As well as teaching French, the DU Passerelle programme offers comprehensive support through workshops and activities designed to facilitate academic and social integration:
- Support for students with administrative procedures.
- Social, psychological and medical support.
- Support with career guidance and returning to study.
- Cultural and sporting activities.
- Workshops focusing on university life and academic methodology.
The DU Passerelle is a course accredited by the MEnS – Migrants in Higher Education – (authority delegated by the MESR – Ministry for Higher Education and Research).
Objective:
The aim of the DU Passerelle is to facilitate the academic integration of people in exile wishing to resume or undertake studies in France, by enabling them to overcome the obstacles (administrative, linguistic and social) to enrolment at a higher education institution.
Organisation of the course:
The DU Passerelle runs over two semesters (two 13-week periods), from September to May. All courses are compulsory. Students are integrated into the DU LCF programme offered by the SUL, which, depending on their level, provides the following modules: language courses and thematic workshops.
| Weekly language lessons | Phonetics workshop every week | Themed workshops every week | UE5 Cultural, sporting, community and civic activities | Total number of hours per week and per term | |
| B1 level | 12.5 hours | 1h30 | 2 workshops of 2 hours each, including one FOU (French for University Studies) workshop |
A variety of modules on Friday afternoons |
Approximately 20 hours of lessons per week 266 hours per term |
| Target level: B1+ | 13 hours | - 1 x 2-hour FOU workshop - 1 three-hour workshop of your choice - A 2-hour workshop to improve writing skills |
A variety of modules on Friday afternoons | Approximately 20 hours of lessons per week 266 hours per term |
|
| Aiming for B2, B2+ and C1 | 10 hours | - 1 workshop lasting 2 hours - 2 workshops (3 hours each), including the FOU workshop - A 2-hour workshop to improve writing skills |
A variety of modules on Friday afternoons | Approximately 20 hours of lessons per week 266 hours per term |
Location:
Aix-en-Provence.
Eligibility criteria:
- Hold refugee status, be a beneficiary of international, subsidiary or temporary protection, or be an asylum seeker;
- Hold a qualification recognised as equivalent to the French baccalaureate and allowing enrolment at a higher education institution;
- Be a non-French speaker;
- Have a university study plan;
- Have attained an A2 level of French in both spoken and written French.
Points to note:
This course is very demanding. It requires full commitment: 20 hours of lessons per week, plus a heavy workload of independent study. This workload is difficult to reconcile with a job during the week.
Attendance at all lectures and workshops is compulsory. Attendance is taken into account by the degree assessment panel.
Tip: be proficient in using computers.
Applications:
The application period will run from 16 March 2026 to 10 April 2026 inclusive. Applications must be submitted online via the dedicated platform.
Link: https://candidatures.univ-amu.fr/candidatures/#!accueilView
Only complete applications will be considered.
Language proficiency test:
French language proficiency tests will take place on 27 April 2026 ( venue and time to be confirmed)
Tuition fees:
Students on the DU Passerelle programme are exempt from enrolment fees once their application has been accepted.
Financial support:
- Grants: For students aged up to 28 (refugee status, subsidiary protection): study grants and accommodation grants can be applied for through the CROUS (by completing the student social file)
- Housing support: Useful information page for refugee students (addresses and useful websites, accommodation, etc.).