Being An Apprentice At SupOptique

This page is for those who want to understand exactly how apprenticeships work and what impact they have on your studies and final degree.

While doing your research keep in mind: an apprenticeship at SupOptique provides a one-of-a-kind chance to fully immerse yourself in your engineering studies while gaining valuable real-world experience through work. But, while there are many benefits, choosing an apprenticeship is a big decision that comes with its challenges.

What is the reality of an apprenticeship?

The Principle Of An Apprenticeship

The apprenticeship curriculum is structured to alternate between in-company training and academic learning at school. The program is organized in blocks of weeks, allowing students to work in companies across France. The program is available at all three Institut d'Optique campuses (Paris-Saclay, Saint-Etienne, and Bordeaux), that offer similar work-study arrangements.
The work-study calendar allows for a gradual introduction to the company in the first year and evolves towards the working rhythm of an engineer in the third year. You can download a schematic version of the work-study calendar from the documents available in the left-hand column.
Throughout their program, apprentices are supported by a company mentor and an academic tutor at the school. This dual mentorship ensures the quality of the in-company training.
Apprentices are employees of their company (see the apprenticeship portal (link) portail de l'alternance). They therefore receive a salary, the minimum of which depends on your age and year of study. A typical salary in the third year is around €1300 per month. As company employees, they have a particular duty to attend all classes (attendance is mandatory).
Apprentices do not pay tuition fees and are also entitled to numerous financial aid. (link) nombreuses aides financières.
Apprentices are entitled to paid leave, with a minimum of 5 weeks per year. Compared to the traditional program, there are fewer holidays in the first year, but this is reversed thereafter. Over the three years, the total holiday time is similar for both programs.

Academic Training

Apprentices attend the same courses as those in the more classic program. This ensures that all students have a foundation of knowledge, from the basic to fundamental concepts.
Apprentices attend a specific training semester (2nd semester of the 1st year), whose pedagogical objectives are identical to those attending the classic program, but with an organization that facilitates integration into companies. Teaching during this semester is grounded in interactive pedagogies to allow students to better appropriate core concepts.
Specific courses are planned according to the apprentice's mission in the company, both in sciences and "transversal" training (project management, intellectual property, law, etc.).
Apprentices do not participate in specific weeks organized in the 1st and 2nd years (projects or thematic teaching organized by week and independent of the courses), nor in the 3rd-year courses between November and December (elective courses).

International Opportunities

As an apprentice, you must complete an international placement of at least 9 weeks. The law requires that your apprenticeship contract be paused during your time outside of France (meaning your salary will be interrupted), but there are many financial aids available to compensate. (link) nombreuses aides.
This period can be taken during your time at the company, or a semester of studies at a partner university (typically the first semester of your third year). Please note that it's not possible to spend an entire year at a foreign university, and a semester abroad does not count towards your degree (refer to the dedicated international pages for more information).

What are the implications of an apprenticeship for my degree?

In First Year

In the first semester, apprentices primarily follow the standard curriculum. There are two main differences: firstly, in November, you will have a specific week-long internship at a company, while other students work on projects like laboratory integration. Secondly, in December, apprentices attend three introductory courses on the business world, labor law, business economics, and awareness of sexual and gender-based violence. These courses take place on Tuesday afternoons.

The second semester of training is designed especially for apprentices. In this semester apprentices follow the same courses as the traditional program with identical learning objectives. This organization allows students to integrate smoothly into the company for a successful start to their apprenticeships. Students benefit from the implementation of new teaching practices ('innovative pedagogies') enabling them to become more deeply involved in their learning.

In Second Year

Teaching-wise apprentices are primarily integrated into standard programs, with the exception that they work in pairs with other apprentices for practical training sessions. Apprentices work in the company during the specific weeks when students in the "standard" program are working on short projects. An extended period in the company during the second year is an ideal time to complete an international placement (a minimum of 9 weeks is required over the three years, as mentioned above).

In Third Year

Like any other student, apprentices have access to all engineering degree programs offered at the three training sites (excluding optional courses in November and December). Said engineering programs that lead to a master's degree, are (see "Accessible 3rd-year engineering programs for apprentices"):
- At Palaiseau : "Ingénieur des Systèmes Optiques Avancées" (IASO) et "Signal and Images" (SI)
- At Bordeaux : "Numerical Technology Of Optics" and "Interaction Between Light And Material And Modelisation"
- At Saint-Etienne: all students take a masters degree in "Advanced Imaging and Material Appearance" AIMA (M1 et M2) at l'Université Jean-Monnet as a joint degree.
A one-month training course in "business sciences" (management, multiculturalism, financial analysis, law, intellectual property, occupational health and safety, etc.) will be organized in March at the Palaiseau site for all apprentices, regardless of their training site. Financial assistance will be provided to apprentices based in Bordeaux and Saint-Étienne whose companies are located far from the Palaiseau site.
Some M2 dual-degree masters, outside of the engineering tracks (see dedicated information on masters and the document "Accessible 3A tracks for apprentices": link; voir informations dédiées aux masters) are accessible to apprentices under certain conditions. These masters often require adjusting the work-study schedule to a "fast-track" format, making proximity between the study site and the apprenticeship location essential. Additionally, your company assignments must align with the master's program themes. Generally speaking, many masters are not accessible due to the incompatibility of the work-study schedule (note that the number of students enrolled in these masters is often very low). Choosing an apprenticeship offers many advantages but also comes with certain constraints.
It is also possible to complete the first semester of third year at a partner foreign university (see dedicated information on international programs, Link: voir informations dédiées sur l'international). This of course requires the acceptance of your application by the university and the agreement of your company to modify the work-study schedule. Please note that it is not possible to spend an entire year abroad, and while the semester abroad offers a valuable and enriching experience for your professional development, it does not lead to a double degree.

What about joint degrees at ESPCI, HEC, ENS? Do apprentices pursue further studies?

Double degrees with ESPCI and HEC are possible, but the second program (ESPCI or HEC) takes place after the third year of the apprenticeship. Therefore, you should consider this double degree as a continuation of your studies in general.
A double degree with ENS Paris-Saclay is not possible due to the constraints imposed. Note, however, that there are very few places available for this program...
In general, apprentices decide to enter the workforce at the end of their training. They also pursue further studies such as PhDs or specialized master's degrees in science, often at HEC. The networks formed and the experience gained during the apprenticeship, are real assets for job applications; particularly for highly competitive positions such as PhDs (in France or abroad). The rate of PhD continuation is identical for apprentices and traditional students (around 30%).