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Survey – 2021’s baccalaureate students share their opinions on the Parcoursup system

Despite a difficult year disrupted by the global health situation, the young people who took part in this study are generally satisfied with the Parcoursup procedure. However, indicators are down compared to last year.

Parcoursup, the national admissions platform created in 2018, is essential for future students seeking to begin their higher education studies. This past September, a study* conducted by IPSOS on behalf of the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, provided feedback on the Parcoursup system.

These results indicate that 82% of new baccalaureate students consider the procedure a source of stress. However, 74% of them think the system is straightforward, and 70% say they are satisfied with the program they attended. These are positive indicators, but they are down compared to last year. Indeed, while 73% of this year’s respondents feel that Parcoursup facilitated their entry into higher education, this figure stood at 81% last year.

In a health context that complicates the orientation process, baccalaureate holders more frequently turn to close friends and family for advice on their course of study (79% vs. 76% in 2020). A number of resources have been made available on the platform to compensate for decreased face-to-face meetings. For example, 59% of new baccalaureate students have consulted tutorial videos that help them understand each step of the process, and they overwhelmingly approve of this resource.

This year, the Parcoursup platform opened on December 21, 2021 with a first phase dedicated to research and discovery of all of available programs. The second phase, dedicated to selecting programs and finalizing the application, will be open from January 20 to April 7, 2022.

To build a strong application, please consult our tips here.

*Survey conducted from September 7 to 10, 2021 with a representative sample of 1,010 new baccalaureate holders aged 16 to 20 who were registered on Parcoursup in 2021.

Source: Opinion of new baccalaureate holders on Parcoursup, September 2021, IPSOS