French courses

FRENCH SEMESTER COURSE (FOR BEGINNERS & A1, A2 and B1 Levels)

In 2025-2026, French courses will take place as follows (dates tbc):

• French Semester Course at the Geneva Graduate Institute: 

  1st Semester: Monday 29 September to Friday 5 December 2025

  2nd Semester: Thursday 19 February to Friday 8 May 2026

   

• Special Offer: Free in 2025-2026 for MAS Students
• Level proposed: beginners, A1, A2 and B1
• Two hours per week during the Autumn and Spring semesters (10 weeks per semester).
• Deadline to register: One week before the beginning of the course
• Group levels vary from beginner to intermediate.
• Please note that no course is offered for students with an advanced level of French.
• The course is OPTIONAL for the students registered in the MAS in Sustainable Finance, Impact Investing and Development.
• The course will NOT appear on the student's transcript (no ECTS) since attendance is on a voluntary basis for MAS students.
• However, please note that if registered, attendance is mandatory.

Cost

• Course materials need to be purchased (CHF 30) on the first day of class.
• Cost for the MAS Students in Sustainable Finance, Impact Investing and Development: SPECIAL OFFER: FREE in 2025-2026
• For information, the cost for LL.M Students, Exchange Students and Visiting Fellows is CHF 300 per semester.

Registration

• Deadline to register: One week before the beginning of the course
• Send an email to francais@graduateinstitute.ch (cc-ing  sustainable.finance@graduateinstitute.ch) and give your name and home address, specify your level.
• If you are non-beginners, we will send you a placement test to place you in the right level. We will then propose you a schedule according to the test results.
• The enrolment is confirmed as soon as francais@graduateinstitute.ch receives the payment from the MAS Office.

What is your level in French

You are a beginner if you have never taken a French course.

At A1 French level, you can handle simple and routine tasks without any problems and deal with everyday situations. You have a competence to express your simple needs; You can use French to understand dates/times/numbers, meet people, ask for places/directions, place orders. 

At A2 level, you can easily make simple sentences and simple daily conversations.

At B1 level, you can initiate, maintain and end most communicative tasks required for your personal and business needs. You can understand the instructions and give direct instructions. You can easily communicate in French in social and professional situations – including participating in discussions and meetings, interrupting someone to explain a project or express your opinion.

Additional Resources

Weekly French Conversation Corner at the Geneva Graduate Institute

L'Amicale des Étudiant-e-s Francophones de l'IHEID
Amiacle aims to promote the French-speaking identity in all its diversity, through academic and cultural events, within IHEID and beyond in the service of the international community.

Maison des Langues at Université de Genève
Enroll in a general course for French as a foreign language. Maison des Langues offers French courses for all levels (pre-A1 to C2) at a price of 260 CHF / semester as of 2024.

Preply
Online platform offering personalized language learning experiences with private tutors for tailored one-on-one sessions, focusing on conversational skills and suitable for all levels.

Duolingo
Free, gamified language learning app offering comprehensive courses in French and many other languages through interactive lessons.

Association On Va Parler Ensemble
Geneva-based nonprofit organization promoting French
language learning through weekly, free-to-attend
conversational practice groups, fostering community
engagement and cultural exchange.

Podcasts 

Duolingo Podcast
Coffee Break French
FrenchBlaBla

Youtube Channels 

Français avec Pierre
Comme Une Française
Easy French

More Apps

Babbel
Memrise
Quizlet
Anki Web