Do you know what are the minimum IELTS band requirements for universities in France? If you want to study fashion in France or work in the fashion industry, France is a great choice. But, depending on your course, you would need to fulfill the minimum IELTS band requirements for the universities in France. As an international student, you might need to know both French and English.
Table of Contents
If it is a French course, you will need to take a French proficiency test or a French language course. For English-based courses, you need to score at least 6.5 on the IELTS exam.
In this article, we will discuss about the minimum IELTS band requirements for universities in France. Let’s get started.
Key Takeaways
- IELTS aka International English Language Testing System is a test to show how good you are at English
- Many universities around the world, including in France, use IELTS scores to decide if you can join their school
- Different universities in France have different IELTS score requirements, so it is important to check what score you need for your desired university
- If you don’t want to take the IELTS test, you can explore other options
- These options include alternative English proficiency exams, a university interview, transcripts from an English-speaking institute, or an acceptance letter from the university
Advantages of Studying in France
Studying in France can be beneficial for you and your career. Let’s look at the advantages of studying in France:
- French universities offer programs in lots of fields like engineering, business, arts, and science.
- France has students from all over the world.
- France is affordable for studying and living when compared to other countries like the UK or the US.
- French is a widely spoken language globally. Studying in France is a great chance to pick up the language and become good at it.
- French companies are present all over the world. So if you have a degree from a French university, it can open up lots of job options for you internationally.
- France is famous for its culture and history. You will get to enjoy their art, music, food, and famous buildings while you are studying in France.
What is an IELTS Exam?
IELTS is also known as the International English Language Testing System. Many students from all over the world take this test to show how good they are at English.
Lots of universities in over 100 countries use IELTS scores to decide if you can join their school. When you get your score, it’s between 0 to 9 bands.
Different countries have different IELTS band requirements. The minimum IELTS band requirements for universities in Ireland can differ from the minimum IELTS band requirements for universities in Greece. So, you should know what IELTS score you need for the course or university you want to join.
If you get a lower band, it means you are not so good at English yet. But if you get a 9 band, it shows that you are proficient in English.
Minimum IELTS Band Requirements for Universities in France
If you are thinking about studying in France, you will need to take a test called IELTS. It shows how good you are at English. Different courses at different universities have different scores they want you to get.
So, it is important to check what score you need for the course you want to join. This test is called IELTS Academic. It helps universities in France know if you can handle studying in English.
| Name of the University | Minimum IELTS Bands Requirement |
| École Normale Supérieure | 6.5 |
| Sorbonne University | 6.5 |
| CentraleSupelec | 6.5 |
| University of Paris Saclay | 6.5 |
| Ecole des Ponts ParisTech | 7.5 and more |
| TELECOM ParisTech | 5.5 |
| University of Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne | 6.5 |
| ESCP Europe | 6.0 |
| University of Grenoble – Alpes | 6.0 and more |
| University of Montpellier | 6.0 |
| University of Aix-Marseille | 6.5 |
| University of Strasbourg | 6.5 |
| Jean Moulin Lyon 3 University | 6.5 |
| Paul Sabatier University | 6.5 |
1. École Normale Supérieure
Ecole Normale Superieure is a famous public university in Paris, France. It was established in 1974. It is known for its high-quality education. The university has many important partnerships with other universities and research centers. To get into Ecole Normale Superieure Paris, you need to take the IELTS test and score at least 6.5.
- Location: Paris
- IELTS Band Requirement: 6.5
- Notable Alumni: Louis Pasteur – Chemist and microbiologist, Simone de Beauvoir – Philosopher, Jean-Paul Sartre – Philosopher
2. Sorbonne University
Sorbonne University is a public university situated in Paris, France. It started in 1971. It used to be called an institute until 2017 when it merged with Pierre-and-Marie-Curie University.
At present it is known as Sorbonne University. It is well-known for its Humanities programs. To get into Paris Sorbonne University, you need to take the IELTS test and score at least 6.5.
- Location: Paris
- IELTS Band Requirement: 6.5
- Notable Alumni: Marie Curie – Physicist and chemist (Nobel laureate), Henri Bergson – Philosopher, Antoine Lavoisier – Chemist
3. CentraleSupelec
CentraleSupelec was first established in Paris in 1894. But later, it moved its main campus to Gif-sur-Yvette. Now, it has additional campuses in Rennes and Metz, which were set up in 1972 and 1985 respectively.
