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French

Study French as part of your Combined Honours degree. Explore French culture and a combination of practical language study and communication skills.

About the programme

Study French to a high level of expertise in courses specially designed to prepare you for your year abroad and future employment.

French is taught using a communicative approach and you'll also get a thorough, interactive grammar course in Stage 1 and 2. There's opportunity to learn about liaison interpreting in Stage 3.

Expect to spend one third of your time on French language study.

All Combined Honours students studying a language, go abroad for an intercalating year between Stages 2 and 3. You'll be based in a country where the language is spoken, to develop your language knowledge and expertise.

When you return in Stage 3 you'll continue to study French and optional non-language modules. You can also choose to write a dissertation on an approved topic.

Our optional modules cover aspects of language, culture and society in modern and contemporary France. Options include subjects such as:

  • film
  • history and society
  • linguistics and language acquisition
  • modern literature and Francophone writing

There are also themed courses, such as the History and Culture of Paris or Occupation and Resistance 1940-45.

French is offered by the School of Modern Languages. You may also be interested in joining our Modern Languages Society

Pre-requisites

You can study French for your Combined Honours degree from scratch, post-GCSE or post-A level (or equivalent) standards.

maximum of two language subjects can be taken together, but only one of these can be at beginner's level.

It's not possible to study two language subjects on their own without a third non-language subject.

Modules

Find out about our typical modules. Modules are subject to change and could differ on an annual basis.

Stage 1

There are two pathways for you to follow: Level A is for beginners and Level B is for those with an A-Level qualification.

Students study either 40 or 60 credits from the list below in Stage 1.

Select the module code for specific module information including the module summary and aims, knowledge and skills you'll gain, and the module leader.

Level A

Compulsory modules

Module CodeModule Title Credit Value Semester
FRE1065 Level A (HE Entry Level) French I 20 1
FRE1066 Level A (HE Entry Level) French II (Pre-requisite FRE1065) 20 2

Optional modules

Module CodeModule Title Credit Value Semester
SML1021 Introduction to International Film 20 1&2
SML1022 Introduction to Cultural Studies 20 1&2

Level B

Compulsory module

Module CodeModule Title Credit Value Semester
FRE1071 Level B (HE Intermediate) French 20 1&2

Optional modules

Module CodeModule Title Credit Value Semester
FRE1006 France and the Francophone World 20 1&2
SML1018 Introduction to Literature 20 1&2
SML1019 Introduction to Linguistics 20 1&2
SML1021 Introduction to International Film 20 1&2
SML1022 Introduction to Cultural Studies 20 1&2
Stage 2

Students study either 40, 60 or 80 credits from the list below in Stage 2.

Select the module code for specific module information including the module summary and aims, knowledge and skills you'll gain, and the module leader.

You follow the pathway for either Level B or Level C.

Level B

Compulsory module

Module Code

Module Title 

Credit Value Semester
FRE1070 Level B (HE Intermediate) French (Ex-Level A) (Pre-requisite FRE1065 or FRE1066) 20 1&2

Optional modules

Module CodeModule Title Credit Value Semester
FRE1006 France and the Francophone World 20 1&2
SML1018 Introduction to Literature 20 1&2
SML1019 Introduction to Linguistics 20 1&2
SML1021 Introduction to International Film 20 1&2
SML1022 Introduction to Cultural Studies 20 1&2

Level C

Compulsory module

Module CodeModule Title Credit Value Semester
FRE2061 Level C (HE Advanced) French (Pre-requisite FRE1071) 20 1&2

Optional modules

Module CodeModule Title Credit Value Semester 
FRE2005 Classic French Cinema  20 1&2
FRE2009 Paris: Aspects of History & Culture 20 1&2
FRE2044 Linguistic Variation in France 20 2
FRE2045 The French Caribbean - Literature, Language and Society 20 1
SML2014 Italian Language and Culture l (Capped at 60)  20 1&2
SML2016 Reading in Translation 20 2
Intercalating Year

Students taking a language as a subject must spend an entire academic year abroad in a country where their chosen language is spoken between Stages 2 and 3. This is your Intercalating Stage.

While abroad you shall take the following modules: SML3004 Year Abroad Tutor Posts (100 credits) and either SML3006 Study Abroad (20 credits) or SML3007/SML3008 Year Abroad Placement (20 credits).

Find further information about your Intercalating Year Abroad.

Stage 3

You follow either Level C or Level D.

Students study either 40, 60 or 80 credits from the list below in Stage 3.

Level C

Compulsory module

Module CodeModule Title Credit Value Semester
FRE2061 Level C (HE Advanced) French (Pre-requisite FRE1071) 20 1&2

Optional modules

Module Code Module Title Credit Value Semester 
FRE2005 Classic French Cinema  20 1&2
FRE2009 Paris: Aspects of History & Culture 20 1&2
FRE2044 Linguistic Variation in France 20 2
FRE2045 The French Caribbean - Literature, Language and Society 20 1
SML2016 Reading in Translation 20 2

Level D

Compulsory modules

All students must choose either FRE4086 Language for Professional & Academic Purposes or FRE4087 Translation & Interpreting. Students must not select more than 20 credits for a single language (Pre-requisite FRE2061):

Module CodeModule Title Credit Value Semester
FRE4086 Level D (HE Further Advanced): French for Professional an Academic Purposes (FHEQ Level 6) 20 1&2
FRE4087 Level D (HE Further Advanced): French Translation & Interpreting (FHEQ Level 6) 20 1&2

Optional modules

Module Code Module Title Credit Value Semester 
FRE4003 Occupation and Resistance: Literary and Cinematic Responses to the Second World War in France 20 1&2
FRE4013 Images d'Algerie 20 2
FRE4014 Historical Perspectives on the French Language  20 1
FRE4015 From Experimental to Explicit: Translating Women's Writing in French 20 2
FRE4022 Social Justice in French and Francophone Culture 20 1&2
SML4003 Advocating and Teaching Languages in Schools (Capped at 15) (Pre-requisite: Students must have achieved a minimum of 60% in the language in Level C at Stage 2) 20 1&2
SML4004 Italian Language and Culture ll (Pre-requisite SML2014) (Capped at 40) 20  1&2
SML4099 Dissertation 20 1&2

Get in touch

If you have any questions about choosing this subject as part of your Combined Honours degree, contact us and we'll be more than happy to help. 

Subject adviser

Dr Patricia Oliart - School of Modern Languages

Professor Guy Austin - School of Modern Languages

Our address

Combined Honours Centre
9th Level, Henry Daysh Building
Newcastle University
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 7RU

Tel: +44 (0)191 208 7479

Modules

Find out about our typical modules. Modules are subject to change and could differ on an annual basis.