You got your baccalauréat in 2026, you confirmed a wish in BUT or BTS on Parcoursup, but you still haven't signed an apprenticeship contract for the September intake? A new door is opening: in 2026, several French IUTs (University Institutes of Technology) are offering a late intake in BUT and BTS under apprentice status, designed specifically for baccalaureate holders who didn't lock down their company in time. It's a real second chance, and it's new. Here's the full method to take advantage of it, with SuperAlternant.
What you need to know about the late BUT intake in IUTs
- What is it? A second apprenticeship intake opened by some IUTs from September-October 2026, to welcome 2026 baccalaureate holders who confirmed a Parcoursup wish in BUT or BTS and are still looking for an apprenticeship contract.
- Who is it for? 2026 baccalaureate holders (general, technological or vocational) who confirmed a wish in BUT or BTS on Parcoursup and are actively looking for an apprenticeship contract. The scheme also targets candidates switching tracks after a first year.
- Why it's new in 2026: the drop in the number of alternance contracts observed in 2025 (-4.2 % year-on-year according to Urssaf) pushed IUTs to open a second admission window to avoid losing motivated baccalaureate holders. Previously, IUTs almost all worked in initial (school-only) format (no apprenticeship).
- 2026 calendar: late intakes open between late September 2026 and December 2026, depending on the IUT. Applications close on a rolling basis, often as soon as places are filled.
- Deadline to sign the contract: most IUTs accept a contract start up to 3 months after the start of the program (sometimes more, up to the 6-month regulatory cap).
- 2026 aid: the 2026 unique apprenticeship aid is still available for contracts signed during the late intake, subject to the age and diploma caps.
- For vocational and technological bac holders: it's often the best way to access BUT via apprenticeship, because the "2 weeks company / 2 weeks IUT" rhythm suits their profile.
In practice: a vocational MSPC (Connected Production Systems Maintenance) bac holder who spent all summer without securing a contract for a BUT in Industrial Engineering and Maintenance can apply to the 6 October 2026 late intake at the IUT de Bordeaux and sign their apprenticeship contract before the end of December.
Why are IUTs opening a late intake in 2026?
The movement is recent. It answers three field observations.
1. The apprenticeship market tightened for 2026 bac holders
In the first half of 2026, Urssaf confirmed a 4.2 % year-on-year drop in alternance contracts in 2025, to 999,300 contracts. HelloWork's 2026 barometer reports a 12 % drop in offers published in 2025 versus 2024. Direct consequence: many 2026 bac holders confirmed a wish in BUT or BTS on Parcoursup, but didn't manage to sign a contract before the main intake. IUTs were thus losing motivated candidates they had already selected.
2. IUTs want to fill their apprenticeship places
The development of apprenticeship in IUTs is a key plank of the "For a school of trust" law and the generalisation of the prépa-apprentissage. IUT leadership has a direct interest in not losing the bac holders they have accepted on Parcoursup. A late intake lets them top up their apprentice cohort without degrading the educational quality, by spreading the arrival of new students over two sessions.
3. The regulatory framework has loosened
The decree of 25 June 2026 broadened the conditions for provisional enrolment in higher education for candidates at the bac de remplacement (September session). In the wake of this, several universities loosened the BUT admission rules to allow a second wave of entrants in autumn. The IUT de Bordeaux formalised its scheme in June 2026, followed by the IUTs of Lyon, Paris, Toulouse and Lille.
Key takeaway: the late BUT intake in IUTs is not an improvised plan B. It's a structured scheme, backed by a ministerial order and rolled out by IUTs to respond to the drop in contract signatures observed since late 2025.
IUTs opening a late BUT intake in 2026
Several IUTs have announced a late apprenticeship intake for the 2026 back-to-school. Here's the 2026 mapping of institutions that have formalised the scheme (data to reconfirm directly with each IUT before applying).
IUT de Bordeaux
- Programs concerned: BUT in apprenticeship (Industrial Engineering and Maintenance, IT, Networks and Telecommunications, Electrical Engineering and Industrial IT, etc.).
- Late intake date: 6 October 2026.
- Audience: 2026 bac holders (general, techno, vocational) who confirmed a wish in BUT on Parcoursup, actively looking for an apprenticeship contract.
- Process: online application on the IUT website, file submission (CV, cover letter, latest report cards, ID), file review and possible interview, then company search and contract signing.
IUT de Lyon 1 (Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University)
- Programs concerned: BUT in apprenticeship in several specialties (IT, Biological Engineering, Chemistry, etc.).
- Date: late intake open from October 2026, on a case-by-case basis per department.
- Specificity: Lyon 1 IUT has set up enhanced support for the company search for candidates admitted on the late intake.
IUT de Paris (Université Paris Cité)
- Programs concerned: BUT and BTS under apprenticeship contract (IT, Legal Careers, Business and Administration Management, etc.).
