French and Francophone Studies
French has been taught at Swansea since the University’s foundation in 1920. Professor Mary Williams, the first woman to hold a chair in any academic subject in the UK, was the first head of department. Today, French is available on two single honours BA programmes (BA Modern Languages and BA Modern Languages, Translation and Interpreting) and a range of joint honours combinations, either at post-A level or from Beginners. French is taught by six members of staff, two of whom are native speakers. They are: Dr Greg Herman; Dr Kathryn Jones; Dr Jo Langley; Ms Manuela Ruault; Dr Sophie Rouys; and Dr Alison Williams.
Our BA Modern Languages allows you to study French by itself or in combination with German or Spanish. Optional modules include Paris, France and the Second World War, Contemporary French Cinema, as well as translation modules and in your final year, a dissertation. We have partnerships with the following French universities where you can spend your year abroad: Angers, Besançon, Brest, Chambéry, Lyon III, Pau and Toulouse. You can also work as a British Council Language Assistant or undertake a work placement. BA Modern Languages offers a broad-based curriculum via four pathways, in Culture, second-language teaching, Translation, and additional languages: these include Catalan, Italian and Portuguese.
In BA Modern Languages, Translation and Interpreting you take French either by itself or in combination with another language. In addition, you will take specialist modules such as Computer-Assisted Translation, Simulated Translation Bureau and Concepts in Translation. During your year abroad, you will practice Translation and Interpreting at institutions selected from our list of prestigious partners. Those for French are based in Brussels, Geneva, and Paris.
All students of French can take part in the weekly Café Causette and join the University French Society.
After your BA, you can specialise in French on the MA degrees in Translation and Interpreting and Professional Translation, which also have options of internships and study abroad, or take an MA by Research in French, leading to an MPhil or PhD.