BA Hons Education & French
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- UCAS Code: RX13
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Our BA (Hons) Humanities & Social Sciences degree, explained.
Why this course?
French is a major international language. It's the first language of more than 100 million people across the world, while more than 60 million people speak French as a second language.
Studying with us will give you the chance to become a fluent linguist and, with our year abroad programme, an opportunity to experience living, working and/or studying in another country.
Education is essential if you wish to study initial teacher education courses. We offer you the chance to develop knowledge of the education systems of Scotland and beyond, looking at issues including policy, social justice, equity and inclusion.
Combining education with other subjects provides opportunities for those who wish to work in professions associated with education, but who don't wish necessarily to become teachers. Please note that this course doesn't allow you to qualify as a teacher, though joint honours Education graduates will be able to explore postgraduate routes into teaching careers (via the Professional Graduate Diploma in Education).
Our BA degrees in Humanities & Social Sciences are initially broad-based. In Year 1, you'll study three subjects, including your chosen subjects.
What you’ll study
Education
Year 1
Education issues explored include the impact of poverty and social class on children and society, the role of culture and community in education, how people learn and the place of policy and politics in education. You'll undertake a placement with children between the ages of 0 to 14.
Year 2
In second year, you’ll look more closely at what education means and how people learn. You’ll study how children learn from before they are born to learning in later life. You’ll also learn about education beyond the classroom as well as having the opportunity to study an education-focused module of your choice.
Year 3
This year, you will explore adult education with an opportunity to apply classroom knowledge within a community placement. You will also engage more deeply in educational research which will set you up for engaging in a research project in your final year
Year 4
As a fourth-year student, you will have considerable choice in your study modules. For example, you can look at policy and politics in education in relation to broader social issues such as gender, race, disability, and poverty, or educational representations in film and literature.
Work placement
As part of the first year in the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences, all students choosing to study education must undertake a placement. This placement involves working with children between the ages of 0-14 for 70 hours across the course of the year. The placement can be in a range of options other than a mainstream primary school setting.
Please note that you may be required to join the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme. This is for all applicants applying for courses which involve placement opportunities (working with children or vulnerable adults). The cost of the PVG scheme will depend on the related work you apply to, please check the fees and funding section for costs.
Major projects
Students enjoy a wide range of professional development opportunities. These might be ones run by students or by organisations that are invited in to speak with students. There are currently leading professional development opportunities in the likes of British Sign Language, anti-sectarian education and working with children abroad. Students will have the opportunity to lead some professional development for staff and students if they have a particular strength or expertise relevant to education. There are extra-curricular education activities such as a philosophy café and film group.
Within the joint honours in Education, you’ll be able to undertake a dissertation that allows you to do research in an area of particular interest to you.
Facilities
Education students have access to the Education Resources Centre. This is a library dedicated to education materials. It is the best resource of its kind in the country.
Postgraduate study
Students completing the BA joint honours in Education will be well-placed to apply for PGDE primary or secondary courses. They will also be able to continue onto the Strathclyde MEd.
Course awards
The University of Strathclyde is the only university in Scotland to offer a joint honours Education degree.
French
In every year, teaching focuses heavily on language work, but you'll also discover more about the culture of France and French-speaking countries.
Year 1
Two streams are offered in first-year: one for students with Higher French or an equivalent qualification and another for those without. Students in both classes study contemporary French language and aspects of the country’s culture and society.
Year 2 & 3
You'll continue to develop your reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. In the cultural class each year, you'll learn more about the history, politics, literature and cinema of France and French-speaking countries.
Year 4
In your final year, you'll concentrate on translation, written and oral language, and interpreting. You'll also have the chance to write a dissertation in French. If, however, you choose to write your dissertation for your other Honours subject, you'll take two of our cultural classes. These classes reflect the research expertise of our staff and currently focus on topics such as France since 1945, Black France, Writing the Body, and Images of Women.
Major projects
In your final year, you’ll build on your project work from previous years and write a dissertation.
Year abroad
Honours students spend a year abroad after Year 3, usually working as an English-speaking teaching assistant, gaining experience on a work placement, or studying at a foreign institution.
