French & English language tests for studying in France (TCF, DELF, IELTS…)
Which test proves your level? It depends on your language of study. French-taught programmes usually want B2 in French (TCF, DELF B2 or DALF C1); first-year university from abroad has its own rule (DAP / TCF DAP). English-taught programmes set their own IELTS / TOEFL / Duolingo minimums. Here is the whole map, with official sources.
Updated 2026-06-20
There is no single “study-in-France language test”. The test you need depends on two things: the language your programme is taught in (French or English), and which route you take - in particular whether you are applying to the first year of a public university (Licence 1) from abroad, which triggers the special Demande d’Admission Préalable (DAP) and its dedicated TCF DAP test. The official French tests (TCF, TCF DAP, DELF, DALF) are designed and run by France Éducation International, the public operator under the French Ministry of Education; the TEF is run by the CCI Paris Île-de-France. For English-taught programmes there is no central minimum - each programme sets its own IELTS / TOEFL / Duolingo threshold.
Which test do you need?
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Find your language of instruction
Check the programme page: is it taught in French or in English? Many Masters and some Bachelors at grandes écoles run fully in English; most public-university programmes run in French. This single fact decides whether you need a French proof (TCF/DELF/DALF/TEF) or an English proof (IELTS/TOEFL/Duolingo).
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French-taught? Aim for B2
French-taught higher education typically expects B2 on the CEFR scale. You can prove it with a TCF result at B2, a DELF B2 diploma, or a higher DALF C1/C2 diploma - or a TEF result at the matching level. Some selective programmes ask for C1. Always confirm the exact level on the programme page.
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First year of public university from abroad? You need the DAP - and usually the TCF DAP
If you hold a non-French secondary diploma and want to enrol in Licence 1 (or a first year at a school of architecture) at a public university, you go through the DAP (“dossier blanc”) procedure. As part of it you normally sit the TCF DAP, unless you are exempt (see the table). Registration and the test happen on a fixed early-winter calendar - see the deadlines below.
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English-taught? Read the programme’s own minimum
For English-taught programmes there is no centralised score. Each university or school decides whether it wants IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo English Test (or another) and at what minimum. Open the admissions page of the exact programme and use its number - not a figure from a blog.
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Check if you are exempt
Native French speakers, holders of a DELF B2 / DALF C1 / C2, candidates who did their secondary schooling in French, and nationals of countries where French is the sole official language are usually exempt from the TCF DAP. Likewise, native English speakers are often exempt from an English test. Confirm with the institution.
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Book early and budget the validity window
Test seats fill up. The TCF and TEF results are valid for 2 years; the DELF / DALF diplomas are valid for life. Sit your test early enough that the result is still valid when you submit your Études en France / Campus France file.
The French tests at a glance
All the French tests below place you on the CEFR scale (A1 → C2). The key difference: TCF and TEF are tests (a result, valid 2 years), while DELF and DALF are diplomas (passed once, valid for life).
| Test / diploma | Run by | What it is for | Levels | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TCF (Test de connaissance du français - “Tout public”) | France Éducation International | General positioning test of your French level (study, work, personal). Often accepted as B2 proof for French-taught study. | Positions A1–C2 (no pass/fail) | 2 years |
| TCF DAP (TCF pour la Demande d’Admission Préalable) | France Éducation International | Specifically for applying to the first year of a Licence (L1) or a first year at a school of architecture in France, via the DAP route. | Positions A1–C2 | 2 years |
| DELF (Diplôme d’études en langue française) | France Éducation International (Ministry of Education diploma) | A lifelong diploma proving your French level. DELF B2 is the usual proof for French-taught higher education. | A1, A2, B1, B2 | For life |
| DALF (Diplôme approfondi de langue française) | France Éducation International (Ministry of Education diploma) | The advanced version of the DELF - a lifelong diploma for strong French. DALF C1 is accepted everywhere B2 is, and required by some selective programmes. | C1, C2 | For life |
| TEF (Test d’évaluation de français) | CCI Paris Île-de-France (“Le français des affaires”) | A modular French test accepted for study, work, immigration and nationality. An alternative to the TCF for proving your level. | Positions A1–C2 | 2 years |
All four French skills (listening, reading, writing, speaking) can be assessed; the TCF and TEF have compulsory and optional modules, so make sure you register for the modules your programme requires.
The B2 norm for French-taught study
For higher education taught in French, the working standard is level B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). B2 is the level at which you can follow lectures, read academic texts and write assignments in French without constant difficulty - which is why universities and schools converge on it.
- How to prove B2: a TCF (or TEF) result reaching B2, a DELF B2 diploma, or any higher proof such as DALF C1/C2.
- Above B2: selective tracks (some Masters, some grandes écoles, law, medicine, etc.) may ask for C1. Treat B2 as the floor, not a guarantee.
