One of the most attractive characteristics of this four-year programme is its flexibility.
In Years 1 and 2 your pre-honours years you will choose option courses from a broad list of disciplines in addition to your core subjects of French and English Literature.
As well as broadening your education and skill set this may enable you to change the focus of your programme in Years 3 and 4 your honours years.
Year 1
French
If you have a limited knowledge of French you will take French 1A an intensive language course that also introduces you to French culture.
If you have studied French beyond National 5 (SQA) or GCSE level you will typically take French 1B. As well as developing your written and spoken language skills this course focuses on modern French literature culture and civilisation covering the period from the Second World War to the 21st century.
English Literature
You will take two literary studies courses. These will introduce you to the essential skills needed for critical close reading of:
poetry
drama
prose
You will read works of literature written in English from around the world and encounter a range of ideas about the nature and purpose of literary study.
Option courses
You will complete your Year 1 studies with option courses chosen from a wide range offered by the University of Edinburgh.
You can for example opt to study another language. We offer one of the widest range of languages of any UK university - the majority are suitable for complete beginners.
Other options include but are not limited to courses in:
linguistics and language sciences
business economics and informatics
politics social policy and social anthropology
art and architectural history
history classics and archaeology
Celtic and Scottish ethnology
philosophy divinity and law
Year 2
French
You will develop your written and spoken language skills in readiness for your year abroad in Year 3.
You will also build on your knowledge of French and Francophone culture. In these courses the focus now shifts to exploring the 16th to 19th centuries.
You will study work by authors such as Molière Montaigne and Baudelaire alongside texts that have been considered marginal to French culture for reasons of gender or colonial politics.
English Literature
You will be introduced to the study of English literature in its cultural and historical contexts focusing on a selection of major periods.
These courses will explore the relationship between literary texts and the construction of national international and imperial cultures.
Option courses
As in Year 1 you will choose from a range of option courses.
These include a great selection in European languages and cultures allowing you to study literature film and theatre in themed and comparative contexts.
Year 3
If international travel restrictions allow you will spend Year 3 in France or a French-speaking country turning classroom learning into living engagement with Francophone culture. You will either study or do a work placement such as working as a teaching assistant in a school.
Whether studying or working our graduates have told us how much the year abroad has benefited their broader life experience and skills as well as their understanding of the French language and Francophone culture.
During your year abroad we will aim to ensure your experience is as beneficial as possible to your final year as well as to your wider language learning cultural awareness and skills development.
You will complete prescribed work in both English Literature and French. For example for French you will take an e-learning language course which will count as part of your Year 3 mark and prepare you for your Year 4 French courses.
If international travel is not possible you will be offered an alternative means of engaging with your subjects enabling you to meet your learning outcomes and preparing you for your final year.
Year 4
You will develop advanced language skills in spoken and written French.
You will also choose from a wide range of specialist courses in both French and English Literature.
Dissertation
You will complete your dissertation or long essay.
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