What specialism options does the MA French Language and Culture offer?

Translation or cultural research, chosen at the start of the academic year. Each shapes your taught modules, the texts in your seminars and your dissertation supervisor. Students with cross-specialism interests can discuss options with the programme director.

Does the MA French Language and Culture cover Francophone Africa and Quebec?

Yes. Comparative Francophone studies are core, with explicit modules on France, Quebec, sub-Saharan Africa and the Maghreb. The MA French Language and Culture treats French as a global language and shapes the dissertation supervision accordingly.

Can I take the MA French Language and Culture part-time?

Yes. The MA can be taken over 24 months part-time. Online and distance routes are designed for working professionals, with evening seminars and a dissertation timeline you build around other commitments.

What kind of dissertation will I write on the MA French Language and Culture?

A 12,000–15,000 word dissertation on a French or Francophone question, supervised by an active practitioner or academic. Recent topics have included translation theory applied to contemporary Francophone fiction, language policy in Quebec, and digital French in news production.

Is the MA French Language and Culture recognised by UK and international employers?

Yes. The MA French Language and Culture is a UK master's degree aligned to Chartered Institute of Linguists, ITI and Alliance Française benchmarks. UK and international employers across translation, EU institutions, government, NGOs and the cultural sector recognise the credential.

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

Course Overview

The MA French Language and Culture at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a one-year UK postgraduate degree for advanced French speakers ready to specialise as professional translators, cultural researchers or senior Francophone-facing practitioners. You will work at advanced register across written and spoken French, develop a specialism in translation or cultural research, and produce a 12,000-to-15,000-word dissertation on a French or Francophone question of your choice.

This MA treats French as the global language it is. The MA French Language and Culture works across the Francophone world — France, Quebec, sub-Saharan Africa, the Maghreb — and builds the senior research-and-translation apparatus a working specialist needs.

Key Features

UK postgraduate degree in French — one year full-time, with online and distance routes.
Translation or cultural research specialism chosen at the start of the year.
Advanced text seminars across press, policy, literary and digital French.
Industry-led masterclasses from working translators, Francophone academics and Alliance Française practitioners.
Research methods strand aligned to ITI translation research standards and modern languages scholarship.
12,000–15,000 word dissertation supervised by an active practitioner or academic.

What You Will Learn

The MA French Language and Culture is structured around the working practice of a senior Francophone specialist. You graduate able to translate at publishable standard, run applied or academic research with discipline, situate your work in current scholarship, and contribute to senior France- or Francophone-facing teams in translation, education, cultural programming or policy.

Advanced French at senior register — political, legal, literary, technical.
Translation theory and practice — French to English and English to French.
Comparative Francophone studies — France, Quebec, sub-Saharan Africa, the Maghreb.
Modern French society and politics — current debates, EU dynamics.
Literary studies — selected texts from the French and Francophone traditions.
Research methods — qualitative and quantitative, corpus tools, ethics.
Reporting research — academic writing, conference presentation, applied briefings.
Dissertation craft — proposal, fieldwork, write-up, viva preparation.

Who This MA Is For

BA graduates in French or Modern Languages seeking a senior specialism.
Working professionals in translation, EU-facing work or international development with two-plus years of French-using experience.
CIOL-registered teachers and educators wanting a UK postgraduate credential.
Career-changers from related humanities backgrounds bringing advanced French.

Career Pathways

The MA French Language and Culture positions graduates for senior translator, cultural researcher, academic and policy roles where French is the working language. Typical destinations include:

French Translator (senior commercial agency, EU institution, government)
Bilingual Editor (publishing, news, content)
French Teacher, CIOL-registered (secondary, sixth-form, university preparation)
Localisation Specialist (digital product, software, content)
Foreign Service Officer specialising in France or Francophone regions
Senior Cultural Programme Officer (Alliance Française, festival, cultural body)

The MA also serves as a launchpad for doctoral research in French or Francophone studies.

Entry Requirements

A UK 2:2 honours degree (or international equivalent) in French, Modern Languages or a related subject, OR a 2:2 in any subject with two years of relevant French-using experience.
IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for non-native English speakers.
Personal statement (max 1 page) outlining your motivation, relevant experience and intended specialism.
Two academic or professional references.
Applicants without a related undergraduate degree may be considered with significant industry experience and a written sample.

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.