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Language Courses and Cultural Immersion Programs Schools and Programs in France

46 schools in France teach Language Courses and Cultural Immersion Programs.

Language Courses and Cultural Immersion Programs Studies in France

Language courses in France are, above all, courses in French as a foreign language (français langue étrangère, FLE). They are offered by private language schools, by the Alliances Françaises and by university language centres, for stays of one week to a full academic year. SpainExchange lists 48 schools in France for language courses and cultural immersion programmes, spread over large cities, the Mediterranean coast and small towns.

How the courses are organised

Schools place students by level on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), from A1 to C1 or C2, and most accept new students throughout the year. The usual formats are:

  • Standard and intensive group courses. The Centre International d'Antibes offers a standard course of 20 lessons of 45 minutes and an intensive course of 30 lessons. CAREL in Royan teaches its intensive course 25 hours a week, in classes of at most 15, from level A1 to C1.
  • Monthly and long-stay courses. At the Alliance Française de Lyon the intensive course runs Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 13:00, 80 hours a month. The CUEF of the Université Grenoble Alpes opens intensive courses every month except August, with 72 hours of language classes and 8 hours of complementary activities.
  • University programmes. University centres award the DUEF (diplôme universitaire d'études françaises), which states the level reached and includes teaching for students who plan to start a degree in France. At the CUEF, the first DUEF semester of 2026-27 runs from 4 September to 11 December 2026. The centre also has evening courses.
  • Immersion and themed stays. Small residential schools build the whole stay around the language. The Ecole des Trois Ponts advertises "French, nothing but French" and combines French with cooking, and the Institut de Français in Villefranche-sur-Mer teaches in full immersion.
  • Courses for teenagers and exam preparation. Several schools run summer camps for teenagers and preparation courses for the DELF and DALF.

Some centres teach other languages too: CAREL offers German, English and Spanish alongside French.

Admission and visa

Language courses have no academic entry requirement; a placement test decides the group. The paperwork depends on nationality and length of stay. According to Campus France, nationals of the European Economic Area and Switzerland do not need a visa to study in France. Other students must request a long-stay student visa to study for more than 3 months. For shorter stays a short-stay visa may be needed, although nationals of certain non-European countries are exempt for stays of up to 90 days. Applications go through France-Visas, the official visa website (information checked in October 2026).

Where to study

Nice has the most listed schools (7), followed by Paris (5), Tours (3) and Lyon (3); Bordeaux, Grenoble, Montpellier and Perpignan have two each. Examples from the list:

  • In Tours, the Institut de Touraine has received students since 1912. It is an accredited examination centre for the DELF and DALF and works with over 150 host families.
  • In Vichy, CAVILAM – Alliance Française states that its learners come from over 120 nationalities.
  • In Royan, CAREL was created in 1966 by the Université de Poitiers and the city.
  • In Nice and on the Côte d'Azur: the Alliance Française de Nice, IDIOM, Alpha.b Institut Linguistique and the Centre International d'Antibes.
  • In Paris: Lutece Langue, ACCORD École de Langues and Etoile Institut de Langue.

Accommodation is usually arranged by the school: the Centre International d'Antibes, for instance, offers a residence, apartments and host families.

Certificates and quality labels

A school certificate records attendance and level. For an official qualification, students sit an external exam:

  • DELF and DALF: official diplomas awarded by the French Ministry of National Education. The DELF covers A1, A2, B1 and B2 and the DALF covers C1 and C2. They are valid for life. According to France Éducation international, the DELF B2, and increasingly the DALF C1, gives access to French universities.
  • TCF: the ministry's official test; scores are valid for two years.
  • TEF: a test created by the Paris Île-de-France chamber of commerce and industry.

To choose a school, Campus France suggests centres with the Qualité FLE label, a certification for French training centres, and the university centres of the Campus FLE network. Whether a particular school holds the label is stated on its own profile and website.

Costs

Prices are set by each school and vary with city, intensity and season. As an example, the Alliance Française de Lyon lists a two-week summer intensive course at €560 and a four-month intensive package (80 hours a month) at €3,184 in October 2026. Accommodation, exam fees and enrolment fees usually come on top.

Frequently asked questions

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

EEA and Swiss nationals do not. Other students need a long-stay student visa for courses of more than 3 months; for shorter courses it depends on nationality.

Which French certificate do I need for a French university?

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

How long does a language course last?

From one or two weeks up to a semester or an academic year. Many schools sell courses by the week or month, and university centres work in semesters.

How can I check the quality of a language school?

Campus France suggests choosing centres with the Qualité FLE label or university centres in the Campus FLE network.