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National reference metadata

France

Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.

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Pupils and students - enrolments (educ_uoe_enr)

National Reference Metadata in ESS Standard for Quality Reports Structure (ESQRS)

Compiling agency: Ministry of National Education and Youth

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National Education system


The following documents provide general information on the educational system; please add the relevant links for your country.

General link to Eurydice.

National system broad overview (Eurydice).

National Education System Description:

National Education System - Provisions regarding language learning:

Structure of Education and Training Systems.

Link to the ISCMAP programme and qualification:

Annex 1

National link to programmes and qualifications.

Further information on data flagged ‘d’ in the database is available to download from the Annex of the Metadata page for Education administrative data from 2013 onwards (ISCED 2011).

Not Applicable

For statistical concept used in this data collection, please refer to the Manual for the joint UNESCO-UIS/OECD/EUROSTAT (UOE) data collection on education statistics.

Students enrolled, entrants, graduates, mobile students enrolled and graduated, education personnel and expenditure.

Education in the school and university system, as defined in the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED 2011).

Not available.

Not Applicable

Not available.

Not Applicable

Operations performed on data to derive new information according to a given set of rules.

 

Weighting methods

Weighted figures for differing reference periods

Weighted figures for differing theoretical ages

Conversion factors from part-time to full-time equivalent (FTE) data

 

 

 

 

 

Estimations methods used in the UOE questionnaires

Type of data

Detailed variables concerned

ISCED level

Reference year(s)

Data source (internal to UOE or not)

Data type (sample-based or not)

Data source name in English

Reason

Description of the estimation method

Education expenditure by source and type of transaction

Central government expenditure: transfers to regional governments (net)

ISCED 3 and 4: distinction between general and vocational programmes;
ISCED 5 to 8: distinction between ISCED 5 and ISCED 6,7 and 8.

Since 2000 except for ISCED 4: since 2011.

internal to UOE

population-based value

 

lack of breakdown in sources

Data on transfers between central and regional government aren't available by orientation programme. An estimation of the parts of expenditure dedicated to each programme is made by applying students enrolled structure to the sum allocated to ISCED 3, 4 and ISCED 5 to 8.

Education expenditure by source and type of transaction

Central government expenditure: transfers to local governments (net)

ISCED 3 and 4: distinction between general and vocational programmes;
ISCED 5 to 8: distinction between ISCED 5 and ISCED 6,7 and 8.

Since 2000 except for ISCED 4: since 2011.

internal to UOE

population-based value

 

lack of breakdown in sources

Data on transfers between central and regional government aren't available by orientation programme. An estimation of the parts of expenditure dedicated to each programme is made by applying students enrolled structure to the sum allocated to ISCED 3, 4 and ISCED 5 to 8.

Education expenditure by source and type of transaction

Regional government expenditure: transfers to local governments (net)

ISCED 3 and 4: distinction between general and vocational programmes;
ISCED 5 to 8: distinction between ISCED 5 and ISCED 6,7 and 8.

Since 2000 except for ISCED 4: since 2011.

internal to UOE

population-based value

 

lack of breakdown in sources

 Data on transfers between regional and local government aren't available by orientation programme. An estimation of the parts of expenditure dedicated to each programme is made by applying students enrolled structure to the sum allocated to ISCED 3, 4 and ISCED 5 to 8.

Education expenditure by source and type of transaction

Regional government expenditure: scholarships and other grants to students/households

ISCED 3 and 4: distinction between general and vocational programmes;
ISCED 5 to 8: distinction between ISCED 5 and ISCED 6,7 and 8.

Since 2000 except for ISCED 4: since 2011.

internal to UOE

population-based value

 

lack of breakdown in sources

 Scholarships and other grants to students/households from regional government aren't available by orientation programme. An estimation of the parts of expenditure dedicated to each programme is made by applying students enrolled structure to the sum allocated for ISCED 3, 4 and ISCED 5 to 8.

Education expenditure by source and type of transaction

Regional government expenditure: direct expenditure for public, government-dependent private and independent private institutions

ISCED 2, 3, 4, 5 to 8

Since 2000 except for ISCED 4: since 2011.

mixed

population-based value

 

lack of breakdown in sources

Education expenditure is assessed each year by the Education Account.

