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BA (Hons) History and French (with a year abroad)

From the Revolution to the modern République, immerse yourself in the history, societies and cultures of France and the French-speaking world.

Year of entry: 2025/26

UCAS code

R1V1

Institution code

Y50

Length

4 years full-time

UK (home) fees

£9,250 per year

International and EU fees

£25,800 per year

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in the Russell Group for 'Academic support'

in French studies (National Student Survey 2024)

in the UK for French

Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

in the UK for history

Complete University Guide 2025

Delve into studies of the past, exploring French languages and cultures as you go. Spend a year abroad and discover new ways of viewing the world.

At York, you can choose:

  • a degree combining two languages (you can study one of these as a beginner, ‘ab initio’).
  • a degree combining one language and another subject.

We have a distinctive approach to studying languages. From the start, you'll be taught in the language you are learning. Our expert staff, many of whom are first language speakers, will support you to develop your fluency and communication skills rapidly. If you choose a language as a beginner (ab initio), you’ll join post-A level students in your second year. You’ll be amazed how much you can achieve.

You'll join two departments which are highly respected for their research, scholarship and teaching. Combining French studies with History will allow you to uncover the forces that have shaped modern societies and cultures, as well as the issues prevalent today in French-speaking countries. You'll graduate with an exciting perspective of history and your place in the world.

You’ll join a vibrant modern languages community, with regular language and community events and talks. We’re a highly international department, and have excellent partnerships with other universities and organisations which you can work with during your year abroad.

If you want to extend your language learning even further, you can choose elective modules from a wide range of languages or take extracurricular classes as part of our Languages for All programme.

Language options

You can choose to study one of four languages with History (including French).

Get a head start in Teaching English as a Foreign Language at York

At York, you'll benefit from being able to take TEFL modules in-house, as part of your degree. You can count the work you complete in your TEFL modules towards a CertTESOL qualification. This teacher training programme (also offered in-house) can qualify you to teach English to non-native speakers, including on your year abroad.

The French side of the course at York focuses on current, relevant issues which really make you think and engage with the language. The history side allows you to learn from experts in their fields, and you get a really firm understanding of the world that we live in.
Hugh, BA History and French

Course content

Languages

Your language modules will explore the society and cultures of French-speaking societies and you'll be taught almost exclusively in French. These modules will help you to develop the transcultural and linguistic knowledge you'll need to become a high-level communicator. As you progress through your course, not only will you develop your conversational fluency, but also your ability to discuss complex ideas in formal French.

History

Your history modules will cover a broad sweep of history across different times and places, and you'll emerge with greater cultural awareness. You'll develop your knowledge of different historical traditions, including historical problems and debates that have shaped our modern world.

Study French from scratch

You can study French ab initio, meaning you don't need to have any knowledge of French before you arrive. You'll study with other ab initio students during your first year, and will focus on improving your language skills, before joining the post-A level students during your second year.

Placements

There are opportunities to spend time in industry as part of this course.

Year 1

Language core modules

In your first year, you'll focus on developing your communication expertise in French and your understanding of languages, particularly in French-speaking cultures and societies.

  • If you have studied French to A level, you'll take the post A-level route.
  • If you are taking French ab initio (from scratch), you'll take the ab initio route.

Post A-level:

Ab initio:

History core modules

Your History modules will challenge you to think critically about the power of knowledge and belief in different cultures over time. You'll also debate the value of historical evidence.

You'll also choose between the following:

Academic integrity module

In addition to the above you will also need to complete our online Academic Integrity module.

Year 2

Core modules

In your second year, you further develop your written and oral communication skills in French, alongside your ability to critically analyse a range of cultural and social phenomena in the French-speaking world. In History, you'll begin to focus your studies, and develop some key skills ahead of your final-year special subject and optional dissertation.

Option modules

You will study four option modules. Examples can be found below. Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.

Languages modules:

History modules:

The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course. For further information please get in touch.

Elective modules

You may be able to replace one option module with an elective module, studying a complementary subject, a language or an interdisciplinary topic.

