French and Persian

French and Persian brings together two languages from distinct but historically intertwined traditions. French is spoken across five continents and carries with it a literary, philosophical and cultural heritage of enormous depth, from Montaigne and Moliere to Proust and contemporary francophone writing from Africa, the Caribbean and beyond. Persian, one of the oldest continuously spoken literary languages in the world, gives access to a rich tradition of poetry, philosophy and narrative, including figures such as Rumi, Hafez and Ferdowsi, as well as to the cultures and histories of Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asia.

The links between French and Persian contexts, including colonial and diplomatic history, cross-cultural exchange and shared intellectual movements, make this a particularly rich pairing.

At the University of Oxford, this four-year full-time programme is offered within the European and Middle Eastern Languages framework, combining language study with literary, cultural and historical content from both traditions. You will develop advanced proficiency in both French and Persian, with work across speaking, listening, reading, writing and translation in each language. You will also engage with literature, history, linguistics, film and the broader cultural and intellectual traditions associated with your languages, building a genuinely comparative and cross-cultural perspective.

The programme demands both rigorous academic work and serious linguistic commitment, and with a typical entry tariff of 184 UCAS points, it attracts highly motivated students.

Graduates from French and Persian programmes go on to careers in diplomacy, international organisations, translation and interpreting, journalism, the civil service, academia, cultural institutions, law and international business. The combination of a major European language with a significant Middle Eastern language is particularly valued in contexts involving France's historical and continuing relationships with Iran and the wider region, including diplomacy, cultural exchange and research. Postgraduate study in modern languages, area studies, translation or comparative literature is a natural next step.