You have just spotted a program at Nantes Université and are looking for how to submit your application. The reflex would be to go directly to eCandidat, but the procedure has changed. Since the generalization of Mon Master and the implementation of the SURF platform, the application process depends on the type of program targeted. Understanding this structure before creating an account can save you several weeks on the wrong channel.
SURF, Mon Master, eCandidat: which platform for which program at Nantes
Nantes Université no longer directly links to eCandidat on most of its pages. The entry point for external candidates is now the SURF platform, a one-stop shop where you create an account before being directed to the correct procedure.
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SURF identifies your profile (high school graduate, student in reorientation, returning to studies, international candidate) and redirects you to Parcoursup, Mon Master, eCandidat, or a specific procedure like VAPP. Without going through SURF, you risk submitting an application on a platform that does not handle your program.
Specifically, the distribution for the 2026 academic year follows this logic:
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- Applications for Master 1 are mostly submitted through Mon Master, the national platform, except for certain specific cases like continuing education or specific degrees.
- eCandidat remains used for targeted programs: professional licenses, certain Master 2 programs, university diplomas, or applications outside the Mon Master calendar (local waiting lists, for example).
- Parcoursup manages admissions for the first year of undergraduate programs and BUT, according to the national calendar.
If you are applying via eCandidat of Nantes University, first check on SURF that the targeted program is indeed listed there. An application submitted on the wrong platform simply will not be reviewed.
Creating your eCandidat account at Nantes Université and completing the application
Once confirmed that your program falls under eCandidat, creating the account takes about thirty minutes if you have prepared your information.
Preparing the elements before starting
You will need your INE number if you obtained the French baccalaureate. This number is found on your baccalaureate transcript, on a school certificate, or on an old university transcript. International candidates without a French baccalaureate do not have one and follow an adapted path in the interface.
Also prepare a reliable email address. All notifications (account confirmation, application receipt, decision) are sent by email. An incorrectly entered address or a full inbox, and you might miss a response.
Entering personal information and academic background
The interface will ask for your civil status data, then information related to your baccalaureate or equivalent diploma (DAEU, capacity in law). Next comes the data about your academic background: years of study, institutions attended, degrees obtained.
Every field matters. An inconsistency between what you declare and the supporting documents you upload can lead to an administrative rejection, even before the academic review of your application.
Supporting documents and cover letter: what makes the difference
Uploading documents is the step where many candidates waste time or lose their application.
Each program defines its own list of required documents. There is no universal list. Generally, you will need to provide transcripts, a CV, a cover letter, and a copy of your diplomas. Some programs add a portfolio, a language proficiency certificate, or a research project.
Two common mistakes occur:
- Uploading a document in the wrong format or in the wrong field. If the platform requests a single PDF for your transcripts and you send three separate files, the system may block the validation.
- Writing a generic cover letter, copied from a template, with no connection to the targeted program. Selection committees read hundreds of applications. A letter that mentions the specific content of the program and articulates your professional project with the proposed teachings stands out immediately.
Take the time to check each document before validating. Once the application is submitted, some programs no longer allow modifications.
Calendar and application tracking for eCandidat for the 2026 academic year
Not all programs at Nantes Université open their recruitment campaign on the same date. The calendar varies by components (UFR, schools, institutes). Check the opening and closing dates directly on the program sheet in eCandidat before preparing your application.
After submission, your application goes through several statuses visible in your personal space: application received, application under review, then decision rendered. Each status change triggers an email notification.
Responding within deadlines after a favorable opinion
If you receive a favorable opinion, you have a limited time to confirm your wish to enroll. After this period, your place is released for a candidate on the waiting list. A favorable opinion with conditions generally means that a supplementary document is expected or that a condition remains to be fulfilled (such as obtaining a diploma in progress).
In case of an unfavorable opinion, some programs specify a reason. For master’s applications, there is a recourse procedure through the rectorate if you do not receive any admission after the complementary phase.
The most common trap remains the discrepancy between the Mon Master calendar and that of eCandidat. If you apply on both platforms for different programs, keep a table with the response deadlines for each application. Forgetting to confirm on one of the two can cancel an admission obtained.