BA French and Italian
About this course
Bachelor of Arts in French and Italian BA, a French and Francophone Studies and Italian degree focused on language acquisition and cultural study. Core topics include Global & Comparative Perspective. The programme includes a compulsory year abroad spent studying or working in a French- or Italian-speaking country. The first year establishes foundational grammar and cultural knowledge through modules such as French Language 1 (Advanced), Italian Language 1 (Beginners), Landmarks in European Literature A, and Translation in Practice I. The second year advances linguistic proficiency and explores cultural contexts through modules including French Language 2 (Advanced), Italian Language 2 (Intermediate), Exploring Italian cities: texts and contexts, and Global French: Communities, Politics and International Relations. Following the year abroad, the final year permits advanced specialisation and independent research through modules such as French Language Final Year, Italian Language Final Year, Exploring the self: Dante and Leopardi, and Franco-African Relations from de Gaulle to Macron (1944 to the present). Students complete a dissertation or extended independent study in the final year alongside optional modules spanning literature, film, translation, and historical studies.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A Level: ABB A level grade B is required for any advanced language you wish to study. See below for full information.. IB: 6,5,5 including 32 points total. See below for full information.. BTEC: BTEC Extended Diploma: DDM, plus a B at A level in the required subject/s. See below for full information.
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What students say
Based on about 10 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 89%
- Learning opportunities: 86%
- Assessment and feedback: 67%
- Academic support: 86%
- Organisation and management: 86%
- Learning resources: 98%
- Student voice: 81%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 15 students who started, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 100%
What graduates do next
Based on about 39 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Working: 67%
- Working and studying: 5%
- Further study: 10%
- Unemployed: 11%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 15%
- Teaching Professionals: 15%
- Elementary occupations: 5%
- Administrative occupations: 5%
- Teaching and Childcare Support Occupation: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 85%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 80%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 50%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 265 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 1%
- North West: 7%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 5%
- East Midlands: 5%
- West Midlands: 21%
- East of England: 9%
- London: 35%
- South East: 10%
- South West: 6%
- Wales: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 10 students who started, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 90%
- Other HE qualification: 5%
- Other qualifications: 5%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Bronze for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- Discover: Personal, Academic and Professional Development in Modern Languages
- French Language 1 (Advanced)
- French Language 1 (Beginners)
- Italian Language 1 (Beginners)
- Visions of Italy on paper and screen
- Visions of Italy through music
- Environment, Sustainability and Development in the Portuguese-speaking world
- Introduction to European Film A
- Introduction to European Film B
- Introduction to Linguistics A: Science of Language
- Introduction to Linguistics B: language change and variation
- Landmarks in European Literature A
- Landmarks in European Literature B
- Translation in Practice I
- Translation in Practice II
- La France Moderne A
- La France Moderne B
- Occupation, Liberation, Innovation: France and its people in film and writing A
- French Language 2 (Intermediate)
- French Language 2 (Advanced)
- Exploring Italian cities: texts and contexts
- Italian Language 2 (Intermediate)
- Global French: Communities, Politics and International Relations
- Sources of Inspiration: Creativity and Adaptation through French Texts
- Cultural Industries: Creativity in Change
- Cross-Cultural Cinema: Film Adaptation beyond the Nation-State
- Cross-Cultural Cinema: Migration and Displacement
- Global Enterprise Project
- Language and power
- Teaching and Learning (languages) in the 21st century
- Work, The Future and You
- Translation in the Workplace
- IWLP Arabic Level 2A
- IWLP Arabic Level 2B
- Final Year Extended Independent Study Module in Modern Languages
- Final Year Independent Study Module in Modern Languages Semester 1
- French Language Final Year
- Italian Language Final Year
- Exploring the self: Dante and Leopardi
- Interpreting A
- Interpreting B
- Adapting Nineteenth-Century France
- Breaking New Ground: Innovative French Writing and Visual Culture
- Colonial and Postcolonial Cultures in the Francophone Worlds
- Discourses, Disciplines and Dissidence: The Construction of Sexuality in Nineteenth-Century France
- Franco-African Relations from de Gaulle to Macron (1944 to the present)
- Francophone Caribbean Literature and Film
- From Princesses to Poisoners: Gender, Identity and Society in Seventeenth-century French texts
- The Algerian War
- Thinking Otherwise: Decolonial Approaches to Contemporary Thought and Culture
- Back to the Future – Hidden Histories and Utopian Possibilities, 1800-present
- Border Crossings: Word & Image in Twentieth- and Twenty-first-century Russophone Cultures
- Contemporary representations of the body: literature, theory and art
- Echoes of Colonialism and Imperialism Across Cultures
- From Text to Tech: Digital Approaches to Languages and Cultures
- Language, Culture and Communication: Digging into the text
- Narratives of Conquest and Incomprehension
- The Romance languages: structure, variation and change
- Translation and Creativity in the Digital Age I
- Translation and Creativity in the Digital Age II
- Uniformity and diversity in the Iberian-Romance speaking world
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA French and Italian at University of Birmingham earn?
The median salary is £28,500 after 15 months, £26,500 after 3 years, £34,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £27,500 and £45,000. The £34,000 median after five years is the same as the UK median for French studies.
What do graduates of BA French and Italian at University of Birmingham do next?
81% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA French and Italian at University of Birmingham?
89% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA French and Italian at University of Birmingham?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 32 points in the IB. The average entrant had 154 UCAS points.
Does BA French and Italian at University of Birmingham include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has a compulsory year abroad.
How many students continue on BA French and Italian at University of Birmingham?
100% of students continued into their second year, and 0% left higher education.