- Date: late intake open in September-October 2026.
- Specificity: Paris offers a dedicated "late intake" track with an adapted educational calendar (gradual integration).
IUT de Toulouse (Toulouse III — Paul Sabatier University)
- Programs concerned: BUT in apprenticeship in several departments (IT, Mechanical and Production Engineering, etc.).
- Date: late intake open in October 2026.
- Specificity: Toulouse has struck a partnership with local companies (Airbus, Continental, SPIE) to facilitate contract signing.
IUT de Lille (Université de Lille)
- Programs concerned: BUT in apprenticeship, mainly in IT and Networks & Telecommunications.
- Date: late intake open in October-November 2026.
- Specificity: Lille offers a 4-week preparation bridge before entering the program, to help candidates finalise their company search.
Other IUTs mobilised in 2026
- IUT de Nantes, IUT de Rennes, IUT de Strasbourg, IUT de Montpellier, IUT de Nice: most of these IUTs have opened or are in the process of opening a late apprenticeship intake on at least one of their BUT specialties. Places are limited (from 5 to 30 per IUT per specialty).
| IUT |
2026 late intake |
Specialties offered |
Application deadline |
| Bordeaux |
Yes |
BUT apprenticeship (multi-specialties) |
End of November 2026 |
| Lyon 1 |
Yes |
BUT apprenticeship (IT, Bio-Engineering, Chemistry) |
Rolling basis |
| Paris (Cité) |
Yes |
BUT + BTS apprenticeship |
November 2026 |
| Toulouse III |
Yes |
BUT apprenticeship (IT, Mechanics) |
November 2026 |
| Lille |
Yes |
BUT apprenticeship (IT, R&T) |
December 2026 |
| Nantes / Rennes / Strasbourg |
Partial |
Per department |
To be confirmed |
⚠️ Important: this list is non-exhaustive and evolving. IUTs adapt their scheme every year based on the number of bac holders without a contract. Before applying, contact the targeted IUT directly to confirm the specialty, the date and the number of places remaining.
Who can apply for the late BUT intake in IUTs?
The scheme is strictly controlled. To apply, you must meet three cumulative conditions.
1. Be a 2026 bac holder (or 2025 in retraining)
The scheme primarily targets 2026 bac holders (general, technological or vocational) who sat the baccalauréat exams in June 2026. 2025 bac holders in retraining can also apply, provided they have not signed an apprenticeship contract since obtaining their bac.
2. Have confirmed a wish in BUT or BTS on Parcoursup
Entry to IUT on the late intake happens outside Parcoursup. But to be eligible, you must have confirmed a wish in BUT or BTS on Parcoursup for the 2026 intake (whether in initial or apprenticeship format). This condition lets the IUT verify that you have already been selected for the targeted program.
3. Actively look for an apprenticeship contract
The late intake is not an initial training: it's an apprenticeship program whose contract remains to be signed. You must justify an active company search (applications sent, responses received, etc.) and be available to sign a contract within 3 months of starting the program.
Key takeaway: if you have no Parcoursup wish in BUT or BTS for 2026, you can't benefit from the scheme. In that case, target the late October intake at private schools (see our article on the late October 2026 intake).
The 6 steps to land your late BUT intake at an IUT
1. Check your eligibility and identify the target IUT
First, gather the supporting documents (bac grade transcript, Parcoursup attestation, CV, cover letter, latest report cards). Then identify one to three IUTs maximum offering a late intake in the specialty you are targeting. Applying to more than 3 IUTs dilutes your energy and lowers the quality of each file.
2. Apply online on the IUT website
Each IUT has its own online application form (not via Parcoursup). Fill in your identity, your bac series, your initial Parcoursup wish, and the companies contacted since spring. Attach CV + cover letter + report cards + ID. File processing usually takes 2 to 4 weeks.
3. Prepare the motivation interview
IUTs are more selective on the late intake than on the main one: the 20-30 minute interview is a chance to check your motivation, your career plan and your knowledge of the target sector. Prepare the classic questions ("Why BUT?", "Why apprenticeship?", "What's your plan if you don't find a company?"). Draw inspiration from our guide to nail your alternance interview.
4. Activate the company network in parallel
Once the application is sent, activate all levers: spontaneous application, personal network, alternance job fairs, job datings in your area, online platforms. IUTs have a partner company network: ask them for the list and target companies still hiring in alternance (re-read our article on sectors still hiring in 2026).
5. Sign the apprenticeship contract within the deadline
Once the company is found, the IUT's CFA supports you to sign the contract with the employer and the OPCO. The deadline varies from 15 days to 3 months after starting the program. Past this deadline, some IUTs switch you to initial training (without a contract) — a status that deprives you of the pay. Target sectors still hiring to sign as quickly as possible.
