MA French and Portuguese
About this course
MA (Hons) in French and Portuguese, a French and Francophone Studies and Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies degree centred on European languages in global cultural contexts. The programme spans four years and incorporates a compulsory third year spent studying or working abroad in destinations such as France, Switzerland, or Brazil. The first year covers foundational topics through modules like resistance and collaboration, the Fifth Republic, colonisation and decolonisation, and linguistics and language sciences. The second year explores cultural themes via modules such as Cultural Responses to War, Migration, Exile, Diaspora, Crime and Detection in Literature, and Introduction to European Cinema. The third year is dedicated to an international period of study or work across one or two destinations. The final year focuses on advanced proficiency through modules including presenting and discussing cultural, political and societal topics in both languages, advanced comprehension, summary writing, translation and composition, and film and culture.
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 ABB (required: a language other than English at B) IB: 34 points with 655 at HL
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What students say
Based on about 39 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 83%
- Learning opportunities: 66%
- Assessment and feedback: 64%
- Academic support: 88%
- Organisation and management: 63%
- Learning resources: 86%
- Student voice: 58%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 60 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 94%
- Left higher education: 4%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 1%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 55 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 2%
- North West: 8%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 3%
- East Midlands: 6%
- West Midlands: 1%
- East of England: 2%
- London: 41%
- South East: 8%
- South West: 4%
- Wales: 1%
- Scotland: 23%
- Northern Ireland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 55 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 96%
- Baccalaureate: 3%
- Other HE qualification: 1%
Modules
- resistance and collaboration
- the Fifth Republic
- colonisation and decolonisation
- May 1968
- feminism
- linguistics and language sciences
- business, economics and informatics
- politics, social policy, social anthropology and international relations
- art and architectural history
- history, classics and archaeology
- Celtic and Scottish ethnology
- 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
- Belgium
- France
- Switzerland
- Rio de Janeiro in Brazil
- Lisbon and Coimbra in Portugal
- 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)
- presenting and discussing cultural, political and societal topics in both languages
- advanced comprehension, summary writing, translation and composition
- film and culture
- literature and theatre
- history and politics
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of MA French and Portuguese at University of Edinburgh earn?
The median salary is £29,000 after 3 years, £37,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £28,500 and £55,500. The £37,500 median after five years is £3,500 more than the UK median for French studies.
Are students happy with the teaching on MA French and Portuguese at University of Edinburgh?
83% 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 Portuguese at University of Edinburgh?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 34 points in the IB. The average entrant had 175 UCAS points.
Does MA French and Portuguese 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 Portuguese at University of Edinburgh?
94% of students continued into their second year, and 4% left higher education.