Are you thinking of setting up a private school in France?
You’re right. The context has never been so favorable for investors, educational groups and international project leaders. With targeted demographic growth, record post-baccalaureate continuation rates and the rise of private establishments, France offers a strategic field of opportunity for the next 10 years.
In this article, we provide you with an in-depth, documented and results-oriented analysis of why the French higher education market is a premium opportunity… provided you master the rules of the game.
1. France (soon) passes the 3.1 million student mark
According to Information Note 25.07 from the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation (MESR), the number of registered students will exceed 3 million by the start of the 2024 academic year, and could stabilize at around 3.1 million by 2028.
This figure is structuring:
- It confirms a sustained growth dynamic in the wake of the health crisis,
- It shows that student demand is still strong, particularly in professional courses,
- It means that opening a school in France today means meeting a real, structured need.
-> Implication for you: creating an establishment now means entering a solid, growing market… before saturation.
2. A strategic turning point for the private sector
The MESR analysis also reveals a shift in growth dynamics towards non-university establishments. Between 2023 and 2024, the most significant enrolment increases will be seen in :
- Business, management and sales schools: +5,000 students in 1 year,
- Engineering schools with integrated preparatory courses: 1,800 students,
- Private higher education establishments: +1,700 students,
- Paramedical and social training: strong growth.
🔍 Source: MESR, Note d’information 25.07, May 2024
This momentum is sustainable. By 2033, these establishments will be attracting a growing share of new students, particularly from technological and vocational streams.
-> Implication for you: specialized private establishments have become credible, sought-after and perceived as agile alternatives. Position your offer in these promising segments.
3. The post-bac continuation rate continues to rise
In 2024, 75% of French baccalaureate holders will continue their studies in higher education, compared to 65.5% in 2012. Among them :
90.3% of general baccalaureate holders continue their studies immediately,
- 73.8% of technological baccalaureates,
- 43.3% of vocational baccalaureate holders (rising steadily over the past 10 years) .
This is a cross-functional trend, affecting IUTs and private schools alike. Clearly, the majority of young people are looking for training beyond the baccalaureate, in a variety of formats: apprenticeships, hybridization, specializations, certifications.
-> Implication for you: a well-positioned school with concrete outlets (employment, certification, specialization) has every chance of capturing part of this flow.
4. Quotas in the public sector, flexibility in the private sector
Public establishments (universities, IUTs) are faced with :
- access quotas (particularly for IUTs, which are very popular with technical baccalaureates),
- saturation in certain fields (humanities),
- a rigidity of operation that hinders pedagogical innovation.
Conversely, private :
- can modulate their workforce,
- build hybrid, professionally-oriented learning paths,
- integrate professional certifications (RNCP, blocks of skills),
- attract international students, especially through English-language programs
-> Implication for you: you have strong strategic leverage if you propose a well-calibrated offer, in partnership with a CB or directly leading to certification.
5. Demographics to watch… but not a hindrance
The MESR report points out that, from 2029 onwards, a stagnation or even slight demographic decline in the 18-24 age group could put the brakes on enrolment growth. However, there are three counterbalancing mechanisms:
- A steady rise in the number of students continuing their studies,
- More apprenticeship students,
- The growing openness of the system to internationalization and lifelong learning.
-> Implication for you: by also targeting an adult (retraining, CPF, etc.) and international audience, you secure your business model.
6. France = a demanding and highly rewarding market
Setting up your private school in France also means mastering a dense regulatory ecosystem:
- Declaration of establishment opening to the Rectorat,
- ERP-compliant premises,
- NDA (Declaration of Activity) filed with DREETS,
- Quality certification,
- CPF referencing or RNCP/RS certification, recognition of European diplomas,
- Specific rules if you are a foreign company (legal status, VAT, partners, etc.).
But it’s also a market:
- highly valued on the European and French-speaking scene,
- supported by public schemes (FNE, OPCO, apprenticeships),
- and recognized for the excellence of its certifications (RNCP = guarantee of quality and employability) and diplomas.
And it’s precisely on these points that Diligence Consulting will support you, step by step, without compromising on your strategic requirements.
7. The right time for international players
👉 Are you an EdTech, school or educational investor abroad?
👉 Are you targeting Europe via France?
👉 You want a profitable, agile and premium model?
Then France is the place for you… as long as you respect its codes.
Our “Set up your school in France” offer is aimed only at projects that are solid, aligned and capable of making a real impact. It includes :
- Strategic diagnosis and feasibility,
- Legal and administrative assistance,
- Support for rectoral declaration, NDA, Qualiopi,
- Help in structuring career paths,
- Referencing consulting (RNCP, RS, CPF),
- Development plan and partnerships
What our customers say about us
Want to validate your idea? Download our free checklist
Discover our “10 key steps to setting up a private school in France” guide.
This exclusive document allows you to :
- Take stock of your level of preparation,
- Identify critical stages,
- Avoid errors that block implementation.
👉 Download it here :
And if you want to go further, book your confidential strategic audit now.
Conclusion: France is a market of excellence to be seized now
Yes, the French system is complex. But it’s also one of the most attractive in Europe for those who understand its inner workings. Continued student growth, the breakthrough of private institutions, the craze for professional training and the need for hybrid models make France an ecosystem of opportunities… for the right projects.
What if yours was the next to succeed?
Let’s talk about it. With strategy, clarity… and high standards.
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