DELF, DALF or TCF: which French certificate you actually need
There is no academic eligibility requirement for any French certification. The decision that actually matters is *which* one, because DELF and DALF are diplomas valid for life while the TCF is a test valid for two years — and several official routes name one specifically and will not accept the other.
The four certifications
| Certification | What it is | Levels | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| DILF | Initial diploma in French language | Beginner | For life |
| DELF | Diploma in French language studies | A1, A2, B1, B2 | For life |
| DALF | Diploma in advanced French language studies | C1, C2 | For life |
| TCF | French knowledge test | Places you A1 to C2 | Two years |
All four are issued under the French Ministry of National Education, Youth and Sports, and administered by France Éducation international, a public body.
The difference is fundamental. With a diploma you choose a level and either reach it or do not, and it never expires. With a test you sit once and it places you, and the result lapses after two years.
Which one your destination wants
- A French-taught degree — DELF B2 is the level that opens French, European and Francophone universities, and increasingly DALF C1 for demanding programmes and certain grandes écoles.
- First-year undergraduate admission via the DAP procedure — often TCF-DAP specifically, and a DELF will not substitute.
- French nationality — DELF B2 is explicitly named by France Éducation international as allowing you to obtain French nationality.
- Residence and visa purposes — commonly A2 or B1, and the route may name TCF.
- An English-taught degree in France — often no French at all for admission.
If a programme accepts either, the diploma is usually the better investment because it never expires. If the application names TCF or TCF-DAP, the diploma is not accepted in its place — read the wording precisely.
Age and versions
- DELF tout public — for adults and older teenagers. This is the version an applicant to university sits.
- DELF junior / scolaire — the same levels with content pitched at school-age candidates.
- DELF Prim — for children.
The versions differ only in subject matter, not in level: a DELF B1 is a DELF B1 whichever version awarded it.
How long it takes to get there
- A1 — roughly 60 to 100 hours of instruction.
- A2 — roughly 160 to 200 hours cumulative.
- B1 — roughly 350 to 400 hours.
- B2 — roughly 550 to 650 hours.
- C1 — roughly 800 to 1,000 hours.
Zero to B2 is a genuine one-to-two year project for a working adult. If your target programme is French-taught and you are starting now, work backwards from the application deadline and decide honestly whether the intake you want is reachable — or whether an English-taught programme in France is the better plan.
French eligibility — FAQs
4 questions
DELF is a diploma: you choose a level, and it is valid for life. TCF is a test: you sit it once and it places you on a level, and the result is valid for two years.
DELF B2 opens most French, European and Francophone universities, with DALF C1 increasingly expected for demanding programmes and certain grandes écoles. Some undergraduate admissions via the DAP procedure name TCF-DAP specifically.
No academic requirement at all. You choose the level you want to be certified at and sit it.
No. DELF and DALF are diplomas and are valid for life. Only the TCF expires, after two years.
Sources
Checked on 25 September 2026 against the official pages below. Fees and formats change — the official page is always the final word.
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