Practical Information – FAQ

The application is available on the ITII Pays de la Loire website www.itii-pdl.com

Below you should find answers to any questions you may have. If this is not the case please contact formation-apprentissage@mines-nantes.fr

General information

  • What is a sandwich course (formation en alternance) ?
    A sandwich course is the combination of theoretical training in a training organization with practical training in industry, by alternating periods of academic work in a school and work periods in a company and according to a predefined rhythm. The training leads to a diploma or other accredited qualification. There are two types of sandwich course contracts: the apprenticeship contract and the professional contract
  • What are the requirements for being accepted onto this sandwich program ?
    You must be under 26 years to the day on the signing of the contract ,
    - You must satisfy the conditions of access to the program,
    - You must enter into an apprenticeship contract of with an employer, after ensuring that the proposed work is in line with the program requirements and the targeted diploma,
    - The CFA must have sufficient places to accommodate the apprentice (there is a maximum number of apprentices that can be accepted, fixed by agreement with the Consei l Régional for each program).
  • I am over 26 years, is it still possible for me to apply ?
    If the apprenticeship contract is prolonged for further study and with a view to obtaining a higher degree this limit is extended to 30 years.
    The employment law states: When the contract follows an apprenticeship previously subscribed, and leads to a degree level higher than that obtained after the previous contract. The apprenticeship contract must be signed within a maximum of one year after the expiration of the previous contract.
  • At what point does one become an apprentice ?
    On the day of signing the apprenticeship contract with the company you acquire apprentice status. You become an employee of the company in your own right, benefiting from the provisions applicable to all employees. The teaching time at the Ecole desMines is counted in you work schedule.
  • Can we break the apprenticeship contract ?
    Yes, out of court only because the learning contract is a fixed term contract.
    During the trial period: the contract may be terminated unilaterally by the apprentice or by the employer, without the need to invoke grounds for so doing :
    Beyond the probationary period the apprenticeship agreement may be terminated :
    - At the initiative of the apprentice when he/she has obtained his/her diploma ;
    - dBy mutual agreement between the employer and the apprentice ;
    - Decision of the employment tribunal ;
    - - In case of withdrawal of agreement of the tutor “Maître d’Apprentissage.
  • What happens to my contract in case of prolonged illness ?
    In case of prolonged absence for health reasons, there is a possibility of deferring your contract by a year.
  • What is the rhythm of alternation ?
    In the first year the apprentice spends one month in the company followed by one month at the Ecole des Mines. In the second year these periods are extended to two months and to 6 months the third year.

Financial conditions

  • who finances my training ?
    Training costs are borne by ITII the organization to which the company that employs you subscribes. These costs include the cost of the training course and incidental expenses (transportation and accommodation).
  • How will I be paid as an employee with sandwich training status ?
    The Apprentice is an employee undergoing training. He/she receives a salary based on his/her age and length of contract.
    Compensation varies depending on age and educational level. It is calculated on the basis of the minimum wage.
    To summarize if you are :
    - Under 26 years : : you earn between 55% and 80% of the minimum wage, depending on your age and level of initial training,
    - 26 years and over : your salary can be less than the minimum wage, or 85% of the standard minimum wage.
    The apprentice's salary (e) is not subject to social security contributions.
  • My salary you will be taxable ?
    Not within a threshold set each year by the Finance Act (see the printed tax services published annually). The salary is normally exempt to the extent of the annual minimum wage. Note that the learning year is spread over two calendar years so two fiscal years.
  • What about social security ?
    As regards social security, you are under contract with an employer. During your training, including when you are at the School of Mines or on internship abroad, you get the same protection as during periods of work in the company.
  • Do I benefit from school holidays ?
    The apprentice is not a student but an employee, so he/she has five weeks of paid leave like any employee. Vacation periods are taken in agreement with the employer and outside the time spent at the Ecole des Mines.
  • Are there opportunities for accommodation and food at school?
    The school offers on campus solutions for food and accommodation to facilitate your everyday life (see www.bde-emn.fr).
  • What is the status of the apprentice during his/her required internship abroad ?
    The apprentice has the status of a seconded employee. An agreement between theFrench company / foreign company / apprentice / ITII is signed.
  • Who bears the cost of training abroad ?
    LThe internship abroad is the responsibility of the student: "it is for him/her to manage the project." He/she may request assistance from his/her company or the host company abroad .... "This is one of the student’s first projects .
  • • Apart from the student’s wages, how much will the apprentice cost the company ?
    For the company the average cost of the apprentice is € 13,300 per year including all charges, taking into account tax relief, and tax credits. The company optimizes its“taxe d’apprentissage” by financing the development of competences within the company at no extra cost. The company chooses to pay the “taxe d’apprentissage” training levy directly to the CFA (ITII).

