Language Proficiency

Intensive language courses in French and English are organized throughout the students' academic program to enable them to reach a satisfactory level to follow the courses and facilitate their integration into a multicultural environment and their daily life in France.

English

The sectors of activity for which IFP School trains its students are international. Consequently,  English proficiency is a fundamental objective for all students.

ADMISSION

To be admitted to an English-speaking program, you must attest, before the admissions board, to a minimum level in one of the following tests

  • TOEIC: 850
  • TOEFL: 86
  • IELTS: 6.5
  • Cambridge (B2 First, C1 Advanced, Business, Linguaskill, etc.): 175

An English test is strongly recommended for applicants to programs taught in French.
In the exceptional case that candidates admitted by the Board have a level below the minimum required, they will have to take intensive English courses during the summer (2 or 4 weeks).

The following people are exempt from the English certificate requirement:

  • citizens of a country whose official language is English;
  • graduates of a university located in an English-speaking country, including :
    • South Africa
    • Australia
    • Canada (English-speaking universities)
    • Gambia
    • Ghana
    • Guyana
    • Ireland
    • Liberia
    • Nigeria
    • New Zealand
    • United Kingdom
    • USA

These rules, which can be revised each year, are valid for the start of the 2024 academic year.
They do not apply to applicants who studied at an English-speaking university in another country.

GRADUATION

To obtain the IFP School degree, all students must attest to a minimum level of English, as English proficiency is essential in our sectors of activity. This level is set at B2 (European benchmark) for young graduates and B1 for professionals.

For programs taught in English

Students take a TOEIC test at the beginning of the school year and are expected to achieve a minimum score. If they do not achieve this score, they will be required to attend an English course once or twice a week, in order to retake the test within the year and practice speaking the language.

For programs taught in French

At the beginning of the school year, students take an internal test to evaluate their effective level of English. If they do not reach the minimum expected level, they will be required to attend an English course once or twice a week in order to take the TOEIC test during the year and to practice speaking the language.

Please note: IFP School provides a Language Hub, dedicated to foreign languages, with books, games, magazines, DVDs and test practice books.

French - expected level

International candidates are encouraged to attest to their level of French by attaching to their application a TCF-type language test or a DELF/DALF-type diploma or a certificate of French language training stipulating the number of hours completed, if available. In addition, an internal French test may be organized at the request of recruiters.

In addition, international students applying for the Specialized Engineering Degree (DIS) must now attest to a minimum level of French, at least B1 for an English program and B2 for a French program.

This does not apply to students applying for a DESA (Diplôme d'études supérieures appliquées).

Students who need to improve their level of French to achieve this goal will take mandatory weekly classes during the school year.

Before the end of their studies at IFP School, students aiming for a DIS will have to provide

  • a French language diploma (DELF/DALF) ;
  • a French language test (TCF type) that is less than two years old at the initial date of the graduation board.

The requirement to provide a French language diploma/test does not apply to nationals of:

  • (1) an officially French-speaking country;
  • (2) a multilingual country where French is an official language and who have completed their entire secondary education in a French-language institution.

(1) List of officially French-speaking countries:

  • Benin
  • Burkina Faso
  • Congo - Brazzaville
  • Congo - DRC
  • Ivory Coast
  • Gabon
  • Guinea - Conakry
  • Mali
  • Monaco
  • Niger
  • Senegal
  • Togo

Sources - Ministry of the Interior website and Campus France

(2) Multilingual countries:

  • Belgium
  • Burundi
  • Cameroon
  • Canada
  • Central African Republic
  • Comoros
  • Djibouti
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Haiti
  • Luxembourg
  • Madagascar
  • Rwanda
  • Seychelles
  • Switzerland
  • Vanuatu.

All students can also benefit from French courses to facilitate their integration in France and their discovery of French culture.