Course Overview
Two leading departments deliver Lancaster's four-year degree in French Studies and Geography. You will study the French component in the Department of European Languages and Cultures, while Geography is delivered by the award-winning Lancaster Environment Centre. You will also study or work abroad during the third year of your degree.
In French Studies, we place emphasis on practical understanding and fluency, developed through courses that put France's historical, cultural, social and political background into context. In Geography, you'll study human and environmental geography and develop extensive research skills.
Your first-year courses include French Studies (Advanced or Intensive); Society and Space: Human Geography, and Geographical Skills and Application in a Changing World. In your second year, you'll take subjects such as French Language: Oral Skills; French Language: Written Skills, and Concepts. You'll complete your Residence Abroad: Intercultural and Academic Reflection in the third year and French Language: Oral Skills; French Language: Written Skills and a Project in your final year.
Related Courses
- Biological Sciences : BSc Hons
- Environmental Biology : BSc Hons
- Environmental Biology (Study Abroad) : BSc Hons
- Environmental Biology : MSci Hons
- Environmental Biology (Study Abroad) : MSci
- Ecology and Conservation : BSc Hons
- Ecology and Conservation (Study Abroad) : BSc Hons
- French Studies and Psychology : BA Hons
- German Studies and Psychology : BA Hons
- Spanish Studies and Psychology : BA Hons
- Environmental Chemistry : BSc Hons
- Environmental Chemistry (Study Abroad) : BSc Hons
- Environmental Chemistry : MChem Hons
- Environmental Chemistry (Study Abroad) : MChem Hons
- Environmental Science : BSc Hons
- Environmental Science (Study Abroad) : BSc Hons
- Environmental Change and Sustainable Development : BSc Hons
- Geography : BSc Hons
- Geography / North America : BSc Hons
- Physical Geography : BSc Hons
- Physical Geography / Australasia : BSc Hons
- Earth and Environmental Science : BSc Hons
- Earth and Environmental Science (Study Abroad) : BSc Hons
- Environmental Mathematics : BSc Hons
- French Studies and Mathematics : BA Hons
- German Studies and Mathematics : BA Hons
- Spanish Studies and Mathematics : BA Hons
- French Studies and Computing : BSc Hons
- German Studies and Computing : BSc Hons
- Spanish Studies and Computing : BSc Hons
- Geography : BA Hons
- Geography / North America : BA Hons
- Human Geography : BA Hons
- Economics and Geography : BA Hons
- French Studies and Geography : BA Hons
- German Studies and Geography : BA Hons
- Spanish Studies and Geography : BA Hons
- French Studies and Linguistics : BA Hons
- German Studies and Linguistics : BA Hons
- Spanish Studies and Linguistics : BA Hons
- English Language and French Studies : BA Hons
- English Language and German Studies : BA Hons
- English Language and Spanish Studies : BA Hons
- French Studies : BA Hons
- French Studies and Film : BA Hons
- German Studies : BA Hons
- German Studies and Film : BA Hons
- Spanish Studies : BA Hons
- Spanish Studies and Film : BA Hons
- Modern Languages : BA Hons
- French Studies and Politics : BA Hons
- German Studies and Politics : BA Hons
- Spanish Studies and Politics : BA Hons
- Management Studies and European Languages : BA Hons
- French Studies and English Literature : BA Hons
- German Studies and English Literature : BA Hons
- Spanish Studies and English Literature : BA Hons
- French Studies and German Studies : BA Hons
- French Studies and Spanish Studies : BA Hons
- German Studies and Spanish Studies : BA Hons
- French Studies and History : BA Hons
- French Studies and Philosophy : BA Hons
- German Studies and History : BA Hons
- German Studies and Philosophy : BA Hons
- Spanish Studies and History : BA Hons
- Spanish Studies and Philosophy : BA Hons
- French Studies and Theatre : BA Hons
- Spanish Studies and Theatre : BA Hons
Modules
Lancaster degree programmes are flexible, offering students the opportunity to cover a wide selection of subject areas to compliment their degree. The following is an example list of modules which our previous students have studied. For a full list contact the Lancaster Environment Centre department.
