BA French
About this course
BA in French, a French and Francophone Studies degree centred on language acquisition and the exploration of francophone cultures and societies. The four-year programme incorporates a compulsory year abroad spent studying in a francophone environment. Students return for a final year of advanced study and specialized option choices. The first year covers foundational modules such as Understanding History: Facts, Interpretations, Stories, Introduction to the Study of Language and Linguistics, Theories and Methods in Film and Media Studies, Mediatising Dissent, Use of French 1, The Making of Modern France, Reading French Texts, and French Oral 1. Year 2 focuses on continued language development through Use of French 2 and French Oral 2, alongside optional modules spanning literature, film history, and historical periods such as The Renaissance Period, The Medieval Period, and Enlightenment and the Revolution: the 18th Century. Year 3 consists of SELCS Year Abroad Term 1 and SELCS Year Abroad Term 2. The final year comprises core language modules including Use of French 3, French Oral 3, and Advanced Translation, alongside Comics in French and a range of specialized optional choices like French Existentialism: Sartre, Coffee, and Cigarettes, Gender, Race and Sexuality, and Topics in Modern French History: À la guerre comme à la guerre: France and the First World War.
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 (French required at grade A.) IB: 34 points (A total of 16 points in three higher level subjects including French grade 6, with no higher level score below 5.)
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Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 92%: 24 offers from 26 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 28 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: 81%
- Assessment and feedback: 74%
- Academic support: 92%
- Organisation and management: 59%
- Learning resources: 87%
- Student voice: 58%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 35 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 90%
- Left higher education: 10%
What graduates do next
Based on about 10 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 60%
- Working and studying: 5%
- Further study: 20%
- Unemployed: 5%
Most common jobs
- Managers, directors and senior officials: 25%
- Business, Research and Administrative Professionals: 15%
- Administrative occupations: 10%
- Media Professionals: 10%
- Artistic, literary and media occupations: 10%
- Find their work meaningful: 75%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 75%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 50%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 215 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 1%
- North West: 4%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 3%
- East Midlands: 1%
- West Midlands: 2%
- East of England: 7%
- London: 67%
- South East: 8%
- South West: 4%
- Wales: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 45 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 85%
- Baccalaureate: 5%
- A degree: 5%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Silver for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- Understanding History: Facts, Interpretations, Stories
- Introduction to the Study of Language and Linguistics
- Theories and Methods in Film and Media Studies
- Mediatising Dissent
- Use of French 1
- The Making of Modern France
- Reading French Texts
- French Oral 1
- Use of French 2
- French Oral 2
- An Introduction to Literary Theory
- The Medieval Period
- The Renaissance Period
- Enlightenment and the Revolution: the 18th Century
- Romanticism and Modernity: the 19th Century
- Exploration of Self and Form: The Contemporary Period
- Citizenship and Nationhood in France Today
- French Film History
- Contesting Frenchness: Francophone Literatures
- A Century of Conflict and Crisis: France, 1870-1970
- SELCS Year Abroad Term 1
- SELCS Year Abroad Term 2
- Advanced Translation
- French Oral 3
- Comics in French
- Use of French 3
- Dominating Texts: Literary Power Relations in 20th Century Writing
- Legendary Histories
- Cultures of AIDS in France: History, Policy and Representation
- Gender, Race and Sexuality
- Fiction and the Archives: Rewriting Criminal Stories in Early Modern France
- Discourses of Equality
- Topics in Modern French History: À la guerre comme à la guerre: France and the First World War
- French Existentialism: Sartre, Coffee, and Cigarettes
- Francospheres and Asia: Literary and Artistic Relations
- Encountering Difference in Modern French Theatre
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA French at University College London earn?
The median salary is £30,000 after 15 months, £31,000 after 3 years, £42,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £32,500 and £57,000. The £42,500 median after five years is £8,500 more than the UK median for French studies.
What do graduates of BA French at University College London do next?
85% 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 College London?
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 College London?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 34 points in the IB. The average entrant had 161 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA French at University College London?
92% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 24 offers from 26 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does BA French at University College London include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has a compulsory year abroad.
How many students continue on BA French at University College London?
90% of students continued into their second year, and 10% left higher education.