French and Polish

French and Polish is an intellectually distinctive language combination, bringing together the most widely studied second language in the UK with one of the central European languages, spoken by around 50 million people in Poland and significant diaspora communities worldwide. French opens access to a rich literary and philosophical tradition, as well as to a large number of countries across Europe, Africa and beyond where it is spoken. Polish gives you an entry point into one of the largest and most dynamic economies in central Europe, and into a cultural and literary tradition of considerable depth, including a remarkable history of poetry, prose and intellectual life.

At University College London, this four-year full-time programme develops advanced proficiency in both languages through intensive tuition, textual analysis, translation and engagement with the literatures and cultures of the countries where each language is spoken. UCL's position in London provides access to French and Polish cultural and professional networks, as well as to academic expertise in European languages and literatures. You will work on the grammar, written and spoken registers, and cultural contexts of both languages simultaneously, building the linguistic sensitivity and cultural knowledge that genuine bilingualism requires.

Graduates with this combination are well placed in careers in translation and interpreting, European business and trade, diplomacy and international organisations, journalism, publishing, education, cultural institutions and the civil service. The combination of a widely studied language with a central European one is particularly valuable in any professional context that engages with the European Union, Polish business communities or French-speaking markets in Africa. Postgraduate study in French, Polish, translation studies, comparative literature or European studies is a natural next step for those who wish to develop specialist expertise.