A separate regime within higher education
In France, most internships in higher education come under the Education Code and give rise to a gratification once they last more than two months. Internships for nursing students follow a different logic: they form an integral part of a state diploma in the health sector, they take place in care units, and they are compensated under a separate scale set by ministerial order.
This feature often surprises newcomers, who expect an amount close to the standard gratification. It is in fact a flat sum per week of internship, regardless of the size of the host institution or the type of unit.
The weekly rates known for 2026
According to information published in 2026, the allowance is 36 euros per week of internship in the first year, 46 euros in the second year and 60 euros in the third year. These values apply to a full internship week of 35 hours, and they rise as the course progresses to reflect the student's growing autonomy.
Student organisations point out that these amounts have not changed for several years and consider them low given the time spent in the field. It is a regular subject of public debate; the exact amount for your situation is the one in the text in force, which your training institute applies. It is prudent to have it confirmed.
Why the year you enter the course matters
Nursing education has been reformed, with a new framework applying from the start of the 2026 academic year. Depending on the date you joined the institute, a student comes under the old curriculum or the new one, with internship plans that can differ, for example in the overall number of internship hours.
What should you do in practice? Ask the institute's secretariat which text governs your intake and how allowances are calculated for your cohort. Avoid reusing a table found on a forum or in an old testimonial: it may relate to an earlier cohort. A written answer from the institute is worth more than verbal information in the event of a disagreement.
Who pays the allowance, and when
Payment is generally handled by the nursing training institute (IFSI) or the body that runs it, not by the host unit. The student therefore does not have to negotiate an amount with the care team supervising them. Payment usually comes after the internship period, on the basis of timetables and attendance certificates.
Timing varies from one institution to another: some pay at the end of each internship, others group several periods together. If payment is late, the quickest step is to write to the student administration office, rather than chasing the internship site, which generally has no view of this process.
Internship allowance and travel costs: two separate subjects
Journeys between home, the institute and the internship site can weigh heavily, since placements are sometimes far away. Any reimbursement of these costs is not the same thing as the weekly allowance. It follows rules that depend on the institute, on the funding body and sometimes on the region, which is responsible for health training.
Depending on the case, reimbursement relies on supporting documents: transport tickets, a season pass, or a mileage statement for a personal vehicle. Some regions also offer housing help near distant placements. Make two separate applications and find out at the start of the year about the forms and deadlines.
Students who are employees or funded by an employer
A student pursuing the course through a professional promotion scheme, funded by their employer, for example a care assistant on a promotion pathway, is not in the same position as a student in initial training. They normally keep their employee pay, and the flat internship allowance is not meant to be added on top.
Apprenticeship students also come under another regime, since they are employees. If you fall into one of these cases, ask the institute and your employer to state in writing what applies, to avoid an overpayment that you would have to repay later.
A worked example for budgeting a year
As an illustration, imagine a second-year student who does two internships: one of ten weeks in a medical unit and another of five weeks in mental health. At 46 euros a week, that gives fifteen weeks multiplied by 46, or 690 euros for the year.
Suppose the first placement is forty minutes away by public transport and a monthly pass costs 80 euros. Over the three and a half months involved, the cost comes to around 280 euros before any possible reimbursement. The example shows that a significant part of the allowance can be absorbed by travel, so it is worth allowing for this in your budget.
Building a file without a hitch
- Keep the timetable of each internship and the attendance sheets signed by the tutor.
- Hold on to your transport tickets, fuel receipts or proof of accommodation.
- Note the real dates, especially if you change placement or have a justified absence.
- Tell the institute quickly about any interruption, postponement or make-up internship.
- Check on your bank statement that the payment matches the number of weeks completed.
These habits avoid most disputes and speed up the correction when something is missed.
Topping up your income during your studies
The internship allowance alone does not fund three years of study. Nursing students can apply for means-tested grants awarded by the region, housing aid, or one-off help from their institute. Many also work outside internships, for example as a care assistant, provided this fits with the pace of the course.
Compare these resources with the real costs: moderate tuition fees, the student life contribution, uniforms, equipment and transport. A budget drawn up before the start of the year helps identify the difficult months.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the internship allowance for nursing studies?
According to information published in 2026, it is 36 euros per week in the first year, 46 euros in the second year and 60 euros in the third year. These are flat sums, independent of the placement site. They may change by ministerial order, so ask the institute for the text that applies to your cohort.
Is the allowance different from the ordinary internship gratification?
Yes. The standard gratification applies to many internships of more than two months, with a minimum hourly rate. Nursing internships follow a flat weekly scale specific to the course. The two regimes cannot be combined for the same internship, and each has its own logic of calculation and payment.
Who pays me the internship allowance?
Payment is usually made by the training institute or the body that runs it, not by the internship site. If it is late, contact the student administration office, quoting the internship dates. Keep the timetables and attendance certificates, as they are the basis of the calculation.
Are transport costs reimbursed?
It depends on the institute, the funding body and sometimes the region. Reimbursement may exist on production of receipts, for journeys between home, the institute and the internship. It is a separate claim from the weekly allowance, with its own forms and deadlines, so ask at the start of the year.
Does a make-up internship carry the allowance?
In principle, internship weeks actually completed are paid, including make-up ones, under the institute's rules. Absences and interruptions can change the calculation. Report any timetable change quickly and keep proof so that the count matches reality.
What if I am a care assistant on a professional promotion pathway?
Your situation depends on your status and on how the course is funded. An employee kept on by their employer does not necessarily receive the flat allowance on top of their pay. Ask the institute and your employer to confirm in writing what applies to you before the first internship.
Are the amounts the same for every cohort?
Not necessarily. The reform of the course applying from the start of the 2026 academic year may change how internships are organised depending on the entry date. Published amounts are valid on a given date: always confirm with your institute which text governs your cohort, rather than relying on an old scale.