This is a central highlight of the course and a major formative experience for students, not just in terms of language, but on many different levels, personal as well as professional.
Student competitions
The Stevenson Exchange Scholarship is a competitive award which offers students funding towards a project they wish to undertake while on their year abroad. Staff select and interview several candidates for this each year. Our students usually do well in this competition; in 2019, for example, one student secured £1,050 towards his project.
Single & joint Honours information
English, English and Creative Writing, History, Politics and International Relations and Psychology may be studied to Single or Joint Honours level.
Education, French, Spanish, Law, Journalism, Media and Communication and Social Policy are available only as Joint Honours Programmes. Economics, Human Resource Management, Marketing, Mathematics and Tourism can also be studied alongside a Humanities and Social Sciences subject.
The available subject combinations may change each year. Once accepted on the programme you'll be allocated an advisor of studies who will be able to let you know which subjects can be combined, in first year, and beyond.
Learning & teaching
French
We focus on the four important language skills:
- reading
- writing
- speaking
- listening
We make great use of technology in the classroom – interactive lectures and digital language laboratories – and outside, through the use of web-based learning and streamed French television.
In later years you'll perform presentations, write reports and interpret into English, which prepares you for potential future careers.
Scholars from French universities visit regularly to give guest lectures and lead workshops, at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.
Education
You'll take part in workshops for practical aspects of the course, and have access to lab space and specialist teaching space for science and the expressive arts, including physical education. Field trips and the chance to study elective and optional classes are also available to students.
Throughout the degree programme, you'll be invited to lectures by guest speakers that are visiting The Strathclyde Institute of Education. They'll also be invited to lectures specifically for Education students. As part of the work on professional development, students will have the opportunity to organise guest speakers from relevant organisations to speak with students. The Strathclyde Institute of Education aims to be responsive to the interests of its students as well as ensuring that they have access to leading educationists when they visit.
Assessment
French
Our assessment methods include:
- written examinations, including translations
- writing for a specific purpose
- essays
Continuous assessment ranges from online grammar tests to group projects, while oral/aural tests are performed throughout the course. Students write a dissertation in their final year.
Education
In first year, you're supported in learning about academic reading, writing and referencing - skills that will help you become a successful undergraduate. Through peer support, we encourage students to develop their own assessment skills and learn from each other. During the course, tutorials and presentations are assessed and feedback provided before students submit work for formal assessment.
French
Year 1
You'll take two combined classes: French 1A (semester 1), French 1B (semester 2). These courses are mainly organised around a linguistic progression towards level B1 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. There's a regular input of cultural background which takes the form of three lectures in semester 1 and two in semester 2 covering the following topics:
- The Making of Modern France
- France in a Global Context
- Understanding the French Republic
- French Identities
- Contemporary French Society
In addition, there's an introductory lecture in semester 2 entitled ‘What is translation about?’.
Education
Understanding Education in the 21st Century
This class introduces students to a large and rich seam of disciplinary knowledge. It is an introductory class of potential interest to all who want to understand more about Education. Some of the key content to be addressed in the module is around the following:
- the field of study that is education: what it is and how we know that
- the context of education: some contribution of political, historical and economic dimensions to curriculum, schooling, policy, globalisation
- education achievement: some contributions of psychological, sociological and philosophical perspectives to topics such as learning, diversity, gender
Placement & Curriculum
On this module, students from across disciplines work together to learn about children and the communities in which they live; children's health and wellbeing; child protection; children's voice; children's play and play places. The notion that the health and wellbeing of children and young people is central to the advancement of society is a seminal theme in this module.
The placement experience has been designed to allow students to undertake a work placement with children and young people from 0 - 14 years. Placements will be provided in a range of settings outwith the mainstream classroom.
French
Students take two language classes as in Year 1. The language courses are based on a series of classes.
Le Monde du Travail
Cultural focus: time (35 hour week, RTT and ‘ponts’, paternity/maternity leave, …) & ‘human resources’ (hierarchical organisation, discrimination, unions, relocation,…)
Linguistic focus: the negation, asking questions, using pronouns.
La France et L'Europe
Cultural focus: the origins of the European ideal, Europe and the EU viewed from France.
Linguistic focus: subjunctive mood.
