BA French
About this course
Bachelor of Arts in French BA, a French and Francophone Studies degree exploring literature, history, art and politics alongside language studies. Core topics include Global & Comparative Perspective. The programme spans four years, incorporating a period abroad or a professional placement. The first year introduces foundational linguistic skills and cultural contexts through modules such as French Language 1 (Advanced), La France Moderne A, Exploration of Identities in the French and Francophone world, and Translation in Practice I. The second year advances linguistic proficiency and examines specialised themes via French Language 2 (Advanced), Global French: Communities, Politics and International Relations, Sources of Inspiration: Creativity and Adaptation through French Texts, and Translation in the Workplace. The final year focuses on advanced fluency and specialized research through French Language Final Year, Interpreting A, Colonial and Postcolonial Cultures in the Francophone Worlds, and the Final Year Extended Independent Study Module in Modern Languages.
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 to include A level grade B in French.. 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 French. 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
- La France Moderne A
- La France Moderne B
- Occupation, Liberation, Innovation: France and its people in film and writing A
- Discover: Personal, Academic and Professional Development in Modern Languages
- Exploring Identities in the French and Francophone world
- French Language 1 (Advanced)
- 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
- French Language 2 (Advanced)
- Global French: Communities, Politics and International Relations
- Sources of Inspiration: Creativity and Adaptation through French Texts
- 19th Century Russia through the Lens of the Novel
- 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
- Translation in the Workplace
- Work, The Future and You
- Exploring Italian cities: texts and contexts
- Cultural Industries: Creativity in Change
- Final Year Extended Independent Study Module in Modern Languages
- French Language Final Year
- 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
- 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 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 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 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 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 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 at University of Birmingham?
100% of students continued into their second year, and 0% left higher education.