French

French is spoken by more than 220 million people across five continents, and that reach is growing. It is an official language of major international institutions including the United Nations, the European Union, NATO, the International Olympic Committee, and the Red Cross, and it plays a central role in diplomacy, business, the media, tourism, and the creative industries worldwide. Studying French at degree level means developing genuine linguistic depth, the ability to communicate with precision and fluency in formal and informal registers, while also engaging seriously with the rich and diverse cultures of the French-speaking world.

At Queen's University of Belfast, this four-year full-time programme takes the Francophone world as its scope, from metropolitan France to North Africa, the Caribbean, and beyond. You will develop advanced reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills in French, and will engage with literature, film, history, and cultural debates from across the French-speaking world. Queen's has a strong modern languages tradition, and the programme reflects the dynamism and cultural diversity of French-speaking communities globally, going well beyond a purely European focus.

A language degree at this level typically includes a year abroad, spent studying or working in a French-speaking country, and that sustained period of immersion is among the most valuable experiences the programme offers.

You will develop intercultural awareness and the ability to engage with ideas and people across cultural and linguistic difference. Advanced language skills, critical analysis, research, and clear written argumentation are the core competencies you will build throughout the degree.

Graduates from French programmes pursue careers in translation and interpreting, international business, diplomacy, the foreign and civil service, journalism, teaching, publishing, and a wide range of other fields where French language skills and cultural knowledge are valued. Further study in French, Francophone studies, translation, or education is a natural next step, and secondary school language teaching is a well-established career route for many graduates.