This French degree programme is taken over three years, with students spending one semester in Paris in their second year, under the Study Abroad programme. Intended if your first language is English.
KEY BENEFITS
- Recognised as one of the leading French departments in the UK, distinguished for its world-leading and internationally excellent research.
- Teaching features innovative approaches to French language, literature, cultural, political and historical studies.
- Opportunity to study in Paris offers students the opportunity to immerse themselves in French culture and society and achieve language fluency.
- Combination of language skills, cultural literacy and critical thinking means graduates from King’s are highly employable.
UCAS code
R102
Programme type
Single honours
Duration
Three years
Location
Strand Campus, plus a semester at ULIP
Year of entry 2014
Offered by
School of Arts and Humanities
Department of French
Closing date
Please refer to the
UCAS website for application deadline dates, or contact the relevant Admissions Office for further advice
Fees & funding
For information on fees and funding for undergraduate programmes at King's go to
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/ug/funding/ CONTACTS
Address
Department of French
King's College London
Strand Campus
Strand
London WC2R 2LS
Email
Tel
020 7848 2350/2374
Fax
020 7848 7200
PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION
This degree is taught over three years at King’s, and offers you the chance to spend one semester of your second year taking modules at the University of London Institute in Paris. Not suitable for native speakers of French.
ABOUT THE Department of French
CAREERS
Many students remain to pursue graduate degrees whilst others go on to take further training in law, finance or the media. A wealth of opportunities are open to French graduates and King’s has an excellent record for employment after graduation. The highly desirable combination of language skills, cultural literacy and critical thinking means that French graduates from King’s are in strong demand in today’s job market. Recent graduates have found employment as…. • Lecturer, Goldsmiths College • Medical Recruitment Administrator, London Deanery • Research Fellow, University of Oxford • International Data Clerk, ES-Three • Recruitment Consultant, Chapman Black • Tenant Manager, Regents Group
TEACHING STYLE
Most teaching takes place in small-group classes and seminars supported by lectures. Modules in the French language are focused on high level skills in written and oral French and involve intensive contact with native speakers of French. We offer specialised modules in translation, while training all students to write and speak French at a high level of sophistication. Modules in French literature, culture, history and politics are taught by lecturers internationally recognised for their expertise in these fields, and aim to develop a broad and deep knowledge of French culture, as well as an advanced capacity for critical thinking and analysis.
STRUCTURE OF PROGRAMMES & ASSESSMENT
All students of French follow a core language module each year and choose optional modules in the French language, French literature, thought, film, history and politics. Students on all French programmes take a balance of language and content modules. Modules are assessed either by coursework, desk examination, or a combination of both. The final classification you obtain for your degree is based on the modules you take in each of the three or four years of your degree.
LOCATION
Located in the heart of London, the department is close to unparalleled resources for students of French, specialist libraries, the Institut Français, unrivalled galleries, theatres and cinemas. All teaching takes place at the Strand Campus.
SPECIAL NOTES
The single honours four-year French degree, like all other joint and major/minor honours programmes, includes a third year spent studying abroad. If you take joint honours in French and another language your year abroad will usually be split between a French-speaking country and a country speaking your other language. If you combine French with a subject that is not another language your whole year abroad will be spent in a French-speaking country.
We have exchanges with many different universities in places as diverse as Paris, Montpellier, Montreal, Geneva and Martinique among others. King’s is also one of the few French departments in the country to offer a three-year French degree including six months spent at the University of London Institute in Paris.
Currently, students study the following core and compulsory modules. If there are options available the current choices are also shown. King's reviews its optional modules on a regular basis, in order to continue to offer innovative and exciting programmes and this list is therefore subject to change. Please check here for updates, or contact the Department for further advice.
YEAR 1
Students take one core and one compulsory module plus four optional modules.
YEAR 1 CORE
Core French Language
Introduction to French Literature (compulsory)
YEAR 1 OPTIONS
French Narrative Texts: an Introduction
Subjects & Selves: an Introduction to French Thought
Text & Performance: an Introduction to French Theatre & Film
Revolution & Reaction in Modern France: an Introduction to Modern French History
YEAR 2
First semester - you take optional modules from the list below; second semester - you take modules in French language and culture at ULIP.
YEAR 2 OPTIONS
Death and Desire: Love in French Literature before 1700
Writing the Self since 1700 in French Literature
French poetry since 1800
Comedy in French Literature before 1700
The French Novel since 1700
The Idea of France
Modernity and the City
Modern French History
YEAR 3
You take the core module outlined and seven optional modules.
