French for university admission is proven with a DELF or DALF diploma or a TCF test result. All three belong to the French Ministry of Education and are designed by France Éducation International (FEI). DELF and DALF diplomas never expire; a TCF certificate is valid for two years. Non-EU applicants to the first year of a public university apply through the prior-admission procedure (DAP), which requires level B2. That means DELF B2, DALF C1 or C2, or the TCF tout public with its compulsory written section; there is no longer a separate "TCF DAP", this combination has replaced it. In 2026, DELF B2 cost about $77 (6,500 RUB) at the Institut français in Moscow and $78 (35,000 KZT) at the Alliances in Almaty and Astana. The TCF with writing cost $225 (19,000 RUB) in Moscow and $268–335 (120,000–150,000 KZT) in Kazakhstan.
This guide explains which test fits which goal, how each exam works, how long results take, the 2026 calendars of the centres in Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, and the deadlines that most often derail an application. Roubles and tenge are converted at the Bank of Russia rate of 24 September 2026 (1 USD = 84.40 RUB; 1 USD ≈ 447.9 KZT); euros at the ECB rate of the same day (1 EUR = 1.1367 USD). Figures are rounded.
Diploma or test: how DELF and DALF differ from the TCF
| DELF and DALF | TCF tout public (TCF TP) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Six separate diplomas: DELF A1–B2, DALF C1–C2 | One multi-level test with a result from A1 to C2 |
| Choosing the level | You register for one level in advance | Your score determines the level |
| Can you fail? | Yes: you need 50/100 and at least 5/25 in every section | No: you receive the level you demonstrate |
| Format | Paper exam: three written sections plus a speaking test with examiners | Compulsory part of 76 scored multiple-choice items in 1 h 25 min, on paper or on computer; writing and speaking optional |
| Validity | For life | 2 years from issue |
| Sessions | Only on the centre's fixed dates, usually 3–6 per year | More frequent and not aligned with DELF: Moscow has TCF sessions scheduled for late September and October 2026; Almaty schedules TCF TP on request |
| Results | Within 2 months at most; the printed diploma arrives later | 10 working days for a computer session with multiple-choice only; up to 15 working days after FEI receives the scripts when writing is included |
The practical difference is risk versus shelf life. With DELF you get nothing if you overestimated your level, but the diploma covers you for a bachelor's, a master's and beyond. The TCF always gives a result, yet it expires after two years, and multiple-choice alone is not enough for first-year admission: the written section is required.
A third option is the TEF from the Paris Chamber of Commerce. Campus France Russia exempts applicants from the DAP language test with a TEF score of at least 14/20 obtained within the previous 12 months. Other universities decide individually whether to accept it, so the realistic choice is still DELF/DALF versus TCF.
Which exam and level for which goal
| Goal | What you need | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| First year of a licence (bachelor's) at a public university or architecture school, via DAP | B2: DELF B2, DALF C1/C2 or TCF TP with written section | DELF B2 and DALF holders are exempt from the test; each university sets the level it accepts for admission |
| Licence years 2–3 and master's | Set by the programme: usually B2, sometimes C1 for competitive or humanities programmes | DELF, DALF and TCF are accepted; certificates from Russian or Uzbek universities are generally not |
| English-taught programme | No French certificate | The university may test your English |
| Long French-language courses in France on a student visa | At least A2: DELF A2 or TCF | Campus France Russia requirement for the long-stay visa |
| Multi-year residence card, resident card, French citizenship | A2, B1 and B2 respectively since 1 January 2026 | FEI issues a dedicated version, the TCF IRN |
| Immigration to Canada or Quebec | TCF Canada or TCF Québec | The academic TCF TP does not count |
In short: aim for B2 for a bachelor's, check the programme page for a master's, and skip French certificates for English-taught degrees.
How DELF B2 and DALF C1 work
Both have four sections worth 25 points each. You pass with at least 50/100 and no section below 5/25; any section under 5 fails the whole exam, however strong the others are.
| Section | DELF B2 | DALF C1 |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | 30 minutes | about 40 minutes |
| Reading | 60 minutes | 50 minutes |
| Writing | 60 minutes, an argued text of at least 250 words | 2 h 30 min: synthesis of documents and argued essay |
| Speaking | 20 minutes after 30 minutes' preparation | 30 minutes (presentation and discussion with the jury) after 1 hour's preparation |
The written sections are taken together in one room; the speaking test is individual and sometimes on another day. Bring photo ID. The Institut français in Moscow sends each candidate the exact time and place about five days before the exam.
