MA French and History

Year 1

If you have a limited knowledge of French, you will take French 1A in Year 1. This is an intensive language course that also introduces you to French culture. If you have studied French beyond Standard Grade or GCSE, you will take French 1B, which develops your linguistic skills and acquaints you with aspects of modern French literature, culture and civilisation.

To do this, you will study texts (novels, theatre, poetry) and films which focus on social and political events from the Second World War to the end of the 20th century: resistance and collaboration, colonisation and decolonisation, the Fifth Republic, and May 1968.

Year 2

You will take French 2, which builds on your knowledge of the French language and French literature and culture from Year 1. You will be looking at the history of France through its literature from the 16th to the 19th century, including authors such as Molière, Flaubert, Baudelaire and many others.

There are also option courses on European cinema, European theatre, medieval literature and culture, and French politics.

Year 3

You will spend all of Year 3 (or part of it if you are also taking another language) studying or working in a French-speaking country.

Year 4

You will develop advanced language skills in spoken and written French and choose from a wide range of specialist courses taught by world-leading experts, on topics as diverse as contemporary literature, 17th-century Theatre, the French New Wave, French verse, film theory, French political thought, and conceptions of translation. A choice of up to 20 of these options is offered each year.

Programme structure

Find out more about the compulsory and optional courses in this degree programme.

To give you an idea of what you will study on this programme, we publish the latest available information. However, please note this may not be for your year of entry, but for a different academic year.

Programme structure (2018/19)

Our facilities

Teaching takes place in and around the School of Literatures, Languages & Cultures, in the University's Central Area. We are based in a state-of-the-art building, at 50 George Square, which houses computer microlabs, a language resource centre, and social facilities as well as tutors' offices and lecture theatres.

Study abroad

During Year 3, you will spend a minimum of 30 weeks on approved work or study placement in the country/countries relevant to the language/s studied.

Guaranteed study abroad funding for students required to complete a year abroad

How will I learn?

Courses are taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials and computer-assisted language learning. In Year 4 all your courses will be taught exclusively in French.

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed by a combination of exams and coursework.

Programme details

Find out more about this programme's aims, what you will learn, how you will be assessed and what skills and knowledge you will develop.

To give you an idea of what to expect from this programme, we publish the latest available information. However, please note this may not be for your year of entry, but for a different academic year.

Programme details (2018/19)

The employment statistics for French graduates from the University of Edinburgh are impressive. Naturally, our graduates are well placed to enter employment where linguistic skills are of special value, for instance education, translating and interpreting, and international business.

Within the EU, there is a high demand for graduates with a knowledge of the language and culture of one or more countries. Our graduates can be found in every kind of career, especially those that place a premium on thinking that is both disciplined and imaginative, from physical theatre to the top of the Civil Service.

Typical offer range

The typical offer is likely to be:

• SQA Highers: AAAA - ABBB.
• A Levels: AAB - ABB.
• IB: 40 points (grades 766 at HL) - 34 points (grades 655 at HL).

Access threshold

The access threshold for a contextual offer is:

• SQA Highers: ABBB.
• A Levels: ABB.
• IB: 34 points (grades 655 at HL).

Find out more about access thresholds and contextual offers

Detailed requirements for all applicants

To be considered for an offer of a place all applicants must meet the following requirements:

• SQA Highers: ABBB by end of S5 or ABBBB/AABB from S4-S6, including a language other than English, with a minimum of BBB achieved in one year of S4-S6. National 5: French at Grade B, English at Grade C and Mathematics or an approved science at Grade C.
• A Levels: ABB including a language other than English. GCSEs: French at Grade B or 6, English at Grade C or 4 and Mathematics or an approved science at Grade C or 4.
• IB: Award of Diploma with 34 points overall and grades 655 in HL subjects including a language other than English. SL: French at 5, English at 5 and Mathematics or an approved science at 4.

Additional requirements

Language requirement

Please note that for degrees that have a subject requirement of a language other than English, students may not use their own native language to meet this requirement. In these instances, English or an alternative language other than native will be acceptable.

Find out more about entry requirements

International applicants

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.

Entry requirements by country

Mature applicants

We welcome applications from mature students and accept a range of qualifications.

Mature applicant qualifications

You must provide evidence that your written and spoken English is at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

If English is not your first language, you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your spoken and written English:

• IELTS Academic module overall 6.5 with 5.5 in each component
• TOEFL-iBT 92 or above with 20 in each section
• Cambridge English: Advanced or Proficiency overall 176 with 162 in each component
• Pearson Test of English (Academic): Total 61 with at least 51 in each "Communicative Skills" section
• Trinity ISE: ISE II with a distinction in all four components

About English language requirements

SQA, GCSE and IB

For SQA, GCSE and IB students, unless a higher level is specified in the stated entry requirements, a pass is required in English at the following grades or higher:

• SQA National 5 Grade C
• SQA Standard Grade 3
• SQA Intermediate 1 Grade A
• SQA Intermediate 2 Grade C
• GCSE Grade C or 4
• Level 2 Certificate Grade C
• IB Standard Level Grade 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry)

This information is part of a government initiative to enhance the material that higher education institutions provide about their degree programmes.

It is one of many sources of information which will enable you to make an informed decision on what and where to study.

Please note that some programmes do not have Unistats data available.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees for MA French and History

Additional costs

For your compulsory residence abroad in Year 3, we give you a wide range of options. Your costs will depend on where you decide to go, and how you spend your time. A placement with an Erasmus work grant, for example, could make this the cheapest year of your programme.

Universities outside the EU may charge you a fee for courses but we will reimburse you for this provided the course has been approved. You will be informed about the cost implications as you plan your year abroad, during Year 2.

Funding

For more information on how much it will cost to study with us and the financial support available see our fees and funding information.

Fees and funding

• College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences Undergraduate Admissions Office
• Email: CAHSS.UGAdmissions@ed.ac.uk
• Phone: +44 (0)131 650 3565
• Web: French website
• International enquiries