French and History

Studying French and History helps us understand the contemporary world, and also sheds light on the past.

On our flexible joint honours programme, you have the opportunity to develop advanced language skills in French while discovering how the French-speaking (Francophone) world, and other cultures around the globe, have shaped modern civilisation.

French

You will have the opportunity to acquire near-native fluency in this widely-spoken modern language while gaining the broad cultural education valued by graduate employers.

We will introduce you to the extraordinary richness and variety of the Francophone world through the study of:

• literature and cinema

• political history and social movements

• philosophical ideas

Our courses cover material from the Middle Ages to the 21st century and include specialist options in key disciplines such as decolonial, gender, and film studies, all taught by leading experts.

Your studies are your gateway to the cultures of parts of:

• Europe

• Africa

• the Americas

History

In History, you will study the human past more broadly, interacting with evidence in primary form, and through critical reading of a wide body of historical writing.

History at the University of Edinburgh is distinctive for its range of historical themes, chronological periods and geographical areas. You can choose from courses covering:

• the early Middle Ages to the most recent past

• Britain and Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas

Our history courses also cover a wide variety of approaches to the past, including:

• political history

• cultural history

• social history

• economic history

• intellectual history

• gender history

• global and transnational history

Why Edinburgh

As a world-leading festival and capital city, and home of two World Heritage Sites, Edinburgh is a fantastic place to study a modern language in its cultural context and alongside History.

There is plenty to see and do throughout the year, including events at the annual French and Africa in Motion film festivals, and at the nearby Institut français d'Ecosse.

Studying over four years gives you the blend of specialist skills and intercultural competence needed for a range of careers. Additionally, we are unique in Scotland in offering students a full academic year abroad within the four-year honours programme, regardless of whether you spend the year studying or working.

How long it takes to complete this degree programme

This programme is studied over 4 years, including a year abroad. This enables us to build choice and flexibility into your studies, giving you time to explore options, find what you like and build your skills.

Your first two years will be your pre-honours years. They will give you a good grounding in your subjects. In addition to your core courses, you will broaden your education and skill set by choosing option courses from a range of disciplines. This may enable you to change the focus of your programme.

Your final two years will be your honours years. You will spend Year 3 studying abroad, gaining lived experience of Francophone culture. Year 4 will be tailored to your interests in specific topics, periods, or approaches to French and History.

Programme benefits

• Learn in an historic, capital city where French has been taught for over a century.

• Study over four years, including one abroad.

• Become fluent in one of the UN's six official languages.

• Try out different subjects in your first two years.

• Join societies related to what you are studying.

• Delve into fantastic libraries and collections.