What level of French do I need to start BA French Language and Culture?

A-Level French at B grade, or equivalent (DELF B2 is the most common international entry standard). A short oral interview confirms level at application. Students just below the standard are sometimes offered a foundation pathway.

Does BA French Language and Culture include a year abroad?

A year abroad is not required for graduation but is encouraged and supported. Students who choose it typically extend the degree by twelve months and study at a partner institution in France, Quebec or a wider francophone destination.

Can I study BA French Language and Culture online?

Yes. The online route mirrors on-campus delivery with live oral classes, recorded literature seminars and supervised written work. Distance learners follow structured deadlines and submit oral assessments via recorded video.

Does BA French Language and Culture cover the francophone world beyond France?

Yes — substantially. The literature, contemporary studies and cultural theory modules range across Quebec, the Maghreb, West Africa and the Caribbean as well as metropolitan France.

Will BA French Language and Culture qualify me to teach French in UK schools?

The degree gives you the subject knowledge required. To teach in UK state schools you also need Qualified Teacher Status, which is gained via a PGCE or School Direct route after the degree. Several graduates each year progress this way.

BA French Language and Culture in London | LSJHML | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The BA French Language and Culture at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a three-year UK honours degree for students who want to graduate with near-native command of French, a serious literary and cultural grounding, and the applied bilingual skills the working market actually pays for. The course draws on the Alliance Française approach to language teaching, Chartered Institute of Linguists professional standards and a literary curriculum that reaches across hexagonal France into Quebec, the Maghreb, West Africa and the wider francophone world.

You step in with French at A-Level standard or equivalent; you step out able to translate complex texts, interpret in semi-formal settings, write professionally in French, and argue a literary or cultural reading at undergraduate degree level.

Key Features

UK honours degree in French language and culture — three years full-time, with online and distance routes.
Advanced language strand targeting C1/C2 CEFR by graduation, with regular assessed oral and written work.
Francophone literature module spanning France, Quebec, the Maghreb, West Africa and the Caribbean.
Applied bilingual practice — translation, professional writing, simulated bilingual settings.
French-medium contemporary studies — politics, society, media of contemporary francophone countries.
Year-long final project in French — translation, dissertation, or applied bilingual portfolio.

What You Will Learn

The BA French Language and Culture is structured around the four pillars of a serious modern languages degree — language command at C1/C2, literary and cultural depth, applied bilingual skills, and the analytical apparatus to read texts and contexts critically.

Advanced French — grammar, register, lexis, formal and informal writing at CEFR C1/C2.
French translation — into and out of English, across literary, journalistic and technical text types.
Francophone literature — from the seventeenth century to contemporary writing across the francophone world.
French linguistics — phonology, dialectology, varieties of spoken French.
Contemporary France and the francophone world — politics, media, social structures, current affairs.
Cultural theory — francophone postcolonial studies, French intellectual traditions.
Applied bilingual practice — interpreting basics, professional writing, business French.
Research methods for modern languages — literary, linguistic, cultural-studies approaches.

Who This Course Is For

School leavers with A-Level French or equivalent seeking a degree that combines language depth with cultural breadth.
International students wanting to study French in London alongside English-language academic culture.
Career-changers with francophone heritage or significant French-speaking experience.
Bilingual professionals seeking a UK honours degree to formalise existing competence.

Career Pathways

French is one of the most consistently employable European languages, and a UK honours degree in French opens roles across translation, teaching, the diplomatic service, international business and the cultural sector. Typical destinations for graduates include:

French Translator (commercial, literary, audiovisual)
Bilingual Editor (publisher, newsroom, content platform)
French Teacher (UK secondary, international school)
Localisation Specialist (UK or international company)
Foreign Service Officer (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, EU institution)
International Programme Officer (cultural institution, NGO, foundation)

Graduates progress to a Master's in Translation, Francophone Studies, International Relations or applied modern languages.

Entry Requirements

Three A-Levels at BBC or above (typically including French at B), or international equivalent — IB 28 points, BTEC DMM, or accepted national qualification.
GCSE English Language at grade 5 or equivalent English proficiency test.
IELTS 6.0 overall (no band below 5.5) for non-native English speakers.
A short personal statement and a short oral interview in French to confirm level of entry.
Mature applicants (21+) without standard qualifications may apply with a portfolio and short interview.

Why Study at LSJHML

The London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages is a specialist higher-education provider based in central London. Our programmes are designed in dialogue with working professionals — journalists, translators, civil servants, academics, broadcasters, editors, publishers and policy researchers — so what you learn in seminar on Monday is what your future employer is using on Tuesday. We deliberately keep cohorts small, give every student named tutor support, and treat employability as a structural part of every programme rather than an optional add-on.

London is the work — politics, courts, capital markets, theatre, broadcasting, publishing, public service, the global press. Your studies are taught in the same square mile where the stories you read about happen. Whether you join us on-campus, online or by distance learning, the city is your classroom and our industry network is your launchpad.