MA French and History
About this course
MA (Hons) in French and History, a French and Francophone Studies and History degree exploring modern history, cultural developments, and political frameworks across four years of study. The curriculum includes a mandatory academic year abroad, which students spend studying or working in one or two international destinations. The first year covers foundational historical periods and themes through resistance and collaboration, the Fifth Republic, colonisation and decolonisation, and May 1968. Second-year studies examine cultural production, gender, and migration through options such as Cultural Responses to War, Migration, Exile, Diaspora, and Crime and Detection in Literature. In the third year, students undertake a full academic year abroad, participating in study placements at partner institutions or working and volunteering with private companies, charities, or established schemes like the British Council’s English Language Assistants programme.
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: from AAA to AAB (required: a language other than English at B) IB: from 36 points with 665 at HL to 34 points with 655 at HL
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Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 57%: 43 offers from 76 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 8 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 98%
- Learning opportunities: 68%
- Assessment and feedback: 72%
- Academic support: 95%
- Organisation and management: 75%
- Learning resources: 100%
- Student voice: 80%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 10 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 100%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 305 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 2%
- North West: 4%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 3%
- East Midlands: 1%
- West Midlands: 2%
- East of England: 4%
- London: 36%
- South East: 5%
- South West: 3%
- Scotland: 38%
Who gets in
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 90%
- Baccalaureate: 10%
Modules
- resistance and collaboration
- the Fifth Republic
- colonisation and decolonisation
- May 1968
- feminism
- a wide-ranging core course focused on key skills and habits, and showcasing the variety of topics available at Edinburgh, including in modern history
- one of two courses, covering either: the medieval period the early modern period
- the medieval period
- the early modern period
- business, economics and informatics
- politics, social policy, social anthropology and international relations
- art and architectural history
- history, classics and archaeology
- Celtic and Scottish ethnology
- linguistics and language sciences
- philosophy, divinity and law
- Cultural Responses to War
- Migration, Exile, Diaspora
- Crime and Detection in Literature
- Gender and Culture
- The Coming-of-Age Narrative
- Introduction to European Cinema
- Dynamics of Language and Power
- Languages Beyond University
- study in one or two destinations
- work in one or two destinations
- study in one destination and work in another
- two semesters at a single institution
- one semester at two different institutions (in different destinations)
- arrange to work or volunteer with a private company or charity
- apply to an established placement scheme, such as the British Council’s English Language Assistants programme
- Student Wellbeing Service
- Student Counselling
- Student Disability and Learning Support
- University emergency helpline (available 24 hours a day)
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of MA French and History at University of Edinburgh earn?
The median salary is £28,000 after 3 years, £34,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £26,500 and £45,000. The £34,500 median after five years is £500 more than the UK median for French studies.
Are students happy with the teaching on MA French and History at University of Edinburgh?
98% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for MA French and History at University of Edinburgh?
The typical offer is AAB at A level, or 36 points in the IB. The average entrant had 184 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for MA French and History at University of Edinburgh?
57% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 43 offers from 76 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does MA French and History at University of Edinburgh include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has a compulsory year abroad.
How many students continue on MA French and History at University of Edinburgh?
100% of students continued into their second year, and 0% left higher education.