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French and English Literature, BA (Hons), University of Reading

the United Kingdom

University of Reading

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The award How you will study Study duration Course start Domestic course fees International course fees
BA (Hons)Full-time4 yearsfind outfind outfind out

About French and English Literature, BA (Hons) - at University of Reading

On this programme, you explore two great literary traditions with a long history of cultural connections. You will develop a high level of expertise in the French language and the cultures in which it is central.

Join our friendly and dynamic Department of Modern Languages and European Studies, which offers the opportunity to study in a lively, multilingual community with staff and students from all over the world. We offer a flexible and supportive approach to learning which allows you to tailor your degree to your interests, including the opportunity to learn other languages.

Through this course you will become confident and highly skilled in written and spoken French. You will master the fundamental elements of the language, to the point where you will graduate with a near-native command of it. We’re proud of our small language classes, led by native speakers. Direct access to expert staff for help and feedback ensures you develop your language skills to the best of your ability.

A wide range of optional modules in French and francophone culture, history, literature, theatre, politics and film enhance your learning, and provide you with an in-depth knowledge of the country. You will have the opportunity to study with staff who are internationally recognised experts in French-speaking literature, history and culture; including the literature of the French Caribbean; French children’s literature and publishing; 20th century French history; Medieval literature, history and art, as well as translation and adaptation studies.

In your English Literature modules, you will read more of authors and genres that you already know (from tragedy to Gothic, from Shakespeare and Dickens to Plath and Beckett). But you will also encounter aspects of literary studies that you may not know so well, from children’s literature to publishing studies and the history of the book. Our academics have published research on everything from medieval poetry to contemporary Caribbean and American fiction. As you progress through your degree, your module choices become more diverse and specialised: you can do archive work on "Studying manuscripts", or look at the politics of literature in "Writing global justice". Everyone in our department, from new lecturers to professors, teaches at every level of the degree: this gives you the benefit of our expertise and makes you part of the conversation about our research and its impact outside the classroom. We place a strong emphasis on small-group learning within a friendly and supportive environment. In your first and second years, you will have a mix of lectures (which can be quite large) and seminars (which will never have more than 16 people).

An integral part of the course is the opportunity for you to spend up to a year in a French-speaking country, either studying at a partner institution through the Erasmus+ programme, undertaking a work placement or working as a British Council language teaching assistant. It enables you to directly immerse yourself in the culture and develop your language to a near-native level. Modules in the second year will prepare you for studying abroad, equipping you with the skills and knowledge required to work and live in a different culture.

In both subjects you will spend a considerable amount of your teaching time in small seminar groups. This enables you to interact directly with our experts and other students, and add your own voice to discussions. It especially benefits you in French, where regularly practising your spoken language is vital in order to achieve fluency.

We provide accelerated learning in French, meaning that you can start from beginner's level if you have not done French A level. Regardless of which level you join the course at, you can expect to become confident and highly skilled in written and spoken French by the final year. Please check the entry requirements for more details on entry points.

Notes about fees for this course

Subject to the Government passing legislation to raise the minimum fee cap, we will raise undergraduate tuition fees from £9,000 to £9,250 for new UK/EU students applying to start courses in the 2017/18 academic year. You will not be affected by this rise if you have deferred entry to the 2017/18 academic year. The Government will confirm future arrangements for EU students in due course.

Entry requirements

English language requirements: IELTS 7.0, with no component below 6.0

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