Politics and French

Politics and French is a combination that makes immediate intellectual sense. France is one of the most politically significant countries in Europe and the world, and French is the language of a rich tradition of political philosophy, from Rousseau and Montesquieu to Sartre and beyond. The study of French politics, society, and culture is both a major application of your language skills and a means of understanding European and global politics more deeply.

Meanwhile, political science provides analytical frameworks that illuminate the behaviour of governments, parties, movements, and international institutions in France and far more widely.

At the University of Manchester, this four-year, full-time programme develops advanced French language proficiency alongside a rigorous grounding in political science. You will study French from an already strong level, developing your ability to read, write, and speak with increasing sophistication, while engaging critically with French literature, film, and contemporary society. The politics strand covers political theory, comparative politics, international relations, and empirical research methods, giving you the analytical tools to understand how political systems work and how to study them rigorously.

The combination allows you to bring genuine linguistic and cultural expertise to your study of politics, and genuine political analysis to your engagement with France.

The programme includes a sandwich placement year and work placement, giving you direct professional experience in a French-speaking or politics-related context before you complete your final year. Many students spend time in France, Belgium, or other French-speaking environments during this period.

Graduates work in diplomacy, international organisations, government, journalism, international business, NGOs, and public policy. Fluency in French alongside political analytical skills is a combination that is consistently valued in roles requiring cross-cultural understanding or engagement with European institutions. Postgraduate study in politics, international relations, European studies, or law is a common next step.