Course details

Summary

Knowing a second language increases one's employability in a global environment. French is a good choice, being one of the few truly international languages, and is useful in travel, culture, trade, science and sport on several continents. French culture is influential and its history fascinating.

The Certificate in Arts (CertArts) is designed for you if you want to study at university level without having to commit to several years of study. It is also an option if you want to take a few courses for interest or study part-time.

Why study French at UC?

The French programme at UC offers courses to 300-level in French language, as well as courses in French culture, French society, French literature and European film. Courses are suitable for those who cannot read or speak a word of French, and for those who have studied French at school.

The recent development of flexible learning in the French programme at UC has made it easier to include language studies within your degree.

If you are enrolled in our French programme you can study one semester or one year of your UC degree in France by taking part in a student exchange programme with one of the following institutions:

• Sciences-Po, Paris
• IEP Lyon and University Lyon II
• IEP, Aix-en-Provence
• University de La Rochelle.

Qualification structure and duration

The Certificate in Arts is made up of five courses (a minimum of 75 points) at 100 and/or 200-level.

It can be completed full-time, or over one to two years of part-time study.

You can transfer the credits you gain during the Certificate in Arts to the Bachelor of Arts (and some other degrees), as long as you have not graduated with the certificate.

Further study

The Certificate in Arts can be used as a stepping stone to a Bachelor of Arts.

Career opportunities

French as a discipline extends beyond the learning of the language itself and can enhance a range of careers in teaching, diplomacy, foreign trade or the tourism industry. Many UC students combine the study of French with another degree in Law, Science, Commerce or Engineering to enhance their career opportunities.

Graduates of French take up a wide range of occupations, from the public service to banking or journalism, translation, or work in research-based institutions.

Entry criteria

Admission to UC with University Entrance, or equivalent, is required to enrol for a Certificate in Arts. Applicants must have completed New Zealand University Entrance through NCEA; or Cambridge International Examinations (CIE); or International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) or any other equivalent overseas qualification.

Other English language requirements: TOEFL PBT with a minimum score of 550 and TWE with a minimum score of 4.5; CCEL EAP Level 2 with a minimum C+ grade; CAE or CPE minimum score of 169 with at least 162 in reading, writing, listening and speaking; Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE with an overall score of 57 and no PTE communicative skills score below 50.