Ministère en Charge de la Recherche et de l'Enseignement Supérieur (France)

What Ministère en Charge de la Recherche et de l'Enseignement Supérieur (France) does

The Ministère de l'Enseignement supérieur, de la Recherche et de l'Espace (MESRE) is the French government ministry headquartered at 1 rue Descartes, Paris, responsible for higher education, research, and space policy. It governs a national system serving 3.03 million enrolled students and supervises universities, grandes écoles, and public research organizations through central directorates (DGESIP, DGRI) and the regional DRARI network. Internal divisions include SIES for statistical intelligence, while operational delivery is executed through the 27 regional Crous offices managing 175,000 student housing units, the 32 PEPITE entrepreneurship centers, and the 31 SNEE programs. The ministry was renamed in 2022 to include "Espace" (Space) and is currently led by Minister Philippe Baptiste.

MESRE's core technology footprint is a portfolio of national digital platforms delivered as direct-to-citizen services: Parcoursup (handling 576,749 baccalaureate holders and 152,351 admitted students in the 2026 cycle), Mon Master for M1 applications, Mon Logement Étudiant (a beta.gouv.fr State Startup aggregating 241,000 housing units across 1,528 residences), Santé Psy Étudiant (1,400 partner psychologists, 95,000+ students supported since 2021), the 3040 national student mental-health hotline, and the Open Data ESR platform with API-based dynamic data access. The product ecosystem is unified through etudiant.gouv.fr and supported by partner channels (Nightline, BAPU, ONISEP, Choose France for Science) and statistical publications including the weekly Bulletin officiel (ISSN 2110-6061) and SIES analytical reports. Notable tech differentiators are integration/interoperability across student-lifecycle platforms and open-data APIs.

The ministry operates a public-budget revenue model funded entirely by the French state. The 2025 budget is €26.8 billion, distributed across three programmes: €15.3B for programme 150 (Higher Education and University Research), €3.2B for programme 231 (Student Life), and €8.3B for programme 172 (Multidisciplinary Scientific and Technological Research). All core services — admissions, housing, mental health, orientation — are provided free at point of use to citizens, with differentiated tuition applying only to non-EU international students under specific regulations. GTM is direct-to-consumer via government digital platforms, with channel partnerships through Crous, PEPITE, universities, and ONISEP extending reach to students, researchers, institutions, journalists, and student entrepreneurs.

Name

Ministère en Charge de la Recherche et de l'Enseignement Supérieur (France)

Legal name

Ministère de l'Enseignement supérieur, de la Recherche et de l'Espace

Website

https://enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr

Company type

Public

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space (MESRE) is a Paris-headquartered government ministry administering national higher-education and research policy for 3.03 million students via direct digital platforms (Parcoursup, Mon Master, Mon Logement Étudiant, Santé Psy Étudiant) and a €26.8 billion annual public budget.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Higher Education Administration

NAICS

Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support (921), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAIAAAE

Government Digital Service & eGovernment (Service Delivery, IDs, Portals)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Central/Federal Government Administration

SECONDARYBPAIAAAH

Public Communications, Transparency & Open Government

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Central/Federal Government Administration

SECONDARYHLAJALAB

Health Research Funding Agencies (Public/Quasi-Public)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Public Health Funding, Grants & Program Administration

SECONDARYEDADAHAA

Government Student Financial Aid Agencies

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Education Funding, Grants & Financial Aid Administration

Keywords

• Government higher education administration
• National student services
• Public research funding
• Higher education admissions platform
• Student welfare programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Budget Allocation: The ministry operates under a public budget funded by the French state. The 2025 budget is 26.8 billion euros distributed across three programs: 15.3 billion for programme 150 (Higher Education and University Research), 3.2 billion for programme 231 (Student Life), and 8.3 billion for programme 172 (Multidisciplinary Scientific and Technological Research)

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

French national government ministry that operates digital platforms (Parcoursup, Mon Master, Mon Logement Étudiant, Santé Psy Étudiant, 3040 hotline, etudiant.gouv.fr, Open Data ESR) delivering higher education admissions, master's applications, student housing, mental health support, research funding, and entrepreneurship programs to 3.03 million students and the national research community.

