History with French

History with French brings together two disciplines that mutually enrich each other in significant ways. History is the study of change and continuity in human societies, drawing on evidence to reconstruct, interpret, and argue about the past. French gives access to the culture, literature, and history of one of Europe's most important nations and one of the world's most widely spoken languages.

Combining the two means you can engage with French history and culture in its own language, read primary sources in French, and bring a comparative European perspective to your historical thinking.

At the University of Dundee, this four-year programme develops your historical knowledge and analytical skills alongside increasingly advanced French language proficiency. In history, you will study a range of periods and geographical contexts, learning to engage critically with sources, to evaluate competing interpretations, and to construct well-supported historical arguments in clear, analytical prose. Your French language study will run throughout the programme, developing reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills while also engaging you with French literary and cultural texts.

The combination is particularly valuable for studying the long and complex relationship between Britain and France, but also for approaching European history more broadly from a bilingual perspective.

This full-time programme runs over four years and includes a year abroad, which is a defining feature of the degree. Time spent in a French-speaking country transforms your language ability and deepens your historical and cultural understanding in ways that cannot be replicated in the classroom alone. Graduates go on to careers in education, archival and heritage work, journalism, the civil service, international organisations, diplomacy, publishing, and a wide range of other fields where historical understanding and French language skills are valued in combination.

Postgraduate study in history, European studies, or translation is also a well-established route.