Program Overview

BA (Hons) Philosophy with French (with a year abroad)

Develop your own answers to major philosophical questions and increase your cultural awareness with French studies.

Overview

• Year of entry: 2026/27
• UCAS code: V5R1
• Institution code: Y50
• Start date: September 2026
• Length: 4 years full-time
• Typical offer: AAB
• School/department: Department of Language and Linguistic Science, Department of Philosophy
• UK (home) fees: £9,535
• International and EU fees: £26,900

Course Content

Philosophy

Philosophy at York enables you to become an independent scholar, growing and developing intellectually. You'll have a wide range of option modules to choose from, reflecting the expertise of a large and diverse department. We offer modules in all the central areas of philosophy and you can tailor your degree to reflect your own areas of interest.

Languages

Your language modules will explore the society and cultures of French-speaking societies and you'll be taught almost exclusively in French. These modules will help you to develop the transcultural and linguistic knowledge you'll need to become a high-level communicator.

Year Structure

• Year 1:
  • Core modules:
    • Philosophy modules:
      • Knowledge and Perception
      • Logic
      • Ethics
      • Philosophical Analysis
    • Language modules:
      • If you have studied French to A level, you'll take the post A-level route.
      • If you are taking French ab initio (from scratch), you'll take the ab initio route.
      • Post A-level:
        • French Language and Cultures: Upper Intermediate
        • Understanding French-speaking Cultures and Societies (post-A level)
      • Ab initio:
        • Intensive French Language and Cultures: Beginner
        • Understanding French-speaking Cultures and Societies (ab initio route)
  • Academic integrity module
• Year 2:
  • Core modules:
    • French Language and Cultures: Advanced
  • Option modules:
    • You will study five option modules. You will typically study three philosophy modules, and two from Languages.
    • Examples can be found below. Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.
    • Philosophy modules:
      • Aesthetics
      • Applied Ethics
      • Being and Reason: Spinoza's Metaphysics
      • Kant's Theoretical and Practical Philosophy
      • Knowledge and the Social Sciences
      • Logic and Paradox
      • Love, Law and Solidarity: Recognition from Rousseau to Honneth
      • Metaphysics
      • Philosophy and Society Podcasts
      • Philosophy of Language
      • Philosophy of Mind
      • Philosophy of Science
      • Politics and Freedom: Anarchism and Conservatism
      • Religious Ethics
      • The Limits of Reason: Kant's Theoretical and Practical Philosophy
    • Language modules:
      • World Cinemas: Representing National and Transnational Societies and Cultures
      • Laicité: religious freedom or state repression?
• Year 3:
  • In your third year, you’ll go abroad for a year. You can choose to study at another university or complete a work placement/internship. You may also be able to complete a British Council English Language Assistantship. The year abroad is assessed on a pass/fail basis by the University of York.
• Year 4:
  • Core modules:
    • French Language and Cultures: Proficient
  • Option modules:
    • You will study five option modules. You will study at least three philosophy modules, and one from Languages.
    • Examples can be found below. Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.
    • Philosophy modules:
      • Buddhism as Philosophy
      • Causation and Laws
      • Cognitive Anomalies, Decision-Making and Democracy
      • Consciousness
      • Contemporary Issues in Bioethics
      • Experimental Philosophy: The Psychology of Philosophy
      • Foundation in Maths
      • Happiness, Utility and Wellbeing
      • Mind and Morality
      • Nine Artworks, Nine Philosophical Problems
      • Philosophy of Christianity
      • Philosophy of Law
      • Philosophy of Psychology
      • Philosophy of Recognition
      • The Nature of Time
      • Topics in Feminist Philosophy
      • Property and Self-Ownership
      • Theories of Social Justice: Rawls and Beyond
      • World and Mind
    • Language modules:
      • World Cinemas: Representing National and Transnational Societies and Cultures
      • Myths, Memories& the Legacy of the French Occupation ()
      • Independent Study in Languages and Cultures

