11 profile of new Baccalaureat holders entering the main branches of higher education

In 2014, general Baccalaureate holders represented 65.3% of new Baccalaureate holders enrolled in higher education. This rate is slightly down (-2 points) compared to the level recorded in 2005. Vocational Baccalaureate holders now represent 13% of new Baccalaureate holders enrolled in higher education. This proportion has increased by 8 points since 2005, whereas the proportion of new technological Baccalaureate holders has fallen by 6 points.

Most of the new Baccalaureate holders entering higher education have taken the general Baccalaureate, except in the Advanced technician's section (STS). They represent 94.5% of new entrants to classes preparing for admission to Grandes Ecoles (CPGE). After falling between 1995 and 2000, the share of general Baccalaureate holders entering university has since seen a slight rise, reaching 78% in 2014 (table 11.01). In STS, technological Baccalaureate holders account for most of the new entrants (43.2%). Their proportion has been regularly falling in recent years, although 2014 saw a slight upturn in this ratio (+1.3 points).

Vocational Baccalaureate holders represent 36% of new Baccalaureate holders in initial education, excluding apprenticeships. This proportion has more than doubled in 10 years, as in 2005, only 15.4% of new vocational Baccalaureate holders were on these courses. The proportion of new vocational Baccalaureate holders in STS has significantly increased for two years (+ 9 points) due to the introduction of the preferential student guidance policy in favour of STS.

In "other courses" (see methodology section opposite), general Baccalaureate holders are still very much in the majority (83% of entrants).

At university, general Baccalaureate holders represent 78% of new enrolments. The profile of these new Baccalaureate holders varies according to the course. Scientific Baccalaureate holders are mostly concentrated in "production" specialities at university technology institutes (IUT), in Sciences, Physical education and sports science and techniques (STAPS) and healthcare courses, where they make up virtually all of those enrolled. The other general Baccalaureate holders go into Humanities, Human Sciences, Law, Economics, Economic and Social Administration, and 'services' specialities at IUTs.

Of the new Baccalaureate holders enrolled in IUTs, 31% hold a technological Baccalaureate, mainly management, sciences and technology (STMG) in the 'services' specialities and Industry and sustainable development science and technology (STI2D) for the 'production' specialities (chart 11.02). Over 16,000 vocational Baccalaureate holders are enrolled at university, mainly in Law, Economics, Economic and Social Administration or Humanities, Human Sciences, Arts. Respectively, they represent 8.6% and 10.1% of enrolments in these two sectors.

Access to higher education is still very closely linked with social background. Among the 2014 Baccalaureate holders who enrolled in higher education straightaway, young people from the most advantaged social categories were over-represented. 27.6% had parents who were senior managers, teachers or freelance professional workers, compared with 22% for all Baccalaureate holders combined. In 2014, as in 2005, there were proportionally twice as many children of managers as children of manual workers in the main higher education sectors (table 11.03).

The share of new Baccalaureate holders from the most advantaged social categories differs considerably from one sector to another. It is highest in CPGEs and the healthcare disciplines, where the proportions of children of senior managers, teachers and the professions stand at 49% and 39.7% respectively.

By contrast, the short technological courses, IUTs and especially STS, receive more children of manual workers and office workers. They represent 31.7% of new enrolments in IUTs and 38.4% in STS, compared with fewer than 16.8% in CPGE.

Laurent Fauvet