YEAR 3 CORE
Core French Language
YEAR 3 OPTIONS
The Stylistics of Translation
Medieval Occitan Literature
The Debate about Women in the Middle Ages
Sixteenth-century Encounters with the New World
The Literary Perception of the Honnête Homme
The City in the Literature of 17th- & 18th-century France
Gender & Discourse in 18th-century France
Proust
French Literature under the Second Empire
Troubling Desires
Recent French Thought
Contemporary Women's Writing in French
Images of Algeria
Citizenship & Exclusion in Modern France
Contemporary French Film
Shadows of Enlightenment
Flaubert
French Feminist Writing
Québécois Fiction & Film across the Canadian Bicultural Divide
Old French Romance
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Australia
Tertiary Entrance Ranking
96+ ATAR, or an OP of band 3 for Queensland including high marks in French
Austria
Reifezeugnis (Matura)
Reifezeugnis with 1 including 1 in French
Belgium
Certificat D
Certificat D’Enseignement Secondaire Superieur/Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs with 8/10 or 17/20 including 8 or 17 in French
Brazil
Brazil
High School Leaving Certificate (Certificado de Ensino Médio) with 8 OR B OR Muito Bom PLUS at least one year of Bacharel/Licenciado at a Brazilian University with a GPA of at least 8.0 OR the King’s College London International Foundation Programme OR 3 A-levels with grades of AAB including A in French
Bulgaria
School Leaving Certificate
Diploma za Sredno Obrazovanie with the majority of subject marks of 5.5 including 5.5 in French
Canada
Secondary School Certificate/Diploma
High School Certificate/Diploma with 85% OR Ontario University Preparatory Course with 85% at five grade 12 4U subjects. The sixth subject may be at 4U or 4U/C level. OR the Quebec CEGEP Cote R with an overall R score of 31. (All require high marks in French.)
Chile
Chile
Licencia de Educación Media with 6 PLUS at least one year of the Licenciatura at a Chilean university with a mark of 5 OR the Kings College London International Foundation Programme OR 3 A-levels with grades of AAB including A in French
China
Gao Kao (University Entrance Examination)
University Entrance Examination with high marks in French, plus at least a foundation/Access year or one year of undergraduate study at a Chinese university with at least 80%.
Cyprus
Apolytirion
Apolytirion (School Leaving Certificate) with 18 including high marks in French, plus at least an additional foundation/Access year
Czech Republic
Maturita
Maturita with 1 including 1 in French
Denmark
Studentereksamen or Hjere Forberedelseseksamen
Studentereksamen or Højere Forberedelseseksamen with 10 including 10 in French
Estonia
Gmnaasiumi lputunnistus (Secondary School Leaving Certificate)
Gümnaasiumi lõputunnistus with majority marks of 5, (including grade 5 in French) and an attestation of success in the state entry examinations (Riigieksamitunnistus)
Finland
Ylioppilastutkinto/Studentexamen (National Matriculation)
Ylioppilastutkinto with 6 including 6 in French
France
Baccalaureat (including the option internationale baccalaureat)
The Baccalaureat with 13 including 13 in French
Germany
Abitur
Abitur with 1.5 overall including 1.5 in French
Ghana
School Leaving Certificate
the West African Senior School Certificate (WASSC/WASSCE) PLUS 3 international Cambridge-board A levels at AAB including A in French
Greece
Apolytirion
Apolyterion with 18 including 18 in French
Hong Kong
Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE)
Three elective subjects at minimum Levels 5, 5, 5 plus Level 4 in each of the four core subjects. Applicants should demonstrate fluency in French
Hungary
Erettsegi
Erettsegi with 5 including 5 in French
India
School Leaving Certificate
School Leaving Certificate with 85% overall OR School Leaving Certificate with 75% with at least a foundation/Access year or year of undergraduate study at an Indian university. (Both require high marks in French)
Iran
School Leaving Certificate
Pre-University Certificate (Peeshdaneshgahe) OR the National Entrance Exam (Kunkar) with 16 OR 3 Cambridge International A levels at AAB (All require high marks in French)
Ireland
Irish Leaving Certificate (Higher level unless otherwise stated)
A1 A1 A1 A2 B1 B1 with grade A in French
Italy
Esame di Stato
Esame di Stato with 90 with high marks in French
Japan
School Leaving Certificate
Upper Secondary School Leaving Certificate (Kotogakko Sotsugyo Shomeisho) PLUS 3 Cambridge Board International A-levels at AAB OR an Associate degree or Diploma from a Junior College (Jun-Gakushi) with a GPA of 3.3 or B+ or 4 OR a foundation year. Including high marks in French
Latvia
Atestats par visparejo videjo izglitibu (Certificate of General Secondary Education)
Atestats par visparejo videjo izglitibu with 8 with high marks in French, plus at least a foundation/Access year or one year of undergraduate study at a Latvian university
Lithuania
Brandos Atestatas (Maturity Certificate)
Brandos Atestatas with 90 with high marks in French plus at least a foundation/Access year or one year of undergraduate study at a Lithuanian university
Luxembourg
Diplome de Fin D
Diplome de Fin D’Etudes Secondaires with Tres Bien including Tres Bien in French
Malta
Matriculation Certificate - Advanced level
Matriculation Certificate with AAB including A in French
Mexico
Mexico
The Bachillerato with a mark of 8 PLUS the King’s College London International Foundation Programme OR at least one year of the Licenciado study with an overall average mark of at least 8/10 OR A-levels with grades of AAB including A in French
Moldova
School Leaving Certificate
Diploma de Bacalaureat with 9 including 9 in French
Netherlands
Diploma Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs (VWO)
VWO with 7.5 including 7.5 in French
New Zealand