To estimate the parts of expenditure dedicated to public/private institutions (ISCED 2), general/vocational programme (ISCED 3 and 4) or short/long cycle tertiary (ISCED 5 to 8), we use the students’ enrolled structure.

Education expenditure by source and type of transaction

Local government expenditure: direct expenditure for public, government-dependent private and independent private institutions

ISCED 0, 1

Since 2000

mixed

population-based value

 

lack of breakdown in sources

Education expenditure is assessed each year by the Education Account. 

To estimate the parts of expenditure dedicated to public/private institutions, we use the students’ enrolled structure.

Education expenditure by source and type of transaction

Expenditure of households: payments on goods requested by education institutions (purchasing imposed by institutions) and private tutoring

ISCED 0, 1, 2-General, 3, 5 to 8

Since 2000

external to UOE

sample-based estimation

 

lack of data

we don't have administrative data on this topic so we use the results of a survey

Last surveys on this topic were implemented in 2013, 2008 and 2002. Between each new assessment, data are updated annually with index prices.

 Education expenditure by source and type of transaction

Expenditure of households: payments to private institutions (tuition fees and fees for ancillary services)

ISCED 0, 1, 2-General, 3, 5 to 8

Since 2000

external to UOE

sample-based estimation

 

The budget data does not cover all the scope of the topic.

Results of surveys on payments paid by households to private institutions for tuition fees, halls of residence/ boarding school and canteen; these data are updated each year with annual variations calculated using index prices to estimate these expenditures. For ISCED 5 to 8, tuition fees are regularly updated with data disseminated by institutions

 Education expenditure by source and type of transaction

Expenditure of households: payments to public institutions (fees for ancillary services)

ISCED 0, 1, 2-General, 3, 5 to 8

Since 2000

external to UOE

mixed

 

The budget data does not cover all the scope of the topic.

Annual administrative data for ISCED 5 to 8.  For other levels, results of a survey of household expenditure for education (last editions in 2013, 2008 and 2002) and administrative data; these data are updated each year by using annual variations calculated with index prices.

Education expenditure by nature and resource category

Total expenditure (public and private sources) for R&D activities in public institutions

ISCED 6 to 8

Since 2000

external to UOE

population-based value

 

The budget data does not cover all the scope of the topic.

We use the results of an annual survey to complete the scope (research and development of some extra university research institutions).

Education expenditure by nature and resource category

Total expenditure (public and private sources) for ancillary services and educational guidance in public, government-dependent private and independent private institutions.

All ISCED

Since 2000

external to UOE

population-based value

 

lack of breakdown in sources

To estimate the parts of expenditure for school transport and educational guidance dedicated to institutions, we use the students’ enrolled structure. We use the same estimation for school health services, halls of residence and canteen which are not directly assigned in institutions.

Education expenditure by nature and resource category

Expenditure in independent private institutions: breakdown of current expenditure (compensation of personnel, other), capital expenditure and adjustments in fund balances

All ISCED

Since 2000

internal to UOE

population-based value

 

lack of breakdown in sources

we use the structure of the expenditure in the public institutions

Graduates

Breakdown of graduates between public and private institutions and by sex

ISCED 3: labour market destination (3A, 3C-short) and programme orientation (general and vocational programmes)

2004-2007

external to UOE

population-based value

Annual census of graduations in depending on the ministry of Agriculture institutions

Information on public/private sector and on gender is unavailable 

We have applied to graduations the distribution observed in final year ISCED 3A/3C agriculture enrolments. This implies that the success is comparable in both sectors. We tend to overestimate slightly the number of graduations in the public sector as opposed to the number of graduations in the private sector who usually gets higher pass rates. The estimation concerns 0.3% of ISCED A3 graduations and 7 to 8% of ISCED3C graduations. Since 2007, the ministry of agriculture has been collecting individual data on graduations.

Graduates

Male and female graduates of age unknown

ISCED 3: labour market destination (3A, 3C-short) and programme orientation (general and vocational programmes)

2004-2007

external to UOE

population-based value

Annual census of graduations in depending on the ministry of Agriculture institutions

Information on gender is unavailable 

We have applied to graduations the distribution observed in final year ISCED 3A/3C agriculture enrolments. This implies that the success is comparable in both sectors. We tend to overestimate slightly the number of graduations in the public sector as opposed to the number of graduations in the private sector who usually gets higher pass rates. The estimation concerns 0.3% of ISCED A3 graduations and 7 to 8% of ISCED3C graduations. Since 2007, the ministry of agriculture has been collecting individual data on graduations.

