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France vs Turkey (Comparing Education Systems 2026)

Explore full profiles:🏫 France Education System🏫 Turkey Education System
Updated: September 12, 2026 View update notes
Turkey – Country Data: Refreshed Türkiye’s PISA profile with 2025 scores and a revised long-term performance summary.
France – Country Data: Added France’s PISA 2025 results, complete participation history, and updated long-term trend analysis.

This page compares the education systems of France and Turkey.

Education System Overview

France and Turkey education system comparison: Education System Overview
CategoryFranceTurkey
System TypePublic-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; Governance model: Centralized, with national education policy, curricula and major regulations administered primarily through the Ministry of National Education.
Governing BodyMinistry of National Education for school education and the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space for tertiary education.Ministry of National Education (MEB) for school education and the Council of Higher Education (CoHE / YÖK) for higher education.
Government Expenditure on Education (% of GDP)5.32% of GDP (2022, latest available value for general government expenditure on education). [World Bank]3.1% of GDP (2022, latest value in the World Bank indicator sourced from UNESCO UIS). [World Bank]

Education Structure & Compulsory Schooling

France and Turkey education system comparison: Education Structure & Compulsory Schooling
CategoryFranceTurkey
Compulsory Age RangeFrom 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]Approximately age 6 to age 18, covering 12 years of compulsory schooling.
Total Compulsory Duration (Years)13 years of compulsory instruction (ages 3–16), followed by the separate training obligation through age 18.12 years
Pre-primary Education (ECE) AccessCompulsory from age 3. In 2024, the schooling rate was 98.5% at age 3 and 100% at ages 4 and 5. [French Ministry]Optional; the adjusted net enrollment rate for ages 3–5 was 49.63% in 2024/25. [MEB]
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]4 + 4 + 4 (Primary + Lower Secondary + Upper Secondary).
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

France and Turkey education system comparison: Academic Calendar & Instruction Time
CategoryFranceTurkey
Academic Year Start (Typical Month)September. [French Ministry]September
Academic Year End (Typical Month)July. [French Ministry]June
Instruction Weeks per Year36 weeks. [Légifrance]36 weeks
Instruction Days per Year—180 days in the 2025/26 school year.

Grading System

France and Turkey education system comparison: Grading System
CategoryFranceTurkey
Primary/Secondary Grading ScaleThe 0–20 scale is widely used in secondary education, while competency-based assessment is also used, particularly during compulsory schooling.A 0–100 scale is commonly used in secondary education; primary-level assessment also incorporates competency and developmental evaluation.
Higher Education Grading ScaleCommonly 0–20, with 10/20 generally representing a passing mark; higher education programs use ECTS credits within the LMD degree structure. [Campus France]Commonly 0–100 and/or 4.0 GPA systems depending on the institution, with ECTS used for credit recognition and transfer.

Language of Instruction

France and Turkey education system comparison: Language of Instruction
CategoryFranceTurkey
Primary Instruction Languages (K–12)FrenchTurkish
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.Greek and Armenian may be used in relevant minority schools alongside Turkish; other living languages and dialects can be offered through approved elective courses. [MEB Eurydice]

School Provision & Access (K–12)

France and Turkey education system comparison: School Provision & Access (K–12)
CategoryFranceTurkey
Public School Enrollment Share (K–12, % of Students)86.4% in primary education and 78.8% in secondary education in 2025. [French Ministry]90.9% among students enrolled in public or private formal schools in 2024/25. [MEB]
Public School Tuition Fee (Annual, Local Currency)$0 tuition. Public primary and secondary education is tuition-free. [French Ministry]$0 tuition for public primary and secondary schooling.
Public Schools Nationwide AvailabilityYes, with public primary and secondary education provided nationwide.Yes, with public schools operating nationwide.
Private School Enrollment Share (K–12, % of Students)Approximately 13.6% in primary education and 21.2% in secondary education in 2025. [French Ministry]9.1% among students enrolled in public or private formal schools in 2024/25. [MEB]
Private Schools (Geographic Concentration)——

International Schools (K–12)

France and Turkey education system comparison: International Schools (K–12)
CategoryFranceTurkey
Number of International Schools (Total)—261 international schools under the official classification for 2023/24. [MEB Eurydice]
Number of IB World Schools—127 schools in the current IB directory for Türkiye. [IB]
Main International Programmes OfferedInternational 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]IB, Cambridge International, American and other international curricula, depending on school authorization and program.