This university is one of the top engineering institutions in France. In 2015, it joined hands with Ecole Centrale Paris to become CentraleSupelec. To get admitted to CentraleSupelec in France, you need to take the IELTS test and score at least 6.5.
- Location: Gif-sur-Yvette, Metz, Rennes
- IELTS Band Requirement: 6.5
- Notable Alumni: Édouard Michelin – Co-founder of Michelin, Serge Dassault – French businessman and politician
4. The University of Paris Saclay
The University of Paris Saclay is also called the University of Paris. It is located in France. It has campuses in different parts of Paris, like Orsay, Cachan, Châtenay-Malabry, Sceaux, and Kremlin-Bicetre.
The main campus is in Orsay. It is part of the UniverSud Paris and the University of Paris-Saclay. To join the University of Paris Saclay in France, you need to take the IELTS test and score at least 6.5.
- Location: Orsay
- IELTS Band Requirement: 6.5
- Notable Alumni: Alain Aspect – Physicist (Nobel laureate)
5. Ecole des Ponts ParisTech
Ecole des Ponts ParisTech is also known as “Ponts”. It is a university-level institution that focuses on science, engineering, and technology studies. If you want to get into Ecole Des Ponts Paristech in France, you will need to take the IELTS test and score at least 7.5.
- Location: Paris (Marne-la-Vallée)
- IELTS Band Requirement: 7.5
- Notable Alumni: Eugène Belgrand – French civil engineer, Bertrand Piccard – Balloonist and psychiatrist
6. TELECOM ParisTech
Telecom ParisTech was founded in 1878. It is located in Paris, France. The university is renowned for its higher education and research.
It was created to meet the demand for specialized education in telegraphy. If you want to enroll in Telecom ParisTech in France, you will need to take the IELTS test and achieve a minimum score of 5.5.
- Location: Paris (Palaiseau)
- IELTS Band Requirement: 5.5
- Notable Alumni: Sheng Guangzu – Moulay Hafid Elalamy – Moroccan businessman and politician, Stéphane Richard – CEO of Orange S.A.
7. University of Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne
Pantheon-Sorbonne University is a well-known university in France. The university offers various subjects. It started in the late 1900s. If you want to get into Pantheon Sorbonne University in France, you will need to take the IELTS test and score at least 6.5.
- Location: Paris
- IELTS Band Requirement: 6.5
- Notable Alumni: Michel Foucault – Philosopher, Jean-Claude Casanova – Sociologist, Simone Veil – Politician
8. ESCP Europe
ESCP is a business school in Europe that has been around since 1819. It has campuses in different cities like Paris, Berlin, London, Madrid, Turin, and Poland’s capital.
It is known as the oldest business school globally. To get into ESCP Europe in France, you will need to take the IELTS test and score at least 6.0
- Location: Paris, Berlin, London, Madrid, Turin, Warsaw
- IELTS Band Requirement: 6.0
- Notable Alumni: Jean-Pierre Clamadieu – CEO of Engie, Pascal Soriot – CEO of AstraZeneca
9. University of Grenoble – Alpes
The University of Grenoble Alpes is a famous university in Grenoble, France. It has been around since 1339. It is the third-largest university in France. The university has lots of students and researchers. To get into Grenoble Alpes, you will need to take the IELTS test and score at least 6.0 or higher.
- Location: Grenoble
- IELTS Band Requirement: 6.0 or higher
- Notable Alumni: Hubert Curien – Physicist, Christine Lagarde – President of the European Central Bank
10. University of Montpellier
The University of Montpellier is an old university in France. It was started in 1289. It is located in Montpellier, in the southeast of the country. It is one of the oldest universities in the world.
The university was divided into three separate universities. They are named as Montpellier 1, Montpellier 2, and Paul Valéry University Montpellier 3. To get into the University of Montpellier, you will need to take the IELTS test and score at least 6.0
- Location: Montpellier
- IELTS Band Requirement: 6.0
- Notable Alumni: François Rabelais – Renaissance writer, Alfred Kastler – Physicist (Nobel laureate)
11. University of Aix-Marseille
Aix Marseille University is located in southern France, in a region called Provence. It was started in 1409. Three universities joined together in 2012 to make this one university.
