L'état de l’Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche en France constitue un état des lieux annuel et chiffré du système français, de ses évolutions, des moyens qu’il met en œuvre et de ses résultats, en le situant, chaque fois que les données le permettent, au niveau international.

A8 niveaux de formation
Nomenclature nationale des niveaux fixée par la Commission statistique nationale de la formation professionnelle et de la promotion sociale

Niveau VI : sorties du premier cycle du second degré (6e, 5e, 4e) et des formations préprofessionnelles en un an (CEP, CPPN, et CPA).
Niveau Vbis : sorties de 3e générale, de 4e et 3e technologiques et des classes du second cycle court avant l’année terminale.
Niveau V : sorties de l’année terminale des cycles courts professionnels et abandons de la scolarité du second cycle long avant
la classe terminale.
Niveau IV : sorties des classes terminales du second cycle long et abandons des scolarisations post-baccalauréat avant d’atteindre le niveau III.
Niveau III : sorties avec un diplôme de niveau bac + 2 ans (DUT, BTS, DEUG, écoles des formations sanitaires ou sociales, etc.)
Niveaux II et I : sorties avec un diplôme de deuxième ou troisième cycle universitaire, ou un diplôme de grande école.

Classification Internationale Type de l’éducation (en anglais : ISCED)
CITE 1 : enseignement primaire
CITE 2 : enseignement secondaire de premier cycle
CITE 3 : enseignement secondaire de second cycle
CITE 4 : enseignement post-secondaire n’appartenant pas à l’enseignement supérieur (peu développé en France : capacité en Droit, préparation DAEU)
CITE 5 : enseignement supérieur de premier et deuxième cycles
CITE 5A, dit aussi enseignement supérieur de « type universitaire » : préparations des Licences et Masters (disciplines générales des universités, diplômes d’écoles d’ingénieurs, de commerce, etc.)
CITE 5B : enseignement supérieur finalisé (DUT, BTS, formations paramédicales et sociales, etc.)
CITE 6 : enseignement supérieur de troisième cycle (doctorat de recherche)

Cette classification vise à produire des statistiques comparables dans les différents pays sur l’enseignement et la formation. C’est un accord international, sous l’égide de l’UNESCO. Cette classification permet de répartir en fonction des cycles d’enseignement les effectifs d’étudiants, les flux de diplômés, les finances. Elle est utilisée également pour répartir la population par niveaux d'études ; les études prises en compte sont celles couronnées de succès et sanctionnées par un diplôme. Voir l'article...

Like the previous editions, the 9th edition of Higher Education and Research in France, Facts and Figures presents an annual overview, backed up by figures, of developments within the French system, its resources and outcomes.

02 expenditure on tertiary education in OECD countries
In 2012, average expenditure per student in France was close to the average of OECD countries. Since 2005, it has increased more quickly than in the marority of countries, thus catching up considerably on its shortfall. However, national expenditure on tertiary education is still slightly below the average (1.4% of GDP compared to 1.5%).
International comparisons of education expenditure are somewhat difficult due to the demographic and socio-economic diversity of the different countries and their national education systems. In tertiary education, this difficulty is reinforced by the wide variety of educational structures at this level. Nevertheless, the situation of France can be assessed using some general indicators. More...

Like the previous editions, the 9th edition of Higher Education and Research in France, Facts and Figures presents an annual overview, backed up by figures, of developments within the French system, its resources and outcomes..

01 education expenditure on tertiary education
The nation spent €29.2 billion (€bn) on tertiary education in 2014. This is 2.6 times more than in 1980 (in constant euros). The contribution by central government represented 69% of that amount. In 2014, average expenditure per student stood at €11,560, or 40% more than in 1980 (in constant euros)
In 2014, the nation (central government, local authorities, other public administrative bodies, households and companies) dedicated €29.2 billion to tertiary education, a fall of 0.3% over 2013 (at constant prices). Since 1980, expenditure on tertiary education has seen strong growth of 2.8% per year on average. Its share of domestic education expenditure (DEE) increased from 15.1% in 1980 to 20.0% in 2014 (table 01.01).
Over the whole period, DEE on tertiary education was multiplied by 2.6 in constant euros (chart 01.02). Despite this significant increase, average expenditure per student rose by only 39.7% due to a doubling of student numbers. Over the same period, average expenditure per secondary school pupil increased by 65.9%. Over the period 2006-2009, when there was both a rapid increase in DEE and a slowdown in student enrolment, expenditure per student increased by 3.5% on average per year. Since 2009, however, the slowdown in DEE combined with a new rise in the student numbers has resulted in a drop in spending per student of 0.7% annualy ¹.
Average expenditure per student stood at €11,560 in 2014 (chart 01.03). Although it may be difficult to compare the cost of different curricula directly, especially since research expenditure is included in the university totals, there are considerable differences from one branch of study to another. The cost varies from €10,800 euros per year for a university student to €14,980 for a pupil in a class preparing for admission to Grandes Ecoles (CPGE). However, in recent years, the gap between these average expenditure figures has tended to narrow (chart 01.03).
More than seventy per cent of total expenditure goes on staff, especially teachers' wages (41%) (chart 01.04).
With no repeat years, leading to a Bachelor's degree (via a general or technology second cycle) was estimated in 2014 to be €148,590, while a 17-year education leading to an Advanced technician diploma (BTS) (via a vocational upper secondary cycle) would cost the nation €146,620.
In terms of initial funding (see definitions opposite), central government contributes the major share of DEE for tertiary education (69.0%) while local authorities contribute 10.9% and households 8.6% (table 01.01). In terms of final funding, i.e. after including grants in the household budget, the household share practically doubles (16.8%). Some direct or indirect support, funded by the central government and which benefit students or their families, do not appear in the DEE for tertiary education: these are related to taxation (increase in family quotient) or are not directly linked to student status (social housing benefit). If they were included (excluding social welfare payments), expenditure per student in 2014 would then increase €11,560 to €12,780. More...

