DU Passerelle in Pau

The 2026-2027 application campaign has closed.

The Institute of French Studies for Foreign Students (IEFE) of UPPA is committed to helping host refugee students by offering a bridging University Diploma (Diplôme d’Université - DU).

Goals

The DU is aimed at non-French speaking students who are offered an integration course with reinforced training in French as a foreign language (FLE).

The aim is to prepare them to enrol for university courses in French and thus foster their integration process while preparing for their professional future.

The proposed programme is structured around 4 units:

•  intensive French courses
•  cultural activities to encourage expression and discovery of French society
•  modules dedicated to finalising the academic and career plan
•  individualised support provided in order to choose one's major at university

Here is a testimonial from Janelle, a DU Passerelle student who passed her C1 level in April 2025:

Admission conditions

Target audience

•  Individuals in exile aged below 28 who were not able to join a university in their country of origin (high school level) or who had to interrupt their university studies.
•  University graduates (from bachelor’s to master’s degrees) who need to acquire a very good command of French in order to practice their profession, or to pass equivalence exams and competitions, or to make a partial switch in another direction in order to access the French labour market.

Status of applicants

•  refugees
•  persons under subsidiary protection
•  asylum seekers.

Language level of candidates

• having at least an A2 level acquired in French before entering the DU.
• Places are reserved for people coming from non-French-speaking countries.

Candidates’ level of education

• must hold at least a secondary school diploma (French Baccalaureate or a foreign equivalent).

Admission capacity: 10 participants

Next application campaign

The new admissions campaign took place between January 14, 2026, and March 6, 2026. It has now closed.
The admissions committee will meet in March 2026, and you will receive an email with the results.