Draft. This text has not yet been reviewed.
Learning French is one of the most useful things you can do when you move to Lausanne, even if you plan to stay for a short time.
Courses
- The City of Lausanne’s Bureau lausannois pour les immigrés (BLI), at Place de la Riponne 10, publishes a guide called Apprendre à Lausanne. It lists French courses run by associations, institutions and private schools. The 2025-2026 edition is in French only.
- The BLI also publishes a leaflet in 13 languages, including English, with beginner courses in French and computing.
Intensive courses at the University of Lausanne
The University of Lausanne runs intensive French courses through Français Intensif à Lausanne (FIL, formerly the Cours de vacances). Courses run from complete beginner to advanced level (A0 to C1), and the school also offers the Certificat de qualification en français.
French and your residence permit
Language skills are one of the criteria for some permits. The levels below are the federal minimums for French, spoken and written:
- C permit (ordinary): A2 spoken and A1 written.
- C permit early, after five years: B1 spoken and A1 written.
- Naturalisation: B1 spoken and A2 written.
The fide test assesses everyday French used in Switzerland, with spoken and written skills graded separately at A1, A2 or B1. The full test costs CHF 250. Other recognised certificates can also be used. Ask the cantonal authorities which proof they accept for your situation.
At Westlake
Westlake also has a French-speaking ministry. See French-speaking Ministry.
[To confirm: add details of any French conversation group or language exchange the church runs, if there is one.]
Official sources
- Français Intensif à Lausanne (University of Lausanne)
- Language levels required by permit (State of Vaud, PDF in French)
- The fide test (fide-info.ch)
- Learning French and other courses (City of Lausanne, BLI)
Last checked: 12 November 2026. This is general information only. Please check the official sources above before you act.