French and Greek

French and Greek is a degree that spans two of the great linguistic and cultural traditions of Western civilisation. French is one of the world's major living languages, the language of Proust, Sartre and Beckett, of international diplomacy and of hundreds of millions of speakers across five continents. Ancient or Modern Greek opens a different window, whether you study the language that gave us Homer, Thucydides and Plato, or the modern language spoken by millions in Greece and Cyprus and the Greek diaspora worldwide.

Together they provide access to two rich and distinct cultural worlds.

At St Andrews, this four-year MA programme develops your linguistic proficiency and cultural understanding in both French and Greek, alongside deep engagement with their respective literary, cultural and historical traditions. St Andrews has excellent provision in both Modern Languages and Classics, and the programme allows you to develop genuine expertise in each. A year abroad is built into the programme, giving you the opportunity to spend time in a French-speaking or Greek-speaking country, which is the most effective way to develop genuine linguistic fluency and cultural understanding.

Whether you choose ancient or modern Greek, you will engage seriously with the language on its own terms.

You will develop advanced analytical and communication skills in both languages, the ability to read and interpret literary and cultural texts critically, and the historical understanding to situate those texts in their wider contexts.

Graduates of French and Greek programmes move into diplomacy, translation and interpreting, academia, teaching, the civil service, cultural institutions, journalism, international business and publishing. Postgraduate study in languages, classics, area studies or translation is a natural option.