Is it possible to do civic service while studying in France?

Each year in France, more than 130,000 young people enter into a civic service contract, nearly one third of which are students. Why not you? Here we look at the compatibility between civic service and higher education, including the flexibility offered for young people who want to take this opportunity for a highly rewarding experience.

What is civic service?

The basics

Open to all young people aged 16 to 25 from an EU member country, the French civic service is a voluntary commitment to work in the general interest. The assignment can be carried out in the non-profit or social sectors, for a public establishment, university, association (a non-profit organisation in France), or local authority.

Duration of civic service volunteering

Young volunteers must sign up for a duration of 6 to 12 months, for 24 hours of work per week, on average, in the host organisation. As we will see, there is a certain amount of flexibility regarding the weekly hours of service performed.

Civic service assignments

The thousands of assignments available are all part of one of the ten priority areas defined by the Agence du Service Civique (French Civic Service Agency): solidarity, health, education for all, culture and leisure, sport, the environment, memory and citizenship, international development and humanitarian action, emergency services and European citizenship.

Remuneration for serving volunteers

A monthly salary is paid to each civic service volunteer. The basic amount is €580, which may be increased, in particular for some recipients of a higher education grant.

Why perform civic service while studying?

Civic service is a chance to build professional experience and develop new skills “in the field”. The main difference with an internship or work-study course is that civic service is an act of citizenship, with the aim of serving others and for a non-profit organisation. In an span=""> assignment, the hierarchical relationship is one based on cooperation more than subordination. It can, therefore, offer a friendlier environment in which volunteers can gain self-confidence. Furthermore, the skills and abilities acquired are fully transferable to the corporate world.

How civic service adapts to students

Many young people in France choose to do civic service just after their baccalaureate, while others wait until the end of their studies to complete this project. However, it is not rare for students to do civic service during their courses, as there are many incentives and options encouraging them to do so.

The right to a year off

A year off enables students to commit to a French civic service assignment, including overseas, while maintaining the status of student. This means that, following 6 to 12 months working in the host organisation, students can return to their educational establishment and continue their course.

Weekly working hours flexibility

In order to balance the needs of the civic assignment and studies, the weekly hours of civic service can be adjusted. Host organisations generally agree to students adjusting their working hours and taking on more >work during certain periods of the year, such as holidays.

Increased remuneration for grant recipients

A salary increase is allowed for students that are entitled to a national grant based on social criteria, from grade 5 upwards. The increase is of €107.68 per month, on top of the basic €580 salary.

Building on voluntary service

There are several ways to build on a civic service assignment, subject to conditions, over the course of a student’s academic career: the award of an optional UE (Unité d’Enseignement – teaching unit), the ECTS (European Credit Transfer System), “bonus” points on the general average, and even total or partial exemption from the internship requirement. You should bear in mind that these measures are not automatically applied, and each establishment has its own policy.

If you are a student in higher education, don’t hesitate to find out about the system at your place of study. You can also visit a Mission Locale (job and training advice centre for young people) or a youth information centre for help devising a plan to achieve your goals.