The engineering school market - France (2024)

1.2 The United States' prominence in international rankings

Below is an overview of the global higher education market, a broader group including engineering schools, which will give us the main trends. In ****, this market was valued at $***.** billion , and is expected to grow at a CAGR of *.**% to ****.

Projected growth in the size of the global higher education market World, **** - ****, in $ millions Source: ****

The global higher education market, encompassing post-secondary and tertiary institutions, is undergoing a major metamorphosis. The main feature of this evolution is an increase in enrolment rates, particularly in middle-income countries. Enrolment growth is being driven by a variety of factors, such as the expansion of English-language academic programs, greater investment in educational resources and the increased mobility of international students.

At the same time, online or distance education is booming. The popularity of this form of learning is explained by its flexibility, offering learners freedom of place and time. This trend towards distance education is set to continue and even intensify with technological advances and the persistent demand for flexible learning modes. In addition, hybrid learning, which combines face-to-face and online teaching, is gaining ground. Educational institutions are increasingly integrating this method to offer students an option between physical and virtual courses, giving them ...

1.3 A highly competitive engineering school landscape in France

Through their training, engineers are able to respond to the major issues facing modern society. France plans to increase the number of engineers graduating each year in the near future. Indeed, as part of the"green industry" bill, the government has set up a plan to increase the number of engineers and technicians trained, given their shortage on the job market. The government's objective is to graduate **,*** engineers a year by the end of the five-year period, in ****. According to data from the Conférence des Directeurs des Écoles Françaises d'Ingénieurs (***), **,*** engineers graduated in ****. However, projections indicate a potential shortfall of **,*** engineers in industry and IT by ****[***].

number of engineers graduating per year France, **** - ****, in units Source: ****

While the French government is encouraging the country's reindustrialization, there is a shortage of candidates for engineering studies, and budgets are shrinking. In an interview with Les Echos, the director of the CDEFI stresses the need for more resources to train more engineers. However, in a context of budget cuts, Bercy is considering reducing the working capital of universities and engineering schools.

Moreover, not all schools benefit from the same favors. Indeed, as part of the green industry bill in the ...

2.1 Number of students enrolled in engineering schools

Throughout Part *, we'll be using a report from the CDEFI (***) on data for ****/****. Some *** schools submitted their data in the spring, and over *** in the autumn. Of the *** French engineering schools, **% took part in the latest CDEFI campaign, ** percentage points more than in ****.

In ****, there will be ***,*** students enrolled in engineering schools, including ***,*** in engineering programs and *,*** in Bachelor's programs in science and engineering. The vast majority (***).

Breakdown by registration system France, ****, in Source: ****

Schools under the authority of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research (***), while external schools under the supervision of a technical ministry account for **%, down by * points.

Breakdown of engineering students by type of school France, ****, in Source: ****

In French higher education, women are under-represented in engineering programs, with the proportion of women rising from **% in **** to **% today. However, their presence is more significant in courses other than those leading to the BSI (***) or engineering diploma. Women make up **% of learners in engineering schools, **% in engineering courses, **% in BSI courses, but **% in other courses. Despite a gradual increase, the rate of growth in female enrolment in engineering courses remains moderate.

Number of women enrolled in engineering programs France, ****, in Source: ****

Scholarship holders:

In ****, over **,*** students newly admitted ...

2.2 Origins of engineering school admissions

In ****, the engineering schools welcomed **,*** post-baccalaureate entrants and around **,*** post-baccalaureate +* entrants. Among the specialties of baccalaureate graduates admitted, **% had chosen mathematics combined with one or more exact sciences. **% had chosen mathematics and physics.

Academic origin of all Bac+* entrants France, ****, in Source: ****

The Baccalauréat average for first-time entrants to *ʳᵉ years of engineering school preparatory courses is **.*/**. This is *.* points lower than in ****/****. It can be seen that the origins of those admitted to the *ʳᵉ year engineering cycle have changed significantly between the start of the **** academic year and the start of the **** academic year, as the following two graphs show.