At first registration you receive a 12-digit candidate number that works in any DELF-DALF centre worldwide. If you have sat the exam before, even unsuccessfully, you must give that number when you register again.
How the TCF works and how to read the score
The compulsory part of the TCF TP has 76 multiple-choice items (the computer version shows 91, but FEI does not score the 15 trial items):
- listening: 29 questions, 25 minutes;
- language structures (grammar and vocabulary): 18 questions, 15 minutes;
- reading: 29 questions, 45 minutes.
You can add writing (three tasks, 60 minutes) and speaking (three tasks, 12 minutes, face to face with an examiner).
What happened to the TCF DAP. There used to be a separate test version for first-year applicants. FEI, in agreement with the higher-education ministry, now accepts for DAP only the TCF tout public with the compulsory written section. The certificate no longer carries the words "demande d'admission préalable", and universities accept it without them. Campus France offices and Alliances still call the combination "TCF DAP" or "TCF TP + expression écrite"; it is the same requirement. The minimum age is 16. FEI's general guidance for September 2026 entry was to sit the test by mid-February 2026 so the result reached the admission committees starting on 16 March. National Campus France deadlines can be earlier: in Russia the result had to be submitted by 27 February, so candidates had to test before that.
TCF scores convert to CEFR levels as follows:
| Score | Level |
|---|---|
| 100–199 | A1 |
| 200–299 | A2 |
| 300–399 | B1 |
| 400–499 | B2 |
| 500–599 | C1 |
| 600–699 | C2 |
Writing and speaking are marked out of 20 and are not included in the global score of the compulsory part. If you already hold the multiple-choice result, you can add the written section later under the same candidate code, no later than 60 days before the first certificate expires. You may retake the same TCF version after 20 days; some centres apply a longer gap, and the Alliance française in Kazakhstan states 30 days.
How long results take
- DELF and DALF. Under FEI's rules, results are issued within a reasonable time of no more than two months. The Institut français in Moscow's session of 23 and 30 May 2026 received results on 21 July. Successful candidates get a certificate of achievement; the diploma printed in France reaches the centre roughly four months after the results. The certificate is normally enough for your application.
- TCF. The centre receives results within 10 working days for a computer session with multiple-choice only, or within 15 working days of FEI receiving the scripts when writing is included. The certificate is issued as a PDF.
This matters for DAP. If the result is due at the end of February, a DELF taken in late November is tight, while a TCF with writing in October or November leaves a margin.
Where to take the exams in Russia: 2026 calendar and fees
In Russia, DELF-DALF is run only by the Institut français and the Alliance française network. The Institut français operates in Moscow (Milyutinsky Lane 10, bldg 1) and St Petersburg (Nevsky Prospekt 12). According to the network's website afrus.ru, checked in September 2026, Alliances françaises operate in 12 cities: Yekaterinburg, Irkutsk, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Rostov-on-Don, Samara, Saratov, Perm, Togliatti, Vladivostok and Ulyanovsk. They publish exam pages and 2026 schedules, but the range of exams differs: some run DELF-DALF, TCF and TEF, others only some of them. Check dates and fees on your local Alliance's page.
DELF-DALF tout public in Moscow, 2026 (adults 18+):
| Level | March | May | November |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1, B1, C1 | 7 March | 23 May | 21 November |
| A2, B2, C2 | 14 March | 30 May | 28 November |
Fees in 2026 depend on the level: A1–A2 $59–65 (5,000–5,500 RUB), B1–B2 $68–77 (5,700–6,500 RUB), C1–C2 $89–101 (7,500–8,500 RUB).
Registration for the November 2026 session runs from 6 to 18 October, and only within that window, through an online form for Moscow. You count as registered only once you have paid; unpaid candidates are struck off without a way back onto the list. Withdrawals must be made before registration closes. The 2027 calendar had not been published at the time of checking; in 2026 the adult sessions took place in March, May and November.
TCF at the Institut français in Moscow, autumn 2026:
| Version | Registration | Test |
|---|---|---|
| TCF TP: compulsory part (listening, structures, reading), writing and speaking | 6–8 October | 14 October |
| TCF IRN (French residence procedures) | 29 September – 1 October | 7 October |
| TCF Canada | 22–24 September | 30 September, 1 October |
Fees in 2026: a separate TCF TP writing or speaking section $83 (7,000 RUB), TCF IRN and TCF Canada $237–296 (20,000–25,000 RUB). DAP requires the compulsory part plus writing, $225 (19,000 RUB) in total. The Institut français holds its TCF sessions at its Moscow building. You register by e-mailing a form to the courses and exams office; places are limited and fees are non-refundable. Candidates are photographed before the test, latecomers are not admitted and are not refunded. Payment is by bank card.