Fees and Funding

• Annual tuition fees:
  • UK (home): £9,535
  • International and EU: £26,900
• Fees for subsequent years:
  • UK (home) fees may increase within the government fee cap in subsequent academic years.
  • International fees are subject to increase in subsequent years in line with the prevailing Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate (up to a maximum of 10%).
• Additional costs:
  • Set Languages texts are available from the Library or online, but you may wish to buy your own copy for some modules. These typically cost between £10 and £30. For ab-initio languages you may need to buy books with a total cost of £50 to £60. Second hand books are often available more cheaply.
• Funding:
  • UK government loans
  • UK scholarships and bursaries
  • International scholarships
  • Country-specific funding
  • US loans
  • Departmental funding

Teaching and Assessment

• Teaching format:
  • Philosophy: You'll be an active participant in your Philosophy studies, asking questions and evaluating your own responses and those of others.
  • Languages: We offer you extra study support in several ways. Our Peer Assisted Learning programme gives you the opportunity to work with other students.
• Contact hours:
  • In first and second year of the degree, you will typically spend 4-5 hours per week in lectures, 6-8 hours per week in seminars, and 1-2 hours in workshops.
• Facilities:
  • We have our own specialist language labs for teaching. Here, you'll have access to a variety of resources, including specialist linguistics software and online language-learning materials.
• Teaching location:
  • You will be based in the Department of Philosophy. Most of your teaching will take place at various locations across Campus West.
• Assessment and feedback:
  • You'll be assessed in a variety of ways, including essays, projects, written, oral and listening exams. Assessments include formative work which will help you practice or develop skills, but will not count towards your final degree mark.

Careers and Skills

• Studying Philosophy with Languages and Cultures at York equips you with effective communication, critical thinking, and project management skills, which translate readily into any work context.
• The combination of the analytic, transcultural, and communicative competencies you'll learn during your degree ensures that you are a highly sought-after graduate.
• Career opportunities:
  • Marketing and communications
  • Publishing
  • Broadcasting and journalism
  • Local government and public service
  • Business, finance and accountancy
  • Teaching
  • Translation and interpreting
  • IT and software development
• Transferable skills:
  • Effective communication skills
  • Intercultural awareness
  • Critical thinking
  • Project management
  • Independent learning
  • Data analysis
  • Problem solving
  • Teamwork

Entry Requirements

• Qualification:
  • A levels: AAB
  • Access to Higher Education Diploma: Obtain Access to HE Diploma with 36 credits at Distinction and 9 credits at Merit or higher.
  • BTEC National Extended Diploma: DDD
  • European Baccalaureate: 80% overall average
  • International Baccalaureate: 35 points
  • T levels: We will consider a range of T Level qualifications for entry.
  • Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers: Scottish Highers - AABBB Advanced Highers - not required for entry
• Additional requirements:
  • Ab initio or post-A level French: You can take the language part of this programme ab initio (from scratch, or with a qualification at AS level or below), or you can study on a route designed for those who have an A level in this language.
  • English language: If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
    • IELTS (Academic): 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component
    • IB English: A score of 4 in English A or 5 in English B (Higher Level or Standard Level)
    • Cambridge CEFR: 176, with a minimum of 169 in each component
    • Oxford ELLT: 7, with a minimum of 6 in each component
    • Oxford Test of English Advanced: 136, with a minimum of 126 in each component
    • Duolingo: Integrated subscores: 120 overall, with a minimum of 105 in each component
    • GCSE/IGCSE/O level English Language (as a first or second language): Grade C / Grade 4
    • LanguageCert SELT: B2 with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component
    • LanguageCert Academic: B2 with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component
    • Kaplan Test of English Language: 478 Main Flight score with 444 in each component
    • Skills for English: B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component
    • PTE Academic: 61, with a minimum of 55 in each component
    • TOEFL: 87 overall, with a minimum of 21 in each component
    • Trinity ISE III: Merit in all components
    • Other English language qualifications: We also accept other English Language qualifications, including various school-leaving certificates.