Should we finance apprenticeships at the university level? Descriptive evidence from France

Jérémy Hervelin and Camille Frouard

No 13/2026, ZEW policy briefs from ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research

Abstract: France's apprenticeship system, which combines firm-based training with academic instruction, has expanded rapidly in recent years, especially at the university level. Unlike most European countries, France allows apprenticeships all the way up to master's degrees, a trend significantly accelerated by the 2018 Loi pour la liberté de choisir son avenir professionnel. The reform liberalised programme creation, simplified funding, and introduced strong financial incentives, leading to a twelvefold rise in higher education apprenticeships between 2000 and 2025. Drawing on administrative data and Hervelin and Merran (2026), we show that apprentices have higher employment and wage outcomes than non-apprentice students. However, we also show that the expansion of the system has coincided with more contract terminations, poorer matching quality, and potentially sizable windfall effects, as firms rely on subsidised apprentices rather than hire new regular employees. Public expenditure has tripled since 2018, raising concerns regarding fiscal sustainability and programme efficiency. Future policy should prioritise high-school apprenticeships (where matches are stronger) while strengthening links to the university labour market to improve outcomes and ensure sustainable public spending.

Date: 2026
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