Why study this course?
It is possible for students applying for the MA (Hons) in French to work abroad in a French-speaking country between their second and third year of study. This adds an extra year to the MA (Hons) course, making it five years in total.
Students who spend a year abroad not only gain valuable work experience as teachers and tutors, but also develop their linguistic skills, intercultural competence and self-confidence.
UK students are usually placed in a school through the British Council’s Language Assistantship scheme. Successful applicants go on to teach English at a school, college or university in a French-speaking country. Assistants are paid a salary locally and, after attending a basic induction course in teaching resources and methods, are typically required to teach for 12 hours per week under the supervision of local staff at the educational institution employing them.
You can also organise an alternative work placement with the approval of the French Department.
The year abroad experience is competitive and is not guaranteed. Places are judged on merit during the second year of study, and therefore this does not take into account the initial UCAS application. If students are unsuccessful with their year abroad application, they will be moved to the four-year French MA single Honours degree programme.
To find out more information, or to discuss the possibility of an integrated year abroad, please contact the Department of French.
Course details
The MA (Hons) in French with an integrated year abroad follows the same course structure as the French MA (Hons) degree, with the addition of a year abroad between second and third years of study.
During their integrated year abroad, students are required to take the following compulsory module:
- French Integrated Year Abroad: language learning and cultural familiarisation through a work placement in a French-speaking country. Placements will be as language assistants in schools or on other assignments approved by the department.
More information about the French modules currently on offer can be found in the module catalogue.
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Entry requirements
The entry requirements for French with a year abroad are the same as for the French MA (Hons) degree.
To be eligible for French with a year abroad, students must gain Honours entry in all subjects that they intend on taking at Honours level. Students who do not achieve entry to Honours-level in their chosen subjects must withdraw from their selected year abroad destination at that point.
For degrees combining more than one subject, the subject with the higher entry requirements determines the grades you need. You will also need to meet any further subject-specific entry requirements as outlined on their pages.
Joint Honours degrees
You can also take French (WIYA) as part of a joint Honours degree in which you will take core modules of your chosen subjects.
| Course name | UCAS code |
|---|---|
| Ancient History and French (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RV1D |
| Arabic and French (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RTC6 |
| Art History and French (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RVC3 |
| Biblical Studies and French (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RVC6 |
| Chinese Studies and French (With Integrated Year Abroad) | CW06 |
| Classical Studies and French (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RQC8 |
| Classics and French (With Integrated Year Abroad) | QR8C |
| Comparative Literature and French (With Integrated Year Abroad) | QR2C |
| English and French (With Integrated Year Abroad) | QRH1 |
| Film Studies and French (With Integrated Year Abroad) | PR3C |
| French and Geography (With Integrated Year Abroad) | LRR1 |
| French and German (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RRC2 |
| French and Greek (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RQ17 |
| French and Hebrew (With Integrated Year Abroad) | QR91 |
| French and International Relations (With Integrated Year Abroad) | LRF1 |
| French and Italian (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RR31 |
| French and Latin (With Integrated Year Abroad) | QRP1 |
| French and Management (With Integrated Year Abroad) | NRF1 |
| French and Medieval History (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RVCC |
| French and Modern History (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RVCD |
| French and Persian (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RIT6 |
| French and Philosophy (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RVC5 |
| French and Psychology (With Integrated Year Abroad) | CR8C |
| French and Russian (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RRC7 |
| French and Social Anthropology (With Integrated Year Abroad) | LRP1 |
| French and Spanish (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RRC4 |
| French and Theological Studies (With Integrated Year Abroad) | VRP1 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Ancient History and French | RVD1 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Arabic and French | RT16 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Art History and French | RV13 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Biblical Studies and French | RV16 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Chinese Studies and French | CH06 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Classical Studies and French | RQ18 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Classics and French | QR81 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Comparative Literature and French | QR21 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) English and French | QR31 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Film Studies and French | PR31 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) French and Geography | LR71 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) French and German | RR12 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) French and Greek | QR71 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) French and Hebrew | QR41 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) French and International Relations | LR21 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) French and Italian | RR13 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) French and Latin | QR61 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) French and Management | NR21 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) French and Medieval History | RVC1 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) French and Modern History | RV11 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) French and Persian | R2T7 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) French and Philosophy | RV15 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) French and Psychology | CR81 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) French and Russian | RR17 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) French and Social Anthropology | LR61 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) French and Spanish | RR14 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) French and Theological Studies | VR61 |
It is also possible to take French as part of a Modern Languages triple Honours degree with two modern languages and one additional subject. Find out more about the triple subject combinations available.
"With" degrees
You can take French (WIYA) as part of a "with" Honours degree in which the majority of the course deals with the first name subject. St Andrews offers the following "with" degrees in French (WIYA):
- Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology with French - UCAS code CCR1
- Bachelor of Science (Honours) Chemistry with French - UCAS code F1R1
- Biology with French (With Integrated Year Abroad) - UCAS code C1R1
- Chemistry with French (With External Placement) - UCAS code F1RA
- Chemistry with French (With Integrated Year Abroad) - UCAS code F1RC
- Master in Chemistry (Honours) Chemistry with French - UCAS code F1RD
"With" degrees taken with French are also available 'With Integrated Year Abroad'.
Careers
Modern languages graduates have an extremely good record of employment after graduating, not only in all sectors that require advanced language skills but also in professional environments that demand good communication and analytical skills.
Employers value language graduates because they demonstrate excellent communication, interpersonal and intercultural skills.
Many graduates go on to:
- specialise in translation and interpreting services, in language teaching or other sector-specific careers
- join international institutions and enterprises, working in international development departments, human resources, administration, media and communication jobs
- start a career in the banking and financial sector
- join the civil service, particularly in positions within the Foreign Office
- continue to study at postgraduate level
The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students to build their employability skills.
What to do next
Online information events
Join us for one of our information events where you can find out about different levels of study and specific courses we run. There are also sessions available for parents and college counsellors.
Undergraduate visiting days
We encourage all students who are thinking of applying to the University to attend one of our online or in-person visiting days.
Contact us
- Phone
- +44 (0)1334 46 3643
- frenchhod@st-andrews.ac.uk
- Address
- Department of French
Buchanan Building
Union Street
St Andrews
KY16 9PH
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