Enrolments

Foreign students: breakdown between EU/non-EU citizens

ISCED 2 and 3

Since 2004

 

 

Annual census of SNE enrolments in depending on the Ministry for Solidarity and Health institutions

Information on nationality is unavailable 

Given the small number of students concerned (0.2% of total ISCED2, 0.1% of total ISCED3) and with no alternative information to make estimations, we have considered that all students were French.

Enrolments

Foreign students: breakdown between EU/non-EU citizens

ISCED 5A and 5B

2004-2012

 

 

Annual census of apprentices enrolments

Information on nationality is unavailable 

Given the small number of apprentices concerned (4000 at ISCED 5A/5B) and the very small ratio of non French (foreigners) among the population of apprentices (1% or 2%), we have considered that all apprentices were French.

Enrolments

Students enrolled by country of citizenship

ISCED 5A and 5B

2004-2012

 

 

Annual census of apprentices enrolments

Information on nationality is unavailable 

Given the small number of apprentices concerned (4000 at ISCED 5A/5B) and the very small ratio of non French (foreigners) among the population of apprentices (1% or 2%), we have considered that all apprentices were French.

Enrolments

Mobile students enrolled by country of origin and sex

ISCED 5 to 8

2013-2017

 

 

Annual census of enrolments

Information on mobility unavailable for 10% of the population

For mobiles students, we don't have the country of origin. We use country of citizenship as a proxy. For about 10% of foreign students, we don't have information about mobility, we use the proxy: foreign student = mobile student.

Since 2018

 

 

Annual census of enrolments

Information on mobility unavailable for 22% of the population

A mobile student is a foreign student who had obtained his upper secondary diploma abroad but we don't know in which country, so we use his citizenship to define the country of upper secondary diploma. We do not include homecoming students since they have French nationality. The methodology has changed, unlike previous years, this collect excludes students enrolled in an exchange program (Erasmus +,..) from the overall estimate of the number of mobile students to comply with the UOE manual. We estimate the missing 22% by assuming that the share of mobile students out of international students (mobile and exchange students) or foreign students, depending of available information, is identical to that of engineering schools except for students enrolled in professional studies delivered by the Ministry of National Education.

Graduates

Mobile students graduated by country of origin and sex

ISCED 5 to 8

Since 2018

 

 

Annual census of graduates

Information on mobility unavailable for 22% of the population

A mobile student is a foreign student who had obtained his upper secondary diploma abroad but we don't know in which country, so we use his citizenship to define the country of upper secondary diploma. We do not include homecoming students since they have French nationality. We estimate the missing mobile graduates by assuming that the share of mobile students out of international students (mobile and exchange students) or foreign students, depending of available information, is identical to that of engineering schools except for students graduated in professional studies delivered by the Ministry of National Education.

Entrants

Entr_1Age, Entr_3Fields

ISCED 5 to 7

Since 2015

 

 

 

Information could be missing for survey and administrative data.

We estimate the number of new entrants by age or field of education by applying students enrolled structure by age or field of education to the total number of new entrants. Unfortunately, for administrative data, sometimes the national identifier could be missing.

For each UOE table, please list the source(s) used to compile information: UOE table, name, type, date of availability and responsibility.

 

Sources used for data on enrolments

Detailed variables concerned

Name of the source

Type (Survey / Register / Estimation / Other)

Responsible of the source (UOE data provider / Other: which-one?)

ISCED 0 and 1

E1 - Students in pre-primary/primary schools depending on the Ministry of National Education and Youth. 

E1: Administrative database, completed by a survey for a part of schools having not.

E1: Ministry of National Education and Youth

ISCED 2 and 3

E2 - Students in secondary schools depending on the Ministry of National Education and Youth or other Ministries except the Ministry of Agriculture

E2: Administrative databasedatabase, completed by a survey for a part of schools having not.

E2: Ministry of National Education and Youth - Ministry of Higher Education and Research

E3 - Students in secondary schools depending on the Ministry of Agriculture

E3: Administrative database

E3: Ministry of Agriculture

E5 - Apprentices

E5: Administrative database

UOE data provider

ISCED 1 to 3

E4 - Students in SNE institutions. 

