Language Immersion Courses in France

Language schools in France teach French as a foreign language (français langue étrangère, FLE) to adults, students and teenagers who come to the country for a few weeks, a semester or a full year. Campus France, the French agency for international students, notes that you can learn French in a large number of training centres in France, for beginners and higher levels and for short or long stays.

There are three main kinds of provider: private language schools, Alliance Française centres, and university centres for French as a foreign language attached to a French university. In this directory, Paris, Nice and Tours have the most schools, followed by Bordeaux, Grenoble, Lyon and Perpignan. Examples include the CAVILAM in Vichy, the Institut de Touraine in Tours, the Centre Universitaire d'Études Françaises (CUEF) of the Université Grenoble Alpes, the Alliance Française de Lyon and Elfe in Paris.

How French courses work

Most schools run courses all year, with group classes by level from beginner to advanced. Typical formats are:

• Intensive courses: morning classes from Monday to Friday; the Alliance Française de Lyon runs its intensive course at 80 hours a month
• Extensive and evening courses: a few hours a week for people who live or work in France
• Exam preparation: courses for the DELF, DALF, TCF and TEF
• University programmes: semester courses such as the DUEF (Diplôme Universitaire d'Études Françaises) at university centres, designed for students who plan to start a degree in France
• Specialist courses: French for professional purposes, one-to-one lessons, junior and teenage programmes and courses for teachers of French

Start dates vary. Elfe states that courses can start every Monday, in small groups of at most ten people. The CAVILAM, run as an Alliance Française centre, offers individual, group, intensive and long-term courses, including preparation for higher education in France.

The Qualité FLE label is the main quality mark. Campus France recommends centres with this label and describes it as a guarantee of quality linguistic training. The Institut de Touraine, the CUEF of Grenoble and Elfe all state on their sites that they hold the label. University centres also belong to the Campus FLE network of the ADCUEFE.

French exams and certificates

Many schools are exam centres. The DELF and DALF are official diplomas awarded by the French Ministry of National Education. The DELF covers the first four levels of the Common European Framework of Reference (A1 to B2) and the DALF the levels C1 and C2. According to France Éducation international, the DELF is valid for life, and the DELF B2, and increasingly the DALF C1, give access to French universities. The TCF, the ministry's test of French, gives a result that is valid for two years. Check which exam your target university or employer asks for before choosing a preparation course.

Admission and visas

Language schools do not usually ask for entry qualifications: new students take a placement test and join a class at their level. Nationals of the European Economic Area and Switzerland do not need a student visa. Other students may need one even for a course of less than three months, depending on their nationality: Campus France lists a short-stay visa for studies, and notes that nationals of certain countries do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days. A course of more than three months requires a long-stay student visa. Apply through the official France-Visas website.

Costs and accommodation

Prices are set by each school. As an example, the Alliance Française de Lyon lists a one-month intensive course of 80 hours at €860 and a three-month package at €2,388 (2026). Living costs come on top: Campus France estimates that people in France spend about €300 a month on food, and an annual student public transport pass costs between €250 and €300 outside Paris and €374.40 in Paris.

Most schools help with housing. The Institut de Touraine works with more than 150 host families in Tours, and Elfe offers homestays, student residences, youth hostels and aparthotels in Paris. A homestay adds daily practice in French outside class.

How to choose a language school in France

• Quality label: whether the school holds the Qualité FLE label
• Type of centre: a private school, an Alliance Française or a university centre with an academic calendar
• Goal: general French, a DELF or DALF exam, preparation for university or French for work
• Intensity and group size: hours per week and the maximum number of students per class
• Location: a large city such as Paris or Lyon, or a smaller town such as Tours or Vichy where more of daily life happens in French
• Accommodation: homestay, residence or independent housing, and whether the school arranges it

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if a French language school is reliable?

Look for the Qualité FLE label, which Campus France recommends as a guarantee of quality training. University centres for French as a foreign language are another option.

Which French exam do I need for university in France?

According to France Éducation international, the DELF B2, and increasingly the DALF C1, give access to French universities. Each university sets its own requirement.

Do I need a visa for a French course in France?

EEA and Swiss nationals do not. Other students may need a short-stay study visa for courses under three months, depending on nationality, and a long-stay student visa for longer courses.

How much does a French course in France cost?

Prices vary by school and city. The Alliance Française de Lyon, for example, charges €860 for a one-month intensive course of 80 hours in 2026.