Studying in Senegal as an Anglophone Student: French Language Preparation and Requirements
By Muntasir • Published Sep 18, 2026 • Updated Sep 20, 2026 • Admissions & Applications
Senegal teaches its public university system in French, so Anglophone applicants heading to Universite Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD) or another Senegalese public university need a working French level, typically DELF or DALF B2, before enrolling. UCAD runs its own preparatory French school for foreign students, a direct route for Anglophone applicants who are not there yet.
🎓 Public universities in Senegal, including UCAD, teach nearly all faculties in French, law, medicine, science and humanities included.
📩 Standard proof of level: DELF or DALF B2, unless you target one of the small number of English-taught programs.
🏠 UCAD's Institut de Français pour Etrangers (IFE) prepares foreign students for French-medium coursework before they join their degree program.
⏱️ Budget several months to a year of French study if starting from a low base, B2 is a working level, not a beginner's certificate.
Why French is non-negotiable at Senegalese universities
Senegal runs its public higher education system in French, a legacy of its administrative and academic ties to the French university model. Universite Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD) in Dakar, the country's largest public university, teaches nearly all faculties, law, medicine, science, humanities, in French. If you come from an Anglophone country and target UCAD or another Senegalese public university, you need working French before lectures make sense.
What French level you need
International applicants generally need to show French proficiency at DELF or DALF B2 level, unless you apply to one of the small number of English-taught programs offered at Senegalese institutions. B2 covers understanding lectures, following exam instructions and writing coursework in French, the practical floor for coping with a French-medium degree.
UCAD's own preparatory language school
UCAD runs a dedicated language center for foreign students, the Institut de Français pour Etrangers (IFE), built to prepare international students for French-medium coursework before they join their degree program. This is often the most direct route for Anglophone applicants: enroll in an IFE preparatory term, build your French to the required level, then move into your target faculty at UCAD.
Other language preparation options in Dakar
The Institut Français du Senegal in Dakar runs general French courses and DELF/DALF exam preparation open to the public, including prospective students.
Private language schools in Dakar offer intensive French programs, useful if you need to move quickly from beginner level.
Some Senegalese private universities and business schools run bilingual or partial English tracks, check directly if a French-medium program does not fit your timeline.
How to apply
Contact UCAD's international relations office, or the admissions office of your target Senegalese university, directly to confirm the current French certificate requirement for your program and whether an IFE preparatory term fits your intake timeline. Submit your secondary or prior degree transcripts alongside your DELF/DALF certificate or proof of enrollment in a preparatory French course. Foreign qualifications typically need an equivalence check before you register for a degree program, ask the admissions office which national body handles this for your country of origin.
Timeline and budget
Budget several months to a year of French study if you are starting from a low base. B2 is a real working level, not a beginner's certificate. Book your DELF or DALF exam sitting well ahead of your application deadline. Treat the preparatory French term as part of your overall study timeline and budget, since Senegalese public universities will not register you into a French-medium faculty without it.