The company

  • Can I apply if I have already found a company ?
    Yes, this is even an argument that proves your motivation for the training program
  • What type of company should I choose ?
    Target companies are :
    - Providers of IT: IT companies, small companies or SMEs in the ICT sector,
    - Software vendors,
    - Computer users who may be the major industrial groups, service companies (SNCF. ..) or banking and insurance
  • Can the school can help us find a company ?
    We have over twenty partner companies who have accepted to hire an apprentice and we will organize a forum to bring together prospective apprentices and companies on June 23 at the School
  • • In what geographical area must the company be ?
    There is no geographical limitation, however be careful to plan your travel to fit in with the requirements of the school and the company. . The sandwich training rhythm is compatible with remote company training sites.
  • Should we send our resumes to companies even if we do not know if we have been accepted in the training program at EMN ?
    We encourage you to do so and this may be one element in your application demonstrating your motivation
  • Is there a critical size of company to accommodate an apprentice ?
    No critical size, even a company with one employee may receive an apprentice. However, this can cause difficulties for small businesses: when there is no employee with an equivalent level, it is the company head who takes on the role of tutor to the apprentice.
  • Why take on an apprentice (who needs to be trained) as against a student whoalready has experience and required competences ?
    Training of an apprentice is not comparable to that of a trainee, nor is his/her "productivity". The company chooses an apprentice as a resource that will gradually develop its competence. The apprentice acquires the company culture, and does not really cost as much as a standard student trainee if you take into account the entire cycle of alternation and aid from the state. In addition the company regains control of his apprenticeship tax in a closer relationship with a “Grande Ecole”.
  • Is the apprentice’s work plan in the company imposed by the school or is it left to the discretion of the industrial tutor ?
    The work plan is under the responsibility of the company in consultation with the school. The program’s list of competencies will serve as a common guide.
  • Are companies involved in the selection of apprentices?
    Yes in the oral selection tests of. A joint business / school jury will be formed to identify in particular the capacity of the apprentice to cope with a sandwich course..
    Moreover it is the company that recruits the apprentice (apprenticeship contract)

Applications

  • I am a second year student in computer science. I am currently doing my fourth semester abroad and I will not be available for the written tests Can I still submit an application ?
    Further to your request, the direction of ITII proposes that you submit an application to be considered by the jury of 12 May which will decide on a suitable procedure for you to take the tests.
  • What are the DUT diplomas that are accepted ?
    The following DUT diplomas are eligible :
    - Computer science,,
    - Networks and Telecommunications,
    - Communication and service networks
    - Statistics and computer science for decision support
  • What are the job opportunities ?
    The program is oriented towards design and development and leads to a qualification as a Software Engineer of the Ecole des Mines de Nantes.
  • U• If my results in the 3rd semester are lower than my results for the first two semesters, will that affect my chances of being accepted ?
    This does not seem a problem and I invite you to check the information on how to register on the ITII website (page 2) "For candidates currently preparing their diploma, attach the transcript of the first year and the transcript of the second year (April 2012 - provisional transcript)
  • Given that the number of class hours is much lower than in a traditional engineering school, do you think we will have time to learn all the aspects needed by a professional engineer (in terms of programming, for example)?
    Yes because the program is designed in the interests of efficiency and you will continue to learn in the company.

Program accreditation

  • The Ecole des Mines is it accredited by the Commission des Titres d’Ingénieur (CTI)?
    Notice No. 2011/06-08 . The CTI authorizes theEcole des Mines de Nantes to award the degree of Graduate Engineer from the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Techniques Industrielles et des Mines de Nantes, Specialty Software Engineering, in partnership with the ITII Pays de la Loire, with apprentice status. The first degrees will be awarded at the end of the academic year 2013/2014

Tutoring

  • Who will tutor the apprentice ?
    The apprentice has both an academic tutor in the school and an industrial tutor in the company. An external industrial advisor will also monitor the progress of the apprentice.
  • Who is the industrial tutor ?
    This is the choice of the host company: it should be an engineer of an appropriate level according to to the tasks that the apprentice will be carrying out
  • Is the time spent by the industrial tutor with the apprentice quantifiable ?
    Tutor training within ITII (1 to 2 days),
    1st year = integration (less than 10% of tutor’s time)
    Second and third year of the apprentice = autonomy
  • Can we change the industrial tutor during the 3 years of training ?
    Yes, provided there is an amendment to the learning agreement.

The diploma

  • • What level of English is required ?
    European level B2 (Requirement CTI), for Ecole des Mines de Nantes is IELTS 6.5 is required
  • What is the degree awarded?
    Engineering degree from Ecole des Mines de Nantes Specialty Software Engineering
  • L• Has the diploma got the same "value" as a traditional engineering degree ?
    Absolutely, the training program and academic tests are the same for all students. It is therefore an intensive training, which requires a personal investment and demands strong motivation. The "added value" of the sandwich diploma course is that you will have acquired practical work experience, a passport to employment for a rapid and successful professional integration..
  • Is there a minimum number of apprentices?
    The goal is to have steady-state intake of 24 apprentices. For the first intake we aim to have 15 trainees with a minimum of eight apprentices
  • Why a double orientation training ?
    IT professionals must understand organizations or systems in which applications are installed, for example. In the short or medium term they become project managers, computer architects, sales engineers in the field of information technology. The training must therefore prepare them for this by giving them cross-disciplinary skills.