Year 3

You'll be required to complete at least one semester of study at a university during your year abroad. We assist you in setting up overseas university study, teaching or work placements, and offer guidance on all aspects of the year. You can even get a CertTESOL qualification to teach English to non-native speakers before you go. See our current year abroad pages for more information.

You'll complete two assignments while on your year abroad. These are assessed on a pass/fail basis and do not contribute to your final degree grade.

Elective modules

You may be able to replace one option module with an elective module, studying a complementary subject, a language or an interdisciplinary topic.

Year 4

Core modules

You'll study one core language module in your final year. You'll hone your plurilingual communicative proficiency in French, through in-depth research and analysis of key aspects of French-speaking cultures and societies.

Option modules

You will also take take one History Special Subject option (taken in two parts, one per semester) and at least one option in Languages. You can also choose to do a History Dissertation or a comparative history option. Alternatively, you can choose to study two elective modules from another department. Examples of option modules may include:

Language option modules
History Special Subject modules

The options available to you will be confirmed later in the year. For further information please get in touch.

Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.

Learning by design

Every course at York has been designed to provide clear and ambitious learning outcomes. These learning outcomes give you an understanding of what you will be able to do at the end of the course. We develop each course by designing modules that grow your abilities towards the learning outcomes and help you to explain what you can offer to employers. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.

Students who complete this course will be able to:

  • Demonstrate broad and deep understandings of historical scholarship, and be able to understand and contextualise French-speaking societies and cultures in relation to the past.
  • Make cross cultural comparisons and connections between societies of different places, both in the contemporary world and in the past, and understand issues and events from a range of cultural perspectives.
  • Analyse, evaluate and deploy arguments and evidence, as well as information presented in a variety of formats including digital resources, material culture, visual imagery, texts, databases and statistical information in both English and French.
  • Solve problems creatively by taking information learned in one context and applying it in an unfamiliar one and by developing a range of possible solutions.
  • Communicate effectively orally and in writing in French and English to provide evidenced, structured and well-supported information, arguments and advice to mono- as well as multilingual audiences.
  • Design, manage, and contribute efficiently and effectively to individual and collaborative projects using their knowledge and expertise, as well as leadership and negotiation skills.
  • Contribute to their workplaces and communities using an awareness of the historical origins of diversity in societal norms and practices.
  • Engage with confidence in multilingual and transcultural encounters based on your acquired awareness of, and sensitivity to, the relativity of social, cultural and linguistic norms.

Learn directly in your language of study

At York, we are unique in teaching all of our core language modules in their language of study. Our students develop fluency and confidence quickly, benefiting wholly from this approach.

The city of York is rich in history and heritage

York is the perfect place to be inspired to study the past, with a rich and turbulent history stretching back to the Romans. Today the city boasts beautiful historic architecture, as well as a variety of museums and archives.

Without a doubt, my favourite thing about studying at York is the incredible memories of my year abroad. The year abroad improved my confidence and speaking skills so much. I wish I could go back every day!
Caitlin, BA French and Spanish (with a year abroad)

Fees and funding

Annual tuition fees

UK (home) International and EU
£9,250 £25,800

Fees for students starting in the 2025/26 academic year.

UK (home) or international fees?

The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.

Fees for subsequent years

  • UK (home) fees may increase within the government fee cap in subsequent academic years. We will notify you of any increase as soon as we can.
  • International fees are subject to increase in subsequent years in line with the prevailing Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate (up to a maximum of 10%).

More information

For more information about tuition fees, any reduced fees for study abroad and work placement years, scholarships, tuition fee loans, maintenance loans and living costs see undergraduate fees and funding.

Additional costs

Set texts are available from the Library or online, but you may wish to buy your own copy for some modules. These typically cost between £10 and £30. For ab-initio languages you may need to buy books with a total cost of £50 to £60. Second hand books are often available more cheaply.

Funding

We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2025/26 throughout the year.

Departmental funding

Find out more about funding specific to Languages and Linguistics.

Living costs

You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.

