Program Overview

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French Studies BA

Overview

More than 275 million people speak French across all five continents and it is the official language of 29 countries. Are you interested in discovering more about the rich history, politics and culture of France and the Francophone world? French and Francophone Studies at Nottingham offers you this and much more.

We are one of the largest French sections in the UK and our lecturers are experts in their fields. You can take modules in:

• Translation and interpreting
• Linguistics
• Art, theatre and photography
• Cinema, history and culture
• Politics
• Literature from around the Francophone world

Why Choose This Course?

• Employability - Access new job opportunities in one of Europe's largest national economies by studying a foreign language
• Great teaching - Over the last five years, 91% of students in the Modern Languages and Cultures Department say the staff made their subjects interesting. OfS National Student Survey
• A great track record - 100% of our class of 2021 graduated with a 1st or 2:1 degree classification. UoN student outcomes data, Annual Monitoring (QDS) Analyses 2021
• Year abroad - Opportunity to spend a year abroad immersing yourself in the French language and culture
• Wide module range - Tailor the course to your personal interests or career aspirations through our wide selection of modules
• Top 20 for French in the UK (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024)

Important Information

This online prospectus has been drafted in advance of the academic year to which it applies. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information is accurate at the time of publishing, but changes (for example to course content) are likely to occur given the interval between publishing and commencement of the course. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply for the course where there has been an interval between you reading this website and applying.

Indicative Modules

Year One

• French 1
• Introduction to French and Francophone Studies
• France: History and Identity
• Introduction to French Literature: Representations of Paris
• Introduction to French Literature: Landmarks in Narrative
• Contemporary France
• Exploring Language and Linguistics
• Language Meaning, Variation and Change
• Introduction to Translation and Interpreting Studies
• After Empire: Colonisation and its Legacies

Year Two

• French 2
• French Cinema: The New Wave
• Contemporary Francophone Cinema and Social Issues
• On Location: Cinematic Explorations of Contemporary France
• Literature and Politics in Modern France
• Introduction to Contemporary Science Fiction
• Huit Tableaux: Art and Politics in Nineteenth-Century France
• La France en guerre: Memoires de la Premiere Guerre Mondiale
• Varieties of French
• Teaching English as a Foreign Language
• Nineteenth Century French Narrative
• Enlightenment Literature: An Introduction
• Arts Work Placement Module

Year Three

• Year abroad

Year Four

• French 3
• Translation from French
• Translation into French
• Citizenship, Ethnicity and National Identity in Post-War France
• French Documentary Cinema
• Communicating and Teaching Languages for Undergraduate Ambassadors
• Dissertation in French Studies
• Difficult Women
• Contemporary Francophone Cinema: The Personal and The Political
• Subtitling and Dubbing from French into English
• People and Propaganda: Representing the French Revolution
• The Everyday in Contemporary Literature and Thought
• Language Attitudes and French

How You Will Learn

When you begin studying at university, you will probably find that you cover material much more quickly than you did while studying for your A levels. The key to success is preparing well for classes and then taking the ideas you encounter further in your own time.

• Lectures – provide an overview of what you are studying, using a variety of audio and visual materials to support your learning.
• Seminars and workshops – give you the chance to explore and interact with the material presented in lectures in a friendly and informal environment. You will be taught in a smaller group of students, with discussion focusing on a text or topic you've previously prepared.
• Workshops are more practical, perhaps through exploring texts, working with digital materials, or developing presentations.
• Tutorials – individual and small-group tutorials let you explore your work with your module tutor, perhaps discussing plans for an essay or presentation, or following up on an area of a module which has interested you.
• eLearning – our virtual-learning system, Moodle, offers 24-hour access to teaching materials and resources.

Peer Mentoring

All new undergraduate students can opt into our peer mentoring scheme. Your peer mentor will help you settle into life at Nottingham, provide advice on the transition to university-level study and help you access support if needed.

Teaching Quality

Our staff know that studying complex subjects can sometimes seem challenging (they've all been where you are!). Their contributions to high quality teaching and learning are recognised through our annual Lord Dearing Awards. View the full list of recipients.

Teaching Methods

• Lectures
• Oral classes
• Seminars
• Tutorials
• Workshops

How You Will Be Assessed

You will be assessed by a wide variety of methods, consisting mainly of coursework and exams, but you may also be tasked with commentaries, dissertations, group work, in-class tests, portfolios and presentations.

Each module has its own methods of assessment and we strive to make these as varied as possible so that everyone can perform to the best of their abilities. When choosing optional modules, you will be able to see how the module is assessed in advance.

Assessment Methods

• Dissertation
• Essay
• In-class test
• Oral exam
• Presentation
• Written exam
• Commentary

Contact Time and Study Hours

As well as scheduled teaching you’ll carry out extensive self-study such as preparation for seminars and assessments, as well as language practice. As a guide 20 credits (a typical module) is approximately 200 hours of work (combined teaching and self-study). An average week will have between 12-15 hours of classes.

Careers Overview

Studying languages can open up a world of opportunities. From banking to charities and from teaching to MI5, businesses and organisations across the globe seek to employ language specialists.

During this degree you’ll be able to choose from a wide range of modules, allowing you to tailor your studies around personal interests. In doing so you’ll start to identify potential career paths and begin to discover your areas of professional interest.

In addition to language skills, you’ll develop transferable skills highly sought after by employers such as confident communication skills, strict attention to detail and the ability to work within different cultures and organisational styles.

“My [language] studies have helped me to develop excellent communication skills, as well as helping me to hone my reading, writing, listening and speaking skills for both my target languages. I have also become a much more resilient learner, being able to persevere when things start to get tough and independently solve issues where possible.” Charlotte Allwood, French and Contemporary Chinese Studies BA.

Job Prospects

Average Starting Salary and Career Progression

78.8% of undergraduates from the Faculty of Arts secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation. The average annual starting salary for these graduates was £23,974.

HESA Graduate Outcomes (2017 to 2021 cohorts). The Graduate Outcomes % is calculated using The Guardian University Guide methodology. The average annual salary is based on graduates working full-time within the UK.

Careers Advice

Studying for a degree at the University of Nottingham will provide you with the type of skills and experiences that will prove invaluable in any career, whichever direction you decide to take.

Throughout your time with us, our Careers and Employability Service can work with you to improve your employability skills even further; assisting with job or course applications, searching for appropriate work experience placements and hosting events to bring you closer to a wide range of prospective employers.

Have a look at our careers page for an overview of all the employability support and opportunities that we provide to current students.

The University of Nottingham is consistently named as one of the most targeted universities by Britain’s leading graduate employers (Ranked in the top ten in The Graduate Market in , High Fliers Research).