This page compares the education systems of France and Estonia.
Education System Overview
| Category | France | Estonia |
|---|---|---|
| System Type | Public-private mix; Governance model: Centralized, with national rules for curricula, qualifications and teacher recruitment, while regions, departments and municipalities manage responsibilities such as buildings, equipment and local services. [French Ministry] | Public/private mix; decentralized provision under national standards, with local governments responsible for much of municipal school provision. [Estonian Ministry] |
| Governing Body | Ministry of National Education for school education and the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space for tertiary education. | Ministry of Education and Research for national education policy; the Education and Youth Board implements education and youth policy within the ministry’s area of government. [Estonian Ministry] [Education and Youth Board] |
| Government Expenditure on Education (% of GDP) | 5.32% of GDP (2022, latest available value for general government expenditure on education). [World Bank] | 5.2% (2022, latest value in the World Bank/UNESCO UIS series). [World Bank] |
Education Structure & Compulsory Schooling
| Category | France | Estonia |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory Age Range | From age 3 to age 16. A separate training obligation applies from ages 16 to 18 and can be fulfilled through schooling, vocational training, employment, civic service or an approved support pathway. [Éduscol] | From age 7 to age 18. The obligation may end earlier if the learner completes secondary or vocational education. The extended learning obligation applies from the 2025/2026 academic year. [Estonian Ministry] |
| Total Compulsory Duration (Years) | 13 years of compulsory instruction (ages 3–16), followed by the separate training obligation through age 18. | Up to 11 years from age 7 to 18; the obligation ends earlier when secondary or vocational education is completed. Basic school itself has a standard duration of 9 years. [Estonian Ministry] |
| Pre-primary Education (ECE) Access | Compulsory from age 3. In 2024, the schooling rate was 98.5% at age 3 and 100% at ages 4 and 5. [French Ministry] | Optional before compulsory school age. In 2025, participation in preschool institutions was 90.9% at age 3, 92.9% at age 4 and 93.0% at age 5. [Statistics Estonia] |
| Primary + Secondary Education Structure (Years) | 5 + 4 + 3 (Primary + Lower Secondary/Collège + Upper Secondary/Lycée). Pre-primary education normally adds three years before primary school. [French Ministry] | 6 + 3 + 3: grades 1–6, grades 7–9, followed by a standard 3-year general upper-secondary programme. Basic school as a whole covers grades 1–9. [Riigi Teataja] |
| Vocational vs. General Upper Secondary Split (%) | Approximately 29.3% Vocational / 70.7% General & Technological among lycée students in 2025, based on 661,600 vocational and 1,599,400 general and technological students. [French Ministry] | — |
Academic Calendar & Instruction Time
| Category | France | Estonia |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Year Start (Typical Month) | September. [French Ministry] | September; the statutory academic year begins on 1 September. [Estonian Ministry] |
| Academic Year End (Typical Month) | July. [French Ministry] | June for regular classroom teaching; the statutory academic year runs until 31 August. [Estonian Ministry] |
| Instruction Weeks per Year | 36 weeks. [Légifrance] | At least 35 weeks in general education; the final upper-secondary grade has at least 37 weeks. [Estonian Ministry] |
| Instruction Days per Year | — | At least 175 study days; the final upper-secondary grade has at least 185 study days. [Estonian Ministry] |
Grading System
| Category | France | Estonia |
|---|---|---|
| Primary/Secondary Grading Scale | The 0–20 scale is widely used in secondary education, while competency-based assessment is also used, particularly during compulsory schooling. | 1–5 scale: 5 = very good, 4 = good, 3 = satisfactory, 2 = poor and 1 = weak. Descriptive assessment may also be used in stages I and II of basic school under school rules. [Riigi Teataja] |
| Higher Education Grading Scale | Commonly 0–20, with 10/20 generally representing a passing mark; higher education programs use ECTS credits within the LMD degree structure. [Campus France] | A–F differentiated grading is commonly used in higher education, with A the highest positive grade and F a failing grade; pass/fail assessment may also be used. |
Language of Instruction
| Category | France | Estonia |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Instruction Languages (K–12) | French | Estonian is the statutory language of instruction in basic and upper-secondary schools. The transition to Estonian-language education began in 2024 and is being phased through the remaining grades. [Estonian Ministry] |
| Other Official / Minority Instruction Languages (K–12) | Regional languages can be taught through bilingual or specialized programs, including Breton, Basque, Catalan, Corsican, Occitan and regional Germanic languages. | Russian remains in limited transitional use where permitted during the move to Estonian-language education. English is used by several IB schools, while the Tallinn European School provides programmes in English and French. [Estonian Ministry] |
School Provision & Access (K–12)
| Category | France | Estonia |
|---|---|---|
