09 access to higher education

About 75% of baccalauréat holders from 2013 enrolled immediately in a higher education course (excluding work study programmes). More than half of those with a general baccalauréat enrolled at university but their numbers were down almost 7 percentage points compared with 2000. Almost one in two holders of a technological baccalauréat enrolled in a short vocational course. More and more of those with a vocational baccalauréat, whose numbers have increased substantially with the reform of the professional path, enrolled in higher education.

Of the 589,410 young people who obtained the general, technological or vocational baccalauréat in metropolitan France and the Overseas departments (Département d'outre-mer - DOM) in 2013, 75% enrolled in a higher education course in the following academic year (excluding work study programmes), which was 3.4 points higher than in 2012 (table 09.01). The considerable drop in the number of vocational baccalauréat holders at the 2013 session (-16.6%), who are always less likely to go on to higher education than the other baccalauréat holders, automatically leads to a rise in the average enrolment rate. Virtually all general baccalauréat holders enrol immediately in higher education but this is not the case for those with the technological baccalauréat. Their enrolment rate was 74.1% in 2013, a drop of 2.3 points on the previous year. The share of vocational baccalauréat holders who embark immediately on higher education has been increasing for the last 13 years and has settled at 33%. These rates do not take into account enrolments in the Advanced technician's section (Section de technicien supérieur - STS) in the context of an apprenticeship, nor for continuing studies with a professionalisation contract or in higher education abroad.

University remains the preferred branch for those with the general baccalauréat. However, even though the start of the 2013-2014 academic year saw a renewed surge of interest in universities, they still attract fewer students than 13 years ago. Only 65% enrolled in 2013, compared with 73% in 2000 (see 'Methodology' section) (chart 09.02). At the start of the 2013-2014 academic year, 18.3% of general baccalauréat holders moved into short vocational courses (University technology institute (Institut universitaire de technologie - IUT), STS) (down one point compared with 2012) while 12.5% went into classes preparing for admission to Grandes Ecoles (Classes préparatoires aux grandes écoles - CPGE). Those from the scientific series of baccalauréat stand out as they went on to a wide variety of options. 64.7% moved into a branch of study at university (including 11.8% in IUT), 18.1% enrolled in CPGE and 12.9% in other courses, especially preparation for admission to engineering schools.

36.2% of technological baccalauréat holders moved into the STS branch, which is the most popular of all higher education courses for these students wishing to continue their studies. However, this proportion is slowly declining (-4.6 points compared with the previous year). In contrast, the proportion of technological baccalauréat holders moving into IUTs is increasing and stands at 11% (or +1.4%). This route is rare, nevertheless, compared with the numbers choosing an STS (36.2% of technological baccalauréat holders) or even a general subject at university (19.8 %, up by +1.1 points compared with the previous year).

More than one in two vocational baccalauréat holders who are working in an apprenticeship choose to stop studying after passing the exam (table 09.03). When these students do continue into higher education, they almost all choose a work study programme. On the other hand, those with a vocational baccalauréat obtained as school pupils are more likely to move into higher education (50% compared with 36% of those who have done an apprenticeship), with only one third choosing the work study option.

Laurent Fauvet & Sylvaine Péan