Where you can study in French
French is the language of instruction at universities in France, in Brussels and Wallonia, in western Switzerland and in Quebec. Universities in Quebec and in Belgium teach many programmes in French, which gives learners in North America a French-language option close to home. In France, the grandes écoles, the country's highly selective elite schools, exist alongside the universities. Each institution sets its own language requirements.
A degree in French also means daily life in French. Housing, paperwork and part-time jobs in France, Belgium, western Switzerland or Quebec run in French, even when part of your programme is taught in English.
Plan your French around where you will live. For Quebec, add listening practice with Quebec speakers, because the accent and some vocabulary differ from the standard French of France that most courses and exams use.
Language certificates for admission in France
For the first year at a French university, institutions usually ask international applicants for B2. B2 is the fourth of the six levels of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), the European scale from A1 to C2. According to France Éducation international, the public exam body, a growing number of universities and some grandes écoles now ask for the DALF C1.
| Goal | Usual level | Common proof |
|---|---|---|
| First year of a licence | B2 | TCF DAP, DELF B2 |
| Master's degree | B2 to C1 | DELF B2, DALF C1 |
| Grandes écoles | often C1 | DALF C1 |
| Text-heavy subjects such as law | C1 advisable | DALF C1 |
The licence is the French bachelor's degree. The TCF DAP is the French test from France Éducation international for the demande d'admission préalable, the preliminary application for a first-year place. It places your level without a pass or fail, and like every TCF result it is valid for two years. The DELF and DALF, the official diplomas of the French Ministry of Education, never expire.
Read the admission rules of your programme before you register for an exam. They name the exact certificate, and some universities want a result that is no more than two years old.
Academic writing with the dissertation, commentaire and synthèse
French universities expect texts with a fixed form. Three text types shape writing during your degree.
1 The dissertation
The dissertation is an argumentative essay with a fixed structure. The introduction leads to a guiding question, the problématique. The main body develops it in two or three parts, and the conclusion answers it.
2 The commentaire de texte
The commentaire de texte is a text analysis. It interprets an extract along its own structure and supports every point with the text.
3 The synthèse
The synthèse summarises several documents neutrally, without your own opinion. It is also part of the DALF C1, with 220 to 240 words.
French academic texts use the impersonal 'on' and linking words such as 'en outre' (moreover), 'cependant' (however) and 'par conséquent' (therefore). An academic writing course trains these phrases so that your structure also shows in your language.
The synthèse and the argumentative essay in the DALF C1 match typical university tasks. Preparing for the DALF C1 therefore also prepares you for written assignments at a French university.
Lectures, seminars and presentations in French
Two teaching formats alternate in a French degree. The cours magistral is the lecture in a large hall, where you listen and take notes. The travaux dirigés (TD) are small-group classes in which you prepare and present tasks.
Both require listening to fast, free speech and taking notes with your own abbreviations. Presentations, called exposé, require free speaking with a structure and questions afterwards. In emails to lecturers you write 'Madame' or 'Monsieur', use 'vous' and close with a fixed formula.
- ✓An online course trains note-taking in French with recorded lectures.
- ✓Live seminars practise the exposé and discussion in front of a group.
- ✓Feedback on your dissertation and synthèse shows your error patterns.
- ✗Exam training alone rarely covers long lectures.
- ✗A B2 reached by a narrow margin can leave you struggling in the first semester.
- ✗A general course does not teach the vocabulary of your subject.
3 course types to prepare for university in French
Applicants for a degree in French often combine three course types, depending on how far they are from their goal.
1 General course up to B2
If you have not yet reached B2, you need a general course first, because exam training does not replace missing grammar. B2 is the fourth of the six levels of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).
2 Exam preparation for the DELF, DALF or TCF
An exam course trains task formats, time limits and marking grids. DELF and DALF courses usually come as a package of six to twelve weeks, with mock exams and marking of your writing.
3 Academic writing and listening
An academic writing course trains the dissertation, the synthèse and the exposé with feedback. Recorded lectures train note-taking.
France Éducation international trains and authorises the DELF and DALF examiners. A teacher with this authorisation knows the marking grids for the written and spoken exam first-hand.
From online course to first semester in 5 steps
Plan backwards from the application deadline of your target university.
- 12 to 18 months before: Take a placement test and fix your target level and certificate. If you are at B1, start a course towards B2 now.
- 9 to 12 months before: Read French academic texts, listen to lectures and write your first synthèses.
- 6 to 9 months before: Prepare for the DELF, DALF or TCF with timed mock exams.
- 3 to 6 months before: Sit the exam. At the Institut français Écosse, for example, DELF results arrive two to three months after the exam.
- After admission: Take an academic writing course in French.
The hours come from Cambridge English and refer to English. Many language schools use them for French as well, because French has no official hours table per level.
Frequently asked questions about online French courses for university
What French level do French universities require for the first year?
French universities usually require French at B2, the fourth of six CEFR levels, from international applicants for the first year. Common proof is the TCF DAP or the DELF B2. For text-heavy subjects such as law, C1 is advisable.
What is the TCF DAP French test for studying in France?
The TCF DAP is the French test from France Éducation international for the preliminary application to the first year at a French university. It places your level on the CEFR scale without a pass or fail. The result is valid for two years.
Is the DELF B2 enough for a master's degree taught in French?
Whether the DELF B2 is enough for a master's degree taught in French depends on each university. According to France Éducation international, a growing number of universities and some grandes écoles ask for the DALF C1. The admission rules of the programme state the exact requirement.
What is a dissertation in a French-language degree?
A dissertation in a French-language degree is an argumentative essay with a fixed structure. The introduction leads to a guiding question, the main body develops it in two or three parts, and the conclusion answers it. An academic writing course in French trains this structure with feedback.
How long is a French certificate valid for a university application?
A French certificate is valid for two years or without limit, depending on the exam. TCF results, including the TCF DAP, are valid for two years, while the DELF and DALF never expire. Some universities still ask for proof that is no more than two years old.
Can you study in French in Canada?
You can study in French in Canada at universities in Quebec, which teach many programmes in French. Each university sets its own French requirements and lists the certificates it accepts. Listening practice with Quebec speakers helps you follow lectures from the start.
Sources
The information is based on these sources. Check fees and dates with the provider before you register.