- Always programme-specific: the exact accepted tests and minimum level are set by each institution - read the programme’s admissions page.
The DAP / TCF DAP rule (first-year university from abroad)
The Demande d’Admission Préalable (DAP) - the “dossier blanc” - is the mandatory route for a holder of a foreign secondary-school diploma who wants a first enrolment in Licence 1 (or a first year at a French school of architecture) at a public university. The DAP almost always requires the dedicated TCF DAP language test.
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who must take the TCF DAP | Candidates applying to L1 / first year of architecture from abroad with a non-French secondary diploma, unless exempt. |
| What it tests | Oral comprehension, written comprehension, mastery of language structures (all multiple-choice) plus a written-expression task. |
| Exemptions | Holders of DELF B2 / DALF C1 / C2; a French baccalauréat or equivalent; nationals of countries where French is the sole official language; people who did their secondary schooling in French. |
| Calendar (for 2026 entry) | The DAP / TCF DAP runs on a fixed early-winter window - registration closed 15 December 2025, with the TCF DAP sat by 16 February 2026. Confirm each year’s dates on your local Campus France site. |
| Validity | TCF DAP results are valid 2 years. |
The DAP is only for the first year of public university (L1) / architecture. For L2/L3, Master or grandes écoles you use the hors-DAP route, where the language proof is whatever the programme asks for (often DELF B2 / TCF / TEF, or an English test for English-taught tracks).
enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr - DAP “dossier blanc” 2026-2027 ↗
English-taught programmes: IELTS / TOEFL / Duolingo - minimums set per programme
If your programme is taught in English, you usually prove your English instead of (or as well as) your French. The important caveat: there is no centralised minimum score. Campus France itself says each university or institution “has its own standards and set of requirements”, so you must take the threshold from the specific programme.
| Test | What it is | Note |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | Band score 0–9 across listening, reading, writing, speaking. | Widely accepted. The required band is fixed by the programme. |
| TOEFL (iBT) | Score 0–120 across the four skills. | Widely accepted. The required total is fixed by the programme. |
| Duolingo English Test | Online adaptive English test, score 10–160. | Accepted by a growing number of programmes - but check it is accepted before you book. |
We deliberately quote no specific minimum band/score here, because each programme sets its own and centralised figures do not exist. Always read the exact admissions page of your target programme and use its number.
Campus France - do you need an English certificate (IELTS/TOEFL)? ↗
Common questions
What level of French do I need to study in France?
For programmes taught in French, the usual standard is B2 on the CEFR scale - provable with a TCF (or TEF) result at B2, a DELF B2 diploma, or a higher DALF C1/C2. Some selective programmes ask for C1. The exact requirement is set per programme, so check the admissions page.
What is the difference between the TCF and the TCF DAP?
The plain TCF (“Tout public”) is a general positioning test of your French level for study, work or personal use. The TCF DAP is a specific version for one purpose only: applying to the first year of a Licence (L1) - or a first year of architecture - at a French public university through the DAP route. Both are run by France Éducation International and both are valid 2 years.
Do I always have to take the TCF DAP?
No. You are normally exempt if you hold a DELF B2 / DALF C1 / C2, a French baccalauréat (or equivalent), if you did your secondary schooling in French, or if you are a national of a country where French is the sole official language. Outside the DAP route (L2/L3, Master, grandes écoles) you do not take the TCF DAP at all - you provide whatever proof the programme asks for.
Is IELTS or TOEFL required, and what score?
It depends entirely on the programme. There is no central minimum in France: each university or school sets its own English requirement (IELTS, TOEFL, sometimes the Duolingo English Test) and its own minimum. Campus France confirms that requirements are set by the institution - so take the exact score from your programme’s admissions page.
How long are my results valid?
The TCF and TEF results are valid for 2 years from the date they are issued. The DELF and DALF are diplomas, valid for life. Plan your test date so the result is still valid when you submit your application.
Sources
- France Éducation International - our diplomas and language testsofficial · 2026-06-20
- France Éducation International - TCF DAP (Demande d’Admission Préalable)official · 2026-06-20
- France Éducation International - DELF / DALF FAQofficial · 2026-06-20
- France Éducation International - DALFofficial · 2026-06-20
- enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr - DAP “dossier blanc” 2026-2027official · 2026-06-20
- CCI Paris Île-de-France - TEF (Le français des affaires)official · 2026-06-20
- Campus France - do you need an English certificate (IELTS/TOEFL)?official · 2026-06-20
Not sure which test your programme accepts?
Tell us the school, the programme and the language it is taught in - we’ll tell you which language proof it accepts (TCF, DELF B2, DALF C1, TEF, or an IELTS/TOEFL minimum) and how to book it in time. Free.