French as a Foreign Language

EXCHANGE STUDENTS AT UNIGE

 

As part of your mobility stay at UNIGE, you can attend up to 4 hours per week (2x2h) each semester of French as a Foreign Language (FLE) courses free of charge, offered by the Maison des Langues (MdL).

 

Choose your courses

 

Courses are organized according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The course level indicated in the title corresponds to the target level. For example, a course entitled B1 is designed for students who have already reached level A2 and are aiming to achieve level B1.

For each level, the MdL offers:

  • General French courses to train overall language skills (speaking, writing, listening, vocabulary, grammar)
  • Thematic or specialized courses to train specific themes and skills (academic French, oral communication…)

You can attend for free:

  • 1 general course (2h per week) + 1 thematic/specialized course (2h per week).

 

Additional courses are available with a reduced student feeClick here to see all the french courses offered by Maison des Langues.

 

Assess your French level

 

Before enrolling, you must take the ELAO online placement testThe test is free and can be taken only once.

 

How to register

 

Registration is done by clicking here. Places are limited and assigned on a first come, first served basis.

 

Enrollment deadlines:

Fall semester: until September 17, 2025 (inclusive)

Spring semester: until February 18, 2026 (inclusive)

 

Change or cancel your registration

 

Requests must be submitted via the enrollment portal by:

  • September 28, 2025 (Fall semester)
  • March 1, 2026 (Spring semester)

Late requests will not be accepted. Course changes are only possible at the start of the semester, subject to availability. Withdrawals should be made as early as possible so places can be reassigned.

The Maison des Langues offers French as a foreign language (FLE) courses exclusively open to members of the university community: UNIGE, IHEID, HES-SO Geneva, HUG. (Only the French Summer Courses are open to the external public).

 

These courses can be general, theme-based or specialized.

 

General language courses aim to develop language skills in oral and written comprehension, oral expression and interaction, as well as in grammar and vocabulary, depending on the targeted level: beginner (pre-A1, A1) elementary (A2), intermediate (B1, B2) or advanced (C1, C2).

 

Complete Beginner Course pre-A1

Beginner Course A1

Elementary Course A2

Intermediate Course I B1

Intermediate Course II B2

Advanced Course C1

Advanced Course C2

Summer French Courses pre-A1, A1, A2, B1, B2, C1

The theme-based language courses allow you to deepen a specific aspect of the language (grammar, conversation, argumentation, synthesis, spelling, textuality, etc.), depending on the targeted level, and relate to specific socio-cultural subjects. They also serve as a support for working on the language (work on oral and written comprehension and production skills, as well as on grammar and vocabulary, using a theme-based or task-based approach). Some courses also prepare to a specific language certification.

 

Grammar and Vocabulary Games Pre-A1

Discover Geneva and Switzerland A1

Switzerland and the French-speaking world A2

Speaking B1

Grammar B1

Writing B1

Writing-Grammar B1

Speaking B2

Everyday French B2-C1

Grammar B2, with workshop

Grammar C1

 

Specialized language courses focus on specialized languages at an intermediate/advanced level (B2, C1), such as language for specific purposes (for academic or professional purposes) or language of a particular field (economics , education, science, etc.).

 

Argumentation B2

French for Academic Purposes B2

French for Professional Purposes B2-C1

French for Academic Purposes C1

Synthesis and argument C1