The number of students in higher education began to decrease in 1996 after a period of heavy growth at the beginning of the 1990s. This growth took hold again at the beginning of the 21st century. Higher education in France has undergone a radical change. Over the last few years admissions of school leavers to higher education have levelled off. Universities have not benefited, whereas vocational training options and grandes écoles (business schools) have. At the start of the 2003 academic year, the number of students enrolled had increased by 1.9% in the four main channels of higher education, i.e. universities, technological universities, higher technical sections and preparatory classes for the grandes écoles. In future years, the demographic factor will be all-important. The rise in admissions to the four main channels should continue, easing up around 2009. They should then fall until 2013. The number of students in the first two years of higher education (studying for a university diploma (DEUG) or equivalent), strictly dependent upon the number of school leavers, would be in decline. The low number of students going on to the third year (studying for a degree or equivalent) and to postgraduate study would then confirm the fact that selective career options were in decline.