Where to take the exams in Kazakhstan: Almaty and Astana
According to Campus France Kazakhstan, the only accredited centres are the Alliances française in Almaty and Astana; Almaty also runs the TEF. There are Alliances in Shymkent and Karaganda too, but at the time of checking their pages still showed the 2025 DELF-DALF calendar, so confirm sessions directly.
DELF-DALF tout public in Almaty and Astana, 2026:
| Session | Registration | Exams | Levels |
|---|---|---|---|
| March | 2–13 February (Astana until 12 February) | 3–6 March | A1–C1 |
| June | 18–29 May | 15–19 June | A1–C2 |
| November | 26 October – 6 November | 24–27 November | A1–C1 |
Fees in 2026 depend on the level: $67–89 (30,000–40,000 KZT), with B1 and B2 at $78 (35,000 KZT). Alliance course students get 30% off. DELF Junior sessions for school students run in May and November.
TCF in Kazakhstan, 2026:
| Version | Fee in 2026 (lower end Astana, upper end Almaty) |
|---|---|
| TCF TP, multiple-choice only | $201–268 (90,000–120,000 KZT) |
| TCF TP + written section (the DAP combination) | $268–335 (120,000–150,000 KZT); cheaper for Almaty Alliance students |
| TCF TP + writing + speaking | $290–380 (130,000–170,000 KZT) |
| TCF Canada | $335–402 (150,000–180,000 KZT) |
In Almaty the TCF TP is scheduled on request, up to three times a month, while TCF Canada follows a fixed calendar of roughly one session a month. Written parts are taken on computer at the Alliance; the speaking test is conducted by an examiner.
Where to take the exams in Uzbekistan
Campus France Uzbekistan names the Alliance française as the exam centre. The Tashkent Alliance runs DELF-DALF, TCF and TEF. At the time of checking, its website showed only the 2025 DELF-DALF calendar, with adult sessions in April, May, June, September and November, and no fees. The Alliance française in Samarkand also offers DELF-DALF, several TCF versions and the TEF. Ask for 2026–2027 dates and fees at least two months before you need the result.
For first-year entry from Uzbekistan, Campus France describes the same route as in Kazakhstan: the DAP "white file" plus a TCF DAP unless you hold DELF B2 or DALF. Language certificates from Uzbek universities are not accepted. If Tashkent's sessions do not fit your deadline, the November session in Almaty is an option: registration is open to all candidates, and a DELF candidate number is valid in any centre.
Fitting the exam into your admission timeline
First year (DAP), applicant living in Russia. In the 2026/27 cycle, the first-year Études en France file was created and submitted between 1 November and 15 December 2025. The Campus France interview closed on 27 February 2026, and DELF/DALF or TCF TP-with-writing results had to be in by the same date; applications without them were not accepted. Campus France Russia publishes the 2027/28 schedule in the autumn. If it mirrors last year, a workable plan is:
- October 2026. TCF TP with writing in Moscow (register 6–8 October, test 14 October) — the safest option on timing.
- November 2026. DELF B2 in Moscow on 28 November (register 6–18 October). Results are expected by late January, within the two-month limit, which leaves little margin.
- 1 November – 15 December 2026. The Études en France file; the language result can be added later, but not after the Campus France deadline.
First year, applicant living in Kazakhstan. The white file is submitted between 1 October and 15 December. Campus France Kazakhstan advises booking the TCF DAP or DELF in November and handing in the file in December. If you are confident of B2, the November DELF session (register 26 October – 6 November, exams 24–27 November) settles the requirement for good; if not, the TCF TP with writing is safer.
Master's. Applicants living in Russia submitted Études en France files for all levels except first year until 30 January 2026 in the 2026/27 cycle. Residents of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan apply for master's programmes on the Mon Master platform within its deadlines. Aim to have the certificate before you apply, i.e. from the November session or earlier.
Procedures are explained in our guides to bachelor's degrees in France and master's degrees in France.
DELF or TCF: a five-minute decision
- Choose DELF B2 if you are solidly B2, have time for the November session and want one document for your bachelor's and master's.
- Choose the TCF TP with writing if you need the result quickly, are unsure of scoring 5/25 in every DELF section, or the DELF session misses your deadline.
- Take both if admission depends on it and your budget allows. Campus France Russia explicitly suggests a TCF as back-up for anyone unsure about DELF B2, since the sessions do not overlap.
- Do not take the TCF two years ahead of a master's application: it will expire.
Common mistakes
- Taking the TCF without the written section for DAP. Multiple-choice alone is not accepted for first-year entry.
