Department of French

Ranked Third in The Complete University Guide 2009

RAE (Research Assessment Exercise) 2008: ranked 1st equal in Scotland: 4th in the UK

Features

• Acquisition of high-level skills in spoken and written French.
• Wide range of Honours modules in French language and linguistics, literary studies, intellectual history and modern French culture.
• Transferable skills, such as analysis, synthesis and the ability to give public presentations, are developed throughout the programme.
• Opportunity to undertake a work placement in France, with the additional year recognised through the 'With Integrated Year Abroad' label, or to study at a French university as an integral part of a four-year degree.

The Department of French at the University of St Andrews is truly diverse in its outlook and activities. The Department currently comprises ten academic staff who are among the leaders in their fields and whose work covers a broad spectrum of French studies. They are supported by a team of native speakers and part-time teachers. Significant numbers of international students, including students from France, are attracted to the Department of French within the context of our exchange and postgraduate study programmes, making it a truly international and francophone environment in which to pursue academic study.

French is taught with modern, 'communicative' methods which combine a high level of oral competence with sound grammatical accuracy. The first two years of study have been designed to stand as autonomous units which are of value and interest in themselves. They also allow continuing students to make informed choices when deciding which French modules to take in third and fourth years. Overall the St Andrews French MA course is designed to allow students to develop analytical and communicative proficiency, alongside other crucial transferable skills, in English as well as in French. Learning the French language affords direct access to French culture, history and values, and to all the debates, contradictions and extraordinary creativity that characterise contemporary France.