A few days earlier, Édouard Geffray, Minister of Education and Higher Education, had already announced the creation of 10,000 places in advanced technician programs, 4,000 in university technology bachelor's programs and 1,000 in health studies. These openings concern short technological tracks and health, in addition to the effort announced for bachelor's degrees.
Sébastien Lecornu announced the opening of 5,000 additional places in bachelor's programs. In a letter dated November 10 addressed to university presidents, he writes that additional resources will be provided to them,"in particular to allow the opening, under satisfactory reception conditions, of 5,000 additional students in bachelor's programs.".
This pledge comes as universities face demographic pressure that is already measurable. In 2025, their enrollments were up 2.5% according to ministry data. Demographic projections indicate that this increase should continue until 2030 and be even more pronounced depending on the region.
He adds that"4,000 of these places""will concern university institutes of technology"and that the presidents"will be fully involved in the qualification and siting of these places."The siting of these places and their qualification must therefore, according to this letter, be carried out with the institutions.
The Unef had indicated that it considered the creation of 5,000 places insufficient. The organization was instead calling for the creation of 250,000 places, a gap that measures the distance between the government announcement and the union demand.
The successive announcements therefore cover bachelor's programs, advanced technician programs, university technology bachelor's programs and health studies, while the rise in university enrollments, already observed in 2025, is expected to last at least until 2030 according to the ministry's demographic projections.