Origins of *st year engineering cycle admissions at the start of the **** academic year France, ****, as % of total Source: ****

Origin of entrants to *st year engineering programs at the start of the **** academic year France, ****, in Source: ****

at the start of the **** academic year, over **% of students admitted to the engineering cycle came from Classes Préparatoires aux Grandes Écoles (***): +*.* points in * years, and universities: +* point in * years.

The breakdown of registrations is as follows:

Engineering admissions reported by schools responding to the DEFI survey France, ****, in units Source: ****

2.3 Graduates and international exposure

In ****, there were **,*** graduates, **% of whom were women and **% foreigners. The number of graduates is down slightly (***), and remains below the target of **,*** mentioned in section *.*. Between **** and ****, the number of graduates rose significantly, by **%.

Nearly one in five engineering school students (***) are foreign nationals, representing **% of the total. This testifies to the attractiveness of French engineering schools, which are highly reputed and recognized throughout the world. This attractiveness is also reflected in the many double degrees offered by these establishments. Below are the three main countries of origin of foreign students studying for a double degree at a French engineering school, as well as the three main host countries of French students studying for a double degree abroad.

Source: ****

The breakdown is as follows:

Number of French double-degree students by host country World, ****, as % of total Source: ****

Number of foreign double-degree students in France, by country of origin World, ****, in units Source: ****

The BRAFITEC** program has made a major contribution to educational exchanges between France and Brazil, with more than **,*** Brazilian engineering students trained in France over the past twenty years. China also strongly encourages its students to study abroad, making it the country with the highest number of international ...

2.4 The weight of research

Active researchers are responsible for **% of total teaching hours. In addition to teaching, engineering school staff also look after doctoral students. In ****, **,*** PhD students were supervised by engineering school staff, corresponding to **% of PhD students in the exact sciences and their applications.

For the year ****-****, some **,*** research staff were present in the schools, with a share of HDR (***) holders of **%. According to data collected from *** schools participating in the DEFI survey, of the nearly **,*** teacher-researchers surveyed, around **% are women. Of these, **% hold positions of responsibility, compared with **% of their male counterparts. In addition, *% of all teacher-researchers work in partnership with companies.

Researchers and lecturers by type of engineering school France, ****, in units Source: ****

According to CTI and MESR data, **% of doctoral students enrolled in the "exact sciences and their applications" field are supervised by at least one member of staff from an engineering school. In-house schools host the largest number of PhD students under joint supervision with a foreign institution, representing **% of these students. By contrast, in schools under the supervision of a technical ministry, this figure is only *%. In ****, *,*** doctoral theses were supervised by a member of school staff, **% more than the previous year.

Number of theses defended in ...

2.5 Engineering schools: a breeding ground for French innovation

Between **** and ****, around *** DEFI schools have announced the creation of more than *** start-ups and spin-offs, in their own name or on behalf of a member of their staff, *** of them in **** alone. This information comes in the context of an initiative launched a few years ago by the MESR to improve monitoring of start-up creation in public research and higher education establishments in France, an area where aggregated data is deemed unsatisfactory.

In addition, there are *,*** patent application publications between **** and **** involving an engineering school. Of these, **.*% correspond to international patent applications.

Origin of patent applications between **** and **** France, **** - ****, in units Source: ****

According to the data, **% of publications are the result of an application filed by an engineering school alone. The remaining **% are the result of co-deposits involving a total of *** different organizations, including companies and research bodies, which have collaborated with engineering schools.

Technological fields concerned by patent filings involving only an engineering school France, **** - ****, in % Source: ****

Technological fields concerned by patent co-deposits involving at least one engineering school France, **** - ****, % of total Source: ****

3.1 Overview of the engineering school landscape

France's higher education sector includes *** engineering schools[***]. These institutions are accredited by the Commission des Titres d'Ingénieur (***), which gives them the right to issue the title of "ingénieur diplômé".

There are two main legal statuses for engineering schools:

public schools: these are under the authority of the government, and may be organized independently of universities (***); private schools: these are generally under the authority of organizations such as Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

These schools can be general or specialized. They form a vast nationwide network, offering initial and continuing training in all disciplines and fields of science and engineering, and contributing to research and technology transfer[***].

