Sébastien Lecornu has also set a timetable for the bill intended to regulate private higher education. Introduced after revelations of abuses at for-profit institutions, the text will be examined by the National Assembly the week of December 14.
Additional resources must accompany this creation in order to allow admissions under conditions he considers satisfactory.
The announcement comes amid rising enrollment. In 2025, universities had 2.5% more students, according to ministry data. Demographic projections suggest this increase will continue until 2030, and even more so depending on the area.
Sébastien Lecornu also notes that 15,000 additional places have already been announced to address difficulties accessing higher education in certain academies.
On the student side, the response remains far short of the demands. Mobilized since mid-September, student organizations are calling for 250,000 additional places in universities.
Unef said it considered the creation of 5,000 places insufficient and was instead calling for those 250,000 places.
Youth organizations and unions cited this figure to the press on Monday evening, after walking out of the first meeting of the Parcoursup committee.
Student and high-school student organizations were also received by the prime minister at the beginning of the week.