The data on the R&D effort in OECD countries used here (chapter 27) are taken from the OECD's MSTI database, which was updated in June 2014. For the purposes of this database, the R&D effort was calculated using the unrevised GDP data to ensure that it remains comparable, as not all European countries implemented this change at the same time. However, in the rest of the document, the GDP used has 2010 as the base year (as revised in May 2014). More...

Like the previous editions, the 9th edition of Higher Education and Research in France, Facts and Figures presents an annual overview, backed up by figures, of developments within the French system, its resources and outcomes.

A8 levels of educational attainment
French classification of levels of educational attainment defined by the French statistical commission on vocational training and social advancement

Level VI: those who left education in the first three years of secondary education (1st, 2nd and 3rd years) or prevocational training courses (primary education certificate (certificat d'études primaires -CEP), prevocational classes (classes pré-professionnelles de niveau - CPPN) and preparatory apprenticeship classes (classes préparatoires à l’apprentissage - CPA)) in one year.
Level Vb: those who left education in the 4th year of general secondary education, the 3rd or 4th year of a technical secondary course or shorter secondary education courses before the final year.
Level V: those who left education having completed the final year of a short vocational course or dropped out of schooling during general secondary education before the final year.
Level IV: those who left education having reached the final year of general secondary education or who dropped out of education after the baccalauréat without reaching Level III.
Level III: those who left education having obtained a 'Bac + 2' qualification marking the successful conclusion of two years of higher education following the baccalauréat (technological university diploma (Diplôme universitaire de technologie - DUT), higher technical certificate (Brevet de technicien supérieur - BTS), diploma of general university studies (Diplôme d’études universitaires générales - DEUG), nursing and social training courses, etc.).
Levels II and I: those who left education having obtained a Bachelor's degree-level or postgraduate qualification or a diploma awarded by a Grande École.

International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED)
ISCED level 1: primary education
ISCED level 2: lower secondary education
ISCED level 3: upper secondary education
ISCED level 4: post-secondary non-tertiary education (uncommon in France: basic legal qualification (capacité en Droit), diploma giving access to university studies (Diplôme d’accès aux études universitaires - DAEU)
ISCED level 5: short-cycle tertiary education
ISCED 5A, tertiary-type A programmes: preparation for Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes (general subjects at universities and qualifications awarded by engineering or business schools, etc.)
ISCED 5B: tertiary-type B programmes (DUT, BTS, paramedical and social care qualifications, etc.)
ISCED level 6: doctoral or equivalent level

The purpose of this classification is to produce statistics on education and training that are comparable between different countries. It is an international agreement organised by UNESCO. It makes it possible to break down the numbers of students, changes in graduate numbers and finances in terms of cycles of education. It is also used to break down the population in terms of levels of educational attainment. Only successful studies for which students obtain a qualification are taken into account. More...

Like the previous editions, the 9th edition of Higher Education and Research in France, Facts and Figures presents an annual overview, backed up by figures, of developments within the French system, its resources and outcomes. Wherever the data permit, an international comparison is provided. A double page is devoted to each theme (50 in total), including a summary of the main data available and several graphs and tables as illustrations. This publication relies on key national and international statistical sources providing data on higher education and research in France.

2014, stabilisation of expenditure on higher education after a long period of high growth

In 2014, the French nation spent €29.2 billion on higher education, an increase of 0.3% in comparison with 2013 (at constant prices, i.e. adjusted for inflation). Expenditure on higher education has more than doubled since 1980 (by a factor of 2.6, at constant prices), increasing by an average of 2.8% a year. In 2014, average expenditure per student in higher education totalled €11,560, 40% more than in 1980. More...

Promoting the development and transfer of knowledge, know-how and technology is a fundamental challenge in our society. Raising the level of general education, providing a range of courses consistent with young people's aspirations and the needs of our economy, focusing research on the major challenges facing us and putting in place suitable structured, incentive-based systems are at the heart of the government's action in the field of higher education and research. More...