European Studies (French pathway) with a year abroad

European studies with a French pathway combines the broad intellectual scope of European history and politics with the linguistic depth that comes from studying French to a high level of proficiency. Europe's political, cultural, and institutional landscape is one of the most complex in the world, shaped by centuries of interaction between nations, ideologies, and cultural traditions, and the ability to understand it in its own languages is a significant advantage for anyone seeking to engage with it professionally or academically. French, as one of the continent's principal diplomatic and cultural languages, provides a particularly powerful lens through which to engage with European affairs.

At King's College London, this four-year full-time programme teaches you the history and politics of Europe while giving you the French language skills to truly understand these subjects from the inside. You will spend a year studying in France, developing your fluency through immersion and your understanding of French society and culture through direct experience. The course covers the political institutions of European states, the history of European integration, comparative politics, international relations, and the cultural and social dimensions of European identity, all approached with the benefit of your French language ability.

You will graduate as a French speaker with a detailed knowledge of European studies and the capacity to engage with French-language sources, interlocutors, and professional environments.

Graduates of European studies with French are highly regarded by employers in diplomacy, international organisations, journalism, the civil service, law, finance, and international business. The combination of language skills and political and historical knowledge is particularly valued in roles involving European affairs, including positions in UK and EU institutions, non-governmental organisations, think tanks, and media organisations covering European politics. Teaching French is another common career path, and many graduates go on to postgraduate study in European politics, international relations, French studies, or European law, deepening their expertise for careers at the intersection of language and European affairs.