| Public School Enrollment Share (K–12, % of Students) | 86.4% in primary education and 78.8% in secondary education in 2025. [French Ministry] | Primary: 92% / Secondary: 94% (2024, based on the corresponding private-enrolment shares). [World Bank] [World Bank] |
| Public School Tuition Fee (Annual, Local Currency) | $0 tuition. Public primary and secondary education is tuition-free. [French Ministry] | $0 for public basic and general upper-secondary education. [Riigi Teataja] |
| Public Schools Nationwide Availability | Yes, with public primary and secondary education provided nationwide. | Yes. Local governments must provide access to basic education for children in their territory, and municipal schools have designated service areas. [Estonian Ministry] |
| Private School Enrollment Share (K–12, % of Students) | Approximately 13.6% in primary education and 21.2% in secondary education in 2025. [French Ministry] | Primary: 8% / Secondary: 6% (2024). [World Bank] [World Bank] |
| Private Schools (Geographic Concentration) | — | — |
International Schools (K–12)
| Category | France | Estonia |
|---|---|---|
| Number of International Schools (Total) | — | 7 schools in Tallinn and Tartu are listed by the Ministry as offering internationally recognized IB or European Baccalaureate curricula. [Estonian Ministry] |
| Number of IB World Schools | — | 6 schools are listed by the Ministry with IB programmes. The IB country register reports PYP at 5 schools, MYP at 4 and DP at 5. [IB] |
| Main International Programmes Offered | International Baccalaureate, International Sections, Cambridge programs and American-style curricula, depending on the school. The IB currently lists French schools offering PYP, MYP, DP and CP programs. [IB] | International Baccalaureate (IB) and European Baccalaureate (EB). [Estonian Ministry] |
Resources & Learning Environment (K–12)
| Category | France | Estonia |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Teacher Qualification (Public Schools) | From the 2026 recruitment session, the main external teacher recruitment competitions opened at Bachelor’s level (bac+3), followed by two years of paid initial training. Transitional bac+5 competitions continue through 2027 for candidates already following the previous route. [French Ministry] | For basic and upper-secondary teachers: master’s degree or equivalent, a teaching profession and the required Estonian-language proficiency; alternatively, a doctoral degree or equivalent plus the required Estonian-language proficiency. The doctoral route entered into force in January 2026. [Riigi Teataja] |
| Average Class Size (Primary) | 21.1 students in elementary classes (2025). [French Ministry] | 18.4 students (2023). [OECD] |
| Average Class Size (Lower Secondary) | 25.7 students in collège classes (2025). [French Ministry] | 19 students (2023). [OECD] |
| Average Class Size (Upper Secondary) | 30.2 students in general and technological lycée classes / 18.4 students in vocational lycée classes (2025). [French Ministry] | — |
System Performance & Learning Outcomes (OECD/PISA)
| Category | France | Estonia |
|---|---|---|
| PISA Participation Years | 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2022, 2025. [OECD] | 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2022, 2025. [Estonian Ministry] |
| PISA 2018 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 495 / 493 / 493. [OECD] | 523 / 523 / 530 [OECD] |
| PISA 2022 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 474 / 474 / 487. [OECD] | 510 / 511 / 526 [OECD] |
| PISA 2025 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 458 / 456 / 483. France performed close to the OECD averages of 463 in mathematics, 461 in reading and 482 in science. [OECD] | 508 / 499 / 527 [OECD] |
| PISA Performance Trend 2000–2025 | France’s 2025 results were lower than in 2022 in mathematics and reading and about the same in science. The 2025 results were among France’s lowest PISA results across all three domains and were below the levels recorded in 2015. [OECD] | Estonia first participated in 2006. Between 2022 and 2025, mathematics and science performance was about the same, while reading was lower. Mathematics and reading in 2025 were also below their 2015 and 2018 levels, while science has been broadly stable since 2015. [OECD] |
| Strongest Subject Area (PISA 2025) | Science (Score: 483), followed by mathematics at 458 and reading at 456. [OECD] | Science — 527 points. [OECD] |
Higher Education System
| Category | France | Estonia |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Higher Education Institutions (Total) | More than 3,500 public and private higher education institutions. [Campus France] | 18 (2025). [Statistics Estonia] |
| Number of Universities (Research Universities) | 78 universities and communities of institutions. [Campus France] | 7: 6 public universities and 1 private university in the 2025/26 system count. [Estonian Ministry] |
| Number of Universities of Applied Sciences / Colleges | — | 11 professional higher education institutions: 7 state and 4 private. [Estonian Ministry] |
| Main Institution Types | Universities; Grandes Écoles; engineering schools; business and management schools; art and architecture schools; specialized institutions; IUT and STS programs. | Universities and professional higher education institutions. |
| Tertiary Enrollment Share by Ownership | — | — |
| English-Taught Degree Programmes (Bachelor + Master, Total) | More than 1,600 programs taught in English. [Campus France] | — |
