France’s government will keep Parcoursup for the 2027 admissions cycle and aims to replace it in 2028, pairing clearer decisions with 15,000 additional places as Union Étudiante seeks a much larger expansion.
The Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space announced Monday, Oct. 26, that the current platform would remain for the 2027 intake. Programs must explain their selection rules in language applicants can understand and give reasons for rejections in June 2027. A committee of high school students and teachers is expected to offer initial recommendations by the end of November. The government also plans a parliamentary debate and may introduce legislation if needed.
Officials have not settled the replacement’s format. The ministry listed possible changes to how continuous assessment is counted and an artificial-intelligence tool for academic guidance as options under consideration.
The government’s 15,000-place pledge covers 2027 and 2028: 10,000 places in BTS programs starting in the 2027 academic year, 4,000 in BUT programs and 1,000 in university health-access pathways. The ministry said the places would go where demand is strongest, particularly Île-de-France, where pressure is high for BTS and BUT courses. The proposed expansion includes more than 1,200 teaching posts for BTS programs and 204 teaching posts over two years for university openings.
Union Étudiante says the offer falls short. It is seeking 250,000 additional places and an end to selection through Parcoursup. “We do not want crumbs,” the group said in its statement, announcing demonstrations for Oct. 31 and Nov. 5.
The ministry said 1,046,000 candidates applied through Parcoursup in 2026 to 25,000 postsecondary programs, 66,000 more than in 2025. It identified transparency and fair treatment in admissions among concerns raised during student mobilization.
The timetable puts the planned 2028 campaign beyond President Emmanuel Macron’s current term. He was reelected in 2022, and France’s Constitution limits presidents to two consecutive five-year terms.