Resources & Learning Environment (K–12)

France and Turkey education system comparison: Resources & Learning Environment (K–12)
CategoryFranceTurkey
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]An eligible Bachelor’s-level degree for the teaching field, followed by the applicable public recruitment process. The current system includes MEB-AGS selection and preparatory training through the National Education Academy. [MEB]
Average Class Size (Primary)21.1 students in elementary classes (2025). [French Ministry]20.6 students (2023). [OECD]
Average Class Size (Lower Secondary)25.7 students in collège classes (2025). [French Ministry]28 students in public schools / 13 students in private schools (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)

France and Turkey education system comparison: System Performance & Learning Outcomes (OECD/PISA)
CategoryFranceTurkey
PISA Participation Years2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2022, 2025. [OECD]2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2022, 2025. [OECD]
PISA 2018 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science)495 / 493 / 493. [OECD]454 / 466 / 468. [OECD]
PISA 2022 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science)474 / 474 / 487. [OECD]453 / 456 / 476. [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]462 / 472 / 494. Türkiye scored close to the OECD average in mathematics and above the OECD averages in reading and science. [OECD]
PISA Performance Trend 2000–2025France’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]Türkiye’s 2025 results were higher than in 2022 in mathematics, reading and science. OECD reports that Türkiye was among the few participating systems to improve in all three domains between 2022 and 2025, extending the positive trend recorded in previous cycles. [OECD]
Strongest Subject Area (PISA 2025)Science (Score: 483), followed by mathematics at 458 and reading at 456. [OECD]Science (Score: 494), followed by reading at 472 and mathematics at 462. [OECD]

Higher Education System

France and Turkey education system comparison: Higher Education System
CategoryFranceTurkey
Number of Higher Education Institutions (Total)More than 3,500 public and private higher education institutions. [Campus France]208 higher education institutions in 2025, comprising 129 state universities, 75 foundation universities and 4 foundation vocational schools. [CoHE]
Number of Universities (Research Universities)78 universities and communities of institutions. [Campus France]23 designated research universities. [CoHE]
Number of Universities of Applied Sciences / Colleges——
Main Institution TypesUniversities; Grandes Écoles; engineering schools; business and management schools; art and architecture schools; specialized institutions; IUT and STS programs.State universities; foundation universities; foundation vocational schools; vocational schools operating within universities.
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 UsedAcademic 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 in the 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]6 in the QS World University Rankings 2027. [QS]
Universities in Top 1000 (Selected Ranking)27 in ARWU 2026. [Campus France]11 in the QS World University Rankings 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]Turkish Higher Education Quality Council (YÖKAK). [YÖKAK]
International Students (Total)443,500 foreign students were enrolled in French higher education in 2024/25. [Campus France]352,271 international students (January 2025). [CoHE]
International Students Share of Total Tertiary Enrollment (%)Approximately 15% in 2024/25. [Campus France]4.3% in 2023 under the OECD international/foreign student measure. [OECD]

Education Costs (Indicative)

France and Turkey education system comparison: Education Costs (Indicative)
CategoryFranceTurkey
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]Typically $0 for eligible students enrolled in a first standard public higher-education program within state-covered conditions; contribution fees can apply in specified cases.
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