Immigration & Nationalité
Cultural focus: a historical view of immigration in France and a look at the specificity of the French ‘integration’ system.
Linguistic focus: the system of tenses in French (concentrating on past tenses).
Les Femmes en Politique
Cultural focus: a further look (after first year) at French politics, concentrating on topical issues.
Linguistic focus: modal verbs.
Les Régions
Cultural focus: decentralisation, importance of regions in France.
Linguistic focus: the passive voice.
L’Économie
Cultural focus: the French economy (role of the state, …), marketing à la française
Linguistic focus: equivalent of –ing in French.
In addition, students specialising in French take the French Culture and History 2 class. This class focuses on the Occupation and French Colonialism/Decolonisation. The historical context for each topic is first set, and documents from the two periods studied, before discussion moves on to the cultural domain, via analysis of the following texts and films:
- Au Revoir les Enfants (film, Malle)
- Stupeur et Tremblements (text, Nothomb)
- L'Étranger (text, Camus)
- Le Samourai (film, Melville)
- Anthology of historical texts relating to the Second World War
- Anthology of historical texts relating to French Colonialism/Immigration
Education
Culture, Society, Formation
The purpose of Culture, Society, Formation is to introduce students to a sample of foundational texts which have informed and transformed our understanding of culture and society, and to consider the impact that these understandings have had and continue to have on education.
Education & Learning
The overall purpose of this class is to develop your understanding of educational thought and language. Because this class is not organised around a given profession (e.g. teaching in schools) the discussion of education will be quite general and applies to any educational context, from parenting, to school, to college, to lifelong learning and informal education. ‘Education and Learning’ addresses questions that are at the heart of understanding what education is and what learning is. That these terms denote different things is an important starting point.
French
L’Esclavage Moderne
Cultural focus: a historical review of slavery and a look at modern forms of slavery.
Linguistic focus: reinforcement work on subjunctive mood, passive voice and negative forms.
Les Nouvelles Façons de Consommer
Cultural focus: the impact of consumerism on the environment.
Linguistic focus: adjectives and comparative, hypothesis, conditional mood.
Le Système Éducatif
Cultural focus: a look at current issues in the French education system.
Linguistic focus: reported speech, imperative mood, a further look at pronouns.
L’Année à l’Étranger
Cultural focus: practical module aiming at preparing students for the year abroad.
There is also a French Studies 3 class: Freedom and Identity in France and the Francophone world. This class is based on the study of the following texts and films as examples of the treatment of the class’s twin themes:
- Milou en mai (film, Malle)
- Poverty (various texts)
- The Dreyfus Affair (various historical texts)
- Monsieur Klein (film, Losey)
- Rue des Boutiques Obscures (text, Modiano)
- National Identity in the Third Republic (various historical texts)
Education
Educational Encounters Past & Present
Who are you, and what do you think about education, and why? Despite everybody being somehow involved in education, those important questions are rarely asked and reflected upon. The best way to engage with such problems is the encounter with the Other in either historical or intercultural perspective. Using a set of questions around fundamental pedagogical notions and concepts (such as ‘educator’, ‘student’, ‘pedagogical relationship’, ‘curriculum’, ‘pedagogical ethics’, ‘Education Studies’, etc.) the module will explore different answers to those questions that either have been given in our own culture in the past, or in other cultures in the past or today (for example, in East/ South East/ South Asia, in the Arabic world, in African societies, in South America, and amongst indigenous tribes and peoples around the globe).
Fundamental problems explored could include:
- what is education perceived to be?
- what is the educator understood to be, what is the student, and how is their pedagogical relationship established, organised, and justified?
- what is/are the purpose/s of education, and how does it/do they get justified?
- what is the relation between individual and social needs and desires within education?
- what ways of educating are preferred, and why?
- how is the reflection on education (i.e. Education Studies) codified and institutionalised; who is reflecting and what counts as an acceptable form of reflection, and why?
Everyone who is interested in looking beyond their own educational horizon to learn about others and oneself is very welcome on this educational journey.
