The eCandidat platform of Sorbonne Nouvelle generates thousands of applications each year for undergraduate and master’s programs. Several weeks pass between the submission of the application and the final response, marked by sometimes obscure statuses and a waiting list whose functioning remains unclear for most candidates.
Ongoing review or post-deadline: two timelines that change everything at Sorbonne Nouvelle
Not all programs process applications at the same pace. Since the 2024-2025 campaign, Sorbonne Nouvelle distinguishes between two modes of review on eCandidat. Some master’s programs practice a rolling review of applications, with admission or waiting list decisions published before the official closure of the campaign.
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Other programs only open applications after the application deadline. In this case, no status changes for several weeks. The confusion arises from the fact that two candidates applying to Sorbonne Nouvelle on the same day may receive responses weeks apart, simply because their respective programs do not follow the same internal timeline.
This distinction does not appear in the generic eCandidat guides. To better anticipate the specific timelines for each program, one can consult the advice from Direct Emploi which details how responses and waiting lists work on this platform.
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eCandidat statuses: what each title means for your application
Tracking an application on eCandidat involves a succession of statuses displayed in the personal space. Their exact meaning varies depending on the stage of processing.
- “Application received” or “complete application” indicates that the supporting documents have been validated by the admissions office. The application has not yet been reviewed by an academic jury.
- “Awaiting academic review” means that the administrative step is complete and the application has been forwarded to the selection committee. This status can last from a few days to several weeks depending on the program.
- “Under review” appears when the jury has begun evaluating applications. A decision (admission, waiting list, or rejection) will follow at the end of this phase.
- “Waiting list” means that the candidate was not selected in the first wave but remains ranked among the candidates likely to be admitted if spots become available.
The distinction between administrative waiting and academic waiting, made more visible since the 2025 version of the eCandidat interface at Sorbonne University, is not always as clear at Sorbonne Nouvelle. Feedback from the field varies on this point: some candidates report a status frozen for weeks without clear indication of the ongoing phase.
eCandidat waiting list Sorbonne Nouvelle: how it really evolves
A spot on the waiting list is not a disguised rejection, but it is also not a likely admission. It all depends on the number of admitted candidates who confirm their enrollment within the given deadlines.
Withdrawals occur in waves. The first happens just after the publication of results, when candidates accept another program. A second wave generally occurs around the MonMaster results for master’s programs, or after the Parcoursup responses for undergraduate programs. Each withdrawal moves up the rank of candidates on the waiting list.
The available data do not allow for a conclusion on an average withdrawal rate by program. Reports shared on student forums show very variable situations: some waiting lists empty almost entirely within a few weeks, while others hardly move at all.
What influences your position
Your rank on the waiting list depends on the ranking established by the academic jury. The criteria vary by program, but grades, the coherence of the curriculum, and the motivation letter remain the most frequently mentioned elements in feedback.
One point to remember: eCandidat does not always display the candidate’s rank on the waiting list. Unlike Parcoursup, which indicates a numerical position and the total number of candidates on the waiting list, eCandidat often limits itself to the status “waiting list” without further details. This opacity makes anticipation difficult.
Application rejected on eCandidat: possible recourse at Sorbonne Nouvelle
A rejection on eCandidat is a decision made by the academic committee of the program. The admissions office of Sorbonne Nouvelle does not revisit this decision, except in cases of proven material error (supporting documents not considered even though they were submitted on time).
Three options exist after a rejection:
- Check that the application was indeed complete at the time of review. An application marked “incomplete” due to a missing document may not have been reviewed by the jury. In this case, contact the admissions office of the program to report the issue.
- Apply to another program open on eCandidat, if the campaign dates still allow it. Some programs launch complementary campaigns in July or September.
- File a gracious appeal with the president of the university within two months following the notification of rejection, outlining the contested reasons.
Judicial recourse before the administrative court remains theoretically possible, but the chances of success are low when the decision is based on the sovereign assessment of the jury.
Notifications and tracking: do not miss a response on eCandidat
Each status change triggers the sending of an email to the address provided when creating the account. These messages sometimes end up in spam folders, which explains why some candidates discover an admission or a request for additional documents late.
Checking your eCandidat space online remains more reliable than waiting for the email. The platform displays the status in real-time, while the message may take several hours to arrive. During peak periods (late May, early June), the university’s messaging system may experience delays.
Sorbonne Nouvelle recommends not waiting for the results of the current semester to submit an application. An application submitted early with provisional transcripts will be processed just like a complete application, as long as the missing documents are submitted before the deadline. Canceling an application remains possible at any time from the personal space, while applying after the deadline is not.