Paris – 06/05/2026: Delphine Manceau, President of the Conférence des Grandes Écoles, explained the current situation surrounding the French university admission system Parcoursup in an interview with franceinfo on Friday. She called for patience from applicants and their families but stressed that “overall, everything will be settled in about 15 days.” The Conférence des Grandes Écoles is an association of the most prestigious French engineering and business universities and plays a central role in selecting future students.
This year’s application phase proceeded largely smoothly despite some individual challenges, Manceau continued. Technical difficulties and long waiting times on the platform had caused uncertainties, but those responsible worked intensively to resolve delays. This has already had a positive effect, so many inquiries and requests for changes could be processed promptly.
Since its introduction, Parcoursup has served as the central platform for assigning study places in France. The system allows students to apply online for study places, taking into account both academic achievements and social and motivational criteria. The procedures are complex because, in addition to state universities, numerous Grandes Écoles also have their own selection processes integrated.
Delphine Manceau pointed to the continuous collaboration of all involved educational institutions to make the processes more transparent and fairer. Especially when integrating the highly regarded Grandes Écoles, it is important to offer applicants clear orientation and optimize administrative procedures.
The expectation of a speedy resolution within about two weeks is reassuring for many parents and young people who face time pressure in planning their futures. The French Minister of Education had previously assured that the processes are continuously monitored and adjusted if necessary to create the fairest possible conditions for all applicants.
Parcoursup has been in operation since 2018 and replaced the previous admission system. It is repeatedly criticized, especially due to a lack of transparency and social inequalities, but authorities continuously emphasize progress in modernization and the introduction of new selection criteria. The platform’s success largely depends on precise coordination between the various types of higher education institutions.
In conclusion, Manceau expressed confidence that despite some initial difficulties, the ongoing application round remains on schedule and a final agreement for all parties will soon be reached. The next two weeks are therefore crucial to definitively resolve open cases and provide young people with security for their further educational path.
Sources
- franceinfo