French and Politics

French and politics is a combination that connects linguistic and cultural knowledge of the Francophone world with the analytical discipline of political science. French opens access to one of the world's most geographically and culturally diverse language communities, spanning metropolitan France, North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean, and beyond. It carries an extraordinary literary, philosophical, and political tradition, from Montaigne and Rousseau to Sartre and de Gauvoir, and its speakers include some of the most significant actors in international political and cultural life.

Politics examines the sources of conflict and cooperation within and between societies, how power is organised and exercised, and how ideological differences and competing interests are expressed and sometimes resolved.

At Queen's University of Belfast, this four-year full-time programme allows you to explore a range of contemporary issues, historical periods, and geographical areas through French, including art, cinema, linguistics, and literature, alongside the conceptual and empirical content of politics. QUB's politics department examines power, decision-making, ideology, and organisation with particular depth in Northern Irish and Irish political contexts as well as comparative and international politics. The combination of French cultural and linguistic knowledge with political analytical skills is particularly relevant in international affairs, European politics, and the many francophone contexts where political understanding and French language competence together are genuinely valuable.

You will develop advanced French language skills, political analytical reasoning, research, and written argumentation, alongside intercultural awareness and the ability to engage with political life in more than one language.

Graduates from French and politics programmes pursue careers in the foreign service, international organisations, journalism, NGOs, government, European institutions, teaching, and a range of other fields. Postgraduate study in French, political science, European studies, or international relations is a natural continuation.