Study & Research in France

For international researchers embarking on a short-term mobility of just a few months, acquiring basic or functional French skills can significantly enhance both your daily life and your integration into the laboratory environment. Here is a practical overview of tailored, fast-track language opportunities available in France.

1. Dedicated Services at Your Host Institution

Most French universities and public research institutions offer specific linguistic support for international scientists:

• University Language Centers (Centres de FLE): Many campuses provide intensive winter/summer schools or evening French courses specifically designed for visiting academics and Ph.D. candidates.
• The Euraxess Network: The local branch of Euraxess at your host university usually offers free or highly subsidized introductory French survival modules and cultural adaptation workshops for foreign researchers. You can locate your local center on the Euraxess France Portal.

2. Intensive Short-Term Programs (FLE)

If you wish to boost your language level rapidly upon arrival or just before starting your lab work, you can enroll in a certified Français Langue Étrangère (FLE) center:

• The Official Directory of FLE Centers: To find a certified language school in your specific host city, you can search the official Campus France Directory of Language Centers. 
• Label "Qualité FLE": Look for institutions carrying this official state certification, which guarantees top-tier teaching standards and accelerated learning methods suitable for busy professionals. You can browse certified centers directly on the Qualité FLE Official Website.

3. Specialized Professional & Scientific French

• French for Scientific Purposes (FOS): Some specialized centers offer targeted modules to help you master the specific technical vocabulary needed for laboratory interactions, academic writing, and presentations. 
• Science in English: Remember that while learning French is highly recommended for daily life and social integration, English remains the primary operational and working language in the vast majority of STEM and hard science laboratories across France.

4. Practical Digital Tools for Immediate Autonomy

To prepare for your mobility or supplement your short stay, several official, high-quality online platforms are fully accessible for free:

• The Campus France Researcher Portal: For comprehensive administrative and structural guidance before departure, explore the dedicated Campus France Researcher Hub.
• TV5MONDE - Learn French: An excellent free online portal featuring interactive exercises structured by proficiency level (A1 to B2), using real-world news and cultural content. Access it at TV5MONDE Apprendre.

Note: For immediate immersion upon arrival, candidates are highly encouraged to contact the international relations office or the welcoming committee of their specific French host laboratory as early as possible.

Discover the excellence of learning French with the official state-certified institution in Israel. Whether you are a complete beginner or looking to perfect your fluency, the French Institute offers a modern, dynamic, and immersive learning environment tailored to all ages, levels, and professional goals. 

1. Why Choose the French Institute?

• Experienced Native Teachers: Learn from highly qualified, certified educators who utilize interactive and communicative modern methods.
• Flexible Learning Formats: Choose between dynamic, face-to-face classes at our physical campuses (Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Nazareth) or immersive, real-time online courses via Zoom. 
• A Gateway to French Culture: Studying with us grants you access to our unique French library and a direct connection to international scientific, academic, and cultural networks. 

2. General & Intensive Course Formats 

We offer a diverse catalog of programs structured around the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), ranging from level A1 to advanced mastery: 

A. General French Courses-The ideal long-term pathway to build a solid foundation in both written and spoken French. These continuous modules focus on grammar, vocabulary, structure, and oral expression over an extended period to guarantee lasting fluency. 

B. Intensive Programs- Designed for fast-track progression. These immersive tracks compress several months of learning into a matter of weeks, allowing you to quickly gain operational confidence, master the language basics, and prepare efficiently for travel, relocation, or academic studies in France

3. Specialty Workshops & Professional Reinforcement 

• "Voyage, Voyage" Workshop: A travel-oriented crash course specifically designed for travelers without prior knowledge who need practical conversation skills and essential vocabulary to navigate daily-life situations in France independently
• Refresher & Confidence Booster: A structural reinforcement track aimed at stabilizing key grammatical foundations, improving syntax, rhythm, and pronunciation to help learners smoothly transition to higher proficiency levels with full confidence.
•  Online Conversation Workshops: High-interaction virtual sessions entirely dedicated to improving oral fluency and spontaneity through structured debates, role-playing, and everyday scenarios. 

4. Specialized Programs for Kids & Teens (Ages 6-15) 

Unique courses tailored by age group that combine effective language instruction with interactive, educational games and ludic activities. It offers younger generations an enriching, immersive experience to learn French while having fun with peers. 

5. Campus Directory & Contact Information 

To support our community, the French Institute offers reduced rates and special adjustments for students (under 30), seniors (over 65), children, teens, military personnel, and returning families. 

The Maimonides Program (PHC Maimonide) is the cornerstone of bilateral scientific cooperation between France and Israel. Initiated in 2002, the program is jointly funded by France and Israel and supports joint research projects of the highest caliber between French and Israeli teams, selected through a call for projects launched at the end of each year. 

Projects must be submitted simultaneously by a research team in France (via the Campus France platform) and their partner in Israel (via the MOST).

The selection is based on excellence, through scientific peer evaluation. Special priority is given to collaborative projects that involve young researchers (PhD students and post-docs).

The program focuses on strategic scientific priorities defined by both countries in the framework the Franco-Israeli High council for Science and Technology (HCST), that gathers the funding Ministries from both sides: the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE) and the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space (MESRE) for France, and Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology (MOST) for Israel.

Up to 8 projects are selected each year for a three-year duration.
More information [in French]: https://www.campusfrance.org/fr/maimonide