French and Francophone Studies

Information for applicants and offer holders for our degree programmes in French and Francophone Studies. Bienvenue! 

I’m delighted that you are interested in studying with us and very much hope that you will join our community.  

French has been taught here since 1894, making it one of the first European languages to be offered at Edinburgh. Today, the University ranks 3rd in the UK for Modern Languages in the QS World Rankings by Subject 2025, with French and Francophone Studies being one of the largest subject areas in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures.  

You can take French as a single honours degree or jointly with one of 20 other humanities subjects, including 8 other languages.  

We hope that the information we’ve provided will help you choose the right university and degree for you.  

Professor Alex Thomson, Head of School  

Degree programmes and structures

Need a refresher on the details of the degree programme you've applied for? Our Degree Finder provides more information about your programme, such as:

  • what you will study
  • where you will study
  • career opportunities
  • fees, costs and funding 

French and Francophone Studies degree programmes: 2025 entry

 

A Degree Programme Table (DPT) provides comprehensive information about the structure of a degree programme, including both compulsory and optional courses. The detailed programme content for 2025/26 is available below. 

 

French and Francophone Studies degree structures 2025/26

 

Why study French and Francophone Studies at Edinburgh?

French is a major world language, spoken in many parts of Europe, Africa and the Americas. At Edinburgh, you will study French in the context of the diverse countries, cultures and societies in which it is spoken. 

We will introduce you to the extraordinary richness and variety of the Francophone world through the study of literature, cinema, political history, social movements and philosophical ideas. Our courses cover material from the Middle Ages to the 21st century, and include specialist options in key disciplines such as decolonial, gender and film studies. 

You will get the opportunity to develop advanced competency in French, gaining the skills to use the language daily in social and professional settings. We are also the only university in Scotland to offer a full academic year abroad within the four-year honours programme, regardless of whether you spend the year studying or working.  

Studying a language in context demonstrates that you are a good communicator and someone who is open to other cultures and new ideas; what employers value as Intercultural Competence. Our French graduates have gone on to careers in the private, public, not-for-profit, and for-benefit sectors around the world.  

Undergraduate degrees in French and Francophone Studies

 On all of our undergraduate degree programmes, you will:  

  • Study over four years, giving you choice, flexibility and the chance to develop skills in all aspects of the humanities. 
  • Study abroad in Year 3. You will spend time in a French-speaking country and gain a lived experience of Francophone culture. If you’re taking French with another language, you’ll study elsewhere too. 
  • Learn at the heart of Scotland's capital city. When you are on campus, you’ll spend most of your time in the University of Edinburgh's Central Area; in class, in the library, or in one of our many social and support spaces. There’s plenty to see and do throughout the year in Edinburgh, including events at the annual French Film Festival and nearby Institut Français d'Ecosse. 
  • Get a chance to join societies related to what you’re studying. For example, our French theatre society, Les Escogriffes, typically stages a play each year, with opportunities to direct, act, produce and promote. We also have a creative writing magazine for European languages, offering you a platform to write, edit and publish in French. 
  • Delve into fantastic libraries and collections; the National Library of Scotland has one of the best French collections in the UK.  

Have you applied for a joint honours degree? Don't forget to look at the information for each of your subjects. 

Not sure which School looks after the other subject of your degree? Check our School list for information on the subjects they manage. 

College of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences: Schools and subjects 


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