E4: Survey

UOE data provider

ISCED 4 to 8

E2 - Students in secondary schools depending on the Ministry of National Education and Youth or other Ministries except the Ministry of Agriculture

E2: Administrative databasedatabase, completed by a survey for a part of schools having not.

E2: Ministry of National Education and Youth

E3 - Students in secondary schools depending on the Ministry of Agriculture

E3: Administrative database

E3: Ministry of Agriculture

E5 - Apprentices

E5: Administrative database

UOE data provider

E6 - Students in universities, engineers schools, business schools, private schools

E6: Administrative database

E6: Ministry of Higher Education and Research

E7 - Students in others engineers schools, business schools, others tertiary schools

E7: Surveys

E7: Ministry of Higher Education and Research

E8 - Students in health and social affairs institutions

E8: Surveys

E8: Ministry for Solidarity and Health

E9 - Students depending on the Ministry of Culture institutions

E9: Surveys

E9: Ministry of Higher Education and Research

 

Sources used for data on entrants

Detailed variables concerned

Name of the source

Type (Survey / Register / Estimation / Other)

Responsible of the source (UOE data provider / Other: which-one?)

 ISCED 3

 Sources E2, E3 and E5 used for enrolments

 

 

 ISCED 4 to 8

 Source E2 to E9 used for data on enrolments

 

 

 

Sources used for data on personnel

Detailed variables concerned

Name of the source

Type (Survey / Register / Estimation / Other)

Responsible of the source (UOE data provider / Other: which-one?)

ISCED 02

P1 - Staff in public and government dependent private institutions
P2 -Civil Services employees

P1: administrative database
P2: administrative database

P1: Ministry of National Education and Youth
P2: National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies

ISCED 1

P1 - Staff in public and government dependent private institutions

P1: administrative database 

P1: Ministry of National Education and Youth

ISCED 2 and 3

P1 - Staff in public and government dependent private institutions

P1: administrative database

P1: Ministry of National Education and Youth

 

ISCED 4

P3 -  Staff in institutions depending on the Ministry of Higher Education and Research

P3: administrative database

P3: Ministry of Higher Education and Research

ISCED 5 to 8

P1 - Staff in public and government dependent private institutions

P3 -  Staff in institutions depending on the Ministry of Higher Education and Research

P1: administrative database

P3: administrative database

P1: Ministry of National Education and Youth

 

P3: Ministry of Higher Education and Research

 

Sources used for data on enrolments at regional level

Detailed variables concerned

Name of the source

Type (Survey / Register / Estimation / Other)

Responsible of the source (UOE data provider / Other: which-one?)

 

Same sources as for enrolments

 

 

 

 

Sources used for data on foreign languages learning

Detailed variables concerned

Name of the source

Type (Survey / Register / Estimation / Other)

Responsible of the source (UOE data provider / Other: which-one?)

ISCED 1

L1 - Students in primary schools depending on the Ministry of National Education and Youth

Survey ad-hoc (new in 2011)

L1: Ministry of National Education and Youth

ISCED 2 and 3 

E2 - Students in secondary schools depending on the Ministry of National Education and Youth, other Ministries except the Ministry of Agriculture

E2: Administrative database, completed by a survey for a part of schools having not.

E2: Ministry of National Education and Youth

E3 - Students in secondary schools depending on the Ministry of Agriculture

E3: Administrative database

E3: Ministry of Agriculture

 

 

Sources used for data on graduates

Detailed variables concerned

Name of the source

Type (Survey / Register / Estimation / Other)

Responsible of the source (UOE data provider / Other: which-one?)

ISCED 3   

G1-  Baccalauréat delivered by the Ministry of National Education

G1 : administrative database

G1 : Ministry of National Education and Youth

G2 - Vocational graduations delivered by the Ministry of National Education

G2: administrative database

G2 : Ministry of National Education and Youth

G3 - Graduations delivered by the Ministry of Agriculture

G3: administrative database

G3: Ministry of Agriculture

G6 -  Graduations delivered by the Ministry for Solidarity and Health

G6: surveys

the Ministry for Solidarity and Health

ISCED 4 to 8    

G2 - Vocational graduations delivered by the Ministry of National Education

G2: Administrative database, completed by a survey for a part of schools having not.