Adult Education with Placement
The purpose of this module is twofold. First, it aims to offer an overview of key considerations (e.g. literacy, multilingualism, new technologies) in the development of educational activities for adult learners through a series of pre-placement seminars. Second, you'll have the opportunity to apply the new knowledge and skills learned during a one-week placement with an organisation that works with adult learners.
Children & Childhood
This module will focus on children and childhood in contexts other than formal education settings that will be explored elsewhere. The aim of this module is to introduce students to the concepts of child and childhood through a range representations. The class will draw on children in film, art and literature to explore representations of children and childhood and experiences of childhood.
Designing Educational Research
This team-taught module will introduce you to the theory and practice of educational research. This includes lectures on the principles of research design and seminars in which you'll collaborate in small group projects, familiarising yourself with qualitative and quantitative methods and their uses for interdisciplinary education studies research. The module will be assessed through a short essay and a research proposal, in preparation for dissertation planning.
Year abroad
French
French
The language course is based on a series of thematic dossiers dealing with current issues in France and the Francophone world. The focus of the class is on reinforcing and developing key professional language skills, such as translation into English, translation into French, liaison interpreting, and 'exposé' (formal oral presentation).
Students in Joint Honours French will additionally have one or more French Studies 4 classes. Everyone will take the Core Class, Images of Women, which considers the changing portrayal of women over the centuries, using the following texts as the basis of discussion:
- Madame Bovary (novel, Flaubert)
- Fatale (novel, Manchette)
- L’événement (Ernaux, novel)
- Women in the Paris Commune of 1871 (various historical documents)
Joint Honours students not writing a dissertation in French will take these two further classes:
- The Occupation and its portrayal in French films
- France since 1945
Education
Compulsory classes
Educational Representation in Film & Literature
Educational Representations in Film and Literature provides you with opportunities to reflect on educational questions through popular literary and visual media. The opportunity to interpret and reflect upon education in the context of popular culture allows you to examine theories in practice, albeit fictional contexts of practice. As well as the representations of education, the literature regularly embodies the pedagogical intentions of the author, intentions which will be explored in the module. These and other considerations form the structure and content of this module.
Dissertation
The Dissertation in Education is designed to further your development of a questioning, self-evaluative and reflective approach in a major in-depth piece of work demanding independent, self-motivated study and the sustained application of professional research and enquiry skills. The widest possible range of topics, types of project, modes of enquiry and of research techniques is encouraged. What projects have in common is the individual student’s ownership and control of the project and the expectation of high quality work.
Elective classes
Choose from this list
Critical Issues in Education
Education is not uncontested. Its place within society, and the fact that nearly all have experience of education and related institutions means that a plethora of ideas and ideologies of education abound. This module discusses some of the ways in which educational moments are constructed through politics, society, culture and religion. It encourages you to delve deeply into the various forms theories and ideologies take: their formation and maintenance; and then deconstructs these. It locates education as a societal right rather than a personal endeavour so that internationally, nationally and locally agreed and contested matters take centre stage.
Independent Study Module
The purpose of this module is to allow you to engage in independent study on a topic in education of your choosing, and to develop skills in a self-analytical and critical approach to learning. The topic can be negotiated and developed within the context of the Joint Honours Education programme, and in relation to your own individual academic and professional interests. The module is intended to allow you to develop the knowledge and skills required to identify and conceptualise an area of study in education and develop a critical, informed and conceptual understanding of the topic chosen. The distinctive feature of the module is that it aims to provide you with the challenge of becoming independent, self-managing learners and of experiencing and understanding both the satisfaction and the challenges of working autonomously.
Creativity in Education
The ability to be creative is highly valued across society, and has at times been described as one of the key ‘21st Century skills’ in education. Well beyond their school days, learners are going to find situations where they need to use their imagination, and come up with ideas. Businesses need to find creative ways to thrive and serve their customers, teachers need to be creative when designing lesson plans, and citizens need to find creative solutions to their problems. This module will explore the psychology behind creativity, and tackle misconceptions such as the idea that it is the province of only certain fields, or that some people are creative and others are not. It will also provide a toolkit to help participants to develop their own creative strategies.
Second Language Learning
This module introduces students to how individuals learn a second/foreign language across the lifespan. Students will explore the process of acquisition, models of learning, and policies and political contexts that motivate language learning. This module covers language learning in both a Scottish and global context, with specific attention to the global spread of English.
