French and Management Studies BA (Hons)

With BA French and Management Studies you can gain a strong grounding in the main areas of business and develop your written and spoken French to a near-native level.Join our friendly and dynamic Department of Languages and Cultures, which offers the opportunity to study in a lively, multilingual community with staff and students from all over the world. We offer a flexible and supportive approach to learning which allows you to tailor your degree to your interests, including the opportunity to learn other languages.Through this course you will become confident and highly skilled in written and spoken French. You will master the fundamental elements of the language, to the point where you will graduate with a near-native command of it. We’re proud of our small language classes, led by native speakers. Direct access to expert staff for help and feedback ensures you develop your language skills to the best of your ability.You will be able to pursue your interests through a wide range of optional modules in French and francophone culture, history, literature, theatre, politics and film. You will have the opportunity to study with staff who are internationally recognised experts in French-speaking literature; history and culture, including the literature of the French Caribbean; French children’s books and publishing; twentieth century French history; Medieval literature, history and art, as well as translation and adaptation studies. One particular module focuses on French for management and business – an excellent way to prepare yourself for a future career in this area.The management component of the course is provided by Henley Business School. Henley is among an elite group of business schools that holds triple-accredited status from the UK, European and US accrediting bodies (AMBA, EQUIS and AACSB). Modules look closely at the business environment, covering the cultural context, markets and the legal, financial and ethical constraints under which firms operate.You will spend up to a year in a French-speaking country, studying at a university, working on a placement, or as a British Council language assistant in a school. This enables you to immerse yourself in the culture and develop your language to a high level. The core language module in the second year will prepare you for your time abroad, equipping you with the skills and knowledge required to work and live in a different culture.There is also the option to study for a degree in modern languages, inclusive of a year abroad, while at the same time training to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), a qualification that will enable you to teach in secondary schools in England and Wales after your degree.By the time you graduate, you will be able to write and speak fluently in French – a big advantage given the current shortage of well-qualified linguists in the UK. The experience of studying or working abroad also distinguishes you from non-language graduates, providing evidence of self-reliance, adaptability and enterprise. The course also provides you with numerous transferable skills in research, analysis, presenting and group working, which will prove useful in a wide range of careers.Our graduates have an excellent record of gaining employment or progressing to further study. Graduates have gone on to careers ranging from translating, teaching and research (doctorates at Oxford and Queen Mary, University of London) to financial services (HSBC, Zurich Insurance), telecommunications (Vodafone), marketing, the fashion industry (Chanel), the international art business (Christie’s) regional development (the Design Wales Project).