld and educational sanctions applied.

The University of Bordeaux CFA and the PHASE department can provide support to stack the odds in your favour and help you reach your goal of completing an apprenticeship successfully.

To obtain individualised support:

1. Make an appointment as soon as possible with the PHASE department support coordinator on your campus,
2. Compile your individual file,
3. Receive a personalised analysis of your limitations and needs,
4. Benefit from a support plan adapted to your needs, and modifiable throughout the school year,
5. Receive support and follow-up throughout your apprenticeship.

Contacts:

• PHASE: phase%40u-bordeaux.fr
• CFA Disability Contact Person: Pierre Mazet (pierre.mazet%40u-bordeaux.fr)

Learn more about the support services available (in French)

Learn more about the adapted apprenticeship contract (in French)

To find a host company, the University of Bordeaux CFA is your preferred point of contact. The Centre will help you with your administrative procedures and placement in a company.

• Locate and contact the apprenticeship unit that your degree is affiliated with as early as possible,
• Participate in events organised by the CFA (in French): workshops, webinars, e-conferences, recruitment days, etc.

You can also:

• introduce yourself or apply at companies that you know or have identified as potential employers,
• contact business associations (chambers of commerce and industry, trade or agriculture),
• answer job offers/adverts.

Practical information:

• onisep.fr (in French)
• lapprenti.com (in French)

Apprenticeship supervisors

Within the host company, apprentice supervisors are in contact with the CFA to monitor your progress throughout your training.

Their mission: enable you to acquire the skills corresponding to the degree being prepared by sharing their knowledge and know-how with you.

Their profile: supervisors must be of legal age and offer all the guarantees of good character. They must either hold a degree/title equivalent to the one you are studying for and have three years of experience related to the certification/skills in question, or have five years of professional experience related to the certification being studied and a minimum level of skills determined by the French government's local commission for employment and integration (Commission départementale de l'emploi et de l'insertion).

Supervisors may delegate their responsibility to a lower-ranking colleague under certain conditions.

Academic coordinators

Your academic coordinator is a member of the teaching team in the apprentice training programme.

The coordinator's mission: monitor the smooth running of the contract by liaising with the company in relation to the apprenticeship supervisor.

A coordinator manages relations with the educational team and the adviser.

Academic advisers

Your academic adviser belongs to the educational team in the apprentice training programme.

The adviser's mission: ensure your individual supervision.

Visits to the companies along with the apprenticeship logbook also facilitate interaction between the apprentice, apprenticeship supervisor and apprenticeship coordinator.

• Exemption from registration fees: university tuition fees are paid by the CFA. The only amount due is the Student and Campus Life Contribution (CVEC).
• Examination leave: you get 5 working days off to study for your exams. Examination leave is in addition to your paid leave.
• Aid for passing your driving licence: you can benefit from state aid amounting to 500€ to help finance your driving licence.
• Aid for initial computer equipment: the University of Bordeaux CFA offers the loan of an iPAD for the duration of your contract.
• Mobili jeune® aid: lets you benefit from housing aid that covers part of your rent, up to 100€ a month. It is managed by Action Logement (prior online simulation possible).
• Housing and food: aid may be paid to contribute to housing and food expenses.
• Social fund for training: in the event of unforeseen circumstances, the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region may provide you with financial assistance to cover part of your transportation or housing costs. Applications can be made on the Region's website.

Professional benefits

An apprenticeship:

• trains a student in your working methods and corporate culture. An apprenticeship is a pre-recruitment period.
• after that period, the apprentice is trained and immediately operational. An apprenticeship is a strategic workforce planning (GPEC) tool.
• allows know-how to be passed on.
• lets the company develop its activity or create a new project.

Support

• Recruitment assistance: needs analysis, sourcing, organisation of recruitment days, etc.
• Training of apprenticeship supervisors (50 industrial supervisors trained per year).

Financial aid

Companies that take on apprentices can benefit from specific aid depending on their workforce.

• Private sector employers can apply the general reduction in contributions on a full-scope basis; the exemption scheme differs depending on the company size and number of employees (details available on the URSSAF website).
• Employee and employer social insurance contributions (illness, maternity, disability, death, old age) are fully exempt.
• Aid is granted to companies for the recruitment of a disabled person for an apprenticeship contract.
• Apprenticeship contracts are not counted as part of the workforce for the calculation of company thresholds.

Special aid for apprentice recruitment

Special, non-recurrent aid is paid for all recruitment contracts signed before June 2022, for diplomas up to the Master level (Bac+5).

Private employers:

• 5000€ for an apprentice under 18 years old.
• 8000€ for an apprentice between 18 and 30 years old.
• Companies with fewer than 250 employees are eligible for this aid without restrictions.
• Companies with over 250 employees are eligible provided they comply with the 5% obligation for work-study employees.

Hospital civil service:

• Flat-rate aid of 3000€ for each apprenticeship contract