French Studies and History

Lancaster’s joint French Studies and History degree is taught by the Department of Languages and Cultures in conjunction with the Department of History. This degree includes an international placement in year 3.

Your French Studies programme gives you the opportunity to acquire high-level language skills while gaining a thorough understanding of the country’s historical, cultural, social and political background in a global context. In History, you will develop your critical abilities studying modules in British, European and American world history.

Your first year comprises an exploration of the French language and its cultural context as well as the core History module. Alongside this, you can choose a History module or a minor subject from another department.

Building on your language skills in Year 2, you will have the opportunity to study the culture, politics and history of the French-speaking world in more depth, as well as selecting modules which are international in scope and promote a comparative understanding of Europe and beyond. You will combine these with the core module and select from options.

Spending your third year abroad in a French-speaking country gives you the opportunity to develop your language proficiency while deepening your intercultural sensitivity. You can study at a partner university or conduct a work placement.

In your final year, you consolidate your French language skills, and study specialist culture and comparative modules. You will also select History modules.

You can find some examples of optional modules in the Course Structure section below.

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.