1. Can International Students Work in France While Studying?

Short answer: yes.

If you hold a valid student residence permit (typically a VLS-TS “étudiant” or student card) and you’re enrolled in a recognised higher education institution, French law allows you to work part-time as an employee.

Official information confirms that:

• Foreign students can work up to 964 hours per year, which is about 60% of full-time.
• This applies to most non-EU students (Algerian students have slightly different rules).
• You can distribute these hours over the year (more during holidays, fewer during exams), as long as you stay under the annual limit.

Important: part-time work is considered extra income only. It cannot be your main source of funding in your visa file. You must still show sufficient funds or sponsorship when applying for your student visa.

👉 Need help making your funding story coherent? Student Services – Campus & Visa Support

2. Working Hours, Contracts & Minimum Wage (SMIC)

2.1 Maximum Working Hours

• You can work up to 964 hours per year = 60% of full-time.
• If you work more than that, you risk problems with your student residence permit (withdrawal or non-renewal).
• The limit applies across all jobs combined, so you must keep track of your total hours.

2.2 Minimum Wage (SMIC) and Labour Rights

As a student worker in France:

• You are entitled to the same minimum wage (SMIC) as other employees.
• You benefit from French labour law protections (contracts, working hours, paid leave rules, etc.).
• Your employer must properly declare your employment to the authorities.

Even as a student, you are not “cheap labour with no rights” – you are a proper employee under French law.

3. Common Part-Time Jobs for International Students

Typical jobs students manage alongside studies include:

• Cafés, restaurants, fast-food, bakeries
• Retail jobs in shops and supermarkets
• Campus jobs (library helper, tutor, student ambassador)
• Babysitting / English tutoring for French families
• Hotel / tourism jobs in bigger cities or tourist regions

Each city has its own ecosystem. Paris has more jobs but also more competition. Cities like Lyon, Toulouse, Lille, Bordeaux, Grenoble, Strasbourg, etc. mix student-friendly jobs with more moderate living costs.

To explore city profiles: 👉 10 Great Study Destinations in France

StudyConnectFrance can help you pick a city + programme where part-time work is realistically accessible for your profile and language level.

4. Internships (Stages) in France – Rules & Minimum Pay

Internships (stages) are a big part of French education, especially in business, engineering, hospitality, data, marketing and management.

4.1 Internship vs Job

• A job = normal employment contract; you are hired directly by the company as an employee.
• A stage (internship) = training period integrated into your studies, requiring a convention de stage (internship agreement) signed by you, your school and the host company.

Many French universities and business schools require one or more internships before graduation.

4.2 Are Internships Paid?

Under French law, if an internship in France:

• Lasts more than 2 months in total (or more than 309 hours / 44 days),
• The company must pay the intern at least a minimum hourly “gratification”.

Official updates show this minimum hourly rate was increased (e.g. to around €4.35/hour in 2024 for internships over 2 months) and is adjusted periodically.

In practice, many internships:

• Are around 35 hours per week
• Pay roughly €600+ per month at the legal minimum, sometimes more depending on the sector

Shorter internships (< 2 months) don’t have to be paid, but companies may still choose to offer an allowance.

4.3 Internship Duration Limits

• Internships are generally limited to 6 months per academic year in the same host organisation.
• Your school’s rules define how many internships you must do and at which stage in the programme.

5. Legal & Practical Points About Internships

To be legal and to protect you as a student:

• You must have a proper convention de stage (internship agreement).
• The internship must be linked to your studies (learning objectives, mission).
• The host company must respect rules on:
  • Maximum duration
  • Minimum gratification for longer internships
  • Health & safety and accident coverage

If your visa is a VLS-TS “étudiant”, you generally don’t need a separate work permit for internships covered by a convention de stage.

StudyConnectFrance helps you choose programmes with strong, structured internship pathways and explains how conventions de stage work in practice with French companies.

👉 Explore programmes: Academics – Study Options & Programmes

6. Post-Study Work in France: APS & Job-Search / Business-Creation Permits

Once you finish your degree, you may not be ready to just pack up and leave France. The good news: France offers post-study residence permits so you can look for a job or start a business.

6.1 Temporary Residence Permit “APS” / Job-Search or Business-Creation

Campus France and official portals describe a permit often referred to as:

• Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour (APS), or
• “Job search or business creation” residence permit (recherche d’emploi ou création d’entreprise).

Key points:

• Usually valid for up to 12 months.
• Allows you to stay in France after your studies to:
  • Look for a job related to your degree, or
  • Prepare to create a company in your field.
• During this period, you are generally allowed to work (with specific conditions) and don’t need a separate work permit.

French government sources explain that when you find a job and wish to change from student/APS status to an employee or talent passport:

• The job usually must be related to your studies.
• It often must meet a minimum salary threshold (for some permits, around 1.5 × SMIC or more, depending on the category).

Exact rules and documents can vary slightly by prefecture and year, so you must always check your local prefecture website for the latest instructions.

6.2 Who Can Get a Post-Study Work Permit?

Eligibility typically depends on:

• Your nationality (non-EU/EEA students usually need a permit; EU citizens have different rights).
• The level and type of degree you completed in France (Masters and some professional licences or Grandes Écoles diplomas often qualify).
• Having a valid student residence permit at the time you apply.

Because rules can change, it’s crucial to base your strategy on up-to-date legal information and your prefecture’s practice – not rumours on social media.

StudyConnectFrance helps you think about post-study options from the beginning, so you don’t choose programmes that close doors later.

7. Balancing Study, Work & Visa: Practical Tips

• Respect the 964-hour limit
  Keep track of your hours across all jobs to avoid exceeding the legal limit and jeopardising your permit.
• Prioritise your studies
  Your degree is the main reason you’re in France. Internships and part-time work should support, not damage, your academic performance.
• Improve your French
  Even if your course is in English, speaking French opens more job options, especially outside big international cities.
• Use internships wisely
  Choose internships aligned with your long-term goals; they can lead to future job offers and strengthen your case for APS or a work permit.
• Plan your post-study status early
  Don’t wait until the last month of your degree. Learn about APS / job-search permits, salary thresholds and timelines at least 6–12 months in advance.
• Beware of “cash jobs” and undeclared work
  Working undeclared might seem tempting but can cause serious problems for renewals, APS, and even future visas.

8. How StudyConnectFrance Supports Your Work & Career Plans

StudyConnectFrance isn’t just about admissions – we help you build a full career pathway in France, from the first semester to your first job or business.

8.1 Choosing Programmes with Strong Internships & Employability

We help you:

• Select RNCP-recognised and career-oriented programmes with built-in internships and strong corporate links.
• Match your field (business, data, hospitality, engineering, etc.) to cities and schools with real job ecosystems.

👉 Explore: Academics – Programmes & Levels  |  10 Great Study Destinations in France

8.2 Budget & Work Strategy

We combine:

• A realistic living-cost plan for your city
• What is reasonably possible with part-time jobs
• Your scholarship / loan / family support

… so you don’t rely on impossible amounts of student work to survive.

👉 See also: Cost of Studying in France  |  Scholarships & Funding

8.3 Visa & Post-Study Planning

We align your:

• Admissions + Campus France file
• France-Visas documentation
• Post-study plans (APS / job-search, company creation, Talent Passports)

… so your story stays coherent and credible at every stage.

👉 Learn more: Student Services – Campus & Visa Support

If you’d like personalised guidance:

• 👉 Check Eligibility in 60 Seconds
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• 👉 Contact / Book a Call