Course overview

The degree enables you to focus in-depth on studying the French language through and alongside the historical, cultural, geographical and political contexts in which French is spoken across the world. You will cover topics spanning politics, philosophy, literature, visual culture and history.

Wherever you decide your interests lie, you can tailor your programme of study in a way that suits you. Part-time students are integrated into our undergraduate programme for full-time students. You will be part of a dynamic, interdisciplinary, research-active culture, playing an active part in your own learning.

Having developed foundation skills in the first two years of the degree, you will hone your language abilities in subsequent years of study and explore your own academic interests beyond the language. You will consolidate your learning with time spent abroad. 

All classes are taught in the School of Modern Languages and Cultures.

Entry requirements

Flexible entry requirements, consideration given for non-traditional qualifications, work and life experience. Applicants are normally interviewed by the course selector.

All applicants are required to have A-level French or an equivalent level of language.

Areas of study - level 4

While this degree offers flexibility, it is highly recommended that students complete 120 credits of Level 4 modules prior to Honours Level (5 and 6) study in order to prepare well for this.

The degree consists of 120 Level 4 credits followed by a further 240 Honours Level credits over subsequent years. The degree will take a minimum of four and a maximum of ten years to complete. Please note that the French department offers modules only during the day.

The degree also requires you to reside in France or in an approved French-speaking country for a total of at least four weeks by the end of your second year and a further six weeks by the end of your degree.

At Level 4, there are two core modules:

• French Language I
• The Story of Modern France

Areas of study - honours level

At Honours Level you will have to take two more core modules:

• French Language II
• French Language III

Up to two of the remaining six modules can be taken in other departments. We also have a number of cross-school modules open to you. The modules you take in French Studies can be full year-long modules or half-weighted termly modules which gives you a maximum amount of choice.
An indicative list of the modules offered at Honours Level include:

• French Presidents and the Media
• Gender and Representation in French Media since 1970
• Sex and Sexuality in Contemporary French Writing
• The City of Paris and the Modern Imagination
• The Left and Trade Unions in France
• The Right in France from the Dreyfus Affair to the Present
• Colonial Memory
• Slavery and After: Writing the Francophone Caribbean
• The Medieval World and its Others: Gender, Race, Religion
• Violence, Religion, and Revolt in Renaissance France
• The French Revolution
• Bestsellers of the Nineteenth Century
• French Cinema and Society from the First to the Second World War
• Representations of the Holocaust
• Crises of Identity in the French Novel
• Introduction to French Linguistics

You can find out more about the modules available here

Teaching, assessment and study support

The degree is designed to be fully supportive to those who are new to university study, whatever your age. There are a variety of assessments and these may include coursework assignments, formal examinations, presentations and research projects. You can study between one and three 30 credit modules per year. You can expect to commit to around 10 hours a week for each module you take, which includes contact time and independent study. Tutors are experts in their field and have extensive teaching experience, including working with adult learners. Throughout your degree programme you will be provided with considerable support and guidance.

Your progress will be tracked through language assignments, essays, presentations, portfolio submissions and examinations (written and oral). Throughout your course you will receive detailed, personalised feedback to help you to improve your skills. The final degree classification is determined by your marks for intermediate- and final-year modules. 

How to apply

Applications for 2023/24 are open, which will close on Thursday 31 August 2023.

• Apply now

Fees and funding

The University will charge Home students £1,540 for each 30 credit module in 2023/24. Fees for subsequent years of the course have yet to be confirmed.

See Student fees and funding for more information and view potential additional fees.

The University of Warwick is not currently sponsoring students on part time or distance learning courses with a Tier 4 visa and so if you require a visa to study a part time/distance learning course in the UK which is longer than 6 months, you may wish to consult the 'right to study' page on our Student Immigration & Compliance website: https://warwick.ac.uk/study/international/immigration/othervisas/whatvisa before you make an application.

Location and times

Classes are on located on Main Campus, The University of Warwick. Times dependent on modules taken; please contact us for more details

Further information

*The modules mentioned above may be subject to change.

Students’ linguistic abilities in the language/s chosen for study will be assessed on arrival at Warwick. Should your linguistic ability prove too advanced for certain language modules, you may be required to substitute other modules for these core modules. Any substituted modules will reflect the nature of your chosen programme of study and be of an appropriate level; you will be informed of which alternative modules are available to you. Please note that, should a variation to core language modules be required, the final decision on which modules you will take will reside with the School of Modern Languages and Cultures.

Please read our terms and conditions for more detailed information and our Conditions of Offer document for more information on when you accept a place with the University.

Career Prospects

Your course and university experience will give you skills that can be transferred to a wide variety of careers. Such skills include communication, innovation, linguistical and theoretical approaches, cultural and dynamic. All these are very desirable to employers. As many graduate jobs are open to students from all degree subjects, there is a wide range of career possibilities. For example, jobs in Teaching, Journalism and Content Writing and Publishing. You could also work in a range of sectors such as Arts, Culture, Business and Administration, Teaching and Lecturing.

Graduates have pursued roles such as:

• Archivist
• Author
• Community Worker
• Curator
• Event Coordinator
• Foreign Service Worker
• HR Specialist
• Immigration Officer
• Journalist
• Paralegal
• Politician
• Translator
• Travel Agent
• UN Representative

Will you definitely help get my idea launched/accepted?

The Innovation Support service does not guarantee every idea will be implemented – in fact, the majority will not make it through to final implementation.

Most ideas make complete sense when considered in isolation, but often cannot take account of the complexities and practicalities of the full environment. Many ideas cannot overcome the challenges of real-world practicalities.

The Innovation Support service cannot guarantee every idea is accepted or implemented – however it can guarantee that ideas that generate sufficient positive support are fully considered and tested against realities. It will also attempt to develop ideas to overcome any obstacles identified. It cannot guarantee implementation, but it can guarantee full consideration.