Breakdown of *** French engineering schools by status France, ****, in number of institutions Source: ****

Public schools still account for the vast majority of French engineering schools, but private schools are gaining ground and attracting more and more students. Between **** and ****, French public schools increased their enrolment by **%, still training the majority of the country's engineers with **% of graduates. However, private schools experienced significant growth, with a **% increase in enrolment over the same period.

Enrolment growth by school type France, **** - ****, in Source: ****

3.2 Networked schools

Schools are often grouped into networks to facilitate interaction between members. These networks include:

Arts et Métiers ParisTech: école nationale supérieure d'arts et métiers ; ENI: national engineering schools; FESIC: Fédération des établissements d'enseignement supérieur d'intérêt collectif; FGL: Gay-Lussac federation of chemistry schools; GEA: Groupe des écoles aéronautiques et spatiales; GEC: Groupe des écoles Centrales; GEM: groupe des écoles des Mines; Groupe INP: includes over ** public engineering schools, such as Bordeaux INP, Grenoble INP, Lorraine INP and Toulouse INP; Groupe INSA: national institutes of applied sciences; Institut Mines-Telecom; Institut Polytechnique de Paris; ParisTech; Polytech: the national network of university polytechnic engineering schools; UGEI: the Union of Independent Grandes Ecoles, comprising ** engineering and management schools[***].

In France, the granting of the title of "ingénieur diplômé" is regulated by law. Only state-accredited institutions, whether universities or schools, can award this title for a program that is also accredited. Accreditation, which guarantees the quality of teaching and the value of the diploma, is issued by the Commission des Titres d'Ingénieur(***), a body created in **** and supervised by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research. Establishments authorized to issue this title are listed ...

3.3 Geographical distribution of engineering schools

Engineering schools are all located in or around major cities. Most of France's major cities have one or more engineering schools. However, there is a high density of engineering schools in the following areas:

Main locations of engineering schools France, ****, in number of schools Source: ****

As mentioned in the previous sub-section, ** foreign institutions capable of awarding a CTI-accredited diploma and admitted by the French government are located in nine countries: Belgium, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, China, Lebanon, Morocco, Switzerland and Vietnam

3.4 The merger of engineering schools: a strategic turning point for French engineering

ESIEE Paris and ESIPE

The merger, effective from January *ᵉʳ ****, marks a turning point in the landscape of engineering schools in France. The ambition of this merger is to create a single, strengthened institution, ready to meet contemporary challenges linked to the digital and energy transition.

The merger, which came to fruition after a year of preparation, is based on a shared strategic vision:

Strengthen the engineering training offering: The new entity now offers some twenty courses, including ** apprenticeships, a model that is particularly well-suited to today's business needs. Increase visibility and attractiveness: By joining forces under the ESIEE Paris banner, the two schools hope to enhance their recognition among students, companies and academic institutions. Meeting the challenges of Industry *.*: The school aims to train engineers capable of providing innovative solutions in key areas such as artificial intelligence, IT security, civil engineering and the energy transition.

A diversified training offer

The new ESIEE Paris aims to become a leader in apprenticeship-based engineering training, with a target enrolment of nearly *,*** students, including *,*** apprentices. from September ****, an expanded and harmonized offering will be available:

Post-bac preparatory cycle Five-year engineering cycle covering ** specialties Multidisciplinary Bachelor's degree University diplomas (***) Master of Science (***) Professional degree

This enriched ...

4.1 A wide range of prices depending on school status

Private higher education institutions of general interest(***) are free to set high tuition fees, ranging from *,*** to over **,*** euros per year, while tuition fees for the *** public schools under the authority of the Ministry of Higher Education are *** euros. The ** schools under the authority of other ministries generally have higher tuition fees. For example, the École des Mines de Paris, which reports to the Ministry of the Economy and Finance, charges tuition fees of €*,***. for French and European Union students, and €*,*** for all other students[***].

Distribution of schools by tuition fees France, ****, in € Source: ****

Tuition fees at engineering schools in France vary widely, from €*** to over €**,***, a difference factor of **.

The majority of public engineering schools in France are under the supervision of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research (***), with a fixed annual fee of €*** since ****. This concerns *** schools, including university schools, INSAs and INPs. However, some exceptions exist, such as the schools in the Centrale group and Ecole des Mines Nancy, which have tuition fees of €*,***. Schools under the authority of other ministries have higher tuition fees, ranging from €*** to €*,***. Schools under the Ministry of the Armed Forces are exempt from fees for French officer cadets, but not for ...

4.2 Increasingly attractive private-sector offerings

As seen in section *.*, private engineering schools are booming. Private schools, like public ones, are sure to have many suitors at their doors due to the high French birth rate between **** and ****[***]. However, this forced increase in enrolment is more profitable for private schools, since each new student represents additional resources for private schools, but a cost for the public sector. Indeed, the annual cost to the State for an engineering student is **,*** euros, while tuition fees at Ministry of Higher Education establishments reach a maximum of *,*** euros per year. So it's up to the state, despite its limited resources, to subsidize the difference.

Private schools are also boosting their revenues by offering expensive courses such as bachelors and masters of science, and by expanding their facilities to reduce the cost per student. For example, at the start of the **** academic year,EPF moved to a new **,***-square-meter campus in Cachan, enabling it to accommodate an additional *,*** students by ****.Eigsi also saw a **% increase in enrolment between **** and ****, and is planning a *,*** square meter extension to accommodate more students and launch new courses.

High school students' interest in inexpensive post-bac public schools remains strong. Applications from final-year students to INSAs (***) rose ...

4.3 The rise of apprenticeship

Today, **% of engineering schools offer apprenticeships, with CESI being a notable example. However, apprenticeship is not limited to certain institutions, and has spread to all types of engineering schools. In general, schools establish partnerships with institutions specializing in sandwich courses. These institutions include the Instituts des Techniques d'Ingénieur de l'Industrie (***).

The majority of apprenticeships are specialized in specific fields such as mechanics, electronics, IT, construction, etc., while a limited number have a more general vocation. These programs are all subject to the quality criteria defined by the CTI, which apply to all engineering programs.

The recruitment process for apprenticeship programs is generally separate from that for conventional programs, and is mainly carried out at bac +* level. Successful applicants are mainly graduates of DUT (***) and BTS. It's also worth noting that almost a quarter of admitted candidates come from a course they previously took as apprentices.

Selection:

Selection for specialized schools usually begins between January and March, and involves an in-depth examination of the student's file. Grades, commitments and assessments by the student's teachers are also taken into account. Written or oral tests in mathematics, physics, French or English may be organized to assess the candidate's level. Finally, between April and ...

5. Regulations

The Commission des Titres d'Ingénieurs (***) is responsible for ruling in the first instance on the ability of legally constituted private technical schools to award engineering diplomas, on the basis of their programs and the quality of their teaching. This decision is taken at the request of the schools concerned, and is based on a report drawn up by one or more inspectors or inspection officers, who assess the proposed curricula and teaching[***].

Schools must align their programs with the European Qualifications Framework (***), which provides a structure for comparing qualifications across Europe. The EQF, linked to national frameworks, makes it easier to understand and compare qualifications obtained in different countries[***].

Engineering schools must adhere to the Bologna Process , which aims to harmonize higher education systems in Europe and facilitate student mobility. This includes the use of systems such as ECTS credits and diploma supplements to ensure transparency of qualifications[***].

Institutions must meet high standards of teaching and research quality. This means qualified teachers, strong research programs, and integration of teaching with industry.

It is essential to integrate professional ethics and social responsibility into engineering school curricula. This reflects the important role of engineers in society and the professional standards of engineering ...

6. Segmentation

• École Polytechnique
• Mines Paris - PSL
• CentraleSupélec
• École des Ponts ParisTech
• Télécom Paris
• Ensta Paris
• École Centrale de Lyon
• Isae-Supaero
• Ensae Paris
• ESPCI Paris - PSL
• CDEFI