- Missing the registration window. In Moscow, November DELF registration lasts 13 days and TCF registration three days; unpaid bookings are cancelled.
- Waiting for the printed DELF diploma. It takes months; use the certificate of achievement for your file.
- Mixing up TCF versions. TCF IRN and TCF Canada are for immigration procedures; universities need the TCF TP.
- Relying on B1. DELF B1 does not exempt you from the DAP test, and most French-taught programmes start at B2.
- Hiding your previous candidate number. You must declare it when you register for DELF-DALF again.
How to prepare
France Éducation International publishes free sample papers for every DELF and DALF level, and TV5Monde offers TCF practice. The Institut français in Moscow and the Alliances run exam-preparation courses. One full mock under timed conditions tells you more than a month of textbook reading: above all, whether you can finish the 60-minute writing task and whether any section drops below 5/25. As a benchmark, the Institut français describes B2 as the ability to defend your views with arguments and correct your own mistakes.
Next step
First identify your procedure — DAP for first year, Études en France or Mon Master for other levels, direct application for private schools — because it fixes the date your certificate is due. Then choose the exam and book the first suitable window. You sit the exam, France Éducation International issues the results and the university decides on admission; StudyU does not run exams or influence marks. Personal strategy, requirement checks, programme shortlisting, documents and application support are provided under a contract with StudyU. For the wider picture, see Study in France and our guides to universities in France and universities in Paris.
FAQ
For first year at a public university via DAP you need B2: DELF B2, DALF C1 or C2, or the TCF tout public with the written section. For master's programmes the programme sets the level; DELF, DALF and TCF are accepted, most often at B2.
DELF B2 never expires, but you can fail it and results take up to two months. The TCF always gives a level and comes back faster, but it lasts two years. With less than three months to your deadline, the TCF with writing is the safer choice.
Two years from issue. DELF and DALF diplomas are valid for life. Campus France Uzbekistan adds that a TCF DAP result is used within the current white-file campaign.
About $77 (6,500 RUB) at the Institut français in Moscow and $78 (35,000 KZT) at the Alliances in Almaty and Astana. Across all levels, DELF-DALF costs $59–101 (5,000–8,500 RUB) in Moscow and $67–89 (30,000–40,000 KZT) in Kazakhstan. The Tashkent Alliance does not publish fees online; they are given on registration.
No. The TCF is taken at an accredited centre. "Computer-based" means you answer on the centre's computers, and the speaking test is run by an examiner.
No. Only DELF B2, DALF C1 and C2 exempt you, and in Russia also a TEF score of at least 14/20. With DELF B1 you still need the TCF TP with the written section.
The 2027 calendar was not yet published at the time of checking. In 2026, registration ran from 22 January to 8 February for March, 14–26 April for May and 6–18 October for November.
Sources
- Institut français de Russie: 2026 exam calendar
- Institut français de Russie: DELF-DALF tout public, 2026 dates and fees
- Institut français de Russie: TCF dates and fees
- Institut français de Russie: results and diplomas
- France Éducation International: TCF for DAP, written section compulsory
- France Éducation International: TCF tout public, two-year validity
- France Éducation International: DELF tout public, valid for life
- Alliance française in Russia: network by city
- France Éducation International: TCF candidate manual, December 2025 (PDF)
- France Éducation International: DELF B2 candidate manual (PDF)
- France Éducation International: DALF C1 candidate manual (PDF)
- Campus France Russia: applications, 2026/27 deadlines and language rules
- Campus France Russia: French diplomas and tests
- Campus France: French level for study, B2 for DAP
- Campus France Kazakhstan: language certificates and centres
- Campus France Kazakhstan: bachelor's admission, white file
- Alliance française Kazakhstan: DELF-DALF 2026
- Alliance française Kazakhstan: TCF 2026
- Campus France Uzbekistan: official language certificates
- Alliance française Tashkent: DELF-DALF
- Service-Public: admission of foreign students, DAP
Official sources checked on 24 September 2026. Rates: ECB, 1 EUR = 1.1367 USD; Bank of Russia, 1 USD = 84.3969 RUB and 100 KZT = 18.8449 RUB, 24 September 2026.
Next steps
- Bachelor's in France: Licence, Private Bachelor Programmes and Admission After School
- Master's in France: Master, MSc and Grandes Écoles — How to Apply for 2027
- Universities in France for International Students: Types, Rankings, Costs and Admission
- Universities in Paris for International Students: Which to Choose, Rankings, Costs and Admission
- Studying in France for international applicants
- Scholarships in France: Eiffel, French Embassy Scholarships and University Awards
