French

The course you study in year 1 depends on how much French you have studied before. If you have an SQA Higher or A-level in French (grade A or B), you will take the non-beginners' language course alongside our French culture course. This will build on your knowledge of French and reinforce your awareness of linguistic structures, both spoken and written. On the cultural side, you will study a broad range of topics such as literature, history and film that will introduce you to key aspects of French culture.

If you are a beginner or near-beginner, provided that you have some previous successful language learning experience, you can take the Level-1 beginners' course, which will provide an intensive foundation in reading, writing and speaking French.

In your second year, you will extend your linguistic skills in our language and culture courses using authentic French texts and media sources. You will study key themes in the society and culture of the French-speaking world.

Students progressing from the first-year beginners' course normally study French culture 1 alongside French 2 courses.

You will also study other subjects in years 1 and 2: see Degrees in Arts, Life Sciences, Science and Social Sciences.

If you progress to Honours it is essential that you spend your third year abroad.

Our students usually choose either to work as a language assistant in a school or to enrol at a university. The University has a number of exchange programmes and will provide support and advice to help you plan your year abroad.

When you return from your year abroad, along with core language study, you will be able to choose from a wide range of options including literature, cinema, history and other aspects of the language and cultures of the French-speaking world.