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French

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​France has a rich and revolutionary culture and history. It is also well known for excelling in the arts, from the Nouvelle Vague in cinema to expressionist painting.

Our students develop an in-depth knowledge of the French language, the wider culture of Francophonie in the many countries across the globe where French is spoken, and the varied history, literature and cinema in which the language is embedded. You will have the opportunity to study with staff who are internationally recognised experts in French-speaking literature, history and culture, including the literature of the French Caribbean, French children’s books and publishing, twentieth-century French history, history and art, and translation studies.

98% of our modern language and linguistic research was classed as world leading, internationally excellent or internationally recognised, which feeds into your learning (Research Excellence Framework, 2014 - Modern Languages and Linguistics.)

You can study French on its own, or in combination with another language, or with another subject, such as English, History, International Relations or Management.

In each year you will study a French language module (starting from beginner’s, intermediate or advanced level in the first year, and achieving near-native fluency in the final year). Alongside the language module, you will take a number of cultural modules (the exact number of cultural modules you can take depends on whether you are studying French on its own, or in combination with another language or another subject). Examples of current modules include:

  • Introduction to French Culture
  • The Making of Modern France
  • Global French Life-stories
  • How to Think in French
  • The First World War: Then and Now
  • Introduction to French children’s literature
  • French Popular Music
  • Philanthropy à la française
  • The French Caribbean: Language, Literature and Identity
  • French Language for Management & Business

You will spend up to a year in a French-speaking country, studying at a university, working on a placement, or as a British Council language assistant in a school. This enables you to immerse yourself in the culture and develop your language to a high level. The core language module in the second year will prepare you for your time abroad, equipping you with the skills and knowledge required to work and live in a different culture. There is also the option to study for a degree in modern languages, inclusive of a year abroad, while at the same time training to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), a qualification that will enable you to teach in secondary schools in England and Wales after your degree.

By the time you graduate, you can expect to be able to write and speak fluently in French. Well-qualified linguists are in short supply in the UK, so there has never been a better time to study a modern language.

You will gain numerous transferable skills in research, analysis, presenting and group working, and will receive careers advice and CV workshops to enhance your career prospects. Studying or working abroad provides evidence of self-reliance, adaptability and enterprise, making you highly attractive to employers. 89% of our students are in work or further study 15 months after finishing their course [1].

[1] Graduate Outcomes Survey 2017/18; First Degree and other undergraduate responders from Languages and Cultures.

Courses


  • BSc International Business and Management with a Modern Language N1R9

    Full Time: 3 Years

  • BSc International Business and Management with a Modern Language with Placement Year N1R8

    Full Time: 4 Years

  • BSc International Business and Management with a Modern Language with Study Year Abroad N1Q9

    Full Time: 4 Years

  • BA English Literature with French Q3R1

    Full Time: 3 Years

  • BA Modern Languages (4 years) R900

    Full Time: 4 Years

  • BA Modern Languages (3 years) R901

    Full Time: 3 Years

  • BA French and Economics LR11

    Full Time: 4 Years

  • BA French and International Development LR08

    Full Time: 4 Years

  • BA French and English Literature RQ13

    Full Time: 4 Years

  • BA French and History RV11

    Full Time: 4 Years

  • BA French and International Relations RL12

    Full Time: 4 Years

  • BA French and Management Studies NR21

    Full Time: 4 Years

  • BA French Studies and English Language QR31

    Full Time: 4 Years

About the department

Visit the Department of Languages and Cultures website.

I immensely enjoyed studying French at the University of Reading. Every person I came across in the French Department was friendly, supportive and encouraging.

Karl Turner
BA French and German

Contextual offers


We make contextual offers for all our courses.

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  • Languages and Cultures
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Subjects A-B

  • Agriculture
  • Ancient History
  • Animal Science
  • Anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Architectural Engineering
  • Architecture
  • Art
  • Biological Sciences
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Biomedical Sciences
  • Building and Surveying
  • Business and Management, Accounting and Finance

Subjects C-E

  • Chemistry
  • Classics and Classical Studies
  • Climate Science
  • Computer Science
  • Construction Management
  • Consumer Behaviour and Marketing
  • Creative Writing
  • Drama
  • Ecology
  • Economics
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • English Language and Applied Linguistics
  • English Literature
  • Environment

Subjects F-G

  • Film & Television
  • Food and Nutritional Sciences
  • Foundation programmes
  • French
  • Geography
  • German
  • Graphic Communication and Design

Subjects H-M

  • Healthcare
  • History
  • International Development
  • International Foundation Programme (IFP)
  • International Relations
  • Italian
  • Languages and Cultures
  • Law
  • Linguistics
  • Marketing
  • Mathematics
  • Medical Sciences
  • Meteorology and Climate
  • Museum Studies

Subjects N-T

  • Nutrition
  • Pharmacology
  • Pharmacy
  • Philosophy
  • Physician Associate Studies
  • Politics and International Relations
  • Psychology
  • Real Estate and Planning
  • Spanish
  • Speech and Language Therapy
  • Surveying and Construction
  • Teaching
  • Theatre

Subjects U-Z

  • Wildlife Conservation
  • Zoology

Subjects A-C

  • Agriculture
  • Ancient History
  • Animal Sciences
  • Archaeology
  • Architecture
  • Art
  • Biological Sciences
  • Biomedical Sciences
  • Business (Post-Experience)
  • Business and Management (Pre-Experience)
  • Chemistry
  • Classics and Ancient History
  • Climate Science
  • Computer Science
  • Construction Management and Engineering
  • Consumer Behaviour
  • Creative Enterprise

Subjects D-G

  • Data Science
  • Economics
  • Education
  • Energy and Environmental Engineering
  • Engineering
  • English Language and Applied Linguistics
  • English Literature
  • Environmental Science
  • Film, Theatre and Television
  • Finance
  • Food and Nutritional Sciences
  • Geography and Environmental Science
  • Graphic Design

Subjects H-P

  • Healthcare
  • History
  • Information Management and Digital Business
  • Information Technology
  • International Development and Applied Economics
  • Languages and Cultures
  • Law
  • Linguistics
  • Management
  • Medieval History
  • Meteorology and Climate
  • Microbiology
  • Nutritional Sciences
  • Pharmacy
  • Philosophy
  • Physician Associate
  • Politics and International Relations
  • Project Management
  • Psychology
  • Public Policy

Subjects Q-Z

  • Real Estate and Planning
  • Social Policy
  • Speech and Language Therapy
  • Strategic Studies
  • Teaching
  • Theatre
  • Typography and Graphic Communication
  • War and Peace Studies
  • Zoology

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