France and Turkey education system comparison: Major Education Updates & Policy Changes
CategoryFranceTurkey
2000–2010: Key Updates & Reforms
  • Higher education adopted the LMD structure (Licence–Master–Doctorate) and ECTS credits as part of European degree alignment. [Campus France]
  • The common base of knowledge and skills became part of compulsory education, later developing into the current common base of knowledge, skills and culture.
  • University governance and institutional autonomy changed during the decade, alongside continued implementation of the European Bachelor’s-Master’s-Doctorate degree structure.
  • Türkiye joined the Bologna Process in 2001, followed by higher-education changes involving ECTS, degree recognition and European Higher Education Area alignment. [CoHE]
  • Curriculum development and renewal work began in 2005 and subsequently covered primary and secondary programs. [MEB]
  • The FATİH Project was launched on 22 November 2010 to expand the use of digital technology in schools. [MEB]
    • 2010–2020: Key Updates & Reforms
  • The common base of knowledge, skills and culture was established by the 2015 decree, with revised elementary and collège programs taking effect from 2016. [French Ministry]
  • Compulsory instruction was lowered from age 6 to age 3 from the 2019 school year.
  • Reform of the general and technological baccalauréat was adopted, with a new structure combining terminal examinations and continuous assessment for implementation from the 2021 session. [French Ministry]
  • In 2012, compulsory schooling was extended to 12 years under the 4+4+4 structure.
  • The EBA digital education platform became part of the national school technology system, expanding digital learning resources for teachers and students. [MEB]
  • Revised curricula covering 51 programs were announced in 2017, with implementation beginning across selected grade levels in the 2017/18 school year. [MEB]
    • 2020–2024: Key Updates & Reforms
  • The training obligation for ages 16–18 took effect in September 2020 for young people no longer covered by compulsory schooling. [Éduscol]
  • The revised general and technological baccalauréat was implemented, with 40% of the final result based on continuous assessment and 60% on terminal examinations. [French Ministry]
  • The national Mon Master platform became the common application system for first-year Master’s programs in 2023. [Higher Education Ministry]
  • Nationwide remote education through EBA and TRT EBA began on 23 March 2020 during school closures. [MEB]
  • The Türkiye Yüzyılı Maarif Modeli curriculum programs began phased implementation in 2024/25 in pre-primary education and grades 1, 5 and 9, with preparatory classes included at upper-secondary level. [MEB]
  • The Teacher Profession Law No. 7528, adopted in October 2024, established the National Education Academy and revised provisions governing teacher preparation and the teaching profession. [MEB]
    • 2025–2026: Key Updates & Reforms
  • The 2026 teacher recruitment reform introduced external recruitment competitions at bac+3, followed by two years of paid initial training, while transitional bac+5 competitions continue through 2027. [French Ministry]
  • A new early mathematics examination for students in première générale and technologique was held for the first time in June 2026 and counts toward the 2027 baccalauréat. [French Ministry]
  • New mathematics programs entered into force in seconde and première for the 2026/27 school year, with terminale scheduled to follow in 2027/28. [Éduscol]
  • The phased Türkiye Yüzyılı Maarif Modeli rollout extended to grades 2, 6 and 10 in the 2025/26 school year. [MEB]
  • The first National Education Academy teacher-candidate preparatory training cycle began on 13 April 2026. [MEB]
  • For 2026/27, the curriculum model extends through grades 1–3 in primary education and grades 5–7 in lower secondary education. [MEB]

    • General Overview (Narrative)

    France and Turkey education system comparison: General Overview (Narrative)
    CategoryFranceTurkey
    OverviewFrance 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.Türkiye operates a centralized education system, with school education overseen by the Ministry of National Education and higher education coordinated by the Council of Higher Education. Compulsory schooling covers approximately ages 6–18 and follows the 4+4+4 structure of primary, lower secondary and upper secondary education. In 2024/25, private schools enrolled 9.1% of students attending public or private formal schools, while public schools accounted for the remaining 90.9%. Pre-primary education is optional, with a 49.63% adjusted net enrollment rate for ages 3–5. Türkiye participated in PISA from 2003 onward and scored 462 in mathematics, 472 in reading and 494 in science in PISA 2025. OECD reported higher results than in 2022 across all three domains. Higher education included 208 institutions in 2025 and 352,271 international students as of January 2025. Recent changes include the phased rollout of the Türkiye Yüzyılı Maarif Modeli and the start of teacher-candidate preparatory training through the National Education Academy in 2026.

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