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 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.

The Master of Arts (MA) degree consists of coursework followed by a thesis. It provides the opportunity to make a contribution to knowledge while also demonstrating understanding of the principles of research.

Qualification structure and duration

The Master of Arts degree consists of two parts:

Part I: Coursework

Part II: A thesis.

Honours may be awarded if the student completes within the timeframe indicated by the schedule. Distinction or Merit may be awarded if the student completes an MA by thesis-only in the timeframe indicated by the schedule and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with Honours.

Further study

Doctor of Philosophy

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

Normally the minimum requirement is a three-year bachelor's degree from a New Zealand university, or a qualification or combination of qualifications considered to be equivalent. If you gained your qualifications overseas, these will need to be assessed to make sure they are of an equivalent standard.

Other English language requirements: TOEFL PBT with a minimum score of 575 and TWE with a minimum score of 4.5; CCEL EAP Level 2 with a minimum B+ grade; CAE or CPE score of 176 with a minimum of 169 in reading, writing, listening and speaking; Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE with an overall score of 64 and no PTE communicative skills score below 58.