G2: Ministry of National Education and Youth

G3 - Vocational graduations delivered by the Ministry of Agriculture

G3: administrative database

G3: Ministry of Agriculture

G4 - Graduations in universities, engineers schools, business schools, private schools including apprentices

G4: Administrative database

G4: Ministry of Higher Education and Research

G5 - Graduations in others engineers schools, business schools, others tertiary schools

G5: survey

G5 : Ministry of Higher Education,Research and Innovation

G6 -  Graduations delivered by the Ministry for Solidarity and Health

G6: surveys

G6: Ministry for Solidarity and Health

G7 - Graduations delivered by the Ministry of Culture 

G7: survey

G7: Ministry of Culture

 

Sources used for data on education expenditure

Detailed variables concerned

Name of the source

Type (Survey / Register / Estimation / Other)

Responsible of the source (UOE data provider / Other: which-one?)

All education expenditure

The French Education Account

Consolidation of different sources

UOE data provider

Except Research and development of some extra university research institutions.

Gross domestic expenditure on R&D (GERD) - Higher Education sector

Annual survey

UOE data provider

and except guarantee fund

Annual performance report of the budget bill.

Register

UOE data provider

Enrolments adjusted to statistics on education expenditure

Same sources as enrolments adjusted for the French Education Account

Consolidation of different sources

UOE data provider

 

 

 

Sources used for data on credit mobility

Detailed variables concerned

Name of the source

Type (Survey / Register / Estimation / Other)

Responsible of the source (UOE data provider / Other: which-one?)

ISCED 5 to 8

E1 - Generation survey 2017 + sources for graduates

E1: Surveys + administrative database

E1: Céreq - Centre for Studies and Research in Qualifications + UOE data providers for data on graduates

 

Sources used for data on class

Detailed variables concerned

Name of the source

Type (Survey / Register / Estimation / Other)

Responsible of the source (UOE data provider / Other: which-one?)

 ISCED 1

 C1: Diapre - individual data on pupils in primary education

 C1: Administrative database

 C1: Ministry of National Education and Youth

 ISCED 2

E2 - Students in secondary schools depending on the Ministry of National Education and Youth or other Ministries except the Ministry of Agriculture

 E2: Administrative database, completed by a survey for a part of schools having not.

E2: Ministry of National Education and Youth

E3 - Students in secondary schools depending on the Ministry of Agriculture

E3: Administrative database

E3: Ministry of Agriculture

 

Not Applicable

Length of time between data availability and the event or phenomenon they describe. Typically includes:

 

Information related to the latest reference year (academic year t-t+1, or financial year t)

Data collection

Post-collection phase

Dissemination/publication in your country

Additional comments on deadlines and timeliness

Type of data

Start date

End date

Start date

End date

Start date

End date

Finance data year t

jan (t+2)

may(t+2)

jul(t+2)

jul(t+2)

sep(t+2)

nov(t+2)

 

ENRL/GRAD school year t/t+1

oct t

sept t+1

dec t

aug t+2

spring t+1

 

 

The extent to which statistics are comparable between countries.

A. Deviations between the national methodology and the UOE Manual: non financial data

Reference period

Data collection period

Reference date for student and personnel ages

 

 

 

 

Enrolment: data collection period

Enrolment in multiple fields of education

Count of students: if relevant, detailed list of variables for which double counting are significant and why.

Regional enrolment

Foreign languages learning

 

 

 

 

 

 

Entrants

New entrants by field of education

Graduates from specific programmes

Graduates by field of education

 

 

 

 

 

Educational personnel in work- and school-based combined programmes

Educational personnel taxonomy: classroom teachers (ISCED 0-4) and academic staff (ISCED 5-8)

Educational staff at ISCED level 0

Educational personnel at ISCED levels 5-8

Educational personnel and temporary replacements

 

 

 

 

 

 

B. Deviations between the national methodology and the UOE Manual: financial data

Expenditure at the pre-primary level - the childcare component

Reference period

Expenditure at the pre-primary level: is the childcare component excluded (yes/no/partially)?

If yes, which is exactly the share of "day care component" to be excluded from the data on the pre-primary level? If no, which estimation method is used to determine the share?

