30 September 2024

Updating content:

Course overview

Old:

This joint degree gives you an in-depth knowledge of French language and culture while developing your ability as an analyst of international economic phenomena. 50% of your degree will be in Economics and 50% in the School of Modern Languages and Cultures.

French at Warwick enables you to collaborate with academic specialists to develop your language skills and intercultural competence. Together, we will examine the historical, cultural, geographical, and political contexts in which French is spoken across the world. The flexible course covers cultural topics such as philosophy, literature, politics, history, linguistics, media and film. Core language modules develop an in-depth understanding of the French language and its links to the cultural contexts where it is spoken, and you can then choose optional modules to develop your academic interests.

Economics is the study of choice, investigating the choices of consumers and corporations, groups and governments, networks and nations. It plays a part in every aspect of modern life, using scientific methods to develop theoretical models of behaviour and testing intuition with empirical analysis of markets, institutions and public policy. In Economics, you will study the choices of consumers, corporations, governments, networks and nations.

You will also develop a deep knowledge of global and local economic trends, institutions and policies.

You will normally spend your second or third year abroad, consolidating and enhancing your learning.

New:

This joint degree gives you an in-depth knowledge of French language and culture while developing your ability as an analyst of international economic phenomena. The linguistic and cultural knowledge you acquire from the study of French will allow you to apply your understanding of Economics in a global context. 50% of your degree will be in Economics and 50% in the School of Modern Languages and Cultures: French may be studied either from Advanced or from Beginner level.

French at Warwick enables you to collaborate with academic specialists to develop your language skills and intercultural competence. Together, we will examine the historical, cultural, geographical, and political contexts in which French is spoken across the world. The flexible course covers cultural topics such as philosophy, literature, politics, history, linguistics, media and film. Core language modules develop an in-depth understanding of the French language and its links to the cultural contexts where it is spoken, and you can then choose optional modules to develop your academic interests.

Alongside your study of French, you will specialise in Economics: this is the study of choice, investigating the choices of consumers and corporations, groups and governments, networks and nations. It plays a part in every aspect of modern life, using scientific methods to develop theoretical models of behaviour and testing intuition with empirical analysis of markets, institutions and public policy. In Economics, you will study the choices of consumers, corporations, governments, networks and nations. You will also develop a deep knowledge of global and local economic trends, institutions and policies.

Your second or third year is normally spent abroad, either as a language assistant, or working or studying at one of our partner universities. This is an invaluable opportunity to immerse yourself in the linguistic and cultural contexts where French is spoken, enhance your language skills and build international connections.

You will have access to outstanding facilities and resources. This includes flexible collaborative and individual learning spaces, as well as a vast selection of print, digital and multimedia learning materials.

You will graduate as a highly qualified linguist, with advanced intercultural skills and a sophisticated understanding of key concepts and debates in Francophone cultures. The specialist communication, research, critical and evaluative skills you will gain are all highly sought after by employers.

Core modules

Old:

In your first year, you will follow a core French language programme at beginner or advanced level that will develop your knowledge and understanding of both written and spoken French. You will also take the core module, ‘The Story of Modern France’, where you will examine primary sources from major periods and events in French history, literature, and contemporary politics, while learning about key critical approaches.

On the Economics side of your degree, you will take two core modules, ‘Economics 1’ and ‘Quantitative Techniques’, to introduce you to the core concepts and methods that will support you in your study of the subject.

In your intermediate and final years, you will further develop your French language skills in more advanced language classes. You will be able to develop your own particular interests in Francophone culture by choosing from a wide selection of modules offered by specialists in French culture, society, literature, politics, philosophy, film, and history. If you wish, you can also select from interdisciplinary cross-School modules. In Economics, you will also be to balance core knowledge with the opportunity to explore your own interests, taking one core and one optional module.

Year One

Modern French Language 1

You will deepen your understanding of French grammar and syntax with the help of tutors experienced in facilitating the transition from A Level to university-level competence. You will learn appropriate technical vocabulary and handle complex structures. You will develop the skills required to produce authentic and accurate translations of written texts in both English and French. Writing in formal French introduces you to the structures and methods used to debate ideas on contemporary issues. You will increase your reading and comprehension skills and develop your ability to exploit texts for vocabulary, idioms, syntax and grammatical structures. Working with a native speaker in a small group, you will discuss aspects of contemporary French and Francophone culture and society, using audio, video and written resources.

Read more about Modern French Language 1Link opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).

or

Modern French Language for Beginners

As a beginner learner of the French language, you will cover the main linguistic skills in speaking, listening, writing and reading. You will focus on gaining grammatical accuracy as well as communicative fluency and competence. By the end of the year, you will be expected to be able to sustain everyday conversations in French, read authentic texts such as newspaper articles, follow the gist of TV/video extracts and be able to write different types of texts in French. You will also work on basic translations to and from French, as a means of consolidating your knowledge.

