French Studies and Geography

This exciting programme will allow you to gain a detailed understanding of geography, while giving you the skills and knowledge to engage with the discipline in preparation for a placement year overseas in a French speaking country. During the four years, you will be able to draw on expertise from two specialist departments: Languages and Cultures; and Lancaster Environment Centre (LEC).

Situated between the idyllic rural settings of the north and the bustling cities of Liverpool and Manchester, Lancaster’s location enables us to explore some of the most unique areas of geographic interest in the UK. You will gain a wealth of hands-on experience with field trips to places such as the Yorkshire Dales, Cumbrian coast and Lake District, as well as international locations such as Croatia.

You will develop a fundamental understanding of human geography in your first year Geography modules. These modules equip you with a well-rounded introduction to some of the key themes in geography, as well as providing you with the skills used by geographers to analyse problems in both the human and physical aspects of the discipline. In addition, you will take language classes, determined by your current level of ability. These are taught by native speakers and will ensure you have a solid grasp of the written and spoken language.

Specialisation begins in second year, enabling you to choose topics that match your particular interests. Core modules will focus on practical work, equipping you with a range of analytical and research skills. You will also benefit from specialist French modules, which will develop your communication skills further and broaden your social, political and cultural understanding of France.

Additionally, you will also take a specialist module that will prepare you for your year abroad. This module will allow you to select what activities you will take part in, explain the British Council English Language Assistantship scheme, and introduce you to academia and work overseas. You will also gain valuable employability skills as well as advice on welfare and wellbeing.

You will spend your third year working or at one of our partner institutions in a French speaking country, where you will practise and develop your language abilities, while continuing to enhance your geographical skills and knowledge. You can spend this year either studying or working, both of which will provide you with the opportunity to analyse the social, cultural, political and economic issues related to the area, complementing both your French and geography studies.

Returning to Lancaster for your fourth year, you will undertake an extended essay, guided by your academic supervisor, which offers a chance to investigate, in depth, a topic of your choice related to both aspects of your joint degree. While completing the essay, you will use the key research, analytical and academic writing skills you have learnt throughout your degree.

You will also be offered further optional module choices, which could include the study of Global Consumption, Urban Infrastructure in a Changing World, and the Geographies of Health, and there will be fieldwork opportunities in locations such as Croatia. In addition to your subject knowledge, you will gain communication and IT skills and will become familiar with data handling and environmental sampling and analysis. Throughout your degree, considerable weight is placed upon enhancing your employability and such skills are greatly valued by potential employers.

Beginners Languages Studying a language from beginners level is somewhat intense in nature so we only allow students to study one language from beginners level. Please bear this in mind when looking at our first year module options. If you apply to study a degree with a language from beginners level, your optional modules will only include higher level languages and modules in other subject areas.