Expenditure for teaching/academic hospitals

Ancillary services expenditure

Evening child care

 

Yes, we exclude ISCED 01 because it doesn’t correspond to a full educational programme but we count ISCED 02 entirely (educational programme).

Data not available for ISCED 01.

 

ISCED 02: Ancillary services expenditure taken into account in the UOE collection are:  school transport, catering, dorminatories, school health services

ISCED 02: It depends on the local authorities, some of them take it into account, other not.

 

Cost of a dual-system programme to the employer.

Adjustment of enrolments in case there is no data on expenditure at the workplace

Expenditure for contributions on pension schemes

Households' payments for private tutering

Student living costs

Ancillary services coverage

Partially available. Data only available for the tuition fees and the training levy paid to educational institutions by the employer. There is no data available for expenditure on training at the workplace.

The apprentices are counted for ½. They are considered to spend half of their time in class.

We only count imputed contributions directly available in the State Account named "Compte d'affectation spécial Pensions" (for civil servant only). It retraces all the

income and expenditure of pension and disability schemes for which the State has the burden: retirement and invalidity pensions of civil servants.

 

ISCED 1,2,3 and 4: Families who have children aged between 6 and 18 enrolled in an educational programme can get the schooling expenses allowance (ARS). ISCED 5,6,7: Some students are eligible on scholarships or public grant, on a low basis income. Those subsidies are not earmarked, so we can’t distinguish the amount that covers student living expenses from the amount which is attributable to educational institutions (mainly fees). The part of grant attributable to student living expenses is estimated from the part of the expenditure of households (subsidised or not) which is made outside educational institutions.

see cell E31

The extent to which statistics are comparable or reconcilable over time.

 

 

Main changes compared to data transmitted for the previous reference period

Enrolments

Entrants

Personnel

Foreign languages learning

Regional data

Graduates

Education expenditure

Changes in the educational system

 

 

 

 

 

 

 A reform of the apprenticeship system occurred in 2020. The competence of apprenticeship was transferred from the Regions to the private sector (organizations named « competence operators »).

These professional bodies, assimilated in the Education Account to companies, having recovered a competence vested in the regions before the 2018 law «for freedom to choose one’s professional future».

 

A reform of Licence professionnelle has led to the creation of a new vocational bachelor's diploma, the Bachelor universitaire de technologie, awarded in the Institut universitaire de technologie since September 2021. Thus the Diplôme Universitaire de Technologie (ISCED 5) has been replaced by the Bachelor Universitaire de Technologie (ISCED 6).The variations that could be observed for ISCED 5, 6 and 7 and ages 18 to 27 can be explained by the transition from the DUT diploma (ISCED 5 level) to the BUT diploma (ISCED 6 level) which holds a large share of students in this field.

A reform of Licence professionnelle has led to the creation of a new vocational bachelor's diploma, the Bachelor universitaire de technologie, awarded in the Institut universitaire de technologie since September 2021. Thus the Diplôme Universitaire de Technologie (ISCED 5) has been replaced by the Bachelor Universitaire de Technologie (ISCED 6).The variations that could be observed for ISCED 5, 6 and 7 and ages 18 to 27 can be explained by the transition from the DUT diploma (ISCED 5 level) to the BUT diploma (ISCED 6 level) which holds a large share of students in this field.

 

 

A reform of Licence professionnelle has led to the creation of a new vocational bachelor's diploma, the Bachelor universitaire de technologie, awarded in the Institut universitaire de technologie since September 2021. Thus the Diplôme Universitaire de Technologie (ISCED 5) has been replaced by the Bachelor Universitaire de Technologie (ISCED 6).The variations that could be observed for ISCED 5, 6 and 7 and ages 18 to 27 can be explained by the transition from the DUT diploma (ISCED 5 level) to the BUT diploma (ISCED 6 level) which holds a large share of students in this field.

A reform of Licence professionnelle has led to the creation of a new vocational bachelor's diploma, the Bachelor universitaire de technologie, awarded in the Institut universitaire de technologie since September 2021. Thus the Diplôme Universitaire de Technologie (ISCED 5) has been replaced by the Bachelor Universitaire de Technologie (ISCED 6).The variations that could be observed for ISCED 5, 6 and 7 and ages 18 to 27 can be explained by the transition from the DUT diploma (ISCED 5 level) to the BUT diploma (ISCED 6 level) which holds a large share of students in this field.

