Practicalities for the USI community

DELF DALF exams for French as a foreign language

DELF DALF,  the international diplomas certifying French language proficiency

Tha Laboratory of Modern Languages of USI Università della Svizzera italiana collaborates with the DELF DALF Grigioni and Ticino Examination Centre. The DELF (Diplôme d'Etudes en Langue Française) and the DALF (Diplôme Approfondi de Langue Française) are French language official certificates for people whose mother tongue is not French.
The difference between DELF and DALF lies in the language levels. DELF assesses language levels from A1 to B2, while DALF assesses language levels C1 and C2. The DELF DALF certificate confirms proficiency in the four language skills.

 

DELF-DALF Examination Centre for Ticino and Graubünden
c/o Scuola cantonale di economia e commercio
Viale Stefano Franscini 32
CH-6501 Bellinzona
[email protected]

More info: DELF/DALF Bellizona or DELF/DALF Switzerland

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  • Why a DELF/DALF certificate?

    A DELF or DALF certificate is important and beneficial for many reasons:

    • The DELF or DALF certificate is an internationally recognized French language qualification that is accepted worldwide;
    • DELF–DALF examinations are developed by France Éducation international, a member of ALTE, the European organization whose mission is to study, improve, and implement common standards for language assessment across Europe;
    • DELF and DALF certificates are valid for life and do not require renewal;
    • An officially recognized language certificate is often a requirement for admission to universities in French-speaking Switzerland and in other French-speaking countries such as France, Belgium, and Canada;
    • DELF and DALF certificates provide official proof of language skills that can be used in academic, professional, and personal contexts;
    • The examinations assess the four key language competencies in a balanced way: listening comprehension, reading comprehension, speaking, and writing
  • Exam session dates in Canton Ticino and Switzerland

    In the Canton of Ticino, DELF DALF examinations are held four times a year.

     

    All the dates for DELF DALF exams in Switzerland can be find here: https://www.delfdalf.ch/calendrier

  • USI Exam Session – September 2026

    The September 2026 DELF DALF examination session, held at Università della Svizzera italiana, is open to anyone interested in taking the examination; even individuals who are not enrolled at the University may register. The DELF DALF examination for each level will only be held if a minimum number of 5 candidates is reached. If this number is not reached, the DELF DALF Examination Centre will cancel the examination. Candidates will however have the opportunity to take the November exam session in Bellinzona at no additional cost, but only from level A2 to level C1. Examination sessions for the A1 and C2 levels will no longer be offered in the Canton of Ticino; however, these certifications will remain available through the corresponding examination sessions organized in other cantons.

     

    • Date of DALF C2: Friday 18 September 2026;
    • Date exams from level A1 until C1: Saturday 19 September 2026;
    • Deadline for registering for the September exam session in Lugano: Friday 7 August 2026 (NB: it will still be possible to register after the national deadline until 14 August 2026, subject to a fee of CHF 50.00 to cover the additional costs associated with late registration).
  • Registrations and fees

    Exam registrations must be made exclusively via the official DELF DALF website. Registrations sent via other channels will not be considered.

    Exams are subject to a fee and the rates applied are fixed, as established by the official examination centre. For further information, please consult the website below:

     

    Exam Fee
    DELF A1 CHF 200
    DELF A2 CHF 200
    DELF B1 CHF 280
    DELF B2 CHF 370
    DALF C1 CHF 400
    DALF C2 CHF 430

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Updated on: 01 July 2026