The UAI number is an eight-character identifier assigned to each institution in the French educational system. Composed of seven digits followed by a letter, it distinguishes a school, a middle school, a high school, a CFA, or a higher education institution, whether public or private. The first three digits correspond to the department of the institution. This code is assigned by the Ministry of National Education and recorded in a centralized directory.
Structure of the UAI code and difference with the RNE acronym
The two terms coexist in administrative documents, which often generates confusion. The RNE code refers to the National Directory of Establishments, meaning the database itself. The UAI acronym (Registered Administrative Unit) refers to the unique identifier assigned to each entity listed in this directory. In practice, “RNE code” and “UAI number” refer to the same alphanumeric identifier.
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| Criterion | UAI | RNE |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Registered Administrative Unit | National Directory of Establishments |
| What it designates | The code assigned to an institution | The database that lists these codes |
| Format | 7 digits + 1 letter | Identical (same identifier) |
| Assigned by | Ministry of National Education | Same authority |
| Common usage | Recent documents, Parcoursup, online services | Older documents, certain academies |
To delve deeper into what the UAI number and the RNE code are, it should be noted that the distinction is purely terminological. The directory has been renamed RAMSESE (Academic and Ministerial Directory on Educational System Establishments), but old forms continue to use “RNE”.
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UAI Number: a key identifier for administrative procedures
The role of the UAI code has significantly evolved. Initially, it was mainly used by the ministry to manage its school mapping. Since the widespread adoption of Parcoursup and online services (registrations, scholarships, digital school record), the UAI number functions as a key identifier among several administrations.
Regions use it to allocate the apprenticeship tax. Collecting organizations use it to track financial flows to higher education institutions. France Compétences and apprenticeship operators cross-reference this code with the SIRET number to ensure the reliability of data on training organizations.
Apprenticeship tax and university components
A recent point of friction concerns universities. Collecting organizations now require the specific UAI code for each component or site, rather than that of the “head” university. A faculty of sciences and an IUT affiliated with the same university each have their own UAI number. This granularity allows for precise tracking of which department benefits from the apprenticeship tax payments.
Companies wishing to direct their tax towards a specific training must therefore verify the UAI code of the component, not that of the main institution. Lists of codes by component are published by each university.
High school assignments and staff movements
In the procedures for high school assignments or inter-academic movements of teachers, preferences are entered using the UAI code as a unique key. An institution without a valid UAI code cannot appear in the internal information systems of the Ministry of Education (ARENA, PassRL). The UAI code is a mandatory reference in assignment systems, including for institutions located outside the original academy.
How to find the UAI code of a school
The Ministry of National Education provides a public directory accessible online, allowing searches by institution name, municipality, or department. This database, sometimes referred to as ACCE (Application for Consultation and Mapping of Establishments), offers both simple and advanced search options.
For CFAs and apprenticeship training organizations, the UAI-SIRET reference managed by ONISEP serves as the reference source. This reference cross-references the UAI number with the SIRET of the organization, which helps clarify ambiguities when the same organization manages multiple sites.
- The ACCE directory of the ministry covers all public and private educational institutions, from primary to higher education.
- The ONISEP reference is specifically designed for apprenticeship training organizations and CFAs.
- Rectors assign new UAI codes and remain the point of contact in case of errors or missing codes.
- Some academies publish downloadable lists in spreadsheet format, useful for bulk processing.
Specific cases and common errors regarding the UAI code
An institution that changes status (for example, from private to public) or merges with another receives a new UAI code. The old code becomes inactive in the RAMSESE database. Families trying to locate a disappeared or restructured institution sometimes encounter obsolete codes.
Agricultural educational institutions, which are under the Ministry of Agriculture, also have a UAI code, but their management falls under the DGER (General Directorate of Education and Research) and not the rectors. Checking the supervising ministry avoids fruitless searches in the wrong directory.
- An inactive UAI code does not mean that the institution has closed: it may have been restructured under a new code.
- Multi-site institutions sometimes have a UAI code for each site and one code for the legal entity.
- Input errors often occur with the final letter, which is a control key calculated from the seven digits.
The final letter of the UAI code is not random. It results from a verification algorithm applied to the seven digits. Any modification of a single digit invalidates the control letter, which serves as a simple error detection mechanism. School management software automatically rejects a code whose letter does not match the expected calculation.
The UAI number remains the only identifier shared between the Ministry of Education, the Regions, skills operators, and guidance platforms. Its reliability is crucial for the proper functioning of registrations, assignments, and training funding. Given the proliferation of online services, verifying the exact UAI code of an institution (and the correct component) before any administrative procedure remains the most effective precaution.