Parcoursup: the number of places offered continues to decline, deplores the national higher education union

The number of places offered on the Parcoursup platform continues to decline in 2026, deplored the national higher education union (Snesup-FSU) on Thursday April 9 on France Inter. After analyzing the data extracted from the higher education orientation platform, the union calculates 10,300 fewer places this year compared to 2025 (982,050 places in 2026 compared to 992,353 in 2025). In 2025, the training offer was already in sharp decline, with 43,000 fewer places compared to 2024.

However, this decline does not correspond to demographics, underlines the Snesup-FSU, since the years 2008 to 2010, corresponding to the generations of students who will enter higher education, recorded an increase in births: 828,404 births in 2008, compared to 818,705 in 2007. The number of students enrolled in higher education has also increased by 205,800 students since 2020 (+1.5% on average per year).

In detail, it is mainly private training which reduces the number of places to be filled this year: 7,300 fewer places, including 6,600 in apprenticeships, mainly in BTS. Snesup-FSU sees this as a consequence of the reduction in state aid to develop apprenticeships.

Universities will also welcome fewer baccalaureate graduates, since 1,300 places will disappear in general license, thus adding to the 5,300 places eliminated last year.

The union points out the lack of resources of universities, which must resolve to cut back on their reception capacity, particularly in Reunion, Rouen, Amiens, Lille, Limoges, Créteil and Strasbourg. “100% of universities are in deficit,” said Emmanuel de Lescure, general secretary of Snesup-FSU, in March.

The admission phase with the first responses to training begins on Parcoursup on June 2. For the moment, the files of final year students and students in reorientation are being examined.