France plans to replace Parcoursup by 2028, add 15,000 higher-education places

France plans to replace its national university admissions platform, Parcoursup, by 2028 and create 15,000 additional higher-education places over 2027 and 2028, following weeks of student protests.

The government announced the measures on Oct 26 as part of a broader response to concerns about university access, overcrowded classrooms, student finances and educational infrastructure.

The proposals have been presented as commitments, but their implementation and funding arrangements remain subject to further steps.

The government intends to make the university admissions process more transparent from the 2027 admissions cycle. Applicants are expected to receive explanations for individual rejection decisions from June 2027, while higher-education institutions will be required to provide clearer information about their selection criteria.

A committee will examine options for replacing Parcoursup, with recommendations expected by the end of November, according to Times Higher Education.

The government is also considering an artificial intelligence-assisted guidance tool designed to help school students identify courses that match their academic records and aspirations.

The proposed changes do not mean that Parcoursup has already been replaced. The new platform is planned for 2028, and its final design has yet to be determined.

15,000 additional places in higher education

The government has also pledged to create 15,000 additional higher-education places between 2027 and 2028. The expansion is expected to focus largely on vocational and technological pathways, including advanced vocational diploma programmes and technical bachelor's degrees.

The announcement does not, by itself, establish how the additional places will be distributed among institutions or regions. Details will be needed to determine whether the expansion addresses shortages in particular fields, including healthcare and other high-demand professional pathways.

The government has separately promised to link means-tested student grants to inflation from the 2027 academic year. Compared with 2026 levels, grant funding is expected to increase by €37 million in 2027, €121 million in 2028 and €220 million in 2029.

It has also announced €1 billion for university campus renovation projects by 2029. The package includes measures for schools as well as higher education, making it part of a wider education response rather than an admissions-only reform.

Student groups say more action is needed

The commitments follow weeks of demonstrations over access to higher education, selection through Parcoursup and students’ living conditions. Student organisations have questioned whether the announced measures go far enough to address these concerns.

The student union L’Union Étudiante criticised the proposals as insufficient, arguing that greater transparency alone would not resolve the broader problems surrounding selection and student finances. Some student representatives have called for more places and additional financial support.