If your internship is going badly, start by talking to your supervisor, then to your academic contact, and keep a written record. If things don't improve, the agreement can be amended, suspended or terminated, with the agreement or knowledge of all three signatories.
An internship can go off the rails for all sorts of reasons: tasks that have nothing to do with what was planned, a supervisor who's never around, a heavy atmosphere, or simply an opportunity elsewhere. Before walking out, there's often a better option. And if you do have to leave, you might as well do it by the book.
How do I know if my internship is "going badly" or just a rough start?
The first few weeks are often uncomfortable: new tools, new codes, little independence. That's not a problem in itself.
However, some signs should raise a red flag:
- your tasks no longer have anything to do with the agreement (you're doing data entry or reception all day when the internship is meant to be in marketing);
- you're replacing an employee or filling a permanent position, which article L124-7 of the French Education Code forbids;
- your hours go well beyond those in the agreement, week after week;
- your stipend isn't paid when it's due (internship of more than two months, article L124-6);
- you don't have a supervisor who's actually available;
- you're subjected to humiliating, discriminatory or sexual remarks or behaviour.
That last point is different: it isn't a case of an "internship going badly" but a serious situation that calls for immediate action (see below).
What should you do first?
Talk to your supervisor
Ask for a 20-minute catch-up. Stick to the facts: "The agreement says X, and for the past three weeks I've mostly been doing Y. How can we get back to what was planned?" Many problems come from an overstretched supervisor rather than bad intentions.
Keep a record
After every important conversation, send a short summary email. Note your actual hours and the tasks you're given. If things get worse, this will count.
Let your academic contact know
The school or organisation that signed the agreement isn't just an administrative rubber stamp. Your contact person can get in touch with the company, remind them of the framework and suggest a solution.
A typical case: Camille is doing a communications internship. After a month, she spends her days answering the switchboard. She raises it with her supervisor, who promises to change things, with no effect. Camille then writes to her academic contact, who calls the company. Two weeks later, her tasks are refocused on social media, as set out in the agreement.
Can the internship be changed rather than stopped?
Often, yes. The agreement isn't set in stone: an amendment signed by all three parties can change:
- the tasks, to bring them back in line with your course;
- the dates, to shorten the internship;
- the supervisor, if the first one is no longer available;
- the place or the hours.
It's often the best solution when the problem is about organisation rather than substance.
Can an internship be suspended?
Yes. A temporary suspension is possible, for example for health or personal reasons. The conditions are normally set out in the agreement and formalised by an amendment. In any case, the total length can't exceed 6 months with the same organisation per academic year (article L124-5).
Leave related to pregnancy, paternity or adoption is a right. It counts as time present (article L124-13).
How do you end an internship?
If nothing improves, or if you have a good reason to leave (a job, another project), the agreement can be terminated early. There's no single procedure set by law: the termination terms must be included in the agreement. Read it again first.
In practice, the steps are almost always the same:
- Inform your supervisor in writing, briefly explaining your decision.
- Notify the school or organisation that signed, which formalises the end of the internship, often with an amendment or a termination document signed by the parties.
- Respect any notice period set out in the agreement, and agree on a leaving date.
- Collect your documents: an internship certificate stating the actual length, and the stipend owed for the period worked.
The company can also end the internship, but not just any old way: it must follow what the agreement says and inform the school or organisation.
A typical case: Yanis, on a five-month internship at a bank, gets a job offer in his third month. He talks to his supervisor, lets his training provider know, and everyone agrees on an end date two weeks later. He leaves with his certificate and his stipend calculated on the hours he was present.
What to do about harassment or discrimination
Don't wait. Report the situation immediately to your academic contact and, if the company has a designated contact or reporting procedure, use it. Interns are protected against moral and sexual harassment and against discrimination. Keep the messages and write down the facts (dates, witnesses). Depending on how serious it is, you can also contact the labour inspectorate or file a complaint. In France, the 3919 helpline (violence against women) and the Défenseur des droits (the national rights ombudsman) can advise you.
Your safety comes before the end of the agreement: the end of the internship can be sorted out afterwards.
Can you do another internship elsewhere after ending one?
Yes, a new internship with another company is still possible, with a new agreement. If you're still enrolled at your school, it will issue it.
If you no longer have a school, or if your institution can't issue an agreement for this new internship, EDU Business Institute offers an agreement linked to a 200-hour online course (9 subjects, open to all profiles), for €299 or in 3 instalments with Klarna. It's prepared within 24 to 48 business hours once your file is complete. Good news: one enrolment covers up to 6 months of internship in total. If your first internship ends after 3 months, you can get a new agreement free of charge for the remaining months. Beyond 6 months in total, you'll need to enrol again. If the host company turns the agreement down, our refund policy applies: €250 refunded, €49 application fee kept, on request within one month of receiving the agreement, with the written refusal.
For a refresher on the document itself, see What is an internship agreement?, and to know exactly what your rights are during the internship, read our article on intern rights. The full process is on the internship agreement page.
FAQ: internship going wrong
Do I lose my stipend if I stop my internship?
No, not for the time you've worked. The stipend is due for the hours you were present. The amount owed is calculated pro rata up to the day you leave.
Can the company let me go overnight?
It must follow the termination terms set out in the agreement and inform the school or organisation. If it doesn't, contact your academic contact straight away.
I stopped my internship after 3 months: do I have to pay again for a new agreement?
No, if you went through EDU Business Institute. One enrolment covers up to 6 months of internship in total: you can get a new agreement free of charge for the remaining 3 months, with another company. Beyond 6 months in total, you'll need to enrol again.
Will ending an internship early show on my CV?
It's up to you how you present it. Two months of experience, well explained ("internship cut short to take up a job"), is generally not a problem.
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