6. Anticipate the funding and housing question
A late intake of one to one and a half months can push back your first pay and access to housing aid. Plan a safety net of one month's rent and check your eligibility for housing aid for alternants and student aid and good deals. For pay, use our salary simulator and re-read our guide on alternant pay in 2026.
Late IUT intake vs late October intake at private school: how to choose?
The two schemes coexist in 2026. Here's how to decide.
Case 1: you're targeting a BUT
The late IUT intake is almost always the best choice: the BUT is a national diploma, recognised by the State (grade licence), with strong territorial coverage and a dense company network via university CFAs. Tuition fees are covered by the OPCO under apprenticeship, with no out-of-pocket cost. If you have a confirmed Parcoursup wish in BUT, target the late IUT intake first.
Case 2: you're targeting a BTS
IUTs offer some BTS in apprenticeship, but it's rarer than BUT. For a BTS, the late October intake at private schools (Ecorvega, ESARC, MBway, PPA) is often more accessible and offers more specialties. Compare the two paths by reading our article on the late October 2026 intake.
Case 3: you have no confirmed Parcoursup wish
If you have not confirmed a wish in BUT or BTS on Parcoursup for 2026, the late IUT intake is not accessible. You can target:
- A retraining via the CAES (Commission d'accès à l'enseignement supérieur) until 12 October 2026.
- A spontaneous application at a private school on the late October intake.
- An off-Parcoursup enrolment in a non-BUT/BTS program (Bachelor, licence, etc.).
| Profile |
Best path |
Why |
| General/techno bac holder with confirmed BUT wish |
Late IUT intake |
National grade licence diploma, OPCO, wide network |
| Vocational bac holder with confirmed BUT or vocational BTS wish |
Late IUT intake (BUT) or private school (BTS) |
Adapted rhythm, good local networks |
| Bac holder with no confirmed Parcoursup wish |
CAES + private school |
Fast retraining, past Parcoursup deadline |
| Candidate targeting a Bachelor or MBA |
Private school on late October intake |
No Bachelor in IUT |
Pitfalls to avoid with the late IUT intake
Four classic traps on this slot.
- Confusing late intake with initial training: the late IUT intake is apprenticeship only. If you have no company to sign with, you are not eligible. The "initial training at IUT" status does not exist on the late intake: it's apprenticeship or nothing.
- Underestimating the contract signing deadline: an IUT that admits you on the late intake usually gives you 3 months to sign. Past this deadline, your place can be put back in play. Target only companies actively recruiting and which have a real apprentice hiring project.
- Choosing an IUT without checking its specialty: not all IUTs offer the late intake on all BUT specialties. Check the list of open specialties before applying to avoid wasting time.
- Neglecting the Parcoursup calendar: if you still have a "pending" Parcoursup wish when applying to the late IUT intake, release your wish to avoid risking a double commitment.
What if the late IUT intake isn't enough?
If you don't land a contract before the end of 2026, several options remain open.
- Late October 2026 intake at private schools: if you're targeting a Bachelor, MBA or tertiary BTS, read our complete guide on the late October 2026 intake.
- Late January 2027 intake: some schools (ENIGMA, École IT) open a third window in January 2027 on Bachelor and Mastère in IT, data, cybersecurity.
- Application for the 2027 intake: if you're not in a rush, aim for the complete method to find an alternance in 2026-2027 by starting your search 6 months ahead.
- CPF de transition: for employees or former employees, the CPF de transition can fund a long training while keeping an income.
In summary
The late BUT intake in IUTs is a new route opened in 2026 for baccalaureate holders who didn't sign an apprenticeship contract before the main intake. It concerns the IUTs of Bordeaux, Lyon 1, Paris (Cité), Toulouse III, Lille and several other universities, on BUT specialties (IT, Industrial Engineering, R&T, GEII, etc.). Applications are made outside Parcoursup, on file and interview, and the apprenticeship contract must be signed within 3 months of starting the program. It's a real second chance for motivated baccalaureate holders who confirmed a wish in BUT on Parcoursup.
To go further, browse all our alternance offers and training on SuperAlternant, test your salary with our simulator, and prepare your late IUT intake with our tips to nail your alternance interview and write your CV and cover letter.
Sources: Urssaf — alternance headcount Q1 2026; Insee — national accounts 2025; HelloWork — alternance barometer 2025-2026 (published July 2026); Ministry of Higher Education — decree no. 2026-688 of 25 June 2026 broadening the conditions for provisional enrolment in higher education; official sites of the IUTs cited (Bordeaux, Lyon 1, Paris, Toulouse III, Lille) — data consulted in July 2026, to reconfirm directly with each IUT before application. Article published on 21 July 2026 by SuperAlternant.