 

Changes in the coverage

 

 

PERS questionnaire has been revised from UOE 2017 (reference year: 2016)

 

 

 

 

Changes in the methodology

 Break in Time-series, by Field of education due to change in methodology for classification.

New definition of international students involving a break in series: A mobile student is a foreign student who graduated from upper secondary school abroad, but we don't know in which country, so we use his or her citizenship to define the country of the upper secondary school diploma. We do not include homecoming students in the category of mobile students because they have French citizenship. The estimation methodology has changed for the UOE2019 data collection. Contrary to previous years, this collection excludes students enrolled in an exchange programme (Erasmus +,...) from the overall estimate of the number of mobile students to comply with the UOE manual.

 Break in Time-series, by Field of education due to change in methodology for classification.

New definition of international students involving a break in series: A mobile student is a foreign student who graduated from upper secondary school abroad, but we don't know in which country, so we use his or her citizenship to define the country of the upper secondary school diploma. We do not include homecoming students in the category of mobile students because they have French citizenship. The estimation methodology has changed for the UOE2019 data collection. Contrary to previous years, this collection excludes students enrolled in an exchange programme (Erasmus +,...) from the overall estimate of the number of mobile students to comply with the UOE manual.

PERS questionnaire has been revised from UOE 2017 (reference year: 2016)

 

 

 Break in Time-series, by Field of education due to change in methodology for classification.

New definition of international students involving a break in series: A mobile student is a foreign student who graduated from upper secondary school abroad, but we don't know in which country, so we use his or her citizenship to define the country of the upper secondary school diploma. We do not include homecoming students in the category of mobile students because they have French citizenship. The estimation methodology has changed for the UOE2019 data collection. Contrary to previous years, this collection excludes students enrolled in an exchange programme (Erasmus +,...) from the overall estimate of the number of mobile students to comply with the UOE manual.

 

Other changes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Main changes over time

Type of data

Detailed variables concerned

Reference year(s)

Changes in the educational system

Changes in the coverage

Changes in the methodology

Other changes

ENRL, ENTR, GRAD, REGIO

ISCED 5 and 6

Since school year 2021-2022

A reform of Licence professionnelle has led to the creation of a new vocational bachelor's diploma, the Bachelor universitaire de technologie, awarded in the Institut universitaire de technologie since September 2021. Thus the Diplôme Universitaire de Technologie (ISCED 5) has been replaced by the Bachelor Universitaire de Technologie (ISCED 6).The variations that could be observed for ISCED 5, 6 and 7 and ages 18 to 27 can be explained by the transition from the DUT diploma (ISCED 5 level) to the BUT diploma (ISCED 6 level) which holds a large share of students in this field

 

 

 

Class

ISCED 1

since 2014 year (UOE 2015)

 

 

CLASS questionnaire has been revised from UOE 2015 (reference year: 2014).

France has used a new source for calculating the average class size in ISCED 1. The older data source could not distinguish multiple-level (mixed) classes, which bring together pupils enrolled in pre-primary education and those enrolled in primary education (it was aggregate data). The new source provides a more accurate data, meaning that, at ISCED 1, number of students corresponds only to students enrolled in primary education (these are  individual data but not exhaustive ; the response rate is about 99 %). Consequently, we have modified data in ISCED 1. Contrary to the older data source, number of students and divisions in independent private institutions are missing.

 

Enrolments

ISCED 3B and 3C

2009

Beginning of the vocational training reform. Impact on the distribution between ISCED 3B and ISCED 3C enrolments

 

 

 

Education expenditure

all data

2012

 

Data on education expenditure has included Mayotte since 2012: Mayotte became a French overseas department in 2012.

Since 2012, data on education expenditure has resulted from a new national account database (in 2010), which implies a break in time series compared to previous UOE data collections.

 

Education expenditure

Total education expenditure (for the central government), expenditure for compensation of employees

2006

 

 

The structure of the budget data which are collected by finances ministry changed in 2006. The comparability with the data transmitted before 2006 has been impacted. This looks like as a new "basis" of account. The most important change deals with the level of the social contribution (in particular the imputed contributions) which where underestimated before. This fact leads to a higher level of the total compensation which is the biggest part of education expenditure. One other important change deals with the higher education: some research expenditure can't be separated from the higher education expenditure. This also leads to a higher level of the education expenditure.

