A catastrophe in the short term ... Some university presidents do not want to abolish Parcoursup

French university leaders have warned that abolishing the Parcoursup admissions platform would trigger immediate chaos, contradicting demands from student protesters who seek its total removal. In a joint statement released on October 25, 2026, the association France Universités, which represents 117 higher education institutions including approximately 70 universities, described potential deletion as a short-term disaster. The group argued that removing the tool without a viable replacement would force administrators to face consequences before the next cohort of high school graduates arrives in July. While acknowledging the platform is imperfect, officials noted it has undergone successive improvements since its creation in 2018. They emphasized that the system is not responsible for insufficient capacity in popular fields such as health sciences, attributing those shortages instead to broader policy decisions regarding funding levels over recent years. President Emmanuel Macron met with high school students at the Elysee Palace on Friday, acknowledging the need for a deep overhaul of the orientation platform. He distinguished between the digital tool itself and the deliberate reduction of resources that has created tension in higher education entry processes. Student movements have been active in the streets for several weeks, demanding better educational conditions and specifically calling for the elimination of Parcoursup. However, university directors contend that the current crisis stems from structural issues rather than the algorithmic matching process alone. Statistical data highlights the complexity of the French system. In 2025, 980,000 individuals submitted applications through Parcoursup, yet nearly 39,000 newly graduated high schoolers received no offers. According to the OECD’s 2025 Education at a Glance report, 95 percent of applications in France result in a place in higher education. The primary issue arises after admission, where only 34 percent of bachelor’s degree registrations lead to a diploma within the standard timeframe, compared to an OECD average of 43 percent. This gap is largely attributed to the French model, which filters students during their university studies rather than selecting them strictly at entry. International comparisons reveal varied approaches to student allocation. In nearly half of the countries studied by the OECD, candidates apply directly to institutions. Only one-third utilize centralized platforms similar to Parcoursup. The United Kingdom operates a hybrid model via UCAS, allowing up to five choices, or four for medicine and dentistry, with each university setting independent criteria. In Francophone Belgium, holders of the CESS qualification apply directly to establishments unless entering competitive tracks. To counter rising dropout rates, Belgian authorities tightened regulations in 2022 under the Landscape Decree reform. Students must now validate 60 credits in their first year within two years, down from previous requirements, and complete their bachelor’s degree within five years to retain funding and registration rights. Transparency in selection criteria varies significantly across borders. Florence Rizzo, founder of the association Écolhuma, noted that while the Parcoursup algorithm does not select students but merely transmits applications based on grades and motivations, the lack of explicit criteria from French institutions creates confusion. She contrasted this with the Netherlands, where she described admission standards as particularly clear, shared, and transparent. Unlike the older APB system, Parcoursup ignores the order of preferences until responses are received. Once a proposal is accepted, lower-ranked wishes are cancelled, freeing up spots. The number of allowed applications differs globally. Brazil permits one choice, Slovenia three, the Netherlands four, and the UK five. France, Germany, Sweden, and Turkey allow ten or more. Most centralized systems offer a single final placement, whereas South Korea imposes no cap on proposals. Timing also varies; France allows applications before high school results are known, while China and South Korea require post-exam submissions. Spain combines high school scores with entrance exam results for national ranking. Finland explores an open university model, allowing individuals of any age to take reduced-cost courses and later apply for degree programs upon validating sufficient credits. Germany illustrates early vocational sorting, where 50 percent of a cohort is directed toward professional schools by ages 10 to 11, compared to 20 percent in France. Enrollment in French higher education continues to rise, increasing by 0.8 percent in the 2026 academic year to reach 3,075,000 students. Ministry statistics project a further 0.6 percent increase for the 2027 intake. University leaders maintain that addressing these demographic pressures requires strategic planning beyond simply discarding the existing digital infrastructure.