Cover of higher education & research in France, facts and figures

📄 Source:MENESR-DEPP.

 Coverage:Metropolitan France + overseas departments (DOM).

System of Validation of learning from experience (VAE) set out in the Education Code pursuant to Decree No. 2013 - 756 of 19 August 2013.

It sets out an individual right, open to everyone since 2002, to obtain all or part of a qualification or certification solely through VAE, without taking a course. VAE is a way of accessing certification, at the same level as initial education, apprenticeship or continuing education.

All certifications (degrees, titles, certificates) may be awarded in this way by the State, vocational sectors or private organisations. To do this, they must have been listed in the National Directory of Vocational Certification (RNCP) http://www.rncp.cncp.gouv.fr/|xiti|To RNCP|.

Any experience can be taken into account, whether acquired through salaried, non-salaried or voluntary activity, provided that the vocational experience (at least three years) relates to the qualification in question.

The validation is awarded by assessment panels. At the initial assessment, if the panel does not award the full certification, it may award partial validation, and advise on the steps to be taken by the candidate to obtain the full certification. The path towards total validation of a qualification may therefore be spread over several years.

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20 validation of learning from experience in higher education

This page has been updated. Read 25. validation of learning from experience in higher education in Higher education & research in France, facts and figures 10th edition - June 2017

Validation of learning from experience (VAE) is an access route to qualifications. In 2014, 4,267 people obtained all or part of a higher education degree through recognition of the skills acquired by experience (i.e. 3% of degrees awarded at university).

The VAE system in universities or the National Centre of Industrial Art and Design (CNAM) has undergone rapid development. From the start of the VAE (Law of 17 January 2002) until 2005, there was increased use of the system (chart 20.01). Since 2007, the number of VAE awarded at the initial assessment is around 4,000 per year, within an upper or lower range of about 200.

In 2014, out of the 4,267 VAE beneficiaries, 72% were full VAE (61% were awarded at the initial assessment and 11% at the post-initial assessment). These full qualifications awarded by the VAE represent 3% of qualifications awarded in universities. 28% of the remaining VAE beneficiaries obtained a partial VAE from the initial assessment.

Nearly all the admissible candidates requested support (around 6,500 people).

With 39% of beneficiaries, the vocational Bachelor's and Master's degree are the most sought after VAE qualifications (table 20.02). The vocational Bachelor's degree is most frequently awarded in full at the initial assessment (45%) while the Master's is awarded partially at the initial assessment (48%) or fully after one or more partial validations (51%).

Just over one VAE beneficiary in three was awarded a qualification in Economics, Management and Economic and Social Administration (chart 20.03). Vocational Bachelor's degrees are more common in this discipline (46%). Fundamental andapplied sciences and other human and social sciences are the two other fields most likely to be awarded through VAE: one VAE beneficiary in four was awarded a qualification. Master's degrees are awarded equally in these three main fields. Doctorates are more likely to be awarded in fundamental applied sciences (55%), as are university technology diplomas (DUT) and equivalent (36%). General Bachelor's degrees, mainly awarded in Economics (36%), are also awarded in Human and Social Sciences (21%), Humanities, Languages and Arts (16%) and Physical Education Sports Sciences and Techniques (STAPS) (11%).

40% of VAE beneficiaries already hold a Bac +2 level qualification. As can be expected, vocational Bachelor's degrees are mostly awarded to beneficiaries holding a Bac +2 level qualification (20% of all VAE, chart 20.04) and the Master's to holders of a Bac +3 or Bac +4 level qualification (17%). The real added value of the VAE can be seen for 11% of Baccalaureate holders who achieve a vocational Bachelor's degree through VAE and the 12% of Bac +2 level qualified students who achieve a Master's degree.

VAE beneficiaries are generally working people (86%): 43% are senior managers and 28% are in an intermediate profession.

📄 Source:MENESR-DEPP.
 Coverage:Metropolitan France + overseas departments (DOM).

How to cite this paper :

PROST-DAMBÉLÉ Sandrine. Validation of learning from experience in higher education. In: Higher education & research in France, facts and figures - 50 indicators [online]. KABLA-LANGLOIS Isabelle (dir.). Paris: Ministère de l'Éducation nationale, de l'Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche, 2016. 9th ed. Chapter 20 [Accessed 03/29/2024]. ISBN 978-2-11-151572-7. https://publication.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/eesr/9EN/EESR9EN_ES_20-validation_of_learning_from_experience_in_higher_education-ILL_02.php

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System of Validation of learning from experience (VAE) set out in the Education Code pursuant to Decree No. 2013 - 756 of 19 August 2013.

It sets out an individual right, open to everyone since 2002, to obtain all or part of a qualification or certification solely through VAE, without taking a course. VAE is a way of accessing certification, at the same level as initial education, apprenticeship or continuing education.

All certifications (degrees, titles, certificates) may be awarded in this way by the State, vocational sectors or private organisations. To do this, they must have been listed in the National Directory of Vocational Certification (RNCP) http://www.rncp.cncp.gouv.fr/|xiti|To RNCP|.

Any experience can be taken into account, whether acquired through salaried, non-salaried or voluntary activity, provided that the vocational experience (at least three years) relates to the qualification in question.

The validation is awarded by assessment panels. At the initial assessment, if the panel does not award the full certification, it may award partial validation, and advise on the steps to be taken by the candidate to obtain the full certification. The path towards total validation of a qualification may therefore be spread over several years.

 

20.01 Development in validation of learning from experience (VAE) at the initial assessment from 2002 to 2014 1

  
Number of VAE
of which qualifications awarded in full
 
 

1 All universities and National Centres of Industrial Art and Design (CNAM).

📄 Source:MENESR-DEPP
 Coverage: Metropolitan France + overseas departments (DOM).

