Note: McGill’s new Course Catalogue will replace the eCalendar. The Course Catalogue is expected to go live the week of April 22nd. When the new site is published, "mcgill.ca/study" will be redirected to the new Course Catalogue website.
Course information on this site is not reflective of offerings for the 2025–2026 academic year. Some irregularities may occur as we move operations to the incoming Course Catalogue.
Courses in French as a Second Language are open to students in any program who need to develop their oral and written skills in the French language either for use in their future professional career or as preparation for more advanced studies in French linguistics, literature, civilization, translation, or in Canadian studies.
Arts Freshman/Foundation Year students enrolled in the "En français" option may select up to a maximum of 18 credits from FRSL courses.
A Placement Test is required before admission to any FRSL course, including Beginners' French. All students should be ready to provide a copy of their transcript from high school or CEGEP. Departmental permission will be given after the student’s level has been determined by a placement test. Where students' levels in French make admission to this Department inappropriate, they will be directed to Le Département des littératures de langue française, de traduction et de création or the School of Continuing Studies.
Students must be registered to attend FRSL courses; no auditors are accepted.
Placement tests are held throughout the year until places are filled. For the schedule, location, and most current information, refer to the French Language Centre's website at mcgill.ca/flc/registration/placement-tests.
Only a limited number of students can be tested at a time and they will be served in order of registration for oral evaluation sessions.
Registration is limited and Departmental permission is absolutely required.
As numbers are limited in all courses, students who meet the required standard for any given course are admitted on a first-come, first-served basis. Students must attend all classes during the first two weeks in order to keep their places.
The Department reserves the right to transfer a student to another course if the level is inappropriate. Any absence from class during the Course Change period may lead to losing one’s place to another student.
