Number of students with disabilities enrolled in higher education institutions and training at national and academic level

These datasets show the number of students with disabilities enrolled in higher education institutions and training, as identified by the surveys of the Ministries in charge of National Education and Higher Education.

**Presentation of the survey:**

The Ministry of Higher Education and Research carries out an annual survey of students with disabilities in higher education, to which is added information from the survey of students with disabilities in secondary education of the Ministry of National Education.

This data brings together information from 8 sets of higher education institutions:
Les universités ;
Les écoles publiques d’ingénieurs extérieures aux universités sous tutelle du ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur et de la recherche ;
Les grands établissements sous tutelle du ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur et de la recherche ;
Les écoles normales supérieures ;
Les instituts d’études politiques ;
Les établissements publics à caractère administratif en France qui ont des missions d’enseignement et de recherche ;
Les établissements d’enseignement supérieur privé d’intérêt général ;
Les lycées des secteurs public et privé, y compris de l’enseignement privé hors contrat, qui proposent des formations d’enseignement supérieur (classes préparatoires aux concours des grandes écoles-CPGE, sections de technicien supérieur-STS).

The data come from the structures in charge of students with disabilities in higher education institutions (except for training courses in high schools, for which the data are provided by a teacher responsible for the schooling of students with disabilities). One of the tasks of these structures is to record the number of students enrolled in initial training who have reported their disability.

The disability situation is assessed in accordance with the Law of 11 February 2005, with the exception of students enrolled in high school (STS-CPGE), for whom the disability situation is assessed on the basis of possession of a personalised schooling project (PPS) resulting from an application made to the Departmental House of Disabled Persons (MDPH).

**Structural data discrepancies:**

- The survey is not mandatory and some institutions refuse to complete it.
- Depending on the institution, the interpretation of the definition of disability may vary (e.g. STS-CPGE compared to the University).
- Institutions are asked to provide information regarding the student's main education as well as the type of main disorder. It should be noted that it is the services in charge of disability within the institutions that complete the survey. In the context of agreements between establishments, it is possible for one establishment to complete the survey for several other establishments due to staffing or logistical constraints.
- Data refer to students who are known to the services in charge of disability within the institutions, and not to all students with disabilities. Some students do not wish to make their disability situation known to their institution.
- The survey underestimates certain populations of students with disabilities (for example, those enrolled in thesis studies).

The 2023 edition of the survey marks the first participation of private higher education institutions of general interest. The information on these institutions may present some approximations.