French exam requirements, by faculty
To study at UNIGE, you generally need to have a B2 level in French. Depending on your situation, we may ask you to take a French exam. This exam may be eliminatory.
No particular level of French is required for the MAS programs. See the study regulations for the chose program to check the required language levels.
Who must take the French exam?
It depends on your situation and on the program you want to enroll in.
- Check the list to know if you need to take the exam:
- Check if your faculty has any special requirements:
How to prepare for the French exam?
We explain how the exam works and how to prepare for it.
Specific cases by faculty
Some faculties or programs have specific requirements.
Faculty of Science
- Complementary certificates: general exam, eliminatory;
- Master’s degrees: no French exam;
- Certificates of specialization: no French exam.
Faculty of Medicine
- Master’s degrees: general exam, eliminatory;
- Exception: no French exam for applicants to the Master of Science in Neuroscience.
Faculty of Humanities
- Master’s degrees: general exam and complementary exam (eliminatory);
- Exception: both exams are for information only if your are applying to the master’s degrees in one of the five programs taught mostly in German, English, Spanish, Italian or Russian;
- Certificates of specialization: no French exam.
Important: if your French level is insufficient (below CECR B2), you can be admitted in a master's degree or further studies program but must take French lessons (at least 2 hours per week) during your first year of study.
Geneva School of Economics and Management (GSEM)
- Complementary certificates: no French exam;
- Complementary program to access a master’s degree: no French exam;
- Master’s degrees: no French exam.
Geneva School of Social Sciences (SdS)
- Complementary certificates: general exam, eliminatory;
- Exception: no French exam if you apply to the Complementary Certificate in Geomatics;
- Master’s degrees: general exam, eliminatory;
- Exceptions: no French exam if you apply to the Master of Arts in Sustainable Societies and Social Change, the Master of Science in Innovation, Human Development and Sustainability and the Master of Arts in Political Economy of Capitalism.
Faculty of Law
- Master’s degrees: general exam, eliminatory;
- École d’avocature (ECAV): general exam, eliminatory.
Faculty of Theology
- Complementary certificate: general exam, eliminatory;
- Complementary certificate from the Institut œcuménique de Bossey: no French exam;
- Master’s degree: general exam, eliminatory;
- Certificate of specialization: general exam, eliminatory.
Faculty of Psychology and Sciences of Education (FPSE)
- Complementary certificates: general exam, eliminatory;
- Master’s degrees: general exam, eliminatory;
- Exception: no French exam for applicants to the Master of Science in Neuroscience.
Faculty of Translation and Interpreting
- Complementary certificate: general exam, eliminatory;
- Exception: no French exam if French is part of your chosen language combination;
- Master of Arts in Translation: general exam, eliminatory;
- Exception: no French exam if French is part of your chosen language combination;
- Master of Arts in Conference Interpreting: general exam, eliminatory;
- Exception: no French exam if French is part of your chosen language combination;
- Master of Arts in Multilingual Communication Technology (MATECH): general exam, eliminatory.
University Institute of Teacher Education (IUFE)
- Complementary certificate: general exam, eliminatory;
- Master of Arts in Secondary Education (MASE 1) and Bi-disciplinary Master of Arts in Secondary Education (MASE 2): no UNIGE French exam. Contact the IUFE to know more about required language level;
- Master of Science in Special Needs Education (MESP) : general exam, eliminatory;
- Specialisation Certificate in the Teaching of a Supplementary Discipline (CSD2): no UNIGE French exam. Please contact the IUFE to know more about required language level.
Global Studies Institute
- Master’s degrees: general exam, eliminatory;
- Exception: no French exam if you apply to the Master of Science in Global Health.
Institute for Environmental Sciences
- Master in Environmental Sciences (MUSE): no French exam.
Centre for Childen’s Rights Studies (CIDE)
- Master’s degree: general exam, eliminatory.
Computer Science Centre (CUI)
- Master of Science in Digital Systems and Services: no French exam.