How to Change Course on Parcoursup in 2026?

How to Change Course on Parcoursup in 2026?

Changing course is a courageous decision that allows you to align with your true aspirations. In 2026, the process is smoother than ever for baccalaureate holders already engaged in post-bac studies.

💡Key figures: According to a study by l’Étudiant, approximately 25% of undergraduate students change direction after starting their program.

Evaluating Your Current Career Plan

Before formulating new applications, it’s essential to analyze the content of your current program. What don’t you like anymore? Is it the institution, the field, or the pace of study? This reflection will enrich your future application and motivation letter. The important thing is to carefully consider your decision before starting a new enrollment.

💡Additional advice: Don’t hesitate to take personality tests or short immersions (short internships) to validate that your new program isn’t just a simple reaction to current disappointment.

Highlighting Your First-Year Experience

Even if you’re changing paths, your time in higher education has given you skills. Whether in PASS, undergraduate programs, or specialized schools, you’ve learned to work independently. These are valuable elements to highlight in your “Activities and Interests” section.

💡Note: Methodological skills (note-taking, research) are transferable and prove your ability to adapt to university-level work.

Dates for changing course on Parcoursup : The official 2026 calendar

Following the calendar is the golden rule. For changing course on Parcoursup in 2026, students must follow the same steps as final-year high school students.

January 19 to March 12, 2026: Submitting Applications on the Platform

From the platform opening on Wednesday, January 19, 2026, you can create your account to submit up to 10 applications (and multiple sub-applications). This is the time to search for all necessary information about available programs on the official site parcoursup.gouv.fr. You have until Thursday, March 12, 2026 to register your applications.

Until April 1, 2026: Confirming Choices and Finalizing the Application

Wednesday, April 1, 2026 is the absolute deadline to finalize your application. You must have completed each application form (motivated training project) and added your current year’s results before this deadline. The official site specifies that “the follow-up form is optional: it is associated with each application you submit”.

From Early June to Mid-September 2026: Admission and Backup Solutions

Admission results are scheduled to launch in early June 2026. From this date, institutions send their responses to various candidates. If you don’t receive an offer, the supplementary phase opens on June 11, 2026 and allows you to apply to institutions that still have available places. It closes in mid-September.

💡 Tip: Enable alerts on the mobile app so you don’t miss any important information about your enrollment or responses.

Required documents for your application

For institutions to review your request, your presentation must be impeccable. An incomplete change-of-course application is often automatically rejected by the platform’s algorithms.

Baccalaureate Results and Academic Record

Your baccalaureate and final-year transcripts remain the basis of evaluation, especially for selective programs (CPGE, BUT, Engineering Schools). Make sure this information is properly imported. If you took your baccalaureate before 2024, manually verify your specialty exam entries. Also remember to attach your complete final-year transcripts, as teachers’ comments about your commitment weigh heavily in a change of course.

Higher Education Year Transcripts

Even if your current results aren’t excellent, it’s imperative to provide them. Transparency is rewarded by admissions services. Institutions primarily look at your attendance: a transcript with unjustified absences is a negative signal. If you’ve earned ECTS credits (even partially), mention it: they can sometimes lead to equivalencies or exempt you from certain course units in your new program. Don’t forget to scan your enrollment certificates to prove your current student status.

Contacting Institutions and Guidance Centers

Don’t hesitate to contact career information and guidance centers (CIO) or your university’s SCUIO. They have cutting-edge data on career prospects and actual admission rates for different programs. Direct dialogue with program directors during Open House Days (JPO) is also a major asset for your application. Note the names of people you meet to mention them in your motivation letter, as this proves you’ve sought information from the source.

Selection criteria and success of your new project

A rigorous analysis of the program is only the first step; you must now transform this information into concrete arguments to convince the admissions committee of your determination.

Analyzing Program Content and Career Prospects

Don’t rely solely on the degree title. Look at the subjects taught (the syllabus), the volume of lectures and seminars, as well as employment opportunities after the program. Check if the program offers work-study options, a highly valued choice for students changing course who want to professionalize their path. Use the “Application Review” section on Parcoursup to see which criteria (French grades, math, engagement) are priorities for the school.

An Effective Motivation Letter for Your Change-of-Course Project

To be convincing, your letter must follow a logical structure that provides reassurance about your future:

• The “Me”: Your current path, the methodological skills acquired in first year, and your adaptability.
• The “Why”: Explain the specific reasons for your change of direction (the turning point). Be honest about the mismatch between your expectations and the reality of your past program.
• The “You”: Why this specific institution? Cite a specific course module or international partnership that justifies your choice.
• The “Us”: Your future goals. Show that this new path is the missing piece for your final career plan.

Furthermore, to better succeed in this transition, we’ve created a student guide for changing course to help you master each step of the enrollment process.