Read more about Modern French Language for BeginnersLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).

A French cultural module:

The Story of Modern France

Why is modern France so deeply invested in the past? What are the milestones in the creation of modern France? How have notions of France and Frenchness been shaped through the stories told about them? These are some of the questions you will explore through close reading of primary sources from major periods and events in French history. You will explore a range of written, visual, and audio-visual materials, from the student posters of May 1968 to prints dating back to the French Revolution, and from stories of Charlemagne to films and texts reflecting France’s ongoing preoccupation with its (often controversial) recent past. Engaging with this varied range of cultural sources will equip you to study further aspects of French and Francophone culture in the later stages of your degree.

Read more about The Story of Modern FranceLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).

Two Economics modules:

Economics 1

You'll develop an understanding of fundamental and intermediate concepts in micro- and macroeconomic analysis, equipping you with a range of appropriate analytical skills, including descriptive, graphical and mathematical methods. This will develop your ability to analyse economic trends, institutions and policies and the capacity to apply analytical techniques to real-world problems.

Read more about the Economics 1 moduleLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).

Quantitative Techniques

This module combines two modules: Mathematical Techniques and Statistical Techniques. You may study these topics at either an intermediate or advanced level, depending on your existing Maths qualifications.

You will cover topics ranging from algebra and calculus to distributions and hypothesis testing, which will provide you with key skills and knowledge that will then be applied in many other modules. In addition, you will be introduced to some advanced statistical software packages, which will help you learn about a range of techniques to analyse data and different ways in which you can present data.

Read more about these modules, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study):

• Mathematical Techniques (A) (intermediate)Link opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window
• Mathematical Techniques (A) (advanced)Link opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window
• Statistical Techniques A (intermediate)Link opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window
• Statistical Techniques A (advanced)Link opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window

Intermediate Year

Modern French Language 2

You will consolidate and develop the language skills acquired in your first year. By the end of the module, you should have the knowledge of vocabulary and syntactic and grammatical structures to produce written French in two prescribed genres. You will develop your skills in translation to and from French, with a focus on specific translation challenges. In spoken French, you will improve your ability to understand and use structured spoken French on a range of topics related to contemporary cultures and in simulated real-life contexts.

Read more about Modern French Language 2Link opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).

or

Modern French Language 2 (Post-beginners)

You will increase the range of your general and specialised vocabulary in French, improve your speaking, listening and comprehension skills, and develop your ability to translate from French, including through a sound knowledge of grammar, register, semantic nuances and style. There will be opportunities to write in French and to work on materials applicable to real-life situations.

Read more about Modern French Language 2 (Post-beginners)Link opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).

Economics 2

In this module, you'll develop a deeper understanding of some of the key economic concepts introduced in your first year, but will also be introduced to new concepts in both micro- and macroeconomic analysis. These include material drawn from general equilibrium, welfare economics, game theory, risk and uncertainty within microeconomics and the three-equation macro model, open economy macroeconomics and the labour market within macroeconomics. It will introduce you to the analysis of public policy issues such as market failure, insurance, monetary unions and fiscal policy, and will give you a range of tools to analyse economic problems. Your analysis will be underpinned by a rigorous theoretical understanding acquired on the course.

Read more about the Economics 2 moduleLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).

Either:

Applied Econometrics

You'll learn important skills of both academic and vocational value, an essential part of the intellectual training of an economist and social scientist, and also useful for your future career. These skills include awareness of the empirical approach to economics and social science; reviewing and extending fundamental statistical concepts; methods of data collection and analysis; regression analysis, its extensions and applications; and use of statistical packages such as STATA. You will then be able to apply this knowledge to a research project of your own.

Read more about the Applied Econometrics moduleLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).

or

Econometrics 1

You'll be equipped with important skills of both academic and vocational value, being an essential part of the intellectual training of an economist and also useful for your future career. This includes an awareness of the empirical approach to economics; experience in analysis and use of empirical data; understanding the nature of uncertainty and methods of dealing with it; and using econometric software packages as tools of quantitative and statistical analysis. With the required necessary skills and knowledge to critically appraise work in applied economics, you'll have a good grasp of the dangers, pitfalls and problems encountered in applied modelling. You will then be able to apply this knowledge to a research project.

Read more about the Econometrics 1 moduleLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).

