French Studies

French studies at degree level is the immersive study of the French language, literature, and culture of France and the wider French-speaking world. It goes beyond language learning to engage with the intellectual and artistic traditions that have made French one of the most influential languages in the history of Western thought and culture, from the literature of Moliere and Flaubert to the philosophy of Descartes and Sartre, and from French cinema to the contemporary cultural and political debates of a country at the centre of European life.

The University of London Institute in Paris offers a uniquely situated version of this degree: a campus overlooking the Eiffel Tower in one of the world's great student cities, ranked among the top destinations globally for student experience. Studying French in Paris is itself a form of language learning, because every interaction outside the classroom is an opportunity to develop your proficiency, your confidence, and your understanding of how French is actually used. You will study the language at an advanced level, engage with literature and cultural texts across different periods, and develop the critical and analytical skills that a humanities degree at this level demands.

The international experience that comes with studying in Paris adds a competitive dimension to your graduate profile that is difficult to replicate elsewhere.

Graduates from French studies programmes work in translation and interpreting, international business, diplomacy, the civil service, education, journalism, publishing, the arts, and roles in France or French-speaking contexts. The language proficiency that Paris-based study develops is of a different order to what is achievable in the UK alone, and employers across many sectors value this directly. Postgraduate study in French studies, translation, and European studies is a natural route for those who wish to develop their expertise.