It is possible to study French either on French language courses or as a degree student.
The French language skills will develop the longer one stays in the country. In many universities, it is also possible to attend French language courses for foreigner students.
Language Courses
In France, one can subscribe to language courses outside the university. There are plenty of organisers, such as Alliance française, Institut catholique, the city, etc. The French Foreign Ministry publishes a list of FLE (Français langue étrangère) course organisers all over the country, listing all those recognised by the French government. These organisers can be public or private, and they can be trusted to provide high-quality teaching. For more information, also on course fees, please visit Qualité FLE.
Graduate Studies
You can apply to study French at university as a postgraduate student. In this case, students study French in the same way as Finnish students in Finland study Finnish. There are hardly any specific French as a foreign language courses, but it is possible to specialise in French as a foreign language (FLE=français langue étrangère) during your studies. French language and literature is studied in the 'lettres modernes' programme.