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20.02 Breakdown of VAE beneficiaries according to the qualification obtained in 2014 1

 
Number of beneficiaries Breakdown of beneficiaries (in %) of which at the initial assessment - Breakdown (in %) of which total validations at the post-initial assessment
Total validations Partial validations
DUT-DEUST-DNTS 130 3.0 3.3 2.6 2.9
Vocational Bachelor's degree 1,663 39.0 44.7 27.3 36.9
Bachelor's degree 317 7.4 8.2 6.9 4.5
Master's degree 1,647 38.6 32.0 47.9 51.1
PhD 20 0.5 0.7 0.0 0.6
Engineering diploma 144 3.4 2.7 5.3 2.6
Other diplomas and qualifications listed in the RNCP 346 8.1 8.5 10.0 1.4
Total 4,267 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
 

1 All Universities and National Centres of Industrial Art and Design (CNAM).

📄 Source:MENESR-DEPP
 Coverage: Metropolitan France + overseas departments (DOM).

You can embed this table to your website or your blog by copying the HTML code and pasting it into the source code of your website / blog:

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20.03 Breakdown of VAE beneficiaries at the initial assessment according to the qualification obtained and discipline in 2014 (in %) 1

DUT-DEUST-DNTS
Vocational Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
Master's degree
PhD
Other degrees and qualifications listed or not in the RNCP
All beneficiaries
  
Law-Political Sciences
Economics, managemen, and Economic and Social Administration
Humanities-Linguistics-Arts-Languages
Other human and social sciences
Fundamental and applied sciences
Physical education sports sciences and techniques
 
 

1 All Universities and National Centres of Industrial Art and Design (CNAM).

📄 Source:MENESR-DEPP
 Coverage: Metropolitan France + overseas departments (DOM).

You can embed this chart to your website or your blog by copying the HTML code and pasting it into the source code of your website / blog:

<iframe src="https://publication.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/eesr/9EN/illustration-EESR9EN_ES_20-2-breakdown_of_vae_beneficiaries_at_the_initial_assessment_according_to_the_qualification_obtained_and_discipline_in_2014_in_1.php" width="500px" height="700px" frameborder="0" id="EESR9EN_ES_20-2" scrolling="auto"></iframe>

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20.04 Breakdown of VAE beneficiaries according to qualifications aimed for and the highest qualification on entering VAE in 2014 (in %) 1

No qualification and level V (CAP/BEP or equivalent)
Level IV (Baccalaureate or equivalent)
Level III (Bac + 2 or equivalent)
Level II (Bac + 3/4 or equivalent)
Level I (Bac + 5/8 or equivalent)
  
DUT-DEUST-DNTS
Vocational Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
Master's degree
Engineering diploma
Other degrees and qualifications listed in the RNCP
 
 

1 All Universities and National Centres for Industrial Art and Design (CNAM).

📄 Source:MENESR-DEPP
 Coverage: Metropolitan France + overseas departments (DOM).

You can embed this chart to your website or your blog by copying the HTML code and pasting it into the source code of your website / blog:

<iframe src="https://publication.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/eesr/9EN/illustration-EESR9EN_ES_20-3-breakdown_of_vae_beneficiaries_according_to_qualifications_aimed_for_and_the_highest_qualification_on_entering_vae_in_2014_in_1.php" width="500px" height="700px" frameborder="0" id="EESR9EN_ES_20-3" scrolling="auto"></iframe>

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Related statistical publications

 Note d'information DEPP 16.25 - La validation des acquis de l'expérience (VAE) dans les établissements d'enseignement supérieur - Sandrine Prost-Dambélé - September 2016
Près de 4 000 personnes ont validé tout ou partie d’un diplôme de l’enseignement supérieur au titre de la validation des acquis de l’expérience (VAE) en 2015 dans les universités et le Cnam. Cela représente une nouvelle baisse de 7,6 % par rapport à 2014. Cette baisse est due à celles des validations partielles, en premier ou en post-premier jury, tandis que le nombre de validations totales en premier jury reste stable. De ce fait, la part de ces dernières augmente, à nouveau, de 5 points et atteint 66 % de l’ensemble des VAE examinées.
 Note d'information DEPP 15.40 - La validation des acquis de l'expérience (VAE) dans les établissements d'enseignement supérieur - Sandrine Prost-Dambélé - November 2015
La validation des acquis de l’expérience (VAE) dans les universités et le Cnam concerne 4 267 personnes en 2014, soit une nouvelle baisse de 5 % par rapport à 2013 après celle de 2,3 % enregistrée en 2012. Six validations sur dix conduisent à la délivrance en premier jury d’un diplôme complet de l’enseignement supérieur : cette part diminue de 4 points en un an.

Other editions

Etat de l'enseignement supérieur et de la rechercheHigher education & research in France, facts and figures 10th edition - June 2017
25 - validation of learning from experience in higher education - Roselyne Kerjosse & Sandrine Prost-Dambélé
Validation of learning from experience (VAE) is an access route to qualifications. In 2015, 3,943 people obtained all or part of a higher education degree through recognition of the skills acquired by experience [Consult the following page]

Translation

 Etat de l'enseignement supérieur et de la rechercheL'état de l'Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche en France n°9 - Juin 2016
20 - la validation des acquis de l'expérience dans l'enseignement supérieur - Sandrine Prost-Dambélé
La validation des acquis de l’expérience constitue une voie d’accès aux diplômes. En 2014, 4 267 personnes ont obtenu la totalité ou une partie d'un diplôme de l’enseignement supérieur en faisant reconnaître des compétences acquises par l’expérience (soit 3 % des diplômes délivrés en université) [Consult the following page in french]


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