English Language and French Studies BA (Hons)

This four-year combined degree is provided by our renowned Department of Languages and Cultures and the highly-ranked Department of Linguistics and English Language. A year abroad gives you the unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the language and culture. You don’t need to have studied French before as we offer an Intensive course for beginners.

In French Studies we aim to help you become truly fluent. You’ll explore France’s history, culture, politics and social background. You’ll also learn how the English language functions and study traditional linguistic areas such as lexis, grammar and phonetics. In the following year you’ll study core modules such as English Phonetics and Shaping Contemporary France, and develop your French language skills. You’ll also be able to choose from options ranging from Society on Screen to Discourse Analysis. Studying English Language, in tandem with French Studies, will give you greater awareness of language use within context, equipping you with the skills to identify how language structure interacts with meaning.

Your third year living abroad will deepen your intercultural sensitivity and your command of the language. You can study at a partner institution or carry out a work placement and practice your language skills in a real-world context. Staff members within the department will work with you to secure accommodation, ensuring that you are fully equipped before embarking on your year in France.

On your return to Lancaster, your fourth year allows you to develop your French to Common European Framework of Reference for Languages C1/C2 levels, and you can specialise in particular fields of study. Modules could include Psycholinguistics, Translation as a Cultural Practice or Francophone Voices. You could also choose to complete a dissertation on a topic you would like to explore in-depth. Given the range of expertise within our department, our academics will be able to supervise most topics that fit your interests.

The linguistic, communication and interpersonal skills you’ll acquire are highly prized by employers. The English Language element of your degree is of professional relevance in many areas, from education to business management, advertising to accountancy. The British Council, Civil and Diplomatic services and other international agencies offer many interesting career paths for language graduates.

Careers

Employers increasingly recognise the invaluable linguistic, communication and interpersonal skills acquired by graduates with language degrees and your English Language degree is of professional relevance in many areas, from education and speech therapy to the creative arts, social work and counselling.

Our graduates have found employment in journalism, library work, advertising, business, management, EU sales and marketing, computing and accountancy. Many of our graduates become teachers of foreign languages in this country or teach English overseas. The Civil Service, Diplomatic Service, British Council and other international agencies also offer interesting career opportunities for graduates with good language skills.

Some of our graduates continue their studies to a higher level, at Lancaster and elsewhere. A postgraduate degree can open up opportunities in higher education, while others take specific professional qualifications, such as interpreting.