Gap year

Presentation

Lasting a maximum of one academic year, the so-called "gap year" allows students enrolled in a higher education program to gain personal experience, either independently or with a host organization in France or abroad. It is carried out on a strictly voluntary basis by the student, and cannot be made necessary to obtain the diploma prepared before or after this suspension. It is therefore not compulsory.
 
During this period, students retain their student status and benefits. At the time of enrolment, students must pay contributions to the student health insurance scheme. The right to a grant may be maintained by decision of the establishment, which decides whether or not to exempt the student from compulsory attendance during the gap year.
 
When a student's gap year results in the institution taking into account acquired skills and is recognized by the awarding of Ects (excluding the special case of civic service), these must be acquired in addition to the total number of Ects awarded at the end of the course, and entered in the diploma supplement.

Working in France

Students have the status of trainees or employees paid by the host organization in accordance with French labor law.

---

In another training program

Student status and related rights are maintained in accordance with current regulations. Eligibility for the grant is subject to the conditions of ordinary law attached to the nature of the training program ¹ .

---

For a business start-up project

This period can be used to prepare a business start-up project. It is part of the "student-entrepreneur" scheme run by the clusters Pépite France.

---

Abroad

Outside France, the legislation of the host country applies to relations between the student and the host organization, even if the training period is separate from the student's original training.

---

As a volunteer

Students are invited to contact their host organization for civic service and voluntary work, the Erasmus + youth and sport agency for European voluntary service, Clong-volontariat for international solidarity volunteering, UbiFrance for administrative or corporate volunteering, and the international volunteering center in general.