French and Latin

French and Latin is a combination that unites two of the most important linguistic traditions of European civilisation. Latin is the language of ancient Rome and the medieval church, and reading it opens access to the philosophical, legal, and literary foundations of Western thought. French is one of the world's major modern languages, spoken by hundreds of millions of people, and central to European and international culture, diplomacy, and intellectual life.

Together, they allow you to trace the deep historical connections between the classical and the modern, and to develop a range of linguistic skills that few graduates possess.

At the University of St Andrews, this four-year MA (Hons) programme develops your French language and communications skills to a high level of proficiency through the study of French and Francophone language, literature, and culture, while Latin study develops your reading of ancient texts with rigour and depth. You will engage with primary texts in both languages, analyse literary and historical material, and develop the scholarly methods appropriate to each tradition. A year abroad is built into the programme, giving you extended immersion in a French-speaking environment and deepening your linguistic and cultural understanding.

Entry typically requires around 200 UCAS tariff points.

Graduates with French and Latin are well placed for careers in translation, interpreting, academia, journalism, the diplomatic service, publishing, heritage and cultural institutions, and international organisations. The combination of advanced modern language skills with classical learning is distinctive and opens doors in research, teaching, and any professional context where linguistic precision and cultural depth are valued. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in French, classics, medieval studies, or related fields.