Explorations in Educational Influence
Influences are everywhere. Parents try to influence children, and children try to influence parents. Friends sometimes try to influence each other. Teachers try to influence students, advertisers hope to influence consumers, politicians wish to represent, but also to influence, the public. In this 10-credit module, we will explore certain problems around educational influence. The module is structured around three main questions: what educational influence means, to what extent it is justified, and how it is achieved. The module will explore examples of educational influence drawn from one or more of the following contexts: morality; politics; religion; sexual orientation; psychology; environmentalism; art and aesthetics; technology and social media.
Student Placement (French)
This 20-credit module offers Honours students the opportunity to spend a minimum of 42 hours and up to 77 hours on a placement of their choice where their knowledge of French language and Francophone cultures as well as their set of skills can be applied; placements can range from teaching, translating, interpreting to tour guiding, doing research, etc. in situ or remotely.
This module aims to apply your language skills to real-life experiences and allow you to become more acquainted with industry-level expectations.
Learn more about what you can do as part of your placement.
Entry requirements
Required subjects are shown in brackets.
Highers |
(including English plus at least one other social science subject from those listed under preferred subjects below; plus National 5 Maths or Application of Maths at B to C.)
(including English at B plus at least one other social science subject from those listed under preferred subjects below; plus National 5 Maths or Application of Maths at C.) Preferred Subjects
|
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A Levels | ABB-BBB |
International Baccalaureate | 32-30 |
Irish Leaving Certificate | Two H2 passes and three H3 passes including English
|
HNC | Year 1 entry: Social Sciences: A in Graded Unit; Maths National 5 B, or equivalent |
International students | View the entry requirements for your country. |
Deferred entry | Not normally accepted |
*Standard entry requirements
Offers are made in accordance with specified entry requirements although admission to undergraduate programmes is considered on a competitive basis and entry requirements stated are normally the minimum level required for entry.
Whilst offers are made primarily on the basis of an applicant meeting or exceeding the stated entry criteria, admission to the University is granted on the basis of merit, and the potential to succeed. As such, a range of information is considered in determining suitability.
In exceptional cases, where an applicant does not meet the competitive entry standard, evidence may be sought in the personal statement or reference to account for performance which was affected by exceptional circumstances, and which in the view of the judgement of the selector would give confidence that the applicant is capable of completing the programme of study successfully.
**Minimum entry requirements
Contextual Admissions for Widening Access
We want to increase opportunities for people from every background.
Strathclyde selects our students based on merit, potential, and the ability to benefit from the education we offer. We look for more than just your grades. We consider the circumstances of your education and will make lower offers to certain applicants as a result.
Placements
The Flexible BA
With our BA (Honours) degree, you can choose from subjects in Humanities, Social Sciences and Business, with two of your three subject choices taught by the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences.
The BA degree is a four-year course allowing you try new subjects, develop your own ideas, build a broad range of knowledge and enhance your employability.
Subject combinations
Use our subject picker tool to see the combinations available to you in Year 1 of the BA Humanities & Social Sciences degree. Please note that in Year 2 you'll continue with two of these subjects.
Explore the structure of the BA Humanities & Social Sciences degree for detailed information on Single and Joint Honours options.
University preparation programme for international students
We offer international students (non-UK/Ireland) who do not meet the academic entry requirements for an undergraduate degree at Strathclyde the option of completing an Undergraduate Foundation Programme in Business and Social Sciences at the University of Strathclyde International Study Centre.
Upon successful completion, you can progress to your chosen degree at the University of Strathclyde.
International students
We've a thriving international community with students coming here to study from over 140 countries across the world. Find out all you need to know about studying in Glasgow at Strathclyde and hear from students about their experiences.
Fees & funding
All fees quoted are for full-time courses and per academic year unless stated otherwise.
Fees may be subject to updates to maintain accuracy. Tuition fees will be notified in your offer letter.
All fees are in £ sterling, unless otherwise stated, and may be subject to revision.
