Our teacher is excellent. Having taken numerous French language courses over the years, including in France, I can confidently say she is one of the best instructors I have had. Her teaching approach effectively addresses the specific needs of adult learners while presenting material in a clear and structured manner that facilitates strong comprehension and engagement. French student, Autumn 2025

Available courses

The following French courses are available for members of the public, although not every course runs every term. Check the class timetable below to see which classes are running in Autumn 2025.

Stage 1.1 (equivalent to CEFR level A1.1): Enrol if you have never studied French before or you know a few basic phrases.

Stage 1.2 (equivalent to CEFR level A1.2): Enrol if you have completed Stage 1.1 or can:

• use basic structures and vocabulary related to greetings, introductions, family, numbers, food
• form simple sentences using verbs in the present tense, basic question forms and negations
• engage in simple conversations

French Refresher (equivalent to CEFR level A1): This course is ideal for students who have begun studying French and are looking for an opportunity to brush up their knowledge over one term to be able to progress to a Stage 2 course. Enrol if you have:

• studied French at Key Stage 3 (Year 7, 8, 9) but never had the chance to sit for a GCSE in the language
• undertaken independent study in the language, covering the vocabulary and grammar expected at A1 level on the CEFR

Stage 2.1 (equivalent to CEFR level A2.1): Enrol if you have completed Stage 1.2, have a Grade 4-6 in French GCSE or equivalent, or you can:

• engage in conversations on a range of familiar topics, recognising the difference between present and past events
• understand short recordings on familiar topics delivered in relatively slow-paced standard language
• write short texts about daily routines, simple events and opinions

Stage 2.2 (equivalent to CEFR level A2.2): Enrol if you've completed Stage 2.1, have Grade 4-6 in French GCSE or equivalent, or you can:

• interact with a degree of fluency and accuracy in common social situations
• understand texts on a number of non-abstract topics and give considered opinions
• write longer texts on a variety of topics, including past events

Stage 3.1 (equivalent to CEFR level B1.1): Enrol if you have completed Stage 2.2, have Grade 7-9 in French GCSE or equivalent, or you can:

• interact in familiar situations with a degree of flexibility and fluency
• understand the gist and some detail of broadcast materials on topics of general interest
• write structured texts on a variety of topics, including experience and future plans

Stage 3.2 (equivalent to CEFR level B1.2):  Enrol if you've completed Stage 3.1, have Grade C at French AS level or equivalent, or you can:

• describe experiences with accuracy, talk about dreams, ambitions, and hypothetical situations
• understand the gist of simple news reports
• write structured texts on a variety of topics, including experience and future plans

Stage 4.1 (equivalent to CEFR level B2.1): Enrol if you've completed Stage 3.2, have Grade A-B at AS level or equivalent, have an A level in French or equivalent, or you can:

• communicate in various situations, including some unpredictable and abstract topics, express opinions about current issues and formulate hypothesis
• understand and comment on simple news reports
• write about experiences and hypothetical situations with a degree of confidence

Stage 4.2 (equivalent to CEFR level B2.2): Enrol if you have completed Stage 4.1, have an A level or equivalent, or you can:

• communicate clearly on a variety of topics, deliver an unscripted presentation with reasonable fluency
• understand and comment on most broadcast news and current affairs programmes with some support
• write about abstract topics and hypothetical situations with a good level of accuracy

French in your Suitcase: This course gives students who prefer a less intensive option the chance to learn how to use the language effectively in real life situations. It's ideal if you already have some basic knowledge of the language and would like to brush this up to be able to hold simple conversations when travelling. Enrol if you:

• have a basic knowledge of the language
• prefer a slower and more relaxed pace of learning
• would like to brush up your language for travel purposes

DELF Exam preparatory workshops (A1/A2/B1/B2): A set of 5 preparatory workshops for all students who opt to sit for the DELF qualifications. These are held in the spring and are free of charge to anyone enrolled on another French course; they are not available to join as standalone classes.

Placement test

If you have never learned French with us before, or are not sure which level is right for you, please take this placement test so that you know which course class is suitable for you.

We recommend reading our Terms and Conditions for information about what to do if you enrol at the wrong level and need to transfer to a different course.

Autumn 2025 course timetable

Enrolment on our Autumn courses is now closed.

Spring 2026 course timetable

Enrolment on our Spring 2026 courses will close on 23 January 2026 at midday.

Meet the teacher and ask any questions about your course before teaching starts the following week. There are also opportunities to meet the Languages Team. For all Meet the teacher sessions, just drop in at the time that suits you best.

Teaching starts w/c 9 February 2026 until w/c 27 April 2026. There is no teaching w/c 30 March 2026 and w/c 6 April 2026 due to Easter. All courses take place in person at our Claverton Down campus.

Please read and understand our Terms and Conditions before enrolling.

*Available for students on a core course. Not available as a standalone course.

Course fees

Course fees for 2025-26 are:

Fees include all tuition and course materials and must be paid in full at the time of enrolment, through our online booking system.

Available discounts

We offer a 10% discount to Discovery Card holders. To qualify for the discount, you should:

1. Enrol on your chosen course and pay the full course fee.
2. Complete this form to request your Discovery Card discount.
3. We will verify the details you have provided and issue you a refund of 10% of the course fee within 5 working days of receiving your refund request.

The Discovery Card discount is only available on full course fees, and cannot be used in conjunction with any other discounts, including the subsidised prices offered to University students and staff.

Qualification fees

You may wish to take up the opportunity of entering for a globally recognised language qualification, to accredit your language proficiency. Exam preparation workshops are offered in the Spring alongside the core language course at no additional charge. You must be enrolled on a language course to be able to join the exam preparation workshops; they are not available to enrol onto as standalone courses.

If you choose to enter for an examination, additional costs will be payable for examination entry to the respective awarding organisations. These costs vary by language, level and provider and are subject to change, but typically range from £70 to £250 per exam. Full details of costs can be found on the awarding bodies' websites and will be provided by your teacher. Please note that if you choose not to take an exam, the costs are limited to the course fees.

Qualifications

In the spring, you will have the option of sitting DELF qualifications A1 – B2. We offer four levels of accreditation starting from Beginners (A1) leading up to Upper Intermediate (B2). Exams take place at DELF examination centres at the end of the academic year. To help you prepare for the exams, you can join our DELF preparation workshops, which are offered free of charge to anyone enrolled on another French course; they are not available to join as standalone classes. If you would like to join the relevant workshop, you can speak to your teacher after you have enrolled on your core course.

More ways to develop your French language skills

Outside the classroom, we share cultural events organised by French associations in the UK such as the Institut Français and Alliance Française. These events offer additional opportunities for you to develop your knowledge of French language and culture.

We also organise our own cultural events and Language Cafés. If you are enrolled on a language course, you are welcome to take part in all these activities; please ask your teacher for more details after you have enrolled.

Meet the teacher

You can come along to meet the teacher and ask any questions about your course before teaching starts the following week. There are also opportunities to meet the Languages Team. For all the sessions, just drop in at the time that suits you best.

Spring 2026