National Certificate of Educational Achievement Level 3 (NCEA)
the NCEA level 3 with E in the majority of standards/modules in four subjects,including Excellent in French
Nigeria
School Leaving Certificate
The Senior School Certificate (SSC/SSCE) OR the West African Senior School Certificate (WASSC/WASSCE) PLUS 3 Cambridge International A levels at AAB, including A in French
Norway
Vitnemal-videregaende opplaering (Upper Secondary Leaving Certificate)
Vitnemal-videregaende opplaering grade 5 including grade 5 in French
Pakistan
High School Certificate (HSSC)
High School Certificate with A with high marks in French, plus at least a foundation/Access year or one year of undergraduate study at a Pakistani university
Poland
Matura
Matura with 80% in extended level subjects including high marks in French
Portugal
Diploma de Ensino Secundário
Diploma de Ensino Secundário with 18 including high marks in French
Romania
School Leaving Certificate
Diploma de Bacalaureat with 8 including 8 in French
Russia
Attest o (Polnom) Srednem Obrazovanii (Certificate of Secondary Education)
Attest o (Polnom) Srednem Obshchem Obrazovanii with an average of 4.5 inclduing 5 in French, plus at least a foundation/Access year or one year of undergraduate study at a Russian university
Saudi Arabia
School Leaving Certificate
College of Technology Diploma OR Higher Technical Institute Diploma OR Junior Health College Diploma OR Undergraduate Diploma with 85% OR 3 Cambridge International A levels at AAB
Singapore
Singapore A Level
AAB in three content-based H2 subjects (including Grade A French). Knowledge and Inquiry is not considered as part of the offer
Slovakia
Vysvedcenie Maturitnej Skuska/Maturita
Maturita with 2 overall including 2 in French
Slovenia
Maturitetno Spricevalo (Secondary School Leaving Certificate)
Maturitetno Spricevalo with 5 including 5 in French
South Africa
South African Senior Certificate/National Senior Certificate with Matriculation endorsement
The National Senior Certificate with Matriculation endorsement with AAABB Grade including A in French
Spain
Titulo de Bachiller
Titulo de Bachiller with 8 overall including 8 in French
Sweden
Fullständigt Slutbetyg (School Leaving Certificate)
Fullstandigt Slutbeytg with MVG including MVG in French
Switzerland
Federal Maturity Certificate
Federal Maturity Certificate with an overall mark of 5 including 5 in French
Turkey
Lise Diplomasi (High School Diploma)
Lise Diplomasi with an overall mark of 4 including high marks in French, with at least a foundation/Access year or one year of undergraduate study at a Turkish university
United Kingdom
A levels
AAB
Compulsory subjects
Grade A at A-level French
12 unit A level in vocational subjects
Considered on an individual basis
General Studies and Critical Thinking - College policy
Please note that AS/A level General Studies and Critical Thinking are not accepted by King's as one of your A or AS levels. However, if offered the grade achieved may be taken into account when considering whether or not to accept a candidate who has just fallen short of the conditions of their offer
Access to HE Diploma
Access to Humanities (or similar) Diploma including study of French at Level 3 with 33 Level 3 credits from units awarded at Distinction, with the remaining credits at Merit. Supplementary information and achievement e.g marks for certain credits/subjects may be required depending on course content.
Cambridge Pre-U
3 Pre-U Principal Subjects with grades of D3 D3 M2 including D3 in French
BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma
Considered on an individual basis
Scottish Highers & Advanced Highers
A1 A1 A1 A2 B1 B1 with grade A in French
International Baccalaureate
35 points and HL 665 including HL6 in French
European Baccalaureate
80% overall including 8 in French
USA
Advanced Placement Tests and/or SAT/ACT (SAT/ACT acceptable only where stipulated)
Three AP subjects with 554 including French at grade 5. Or SAT with a total score of 1800 with at least 600 in each section or the ACT with a score of 27 plus 3 SAT-S with a score of 600 in each plus an AP in the relevant language with 5 or evidence of fluency
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Aptitude testing
No test required
If you are interested in coming to King’s, you should apply through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) and apply online via the UCAS website (click on 'apply'). If you are applying through a school or college, you will need to obtain a 'buzzword' from the centre you are applying through. Alternatively, you can apply as an individual, independent of a school or college. Please see the UCAS website for instructions. The UCAS institution code name for King’s is KCL, and the institution code is K60.
There are a few programmes which require direct application to King's, this will be stated above
Most applications are considered between November and March, and suitably qualified applicants will be invited to attend an open day in the department. This will offer an opportunity not only to visit King’s, but also to discuss your aims and ambitions, and to discover whether King’s is the right place for you. You will also be able to participate in an informal seminar discussion with a member of staff, to give you a sense of how learning, teaching and research, the core activities of the department, work together.
Certain candidates, particularly those with relevant life experience or with special requirements and/or qualifications may be asked to attend an interview. This is a fairly relaxed affair. It is an opportunity, like the open day, for you to find out about King’s and whether it is the right place for you to study. Formal admission requirements may be flexible, but evidence of academic study in French is required.