Course summary

French Studies is taught by the Department of Languages and Cultures. Our approach enables you to acquire high-level language skills and a thorough understanding of French cultures and societies within a global context and includes an international placement year where you will study abroad. Your first year comprises an exploration of the French language and its cultural context. Alongside this, you will study two minor subjects of your choice, one of which may be another language. Building on your language skills in Year 2, you will also study France’s culture, politics and history in more depth, as well as selecting courses which are international in scope and promote a comparative understanding of Europe and beyond. Spending your third year abroad in a French-speaking country makes a major contribution to your command of the language, while deepening your intercultural sensitivity. You will have the opportunity to study at a partner institution or conduct a work placement. In your final year, you will consolidate your French language skills, and study specialist culture and comparative courses, such as ‘Francophone Voices: Literature and Film from Sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean and Canada’, and ‘Translation as a Cultural Practice’. You will have the opportunity to develop a particular topic from your second year studies into your specialist dissertation. Beginners Languages Studying a language from beginners level is somewhat intense in nature so we only allow students to study one language from beginners level. Please bear this in mind when looking at our first year module options. If you apply to study a degree with a language from beginners level, your optional modules will only include higher level languages and modules in other subject areas.