French

French is not just the official language of France: it is spoken on every continent, is one of the working languages of major international organisations including the United Nations and the European Union, and carries a literary and intellectual tradition that has shaped Western thought, philosophy, and culture in ways that extend far beyond its geographical origins. From Descartes and Voltaire through Proust and Sartre to Camus and contemporary novelists, French literature has been central to European intellectual life. Understanding it in the original language, and engaging with the breadth of Francophone culture from West Africa to Quebec to the Caribbean, gives you access to a living tradition of extraordinary richness.

University College London's four-year full-time French programme is taught within one of the UK's leading modern languages departments. You will develop your proficiency in French to an advanced level, covering spoken language, reading, writing, translation, and the linguistic structures that underpin them all, while engaging with French and Francophone literature, history, cinema, and society across different periods and geographies. UCL's research culture means you will be taught by specialists who are active scholars in their fields, and the programme takes both the linguistic and the cultural dimensions of French studies seriously.

London provides an exceptional environment for language learning and cultural engagement, with French cultural institutions and communities present throughout the city.

A typical entry tariff of 168 points reflects the competitive admissions context and the expectation of strong prior French proficiency.

Graduates with French from UCL pursue careers in translation and interpreting, diplomacy and the foreign service, international organisations, journalism, publishing, law with European dimensions, business development in Francophone markets, cultural organisations, and academia. Postgraduate study in French studies, translation, or European affairs is also a common route. French at degree level combined with UCL's profile opens doors that are difficult to access otherwise.