French Studies

BA Hons

  • UCAS Code R120
  • Entry Year 2024 or 2023
  • A Level Requirements ABB
  • Duration Full time 4 Years

Overview

Top reasons to study with us

  • 3

    3rd for French, German, Spanish, Italian

    The Complete University Guide (2023)

  • Best in the UK for Graduate Prospects in French, German, Spanish, Italian. The Complete University Guide (2023)

  • Study or work overseas during your international placement year

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.

Careers

As well as language and subject related skills, a degree in languages gives you the opportunity to develop rich interpersonal, intercultural, cognitive and transferable skills that can be utilised across a variety of careers. Our graduates have found work in a wide variety of areas such as accountancy, IT, e-commerce, business development, community engagement, civil service, events management, finance, journalism and publishing, as well as teaching and translating both in the UK and beyond.

Many graduates continue their studies at Lancaster in areas such as humanities and interdisciplinary research, making the most of our postgraduate research facilities. We offer Master's degrees in Translation and Languages and Cultures, which can lead on to a variety of careers.

Entry Requirements

Grade Requirements

A Level ABB

Required Subjects A level French, or if this is to be studied from beginners’ level, AS grade B or A level grade B in another foreign language, or GCSE grade A or 7 in a foreign language. Native French speakers will not be accepted onto this scheme.

IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each component. For other English language qualifications we accept, please see our English language requirements webpages.

Other Qualifications

International Baccalaureate 32 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 Higher Level subjects including appropriate evidence of language ability

BTEC Distinction, Distinction, Merit accepted alongside appropriate evidence of language ability

We welcome applications from students with a range of alternative UK and international qualifications, including combinations of qualification. Further guidance on admission to the University, including other qualifications that we accept, frequently asked questions and information on applying, can be found on our general admissions webpages.

Contact Admissions Team + 44 (0) 1524 592028 or via ugadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk

Course Structure

Lancaster University offers a range of programmes, some of which follow a structured study programme, and some which offer the chance for you to devise a more flexible programme to complement your main specialism.

Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, and the University will make every reasonable effort to offer modules as advertised. In some cases changes may be necessary and may result in some combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.

Core

Core

Optional

Core

Core

Optional

Fees and Funding

We set our fees on an annual basis and the 2024/25 entry fees have not yet been set.

As a guide, our fees in 2023/24 were:

UK International
£9,250 £21,980

Scholarships and Bursaries

Details of our scholarships and bursaries for 2024-entry study are not yet available, but you can use our opportunities for 2023-entry applicants as guidance.

Check our current list of scholarships and bursaries.

Undergraduate open days 2023

Our summer open days give you Lancaster University in a day. Visit campus and put yourself in the picture.

Undergraduate Open Days
two students sitting and reading on some outdoor steps

A tour of the Campus

Join Meenal and Vlad as they take you on a tour of the Lancaster University campus. Discover the learning facilities, accommodation, sports facilities, welfare, cafes, bars, parkland and more.

Undergraduate Open Days

Important information

The information on this site relates primarily to 2024/2025 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

Our Students’ Charter

We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies.