Course Overview
Taught by lecturers who conduct internationally respected research into the languages and cultures of France and the French speaking world, your degree course gives you the opportunity to acquire both high-level language skills and a thorough understanding of French cultures and societies within a global context. Besides your core language courses, you'll be able to choose from a broad range of specialist cultural, historical and political courses promoting comparative understanding of countries within Europe and beyond.
You begin your degree with core courses including Advanced or Intensive French oral and written language and 'Shaping Contemporary France: Culture, Politics and the Legacy of History'. You will also be able to choose other modules, such as 'Understanding Culture' and 'Cinema, or Society in Europe and Latin America: Thematic and Formal Perspectives'.
Spending your third year either studying or working in a French speaking country is compulsory. The year abroad makes a major contribution to your command of the language, while deepening your intercultural sensitivity.
In your fourth year, you will continue developing your core French language oral and written skills. You can combine this with a choice of specialist culture courses, such as 'Modern French Identities: Race' and 'Nation and Francophone Voices: Literature and Film from Sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean and Canada'.
If you take a Single Major degree in French you will expand your interest in a particular topic from your second year studies and develop your own specialist Dissertation.
Related Courses
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 European Languages and Cultures department.
Year 1
- Part I French Studies (Intensive)
- French Studies (Advanced)
Year 2
- French Language: Oral Skills
- French Language: Written Skills
- Shaping Contemporary France: Culture, Politics and the Legacy of History
- Preparation
- French Language: Oral skills (post-intensive)
- French Language: Written Skills (post-intensive)
- European Culture of Everyday Life
- The Writer and the Text in 20th Century World Literatures
- Economic and Social Change in France, Germany and Spain since 1945
- Understanding culture
- Cinema and Society in Europe and Latin America: Thematic and Formal Perspectives
Year 3
- Residence Abroad: intercultural and academic reflection
Year 4
- Full Unit Dissertation
- French Language: Oral Skills
- French Language: Written Skills
- Writing in the margins: narrating cross-cultural experience
- Francophone Voices: Literature and Film from Sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean and Canada
- Discussing the European Union: Institutions and Ideologies
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 European Languages and Cultures department website.
Entry Criteria
A-level: AAB inc. French unless this is to be studied from beginners' level, in which case we require evidence of language learning ability. We normally expect three A-levels.
General Studies: Accepted as one of 3 A-levels
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. Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office (01524 592028) for further information
IELTS: 6.5
Careers
A career abroad is a popular option for our French Studies graduates - through teaching, or working for an international organisation such as the British Council, Civil or Diplomatic Service. Many graduates also find openings in businesses based in European or other countries.
The language and communication skills gained on this course enable graduates to find work in areas from journalism, advertising, teaching and librarianship to accountancy and IT.
Many French Studies graduates continue their studies at Lancaster, with our excellent postgraduate research facilities. Some students go onto professional training opportunities in areas such as interpreting, translating or teaching.
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 designed to best support the requirements of your chosen degree programme. These may include lecture and tutorials, interactive workshops, laboratory sessions, other practical activities, student-led seminars and web-based elivery.
The modules which make up a programme of study are assessed using a variety of different methods, enabling students to demonstrate their capabilities in a range of ways. Typical coursework assignments include laboratory reports, essays, literature reviews, short tests, short and sharply focussed critical reports, poster sessions and oral presentations. Formal examinations include short answer questions, essays and data analysis. Multiple choice formats are also employed where appropriate. Students are supported in the production of final year project reports and dissertations. 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
View details of our current Undergraduate fees.
