The BA History and French course contains core modules in both subjects at each level of study. You will explore the past to allow you to prepare for your future through topics covering a thousand years of local, national and international history. Alongside this, you will develop your French language skills and apply them to real-world situations. Our inclusive curriculum means that you will challenge existing narratives about the past and will be encouraged to think critically about how and why these narratives have developed. You will also explore important themes and issues relating to race, diversity, gender, imperialism, conflict and climate change.
In Year 1 (Level 4), you are introduced to global historical events, are given the opportunity to explore historical debates and are also exposed to key themes in Medieval, Early Modern and Contemporary History. Year 2 (Level 5) builds on this foundation through more complex learning which considers the uses and abuses of History in both the past and present whilst also allowing you to begin to focus on more specific regions, events or periods. At Level 6, you will conduct project work related to heritage events and will immerse yourself in Special Subjects which focus on particular historical issues, and relevant primary source material, in greater depth.
French can be studied in a beginner or post A Level set. In Year 1 (Level 4), you will develop your language skills while exploring societies and cultures across the world where French is spoken. In Year 2 (Level 5), your French is further applied to real-world situations in preparation for living, studying or working abroad. You may choose to take a language study placement abroad at the end of Year 2 (Level 5) or undertake a Cambridge CELTA qualification for teaching English to speakers of other languages.
During the year abroad you can live, study or work in countries where French is spoken. You can spend time as a language assistant, find a work placement or attend one of our partner universities.
At Level 6, you will study French in the business world, translation and mediation, and can delve deeper into the study of languages in their diverse cultural contexts.
You will also undertake a major project in either History or French, supported by a supervisor, on a research topic of your own choice.
The course contains several optional modules which may run depending on the availability of staff expertise and the viability of cohorts. Where available, these options provide you with the opportunity to undertake study in particular areas of interest.
The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.