French and Classics

French and Classics is a combination rooted in two of the great literary and intellectual traditions of Western Europe. Classical studies encompasses the languages, literatures, history, philosophy, and material culture of ancient Greece and Rome, engaging with texts and ideas that have shaped Western thought for over two millennia. French brings you into the most influential of the Romance languages, a living tradition that connects you to modern France, Francophone Africa, the Caribbean, and a literary culture that runs from Montaigne and Racine to Camus and Houellebecq.

Studying them together means engaging across a vast historical sweep, from Homer and Cicero to contemporary French fiction, and developing an unusually broad and deep literary education.

At the University of Edinburgh, one of the UK's great research universities and a centre of excellence in both Classics and modern languages, this four-year full-time programme reflects the Scottish Honours tradition, with a broad first two years leading to more specialised advanced study. Edinburgh's exceptional academic environment and its international student community provide a stimulating context for this combination, and the university's research strengths in both areas feed directly into the teaching. The typical entry tariff of 168 points reflects the competitive nature of the programme and the high academic standards it expects from students.

You will study Latin and/or Greek alongside French language, developing your reading and analytical skills in both ancient and modern contexts. You will engage with drama, epic, philosophy, history, and lyric poetry in the ancient world alongside French literature, film, and cultural history. Graduates of French and Classics go on to careers in teaching, academia, the civil service, publishing, journalism, law, diplomacy, and the cultural sector.

The analytical rigour, textual precision, and breadth of cultural knowledge the combination develops are valued in any profession that demands careful thinking and clear communication. Postgraduate study in Classics, French, comparative literature, or philosophy is a natural extension.