According to figures from the Ministry of Higher Education, at the end of 2025, 628,500 students were in apprenticeships, marking a 4% decrease from the previous year. This general trend, the first observed since the introduction of apprenticeships in this sector, affects the majority of academies.
Following the decrease noted in Guadeloupe (-15%), the Bordeaux academy shows the most significant decline with -11%. Paris and Rennes follow with -8% each. These figures come from a flash note by SIES, the ministry's statistical service, which uses three sources: the SIFA survey of CFAs, the SISE surveys on student tracking, and post-baccalaureate databases from the MEN and MESRE and the ministry in charge of Agriculture.
Several factors may explain this decline, including the reduction in public aid and its refocusing on certain categories of companies and training levels in 2025.
The decrease in enrollment affects most training programs, particularly BTS (-8%) and professional bachelor's degrees (-10%). Enrollment is declining more moderately in IUTs (-5%), in programs exclusively awarding accredited titles (-4%), and in business schools (-4%). Only master's degree and engineering school programs (+2% each), along with other training programs (+1%), show slight growth.
Differences in social background are also observed. In engineering schools, 43% of apprentices have parents in management positions, compared to 57% for students in regular academic status. Similar disparities are noted in business schools.