A highlight of studying History at York is the opportunity to get involved in activities. You can socialise with like-minded people. The community of history students is very diverse.
Lauren, BA English/History

Teaching Excellence Framework Gold Award

Gold-standard education

Our teaching, learning and student experience is outstanding, recognised by a Gold rating from the Office for Students in the 2023 national assessment (Teaching Excellence Framework).

Why we’re gold-rated

Teaching and assessment

You’ll study and learn with academics who are active researchers, experts in their field and have a passion for their subjects. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.

Teaching format

We offer you extra study support in several ways. Our Peer Assisted Learning programme gives you the opportunity to work with other students.

Our focus at York is on effective communication in your language of study. That is why:

  • we are unique in teaching our core modules in their language of study
  • we teach mainly in small seminars
  • classroom interactions and assessments are in French
  • we emphasise issues of cultures and society, allowing you to develop a high level of transcultural awareness to underpin your language skills
  • many of our staff are native-speakers of the languages we teach

Contact hours

In the first year of your degree, you will typically have between 9 and 11 hours of contact time per week per semester.  You will spend 3 to 4 hours in lectures, and 6 to 7 hours in  seminars or workshops.

Contact hours in the second and final year can vary depending on individual module choices.

Timetabled activities

In your first year, you can expect:

Lectures5 hours per week
Seminars6-7 hours per week
Workshops7 hours

These figures are representative of a typical week. Your contact hours will vary throughout the year due to your module choices, non-compulsory classes, exam periods and changes to scheduled activities.

Outside your timetabled hours, you'll study independently. This may include preparation for classes, follow-up work, wider reading, practice completion of assessment tasks, or revision.

In the UK, full-time students are expected to spend 1,200 hours a year learning. That's about 40 hours of classes and independent study each week during semesters. Everyone learns at a different rate, so the number of hours you spend on independent study will be different to other students on your course.

Facilities

We have our own Languages e-Lab for teaching. Here, you'll have access to a variety of resources, including specialist linguistics software and online language-learning materials.

We are home to the Borthwick Institute for Archives, a major archive repository in Britain. It holds the records of the Archbishopric of York from the early thirteenth century onwards, and specialises in the study of ecclesiastic institutions.

There are several other important archives housed at York, including the JB Morrell Library and the Raymond Burton Library for Humanities Research. These contain collections covering subjects such as the British Civil Wars, French Revolution and Modern Asian history. Find out more about our libraries.

Teaching location

You will be based in the Language and Linguistic Science buildings on Campus West.

About our campus

Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can use the fast and frequent bus service. Take a campus tour.

Assessment and feedback

You'll be assessed in a variety of ways, including essays, projects, presentations, and written and oral exams. Assessments include formative work which will help you practise or develop skills, but will not count towards your final degree mark.

Starting from your second year, formal assessments contribute toward your degree. You'll be assessed using a range of methods, including essays, research projects, written exams, group projects and presentations. In French, you'll also take oral exams to test your ability to discuss your knowledge and understanding of francophone cultures and societies.

Your year abroad is assessed. If you are studying at a university, you must satisfactorily attend courses and complete two assessments in the language of study which will be submitted to York during the year. If you are on a teaching assistantship, you must satisfactorily carry out your teaching duties. However, your marks on the year abroad assessments do not contribute towards your overall degree mark.

Disability information

We can make reasonable adjustments to assessment procedures for students with disabilities. However, if you have dyslexia please note that it is not possible to make adjustments in the marking of work written in a closed language exam. This is because accurate spelling is one of the assessment objectives for language exams. Closed exams make up only a proportion of the assessment types used for languages. There are other assessment types such as coursework and oral presentations which are also used. As a student with dyslexia you could apply for extra time in closed exams, if this would be of assistance. See the University's disability support pages for further details.

