In a letter to university presidents, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has confirmed the creation of 5,000 additional university license places, responding to ongoing student mobilization. This announcement comes as the government attempts to address concerns about access to higher education in France. The new places supplement the 15,000 additional spots that had already been announced earlier, bringing the total increase to 20,000 places. However, this figure remains far below what student organizations have been demanding since mid-September.
Student organizations and unions have been vocal about their need for more university places, consistently calling for the creation of 250,000 new spots. This demand reflects growing frustration over limited access to higher education in France.
Lecornu's letter acknowledges the government's previous efforts to address these issues. "15,000 places supplémentaires ont déjà été annoncées pour faire face aux difficultés d'accès à l'enseignement supérieur dans certaines académies," the Prime Minister stated, referencing the earlier commitment.
Beyond adding places, the government is also moving forward with regulatory changes to the higher education system.
The most recent commitment focuses on license places, which correspond to undergraduate bachelor's degrees. "Des moyens supplémentaires vous seront apportés, notamment pour permettre l'ouverture, dans des conditions d'accueil satisfaisantes, de 5 000 étudiants supplémentaires en licence," Lecornu wrote to university presidents. This language emphasizes not just the quantity of places but also the quality of conditions for incoming students.
Beyond adding places, the government is also moving forward with regulatory changes to the higher education system. Lecornu announced that a bill regulating private higher education will be examined by the National Assembly the week of December 14. This legislation would require private institutions to obtain state validation in order to access the Parcoursup platform, France's centralized university admission system.
In his letter, Lecornu attempted to strike a balance between expanding access and maintaining educational quality. "Je sais pouvoir compter sur votre vigilance, tout comme vous pourrez compter sur la mienne, pour que ces ajustements garantissent que les financements soient bien orientés vers les formations de qualité en garantissant l'intérêt public," he wrote, acknowledging the role of university leadership in ensuring that additional resources are properly directed.
Despite these announcements, student organizations remain critical of the government's response. They continue to emphasize that the government's commitment falls short of addressing their concerns.
As the government moves forward with both additional places and regulatory changes, the coming weeks will reveal whether these measures will satisfy student demands or if further mobilization will be necessary. The examination of the private education bill in mid-December represents another critical moment in this ongoing dialogue about the future of higher education in France.