French and Portuguese

French and Portuguese is a combination that gives you access to two of the most geographically and culturally expansive language communities in the world. French is spoken across five continents, from Europe and North Africa to sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean, and beyond, connecting you to a cultural tradition of extraordinary breadth and global reach. Portuguese, the language of Portugal, Brazil, and much of Lusophone Africa, is one of the world's most widely spoken languages and the gateway to some of the most dynamic economies and cultures in the global south.

Together, they open an unusually wide view of human cultural and social life.

At Queen's University Belfast, this four-year full-time degree places linguistic proficiency and intercultural awareness at the heart of everything. You will engage critically with contemporary issues, historical periods, and geographical regions across the Francophone and Lusophone worlds, including France and Portugal, Brazil, French and Portuguese-speaking Africa, and the Francophone Caribbean. Art, cinema, linguistics, and literature are all drawn on to develop your understanding of how language and identity intersect.

The degree includes an extended residency of around eight months in a Francophone or Lusophone country, which is fundamental to developing the authentic fluency and cultural confidence that serious bilingual work requires. The typical entry tariff is 152 UCAS points.

Graduates of French and Portuguese degree programmes are well placed for careers in translation and interpreting, international business and trade, diplomacy, journalism, cultural organisations, development work, education, and any field where genuine multilingual ability gives you a professional edge. The breadth of the Francophone and Lusophone worlds means your language skills are relevant across a remarkably wide range of geographic and professional contexts. Many graduates also pursue postgraduate study in French studies, Lusophone studies, translation, linguistics, or international relations.