A teacher talking to a group of students around a table

Careers and skills

  • The study of language and linguistics at York equips you with effective communication, critical thinking, and project management skills, which translate readily into any work context.
  • The combination of the analytic, transcultural, and communicative competencies you'll learn during your degree ensures that you are a highly sought-after graduate. You'll become proficient in all aspects of managing small-scale linguistic analysis projects, from identifying the research questions, to communicating the findings. This skill set will open the door to many different careers.
  • Our graduates have an excellent record of pursuing fulfilling paths after graduation. Learn more about graduate career destinations.

Career opportunities

  • Marketing and communications
  • Publishing
  • Broadcasting and journalism
  • Local government and public service
  • Business, finance and accountancy
  • Teaching
  • Translation and interpreting
  • IT and software development

Transferable skills

  • Effective communication skills
  • Intercultural awareness
  • Critical thinking
  • Project management
  • Independent learning
  • Data analysis
  • Problem solving
  • Teamwork

Entry requirements

Typical offer
A levels
  • For post-A Level French: AAB including History/Classical Civilisation and French
  • For ab initio route (for students not taking French at Advanced Level): AAB including grade A in History or Classical Civilisation
Access to Higher Education Diploma Obtain Access to HE Diploma with 36 credits at Distinction including at least 9 credits in History modules, and 9 credits at Merit or higher.
BTEC National Extended Diploma DDD with an additional A Level or equivalent qualification in either History or Classical Civilisation at grade A
Cambridge Pre-U D3, D3, M2 including D3 in History.
European Baccalaureate 80% overall including 85% in History
International Baccalaureate 35 points, including 6 in History at Higher Level
T levels We are currently not accepting T Levels for this course unless an additional A Level (or equivalent qualification) in History has been taken.
Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers Post A-Level route: Advanced Highers - BB in History and French, plus Scottish Highers - BB

Ab initio route: Advanced Highers - B in History, plus Scottish Highers - BBBB

We may also be able to consider three Advanced Highers or a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers, where an applicant does not meet the grade requirement through Highers alone. Please contact us to discuss your qualifications.
International foundation programme Foundation Certificate from our International Pathway College or an appropriate alternative.
Other international qualifications Equivalent qualifications from your country

Additional requirements

Ab initio or post-A level French

You can take the language part of this programme ab initio (from scratch, or with a qualification at AS level or below), or you can study on a route designed for those who have an A level in this language.

Our language programmes are designed to develop fluency. For this reason we do not normally offer places to native or near-native speakers who wish to study their own language.

Alternative offers

Meeting the following additional criteria may qualify you for an alternative offer.

Criteria Adjustment
Widening participation If you successfully complete one of the following programmes, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to two A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer: Black Access Programme, Next Step York, Realising Opportunities. More about widening participation.
Contextual offers If you have experience of local authority care or live in an area with low progression to university, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to two A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer. More about contextual offers.
EPQ If you achieve A or higher at EPQ, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer.
MOOCs If you successfully complete our online course Accents, attitudes and identity do let us know, as you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer. More about MOOCs.

English language

If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:

Minimum requirement
IELTS (Academic) 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component
Cambridge CEFR 176, with a minimum of 169 in each component
Oxford ELLT 7, with a minimum of 6 in each component
Duolingo Integrated subscores: 120 overall, with a minimum of 105 in each component
GCSE/IGCSE/O level English Language (as a first or second language) Grade C / Grade 4
LanguageCert SELT B2 with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component
LanguageCert Academic B2 Communicator with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component
Kaplan Test of English Language 478 Main Flight score with 444 in each component
Skills for English B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component
PTE Academic 61, with a minimum of 55 in each component
TOEFL 87 overall, with a minimum of 21 in each component
Trinity ISE III Merit in all components
Other English language qualifications We also accept other English Language qualifications, including various school-leaving certificates.

For more information see our undergraduate English language requirements.

If you haven't met our English language requirements

You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.

The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.

After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.

Applying

To apply to York, you will need to complete an online application via UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service).

Next steps

Contact us

Get in touch if you have any questions

Dr Dominic Watt, Dr Angela O'Flaherty, Dr Ellie Rye, James Chantry

Learn more

Department of History, Department of Language and Linguistic Science

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