Internships

We have two mandatory internship periods: the 1A/2A internship, which lasts 14 weeks and is primarily aimed at gaining exposure to a company, and the 6-month end-of-studies internship.

It is possible to go abroad for an internship, if only to improve language skills, enhance your resume, and travel.
The most common destinations outside of France are Germany and Switzerland (the Biovalley!). On average, more than half of the graduating class goes abroad; other destinations include the U.S., Australia, England, the Nordic countries, Canada, Ireland, South Korea, New Zealand, Taiwan, Argentina, Austria, etc. (non-exhaustive list).
Scholarships are available in France and Germany to help students study abroad.

Compensation is mandatory for internships at all host organizations lasting more than 308 hours (2 months) in France, and the hourly rate must be at least €3.90 per hour of internship. However, an internship in another country is not subject to the same laws, and the stipend depends on the laws of that country.

→ For more information for ESBS students, go to Moodle, in the “[ESBS] Internships” section.

1A/2A Internship

/!\ The requirements are changing for the 2026–2027 academic year; in principle, to complete the internship, you will have less than 4 months available in 1A but more than 2 months in 2A.

A total of 14 weeks of internship in a private company before the 3rd year is mandatory to obtain the engineering diploma. Each student must have the “internship agreement” signed before the start of each internship.
Two different scenarios are possible:

• You complete the obligatory first-year internship (between May and August) in a company for a total duration of 14 weeks. You have then respected the 14-week rule set by the Commission for Engineering Titles (CTI).
• You complete the obligatory first-year internship in a company for less than 14 weeks (but not less than the minimum of 8 weeks). Then, in order to reach the minimum of 14 weeks in a company, you will have to complete another internship in a company during your first year and/or second year.

You will have to submit either a 10-page bibliographic report or a 10-page scientific report. Furthermore, you can sign a confidentiality agreement if the company requests it.

End-of-study internship

The case of the end-of-study internship (6 months) is more particular because it not only gives rise to the writing of a report, but also to an oral defense (in English) whose mark counts for 25% of the final diploma mark, a defense which ends with a few questions on the 3-year program! But it’s nothing too bad. This defense takes place in September of the “fourth year” and is followed by the Graduation Ceremony! The opportunity to shine in society!

Knowing that the end-of-study internship is the most important of all, because it directly precedes “after ESBS”, you must think carefully about the different possibilities upon entering the School.

Subject to having completed the 14 weeks of 1A/2A internship in a private company requested by the CTI, the end-of-studies internship can be carried out in a public organization.

Having an internship: the research phase and networks

This is perhaps the most difficult step, but just as necessary because it is part of our training: we will have to find a job, one day!
The School itself does not particularly help with finding an internship, it only forwards the internship offers it receives. You must therefore search for interesting companies/labs on the internet and then send your cover letter and resume.
It is in the search for an internship that networks help a lot. The first boost comes from the numerous lists of internships which have already been carried out by students for several years; These lists come from associations such as Amicale, NGB and Alumni (former students). Then, it is possible to speak with students or former students to obtain direct contacts from internship supervisors and get recommendations, which is much more effective. Professors can also provide valuable help: they always have contacts up their sleeve, through their research work or their former jobs in the private sector for some.
The only real difficulty: having the motivation to do it as soon as possible! From October for example for the 1A course.