After this merger, it is now the largest university in France. If you want to study at Aix Marseille University, you will need to take the IELTS test and score at least 6.5 or higher.
- Location: Aix-en-Provence, Marseille
- IELTS Band Requirement: 6.5 or higher
- Notable Alumni: Paul Cézanne – Post-Impressionist painter, Stéphane Dion – Canadian politician
12. University of Strasbourg
The University of Strasbourg was started in the 16th century. It used to be split into three separate schools: Louis Pasteur University, Marc Bloch University, and Robert Schuman University. But they all came together to form the University of Strasbourg. If you want to study there, you will need to take the IELTS test and score at least a 6.5.
- Location: Strasbourg
- IELTS Band Requirement: 6.5
- Notable Alumni: Albert Schweitzer – Physician, theologian, humanitarian (Nobel laureate), René Thom – Mathematician
13. Jean Moulin Lyon 3 University
Jean Moulin University Lyon 3 is a public university. It is located in Lyon, France. It was started in 1970 after the University of Lyon split into three parts: Lyon 1, Lyon 2, and Lyon 3.
Lyon 3 has over 29,000 students learning different subjects. If you want to study at Jean Moulin University Lyon III in France, you will need to take the IELTS test and score at least 6.5.
- Location: Lyon
- IELTS Band Requirement: 6.5
- Notable Alumni: Edwige Avice – French politician, Armand de Brignac – Champagne brand founder
14. Paul Sabatier University
Paul Sabatier University is a public university in Toulouse, France. It was established in 1969. It began as a place for higher education in the region.
The university is famous for its programs in Technology and Sciences. If you want to study at Paul Sabatier University in France, you will need to take the IELTS test and score at least 6.5.
- Location: Toulouse
- IELTS Band Requirement: 6.5
- Notable Alumni: Pierre-Gilles de Gennes – Physicist (Nobel laureate), Philippe Douste-Blazy – Politician
How To Study in France Without the IELTS Exam?
If you don’t want to take the IELTS test but still want to study in France, there are other ways to achieve this. You have different options for getting into a university in France and getting your student visa without the IELTS exam. Let’s have a look at some of the methods:
1. Other English Language Proficiency Exams
In France, there are other tests you can take to show your English skills besides the IELTS. Tests like TOEFL, PTE Academic, and C1 Advanced are also popular. They are widely accepted by many universities in France.
2. University Interview
When you apply to universities, they might want to talk to you to see how good your English is. If they think you speak English well enough during the interview, they might not ask you to take a language test.
3. Studied at the English Language Institute
Most international students have to take a test to check how well they speak English. This is because English might not have been the main language at their previous school. But if you studied at an English-speaking school before, you might not need to take the test if you can prove it.
4. Educational Transcript
If you don’t have an IELTS score, some French universities might accept your good grades instead. So, it is important to do well in your previous studies to have a chance at getting into these universities without taking the English test.
5. University Acceptance Letter
If you have an acceptance letter from the university you want to go to, many French universities that don’t ask for IELTS scores will accept it. This letter can also help you to get a French student visa.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do universities in France require IELTS?
In Paris and all over France, many colleges ask international students to show an IELTS exam certificate when they apply to famous universities in France.
2. What is the minimum IELTS score for universities in France?
When you are applying for bachelor’s degrees, they usually want you to have a score of 5.5 or 6.0 in IELTS. If you are looking for a master’s degree, they might look for a higher score, like 6.5 or 7.0. But please remember, this can change depending on the college you are applying to.
3. Does the University of Paris Saclay require IELTS?
If you want to go to a university in France, you need to be good at English. For example, to get into the University of Paris Saclay, you will need to do well on the IELTS test and get a score of at least 6.5.
4. How many IELTS bands are required for universities in Paris?
If you want to study in Paris, you will need to take an IELTS test. For undergraduate courses, you should aim for a score of 5.5. If you are interested in Masters or MBA courses, you will need a slightly higher score, around 5.5 to 6.0.
Conclusion
If you do well in the IELTS test, it will help you get into your desired university. So, it is important to try your best in the exam and fulfill the IELTS band requirements for the universities in France.
If you have a good score in IELTS, it can be helpful for you if you plan to study in France in the future. Just make sure you understand what each program requires and how good your English needs to be while applying for your desired university in France.
Add Comment