Annual revision of fees
Students on programmes of study of more than one year (or studying standalone modules) should be aware that the majority of fees will increase annually. The University will take a range of factors into account, including, but not limited to, UK inflation, changes in delivery costs and changes in Scottish and/or UK Government funding. Changes in fees will be published on the University website in October each year for the following year of study and any annual increase will be capped at a maximum of 10% per year.
Scotland | To be confirmed. Fees for students who meet the relevant residence requirements in Scotland are subject to confirmation by the Scottish Funding Council. Scottish undergraduate students undertaking an exchange for a semester/year will continue to pay their normal tuition fees at Strathclyde and will not be charged fees by the overseas institution. |
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England, Wales & Northern Ireland | To be confirmed subject to confirmation by the UK government. |
Republic of Ireland |
If you are an Irish citizen and have been ordinary resident in the Republic of Ireland for the three years prior to the relevant date, and will be coming to Scotland for Educational purposes only, you will meet the criteria of England, Wales & Northern Ireland fee status. For more information and advice on tuition fee status, you can visit the UKCISA - International student advice and guidance - Scotland: fee status webpage. Find out more about the University of Strathclyde's fee assessments process. |
International | £21,550 |
University preparation programme fees | International students can find out more about the costs and payments of studying a university preparation programme at the University of Strathclyde International Study Centre. |
Additional costs | International studentsInternational students may have associated visa and immigration costs. Please see student visa guidance for more information. EducationProtection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) schemeStudents must pay for the PVG Scheme. Students who require a new PVG certificate will pay £59. If you have an existing PVG and need to add Strathclyde, the cost is £18. FrenchCourse materials & costsThe majority of course materials are available to students via Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Students can print course materials at their own expense. The cost of course texts does not normally exceed £30 per academic year. Key language texts are used over 2 or 3 years of study. Multiple copies are also available in the University Library. Study abroadStudying abroad is an integral part of the degree and usually takes place in year 4. Students are required to meet travel, accommodation and living costs. These costs will vary depending on the country of study. |
Available scholarships | Take a look at our scholarships search for funding opportunities. |
Please note: All fees shown are annual and may be subject to an increase each year. Find out more about fees.
How can I fund my studies?
Students from Scotland
Fees for students who meet the relevant residence requirements in Scotland, you may be able to apply to the Student Award Agency Scotland (SAAS) to have your tuition fees paid by the Scottish government. Scottish students may also be eligible for a bursary and loan to help cover living costs while at University.
For more information on funding your studies have a look at our University Funding page.
Students from England, Wales & Northern Ireland
We have a generous package of bursaries on offer for students from England, Northern Ireland and Wales:
You don’t need to make a separate application for these. When your place is confirmed at Strathclyde, we’ll assess your eligibility. Have a look at our scholarship search for any more funding opportunities.
International Students
We have a number of scholarships available to international students. Take a look at our scholarship search to find out more.
Careers
Strathclyde French graduates are currently working in a wide variety of environments around the world. Job titles include:
- journalists
- entrepreneurs
- lawyers
- engineers
- education professionals
- business executives
- professional linguists
- researchers
- IT experts
- civil servants
All language graduates have a range of transferable skills, which are greatly valued by employers. These include advanced spoken and written ability, competence in interpreting and/or translating and a high-level ability in other important communication skills.
Many Education graduates earn employment in associated areas, such as law, psychology, civil service and journalism. A Joint Honours degree in Education and another subject enables graduates to apply for the Professional Graduate Diploma in Education, in either primary or secondary education.
Chat to a student ambassador
If you want to know more about what it’s like to be a Humanities & Social Sciences student at the University of Strathclyde, a selection of our current students are here to help!
Our Unibuddy ambassadors can answer all the questions you might have about courses and studying at Strathclyde, along with offering insight into their experiences of life in Glasgow and Scotland.
Apply
Please note that you only need to apply once for our BA degree programme.
For instance, if you have applied for BA Honours English and are considering your options for a Joint Honours degree, e.g. a BA Joint Honours in English and French you only need to apply for one or the other on UCAS.
If accepted on to the BA programme, you can study one of the many available subject combinations.
Start date:
Education & French (1 year entry)
Start date:
Education & French (1 year entry)
Start date: Sep 2025
Education & French (1 year entry)
Start date:
Education & French (1 year entry)
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