FAQ

It is possible to pay the tuition fee by credit card by selecting this payment option on the application form. Once the application form has been sent, you will receive an email including a secured credit card payment link from our trusted bank SogeCommerce. Please note that credit cards are also accepted in the office at the Institut de Français. 

The school is a luxurious Provençal villa comprising solely classrooms, a dining room, an office, and gardens. The Institut de Français acts as an intermediary between local landlords and students, and can assist in arranging accommodation offsite. All accommodations are within a maximum of 10–15 minutes’ walking distance from the school.

Move in and keys pick-up is available in Villefranche on the Sunday preceding the start of the session only, between 12 – 5pm (an absolute deadline). Please note that the accommodation fees are set for 4 weeks as a standard, regardless of the course duration. Therefore, your accommodation will be reserved from the Sunday preceding the start of the session until the last Friday of the session (keys must be returned by 9AM on that day).

Earlier move-in or later move-out is not possible, as all accommodations are tied to our session dates. Should you wish to arrive early or leave later, we can provide a list of hotels in Villefranche and Nice. Alternatively, you may wish to contact local estate agencies.

By 9am on the last Friday of the session. There can be no exceptions. You must arrange your hotel and transport reservations accordingly.

All apartments organised by the school are fully furnished with internet access, television, cooking and kitchen utensils, a refrigerator, and a washing machine. Apartment cleaning, including a change of towels and bed linen, is provided twice during the session.

The Institut and all apartments are within walking distance of shops, restaurants, banks, the train station, the old town, and the beach.

Select menu desired on application form and indicate any allergies in the notes.

The school remains open on all public holidays, except December 25 and on May 1.

Nice Côte d’Azur Airport is approximately 30 to 45 minutes by car from Villefranche.

A taxi is the quickest and most convenient route. Expect around 30 – 40 minutes. 
Both cash and card payments accepted. 

Tram line 2 from Aéroport to Port Lympia. From there, take bus 15 and get off at the stop ‘Octroi’ in Villefranche. Short uphill walk towards the Institut.

 Train from either Nice Saint Augustin (closest to airport) or Nice Ville (the main city centre station) to Villefranche-sur-Mer. 
Expect a gradual inclining uphill walk towards the Institut. 

Please note: public transport is heavily saturated, especially during summer months.

A car is not really necessary on weekdays, as all our apartments are within walking distance from the school. However, a car can be useful on weekends and in the evenings — there are many places to visit on the Riviera. Villefranche is within a short drive of Nice, Cannes, Monaco, and the hinterland. Car rental is available locally.

There are a few spaces available along the school street, avenue Général Leclerc and around the perimeter of the garden, on allée Saint Estève and avenue Saint Estève.

Classes are from Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 4:45 pm.

A little effective work before arriving can help for beginners, such as listening exercises on fundamental verbs and everyday situation phrases. Otherwise, our own materials are handed out in due course at the right time.

We offer “perfecting” classes for students with a high level of French. For more information, please contact info@institutdefrancais.com

Individual and higher standard bedrooms are occupied solely by students and for their exclusive use.

For studios and 1-bedroom apartments, any occupancy by an additional non student (spouse, companion, friend) must obtain prior authorization from the school.

Supplementary fee of 100 Euros for guest in studio category applies.

Free wifi access at both the school and in all apartments.

Notebooks and pencils are provided when needed. Books are not needed in class as our method is audiovisual.

We do have a lending library with selected novels and plays for each class level. It is always useful to bring a good dictionary with you. Your teacher can recommend one for outside purchase. The Institut has big dictionaries, in most current languages, available in the large living room.

You don’t need a laptop or an Ipad during the various activities of our program, but either can be useful for preparing presentations, discussions or any homework.

We send our online pre-test assessment before arrival, to be completed online. All materials are then introduced at the appropriate time, with full explanation and practical application by the teacher.

Pets are allowed in the apartments (extra charge 300 euros) but not in class.

Should you plan to bring your pet, please inform us beforehand, so that we may prepare your arrival accordingly.

Please note that pets are not allowed on the school premises.

All our apartments are non-smoking to ensure every one’s comfort. It is requested that, if needed, you smoke on the balcony or terrace. No smoking is allowed inside the school buildings (it’s a French law), but it is allowed during the breaks on the balconies and outside in the garden.

At the school, casual but proper wear is requested. Evening wear is preferred for our introductory social evening on the first Friday. Certain smart restaurants and night clubs naturally have a dress code.

You will find one ATM « Crédit Agricole » located on boulevard de la Corne d’Or, and another just in front of Villefranche’s tourist office.

On Sunday, in Villefranche you will find two small groceries stores, one boulangerie and one newsagent open until 7pm. Some restaurants might be open too.

The Institut organizes a few extra-curricular activities during the week. Students are free to plan their own outings on weekends.

Please refer to our Cancellation Policy in our General Terms and Conditions.

Any absence (professional, personal, illness) is neither refundable nor reschedulable. Homework can however be provided upon request to help catch-up.