French
Browse our French modules below and find the right level for you.
Why French?
Did you know that French is spoken across five continents and that it’s the fifth most used language on the internet?
French is the official language in 29 countries. More and more people will speak French due to population growth in Africa. It is predicted that by 2050 about 700 million people will be speakers of French.
This means that learning French will open lots of doors for you, professionally, of course, but also for travelling and discovering new cultures.
What’s more, French is one of the six official languages of the United Nations, making it a very important language for diplomacy and foreign affairs.
Some fascinating facts about French...
As a speaker of English, you already know quite a few French words and probably use them too.
In fact up to 30% of English words come from French. That will make it a lot easier to remember new words.
That’s not all. Some very big stars speak French. For example, Bradley Cooper is fluent in French (you can check it out here) and tennis legend Serena Williams too (check out her skills here), but also Emma Watson, Jodie Foster and Vaani Kapoor.
And some very famous shows and stories, like Les Misérables or Beauty and the Beast, are adaptations of books in French.
Learning French with Us
We are a dedicated team of French language teachers with years of experience teaching students at all levels from absolute beginners to near native proficiency.
You will develop all four main skills (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening) and also in the more advanced levels Translating. But did you know that learning a language also helps you develop great transferable skills that are much sought after in the job market? For example, critical thinking, problem solving, team work, presentation skills, time management and many more!
Listen to what our former student, Ming, says about learning French with us:
We have a lively programme of activities outside the classroom too, with French Grammar Games and French Conversation Cafés meeting regularly. We also organise theatre trips and film showings. And if you fancy trying your hand at translating some well-known texts (the Hunger Games, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and the Twilight novels have all featured in the past), you can join the Translation Café.
We'd love to welcome you into one of our classes soon.
Meet the Team
- Dr Karine Zbinden - Co-ordinator for French
- Sylvie Cassou - Teaching Assistant
- Dr Harsh Trivedi - Teaching Assistant
- Aurore Sansinena - Teaching Assistant
- Manuella Blood - Teaching Assistant
- Estelle Keribin - Teaching Assistant
- Mathilde Perney - Teaching Assistant
- Aude Paul - Teaching Assistant
Ready to find out more about our courses?
Explore the different paths to study French below…
Languages for All
These general language modules are open to all students (for credits or not), members of staff, and members of the public.
Available on a semester basis (11-12 weeks), they aim to develop language competence and cultural knowledge for professional and recreational purposes through small group weekly classes and guided independent learning.
Degrees with French in the School of Languages and Cultures
These modules are for undergraduate students undertaking a languages degree with the School of Languages and Cultures.
They are intended to build your proficiency in French over the years up to a near-native speaker level, taking into account any previous experience of the language you may have, whilst supporting your study of French culture in other modules.
Please visit the French Studies website for information on available degrees and culture-related modules.
- Year 1
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Ab initio / Post-GCSE pathway:
- Autumn and Spring (academic year): MLT940 French Beginner Intensive
Post-A-Level pathway:
- Autumn: MLT260 French Advanced 1
- Spring: MLT261 French Advanced 2
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- Year 2
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Ab initio / Post-GCSE pathway:
Post-A-Level pathways:
- Autumn: MLT310 French Higher Advanced 1
- Spring: MLT311 French Higher Advanced 2
- Year 4
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Ab initio / Post-GCSE pathway without a Year Abroad:
- Autumn: MLT310 French Higher Advanced 1
- Spring: MLT311 French Higher Advanced 2
Ab initio / Post-GCSE pathway with a Year Abroad:
- Autumn: MLT350 French Proficient 1
- Spring: MLT351 French Proficient 2
Post-A-Level pathways:
- Autumn: MLT931 French Higher Proficient 1
- Spring: MLT932 French Higher Proficient 2
STEM Degrees with French
These modules are for STEM students undertaking a degree with French or with Study Abroad.
In addition to general language modules, they include specialised modules preparing for, or accompanying the Year Abroad, and enabling you to become proficient users of French in your own STEM subject.
- Year 1
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Modules in brackets come in addition to the other modules for students taking 30 to 40 credits of language per year. The language Co-ordinator will advise you on which one(s) to take depending on your degree.
- Post-GCSE Pathway:
- Post-AS-Level Pathway:
- Post-A-Level Pathway:
- Year 2
-
Modules in brackets come in addition to the other modules for students taking 30 to 40 credits of language per year. The language Co-ordinator will advise you on which one(s) to take depending on your degree.
- Post-GCSE/AS-Level Pathway:
- Post-A-Level Pathway:
- Year 3 (abroad)
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These modules may be optional depending on your degree
- Autumn: MLT330: French Year Abroad 1
- Spring: MLT331: French Year Abroad 2
- Year 4
-
Modules in brackets come in addition to the other modules for students taking 30 to 40 credits of language per year. The language Co-ordinator will advise you on which one(s) to take depending on your degree.
- Post-GCSE/AS-Level Pathway: Depending on your level of attainment after the Year Abroad, you may take the modules on the post-A-Level pathway instead.
- Post-A-Level Pathway:
International scholarships
We offer a generous package of financial support for international students, including undergraduate and postgraduate taught scholarships worth £10,000 towards the annual tuition fee.
Applications are open for existing offer holders for programmes starting in autumn 2025.