| Share of Tertiary Programmes Taught in National Languages (%) | — | — |
| Share of Tertiary Programmes Taught in English (%) | — | — |
| Main Global Ranking Used | Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) 2026. [Campus France] | QS World University Rankings 2027. [QS] |
| Universities in Top 100 (Selected Ranking) | 4 in ARWU 2026: Paris-Saclay University, PSL University, Sorbonne University and Université Paris Cité. [Campus France] | 0 (QS World University Rankings 2027). [QS] |
| Universities in Top 500 (Selected Ranking) | 17 in ARWU 2026, including the four institutions in the Top 100 and 13 additional institutions ranked from 101 to 500. [Campus France] | 1 — University of Tartu, #=367 (QS 2027). [QS] |
| Universities in Top 1000 (Selected Ranking) | 27 in ARWU 2026. [Campus France] | 3 — University of Tartu (#=367), Tallinn University of Technology (#=600) and Tallinn University (#901–950) in QS 2027. [QS] |
| National Accreditation / QA Agency (Higher Education) | Hcéres (High Council for Evaluation of Research and Higher Education), which evaluates higher education institutions, programs and research units. [Hcéres] | Estonian Quality Agency for Education (HAKA), an independent unit within the Education and Youth Board responsible for quality assessment in higher education and other education sectors. [HAKA] |
| International Students (Total) | 443,500 foreign students were enrolled in French higher education in 2024/25. [Campus France] | 3,879 degree students from abroad in the 2025/26 academic year. [Statistics Estonia] |
| International Students Share of Total Tertiary Enrollment (%) | Approximately 15% in 2024/25. [Campus France] | 8.2% in the 2025/26 academic year. [Estonian Ministry] |
Education Costs (Indicative)
| Category | France | Estonia |
|---|---|---|
| Public University Tuition Fees – Domestic / Regional (Annual, Local Currency) | Approximately $210–$740 per year for standard public Bachelor’s, Master’s and engineering registration fees in 2026/27; some institutions and programs charge different amounts. [Campus France] | $0 for eligible full-time Estonian-language study; fees may apply when tuition-free conditions are not met. [Estonian Ministry] |
| Public University Tuition Fees – International / Non-EU (Annual, Local Currency) | Approximately $3,400–$4,700 per year for differentiated Bachelor’s and Master’s fees in 2026/27 at institutions applying the national fee schedule; exemptions and lower fees apply in some cases. [Campus France] | — |
| Typical Tuition Fees for English-Taught Programmes (Annual, Local Currency) | — | — |
| Language School Costs (Monthly, Local Currency) | — | — |
Major Education Updates & Policy Changes
| Category | France | Estonia |
|---|---|---|
| 2000–2010: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2010–2020: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2020–2024: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2025–2026: Key Updates & Reforms |
General Overview (Narrative)
| Category | France | Estonia |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | France operates a centralized education system with national curricula, qualifications and teacher recruitment alongside local responsibility for school facilities and services. Compulsory instruction runs from age 3 to 16, followed by a training obligation through age 18. Primary and secondary education follow a 5+4+3 structure, with upper secondary students choosing general, technological or vocational pathways. Most students attend public schools, which are tuition-free. In PISA 2025, France scored 458 in mathematics, 456 in reading and 483 in science; mathematics and reading were lower than in 2022, while science was about the same. Higher education includes more than 3,500 institutions, including universities, Grandes Écoles, engineering schools, business schools and specialized institutions. France had 443,500 foreign students in higher education in 2024/25. Current changes include bac+3 teacher recruitment from the 2026 session, the first early mathematics examination for the baccalauréat in June 2026, and new mathematics programs introduced for seconde and première in the 2026/27 school year. | Estonia operates a public-led education system in which national authorities set standards while municipalities manage much of local school provision. Children normally begin basic school at age 7. Basic education lasts nine years, followed by general upper-secondary or vocational pathways, and the learning obligation now continues to age 18 unless secondary or vocational education is completed earlier. Preschool participation is high among children aged three to five. The statutory school year begins on 1 September, with general education providing at least 175 study days. Estonia is also moving basic education toward Estonian as the common language of instruction, with the transition being introduced grade by grade. In PISA 2025, Estonia scored 508 in mathematics, 499 in reading and 527 in science, making science its highest-scoring core domain. Higher education was provided by 18 institutions in 2025, including universities and professional higher education institutions. Foreign degree students numbered 3,879 in 2025/26, representing 8.2% of the student body. Current school changes include the extended learning obligation, the continuing language transition and the teacher career model introduced in 2026. |