Year 1
- Part I French Studies (Intensive)
- French Studies (Advanced)
- Society and space - Human Geography
- Geographical Skills and Application in a Changing World
Year 2
- French Language: Oral Skills
- French Language: Written Skills
- Shaping Contemporary France: Culture, Politics and the Legacy of History
- Concepts
- Preparation
- European Culture of Everyday Life
- Geographies of Political Economy
- Tunisia Field Course: Post-Colonial Reflections
Year 3
- Residence Abroad: intercultural and academic reflection
Year 4
- French Language: Oral Skills
- French Language: Written Skills
- Project
- Discussing the European Union: Institutions and Ideologies
- Francophone Voices: Literature and Film from Sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean and Canada
- Africa:Geographies of Transformation
Lancaster University offers the chance to follow a structured study programme or the option to devise a more flexible programme. We divide academic study into 2 sections - Part 1 (Year 1) and Part 2 (Year 2, 3 and sometimes 4). In Part 1 you will take three modules of study which, depending upon your programme, will be drawn from one, two or three different academic subjects, a higher degree of specialisation then develops in subsequent years. For more information about our teaching methods at Lancaster visit our Teaching and Learning section.
For further information about the department, staff and courses please visit the Lancaster Environment Centre department website.
Entry Criteria
A-level: AAB inc. Geography or a cognate subject and French unless this is to be studied from beginners level, in which case applicants should have evidence of language learning ability (eg. an AS or A-level in another foreign language or GCSE grade A in a foreign language). We normally expect three A-levels.
General Studies: Not accepted
Key skills: Not included in offer
Scottish Highers: ABBBB
Irish Leaving Cert: Offers will be made on the basis of 5 or 6 Higher level subjects. Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office (01524 592028) for further information
International Bacc: 35 pts overall with 16 pts from best three HL courses
BTEC: DDD/DDM
Mature students: Applications welcomed from mature students who can provide evidence of language-learning ability
IELTS: 6.5
Careers
You may choose to start your career straight after university, but many graduates decide to continue their studies. Lancaster has an excellent reputation as a centre for postgraduate research and professional training.
Thanks to their analytical and research skills, Geography graduates enjoy above-average employment rates. Our graduates have found roles in areas as diverse as journalism, accountancy, advertising, computing and librarianship.
Lancaster University is dedicated to ensuring you not only gain a highly reputable degree, but that you also graduate with relevant life and work based skills. We are unique in that every student is eligible to participate in The Lancaster Award which offers you the opportunity to complete key activities such as work experience, employability/career development, campus community and social development. Visit our Employability section for full details.
Studying
Teaching and Learning Methods
At Lancaster we offer a broad range of learning environments which include the traditional lectures, tutorials, interactive workshops, laboratory and practical activities, student-led seminars and web-based delivery.
The modules which make up a programme of study are assessed using various methods, enabling students to demonstrate their capabilities in a range of ways. Typical coursework assignments include laboratory reports, essays, exercises, literature reviews, short tests, poster sessions and oral presentations. Formal examinations include basic and in-depth questions, essays and data analysis. Students are supervised in the production of final year project reports and dissertations, while students in laboratory classes are supported by demonstrators. Details of the assessment methods for individual modules can be accessed via the university's online module catalogue.
In addition to these learning and teaching methods we encourage independent study, meaning you take responsibility for your own learning. For more information visit our Teaching Approach page.
Assessment Methods
We offer you a variety of stimulating and effective approaches to teaching, learning and assessment. This enables you and your tutors to explore the very latest thinking within your subject and develops your skills in problem solving, analysis and critical reflection, communication, application of knowledge and modern technologies.
As a University, we commit to providing all our undergraduates with a minimum number of contact hours per week, providing you with timely feedback on your work and a maximum number of 15 students per seminar group.
Funding
Lancaster University has committed £2.7m in scholarships and bursaries to help with your fees and living costs. Our financial support depends on your circumstances and how well you do in your A-levels (or equivalent academic qualifications) before starting study with us.
Lancaster University's priority is to support every student to make the most of their life and education. For students starting their study with us in 2014, over 600 each year will be entitled to bursaries and/or scholarships to help them with the cost of fees and/or living expenses. For UK students entering in 2014 we will have the following financial support available:
- An Academic Scholarship of £2,000 for the first year of study to any student from the UK entering with A*, A*, A or equivalent academic qualifications
- An Access Scholarship of £1,000 per year for all UK students from households with an income of less than £42,600 who achieve grades of A*, A, A or the equivalent academic qualifications
- A Lancaster Bursary of £1,000 per annum for all students from England with a household income of more than £25,000 but less than £42,600
- As part of the National Scholarship Programme, a £1,000 Bursary, a £1,000 Fee Waiver and a £1,000 Accommodation Discount in the first year of study, for students from England with a household income of less than £25,000. Plus a Lancaster Bursary of £1,000 in subsequent years.
*All of the financial awards above are subject to approval by the Office for Fair Access July 2013.
For full details of the University's financial support packages including eligibility criteria, please visit our fees and funding page