 

Education expenditure

Regional direct expenditure for education institutions: ISCED 2 and 3

2005-2008

From 2005 to 2010, the State delegated progressively to the regional government the compensation of workers and technicians working in the public institutions of the secondary level of education (Isced 2 and 3). Consequently, the regional direct expenditure for educational institutions increased significantly since 2006.

 

 

 

Education expenditure

all data

Since 2007

Since 2007, the State has delegated to the regional authorities the management of the public educational programmes that provide nurse or social worker qualification. As a result, the quality of the educational expenditure is better (it was underestimated before).

 

 

 

Education expenditure

Transfers from central government to regional government

since 2007

Since 2007, the State has delegated to the regional authorities the management of the public educational programmes that provide nurse or social worker qualification. As a result, the quality of the educational expenditure is better (it was underestimated before).

 

 

 

Education expenditure

all data

1995-2002

 

Without French Overseas Départements

 

 

Education expenditure

 

Since 2010

A reform of the apprenticeship system occurred in 2020. The competence of apprenticeship was transferred from the Regions to the private sector (organizations named « competence operators »).

These professional bodies, assimilated in the Education Account to companies, having recovered a competence vested in the regions before the 2018 law «for freedom to choose one’s professional future».

 

 

 

Graduates

by age: ISCED 3

since 2006

 

 

Since 2006 : ages for health and social ISCED 3 graduates are estimated because typical ages are not suitable to estimate the unknown ages of this specific population. We apply the distribution observed on health and social ISCED 3 students enrolled in the last year of training.

 

Personnel

 

before UOE 2017 (reference year: 2016)

 

 

PERS questionnaire has been revised from UOE 2017(reference year: 2016). Do not compare with older data.

 

All data expect education expenditure

all data

Since 2006

 

French overseas departments included since 2006.

 

 

All data  expect education expenditure

all data

Since 2016

 

Mayotte included since UOE 2016.

 

 

Foreign languages learning

Foreign languages learning

1998-2005

 

Only institutions monitored by the Ministry of Education.

 

 

Foreign languages learning

Foreign languages learning

Since 2006

 

ISCED 2-3
Language learning data cover also students in institutions depending on the Ministry of Agriculture. Estimated coverage is 100% of total enrolment figures at general ISCED3, 70% at vocational ISCED3. 

 

 

Foreign languages learning

Foreign languages learning

2011

 

ISCED 1
Statistics on isced 1 foreign language learning are provided by a specific survey (no administrative data available). The coverage of this survey concerns about 96% of the pupils who have to learn a foreign language in primary school, from "Grade 2 (within ISC-Level)" to "Grade 5 (within ISC-Level)" (the learning of a foreign language is not compulsory in ISC1 "Grade 1 (within ISC-Level)").

 

 

Foreign languages learning

ISC1 grade1

2017

Since year 2016-2017, the learning of a foreign language is compulsory in ISC1 grade1.

Since 2017, data on foreign languages learning inclued ISC1 grad 1.

 

 

Foreign languages learning

ISCED 2 and 3

2017

 

 

Since school year 2016-2017, the census of foreign language is more precise in ISCED 2 and 3.

 

Enrolments, Entrants, Graduates

all data

Since 2015

 

Data on Enrolments, Entrants and Graduates has included Mayotte since 2015. Mayotte became a French overseas department in 2011. It was not included between 2011 and 2015 due to the fact that Mayotte was not in the demographic table before 2015.

 

 

Entrants

ISCED 8

Since 2015

 

We found a solution to estimate the number of new entrants ISCED 5 to 8. For administrative data only, we have the possibility to know if a student was enrolled by the past with his national identifier. Previously, we  estimated the new entrants in ISCED 8  by comparison with the enrolments the previous year. We have looked for the enrolments for several years since uoe2017.

 

 

Entrants

ISCED 3

Since 2017

 

 

Since school year 2016-2017 for ISCED 3, we can better distinguish between agriculture, forestry, fisheries, veterinary, inter-disciplinary programmes and qualifications involving  agriculture, forestry, fisheries and veterinary.