France guide 路 verified 2026-07-04
Language Tests for France: IELTS, TOEFL and Alternatives
Language & tests
Two language tracks: French-taught programmes need a French-proficiency certificate (DELF/DALF or TCF/TEF); English-taught programmes need an English test. Growth in English-taught Masters means more Indian students now clear the language bar with IELTS/TOEFL alone, but check each programme, since many still expect at least basic French.
French-taught programmes
ConditionalDELF/DALF or TCF/TEF, typically B2 (Licence) to C1 (Master)
DELF/DALF is run by France 脡ducation international on behalf of the Ministry of Education; TCF/TEF are the other officially recognised French tests. Level required is set by each programme.
English-taught programmes
ConditionalIELTS Academic or TOEFL, band/score set per programme
Requirements vary widely by university and programme, always confirm the exact minimum on the programme's own admission page.
University admission cutoff, IELTS (the binding figure)
ConditionalTypical: 6.0 to 6.5 overall (no band below ~6.0); Grandes 脡coles/business schools often 6.5 to 7.0
This is the UNIVERSITY's own admission bar, not a national or visa-level floor, France-Visas and 脡tudes en France set no separate English-test requirement of their own. Standard public-university English-taught Licence/Master programmes commonly ask IELTS Academic 6.0 to 6.5 overall with each module around 6.0. Selective Grandes 脡coles and business schools set a higher bar: EDHEC's official Master in Management requirements state IELTS 6.5 minimum (TOEFL iBT 92, PTE Academic 65), and several top-ranked Masters/MBA tracks ask 6.5 to 7.0. Always confirm the exact figure on the specific programme's own admissions page, it is set per programme, not by law.
GRE/GMAT
OptionalNot a national requirement; asked by some Masters/MBA and Grandes 脡coles
Common for business-school and some engineering-school (Grande 脡cole) admissions; rare for standard university Masters.
- Book DELF/DALF, TCF/TEF, or IELTS/TOEFL early, seats fill up months ahead of intake deadlines, especially near the September intake.
- Even for English-taught Masters, basic French (A1/A2) materially helps day-to-day life, part-time work, and some administrative appointments.
- Match the test date to the 脡tudes en France timeline: the certificate needs to be ready before the academic file is finalised, not just before the visa appointment.
Where this fits
This is one step of the full France journey: admission, tests, application, visa, money, arrival and stay-back, every figure cited to an official source.
More on France
Bramica is independent and takes no commission from any university, recruiter or agency. This page is information, not immigration advice. Rules, fees and thresholds change; confirm the current requirement on the official source before acting on it.