A selection of optional modules in the School of Modern Languages and Cultures (30 credits)

Final Year

Modern French Language 3

You will consolidate and develop your ability to write and speak confidently and at a level of intellectual sophistication in French. By the end of the course, you should be able to produce a structured written argument on a given topic, in French that is grammatically correct, idiomatic, varied in vocabulary and grammatical structure, and in an appropriate register. You should be able to translate accurately from French to English and English to French, using your detailed knowledge of grammar, vocabulary and idiom, and employing an appropriate register. You will strengthen your skills in pronunciation and intonation skills and demonstrate these through fluent oral presentation and discussion of an intellectually demanding topic.

Read more about Modern French Language 3Link opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).

Either:

Research in Applied Economics

You will have the opportunity to deepen and consolidate your knowledge by applying your understanding of economic theory to a research question that arouses your curiosity. You will use a combination of economic analysis and statistical and econometric techniques to formulate and pursue your research interest, supported by lectures on research methodology and supervision by a member of academic staff, who will support your research towards an independent project. The work will increase your confidence in formulating economic questions, and the scientific method of developing a suitable approach, conducting a literature review and data searches, identifying and testing hypotheses and using your findings to construct coherent, persuasive scholarly arguments, presented in both written and oral form.

Read more about the Research in Applied Economics moduleLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).

or

Research Methods in Economics

Read more about Research Methods in EconomicsLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2022/23 year of study).

And one of the following 15 credit Economics modules:

Macroeconomic Policy in the EU

Read more about Macroeconomic Policy in the EULink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2022/23 year of study).

International Economics

Read more about International EconomicsLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2022/23 year of study).

The International Economy in the Twentieth Century

Read more about The International Economy in the Twentieth CenturyLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2022/23 year of study).

A selection of optional modules in Economics and French, including thematic modules from across the School of Modern Languages and Cultures.

New:

In your first year, you will follow a core French language programme at Beginner or Advanced level that will develop your knowledge and understanding of both written and spoken French. You will also take the core module, ‘The Story of Modern France’, where you will examine primary sources from major periods and events in French history, literature, and contemporary politics, while learning about key critical approaches.

On the Economics side of your degree, you will take two core modules, ‘Economics 1’ and ‘Quantitative Techniques’, to introduce you to the core concepts and methods that will support you in your study of the subject.

In your intermediate and final years, you will further develop your French language skills in more advanced language classes. You will be able to develop your own particular interests in Francophone culture by choosing from a wide selection of modules offered by specialists in French culture, society, literature, politics, philosophy, film, and history. If you wish, you can also select from interdisciplinary cross-School modules. In Economics, you will also be to balance core knowledge with the opportunity to explore your own interests, taking one core and one optional module.

Year One

Modern French Language 1

You will deepen your understanding of French grammar and syntax with the help of tutors experienced in facilitating the transition from A Level to university-level competence. You will learn appropriate technical vocabulary and handle complex structures. You will develop the skills required to produce authentic and accurate translations of written texts in both English and French. Writing in formal French introduces you to the structures and methods used to debate ideas on contemporary issues. You will increase your reading and comprehension skills and develop your ability to exploit texts for vocabulary, idioms, syntax and grammatical structures. Working with a native speaker in a small group, you will discuss aspects of contemporary French and Francophone culture and society, using audio, video and written resources.

Read more about Modern French Language 1Link opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).

or

Modern French Language for Beginners

As a beginner learner of the French language, you will cover the main linguistic skills in speaking, listening, writing and reading. You will focus on gaining grammatical accuracy as well as communicative fluency and competence. By the end of the year, you will be expected to be able to sustain everyday conversations in French, read authentic texts such as newspaper articles, follow the gist of TV/video extracts and be able to write different types of texts in French. You will also work on basic translations to and from French, as a means of consolidating your knowledge.

Read more about Modern French Language for BeginnersLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).

A French cultural module:

The Story of Modern France

Why is modern France so deeply invested in the past? What are the milestones in the creation of modern France? How have notions of France and Frenchness been shaped through the stories told about them? These are some of the questions you will explore through close reading of primary sources from major periods and events in French history. You will explore a range of written, visual, and audio-visual materials, from the student posters of May 1968 to prints dating back to the French Revolution, and from stories of Charlemagne to films and texts reflecting France’s ongoing preoccupation with its (often controversial) recent past. Engaging with this varied range of cultural sources will equip you to study further aspects of French and Francophone culture in the later stages of your degree.

Read more about The Story of Modern FranceLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).

Two Economics modules:

Economics 1

You'll develop an understanding of fundamental and intermediate concepts in micro- and macroeconomic analysis, equipping you with a range of appropriate analytical skills, including descriptive, graphical and mathematical methods. This will develop your ability to analyse economic trends, institutions and policies and the capacity to apply analytical techniques to real-world problems.

Read more about the Economics 1 moduleLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).

Quantitative Techniques

This module combines two modules: Mathematical Techniques and Statistical Techniques. You may study these topics at either an intermediate or advanced level, depending on your existing Maths qualifications.

