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HALF A MILLION STUDENTS WILL LOG ON TO OFFICIAL SITE, WHICH MINISTER SAYS HAS BEEN MADE EASIER TO USE AND SEARCH ONLINE applications open today for France's half a million final-year
_lycée_ students looking to go on to higher education. Candidates need to register on the education ministry's Admission Post Bac website, where they can browse 9,000 different courses
and compile their list of preferences. The site includes university degree courses, vocational qualifications (BTS) and courses offered by other specialist schools. Everything is done
online, with the exception of some medical courses, which require a separate application procedure. Higher education minister Valérie Pécresse says the application procedure has been
simplified this year and the information on the site more clearly presented. Candidates have until March 20 to finalise their choices and they should receive responses in late May or early
June.