Product overview

The ministry operates a platform-based digital ecosystem comprising multiple interconnected products for higher education admissions (Parcoursup, Mon Master), student services (Santé Psy Étudiant, 3040 listening service, Mon Logement Étudiant, etudiant.gouv.fr), research support (data. Open Data ESR, SIES statistical publications), and entrepreneurship (Pépite). The portfolio includes both direct ministry-operated platforms and partner-supported services (Nightline, BAPU), unified through shared infrastructure including Open Data API and the etudiant.gouv.fr portal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Parcoursup National platform for admission to higher education managing student applications, rankings, and admission proposals. Includes simulation tools and training site for prospective students. Handled 576,749 baccalaureate holders and 152,351 students in 2026 and sent 2.9 million admission proposals on the first day of the 2026 admission phase.
• Mon Master National platform for M1 master's candidates, allowing students to research and apply to master's programs across France with complementary phase through September.
• Mon Logement Étudiant State Startup platform providing unified access to student social housing, aggregating 241,000 housing units from Crous, social landlords, associations, and local authorities with personalized alerts and a budget calculator. Has served over 600,000 users since launch in July 2025.
• Santé Psy Étudiant Free psychological support device enabling students to benefit from twelve free sessions with partner psychologists without advance payment, renewable. Network of 1,400 partner psychologists has supported over 95,000 students since 2021 and facilitated over 650,000 consultations as of 2026.
• 3040 - Numéro national d'écoute étudiant National single toll-free listening number for student well-being operated by Coordination nationale d'aide aux étudiants (Cnaé), providing access to a multidisciplinary team for listening, information, and orientation. Available 10h-21h weekdays and 10h-14h Saturday.
• etudiant.gouv.fr Central student portal covering financial aid, procedures, housing, studies, health, employment, and culture with resources for student life management and links to all related ministry platforms.
• Nightline Association-supported student listening service providing confidential, non-judgmental peer support through trained student volunteers, including the Sentinelle program and La Fresque de la Santé Mentale awareness tools. Handled 7,200 calls and deployed 320 awareness actions in 2024 with 300 young volunteers, receiving 120,000 euros in subsidies from the ministry that year.
• BAPU (Bureaux d'aide psychologique universitaires) University psychological support offices staffed by psychotherapists, social workers, and administrative teams, offering unlimited sessions fully covered by social security and mutual funds.
• data.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr (Open Data ESR) Open data platform providing access to datasets on higher education and research, with dynamic API access for third-party applications, filtering capabilities, documentation, and multi-format export.
• SIES Statistical Publications Statistical intelligence service (Sous-direction des Systèmes d'Information et des Études Statistiques) publishing flash notes, information notes, annual publications, R&D surveys, and education reports on higher education and research.
• Bulletin Officiel de l'Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche Weekly official bulletin publishing administrative acts including decrees, orders, service notes, circulars, and vacancy notices for higher education and research. Published weekly with ISSN 2110-6061.
• Pépite - Pôles étudiants pour l'innovation, le transfert et l'entrepreneuriat Student entrepreneurship network comprising 31-32 Pôles Étudiants pour l'Innovation, le Transfert et l'Entrepreneuriat supporting innovative projects. Runs the Prix Pépite competition and manages the SNEE (Statut National Étudiant-Entrepreneur), having supported 39,919 project holders since 2014-2015, with 5,843 benefiting in 2023-2024.
• ONISEP (Office national d'information sur les enseignements et les professions) National office for information on education and professions, providing guidance services for students on orientation and career paths through the ministry's partnership.
• Santé Psy Étudiant Podcast Kaavan Mental health podcast launched in March 2024 featuring interviews with personalities, experts, and anonymous individuals sharing experiences and advice on student mental health topics including eating disorders.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3.03 million students enrolled in higher education (2025)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature6 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Coordination nationale d'aide aux étudiants (Cnaé)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026As of July 1, 2026, the Cnaé took over operation of the 3040 hotline, replacing the previous operator. The coordination brings together a pluridisciplinary team providing listening, information and orientation services for students facing psychological or social difficulties.
• Mon Logement Étudiant Partner OrganizationsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025Over 70 partner organizations including social landlords, associations, and local authorities contribute housing listings to the Mon Logement Étudiant platform alongside the Crous network. Additionally, 40 universities and higher education institutions partner in platform development, with plans to integrate with DossierFacile for streamlined rental applications.
• En Avant Toutes (3040 operator)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024The ministry funds and partners with the 'En Avant Toutes' association to operate the 3040 national student wellbeing hotline. The association provides a multidisciplinary team (psychologists, educators, legal experts) offering listening, information and referral services to students in difficulty. The partnership is financed by the ministry and represents a core student support channel.
• NightlinemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Nightline is an association supported by the ministry and Crous network, providing confidential listening lines staffed by trained student volunteers. The ministry provided 120,000 euros in subsidies in 2024. Nightline handled 7,200 calls and deployed 320 awareness actions in 2024 with 300 young volunteers.
• Santé Psy Étudiant Partner PsychologistscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024The Santé Psy Étudiant program relies on a network of 1,400 partner psychologists providing up to twelve free psychological sessions to students. This network has supported over 95,000 students since 2021 and facilitated over 650,000 consultations as of 2026.
• Association Dites Je suis làminorOthers · 1 January 2024The ministry provides financial support to this association working on mental health awareness and support among youth, as part of broader mental health ecosystem development.
• 3114 (National Prevention Suicide Line)majorOthers · 1 January 2024A sustainable collaboration is maintained with the 3114 national suicide prevention hotline, ensuring continuity of mental health crisis support for students alongside the 3040 platform.
• Le 102 (Université de Lyon Mental Health Center)minorOthers · 1 January 2024Partnership with the 102, the first center dedicated to student mental health at Université de Lyon, supporting the broader ecosystem of campus mental health resources.
• Crous NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024The 27 regional Crous (Centres régionaux des œuvres universitaires et scolaires) are key operational partners managing student housing (175,000 units), dining services, financial aid, and campus social services. Crous also co-fund Nightline operations and support student wellbeing initiatives.
• ONISEP (Office national d'information sur les enseignements et les professions)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024ONISEP operates as the official orientation information service for students, providing guidance on educational paths and careers. The ministry maintains a partnership with ONISEP to integrate orientation services with ministry platforms.
• PEPITE Network (32 Pôles Étudiants pour l'Innovation, le Transfert et l'Entrepreneuriat)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024The 32 PEPITE networks across France coordinate student entrepreneurship support, implementing the SNEE (Statut National Étudiant-Entrepreneur) and organizing the annual Prix Pépite competition. They provide mentorship, incubation spaces, and networking opportunities for student entrepreneurs.
• Choose France for Science PartnersmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024The Choose France for Science initiative involves international partnerships for scientific attractiveness, hosting researchers from around the world. The program operates as part of France's scientific diplomacy strategy.
• France 2030 Investment Program PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024The France 2030 investment program involves multiple strategic partnerships for research excellence, innovation, and strategic equipment (PEPR). This includes funding for major research initiatives across universities and public research organizations.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR): Italy's equivalent ministry for higher education and research. Similar continental European governance model, parallel student aid and research funding programs, and comparable digital platform modernization (e.g., Universitaly portal).
• French Ministry of National Education (for primary/secondary): Sister French ministry covering primary and secondary education. Splits the student lifecycle with MESRE (which handles higher education and research). Shares data protection officer and similar governance model.
• UK Department for Education: Other major European national ministry overseeing higher education and skills policy. Comparable scope: similar regulatory authority, comparable student population (~2.9M in UK HE), parallel digital admissions platforms (UCAS).
• Crous Network (CNOUS): Operational arm of MESRE managing student housing (175,000 units), dining, and financial aid across 27 regional centers. Functions as the ministry's principal service delivery network for student life services.
• German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF): Germany's equivalent federal ministry covering higher education, research, and innovation. Comparable scale (~€20B+ budget), parallel function in funding research (e.g., DFG coordination), student aid (BAföG), and university oversight.
• Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities: Spain's ministry for universities and research with similar scope of responsibilities, comparable student population (~1.6M), and parallel challenges around university admissions coordination and student housing.

Others

• CNRS (Centre national de la recherche scientifique): France's largest public research organization, under MESRE's broader policy authority. While not a direct operational peer, CNRS is a primary recipient of ministry research funding and operates at national scale on research programs (PEPR, France 2030).
• beta.gouv.fr (French State Startups incubator): French government digital services incubator that spawned Mon Logement Étudiant as a State Startup. Direct operational partner - comparable in delivering digital public services using startup-style product teams.

Broad incumbents

• US Department of Education: Federal-level education authority for the US. Comparable function in student aid administration (FAFSA), federal research funding, and policy oversight, though in a federalized system with greater state autonomy than France's centralized model.
• European Commission - DG Education and Culture (DG EAC): EU-level body overseeing higher education policy including Erasmus+, Horizon Europe coordination, and Bologna Process. MESRE partners with DG EAC for cross-border programs but at a different governance level.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sup_recherche
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/EnseignementSupRechercheInnovation/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/enseignementsup.recherche
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ministere-de-l-enseignement-superieur-et-de-la-recherche-france
• Instagraminstagram.com/enseignementsup.recherche

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Ministère en Charge de la Recherche et de l'Enseignement Supérieur (France)