You will cover topics ranging from algebra and calculus to distributions and hypothesis testing, which will provide you with key skills and knowledge that will then be applied in many other modules. In addition, you will be introduced to some advanced statistical software packages, which will help you learn about a range of techniques to analyse data and different ways in which you can present data.

Read more about these modules, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study):

• Mathematical Techniques (A) (intermediate)Link opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window
• Mathematical Techniques (A) (advanced)Link opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window
• Statistical Techniques A (intermediate)Link opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window
• Statistical Techniques A (advanced)Link opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window

Intermediate Year

Modern French Language 2

You will consolidate and develop the language skills acquired in your first year. By the end of the module, you should have the knowledge of vocabulary and syntactic and grammatical structures to produce written French in two prescribed genres. You will develop your skills in translation to and from French, with a focus on specific translation challenges. In spoken French, you will improve your ability to understand and use structured spoken French on a range of topics related to contemporary cultures and in simulated real-life contexts.

Read more about Modern French Language 2Link opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).

or

Modern French Language 2 (Post-beginners)

You will increase the range of your general and specialised vocabulary in French, improve your speaking, listening and comprehension skills, and develop your ability to translate from French, including through a sound knowledge of grammar, register, semantic nuances and style. There will be opportunities to write in French and to work on materials applicable to real-life situations.

Read more about Modern French Language 2 (Post-beginners)Link opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).

Economics 2

In this module, you'll develop a deeper understanding of some of the key economic concepts introduced in your first year, but will also be introduced to new concepts in both micro- and macroeconomic analysis. These include material drawn from general equilibrium, welfare economics, game theory, risk and uncertainty within microeconomics and the three-equation macro model, open economy macroeconomics and the labour market within macroeconomics. It will introduce you to the analysis of public policy issues such as market failure, insurance, monetary unions and fiscal policy, and will give you a range of tools to analyse economic problems. Your analysis will be underpinned by a rigorous theoretical understanding acquired on the course.

Read more about the Economics 2 moduleLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).

Either:

Applied Econometrics

You'll learn important skills of both academic and vocational value, an essential part of the intellectual training of an economist and social scientist, and also useful for your future career. These skills include awareness of the empirical approach to economics and social science; reviewing and extending fundamental statistical concepts; methods of data collection and analysis; regression analysis, its extensions and applications; and use of statistical packages such as STATA. You will then be able to apply this knowledge to a research project of your own.

Read more about the Applied Econometrics moduleLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).

or

Econometrics 1

You'll be equipped with important skills of both academic and vocational value, being an essential part of the intellectual training of an economist and also useful for your future career. This includes an awareness of the empirical approach to economics; experience in analysis and use of empirical data; understanding the nature of uncertainty and methods of dealing with it; and using econometric software packages as tools of quantitative and statistical analysis. With the required necessary skills and knowledge to critically appraise work in applied economics, you'll have a good grasp of the dangers, pitfalls and problems encountered in applied modelling. You will then be able to apply this knowledge to a research project.

Read more about the Econometrics 1 moduleLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).

A selection of optional modules in the School of Modern Languages and Cultures, including translation and thematic modules (30 credits)

Final Year

Modern French Language 3

You will consolidate and develop your ability to write and speak confidently and at a level of intellectual sophistication in French. By the end of the course, you should be able to produce a structured written argument on a given topic, in French that is grammatically correct, idiomatic, varied in vocabulary and grammatical structure, and in an appropriate register. You should be able to translate accurately from French to English and English to French, using your detailed knowledge of grammar, vocabulary and idiom, and employing an appropriate register. You will strengthen your skills in pronunciation and intonation skills and demonstrate these through fluent oral presentation and discussion of an intellectually demanding topic.

Read more about Modern French Language 3Link opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).

Either:

Research in Applied Economics

You will have the opportunity to deepen and consolidate your knowledge by applying your understanding of economic theory to a research question that arouses your curiosity. You will use a combination of economic analysis and statistical and econometric techniques to formulate and pursue your research interest, supported by lectures on research methodology and supervision by a member of academic staff, who will support your research towards an independent project. The work will increase your confidence in formulating economic questions, and the scientific method of developing a suitable approach, conducting a literature review and data searches, identifying and testing hypotheses and using your findings to construct coherent, persuasive scholarly arguments, presented in both written and oral form.

Read more about the Research in Applied Economics moduleLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).

or

Research Methods in Economics

Read more about Research Methods in EconomicsLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2022/23 year of study).

And one of the following 15 credit Economics modules:

Macroeconomic Policy in the EU

Read more about Macroeconomic Policy in the EULink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).

International Economics

Read more about International EconomicsLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).

The International Economy in the Twentieth Century

Read more about The International Economy in the Twentieth CenturyLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).