French and Economics

With BA French and Economics you can pursue your interest in economics and develop an in-depth knowledge of French and the cultures in which it is central.

Join our friendly and dynamic Department of Languages and Cultures, which offers the opportunity to study in a lively, multilingual community with staff and students from all over the world. We offer a flexible and supportive approach to learning which allows you to tailor your degree to your interests, including the opportunity to learn other languages.

Through this course you will become confident and highly skilled in written and spoken French. You will master the fundamental elements of the language, to the point where you will graduate with a near-native command of it. We’re proud of our small language classes, led by native speakers. Direct access to expert staff for help and feedback ensures you develop your language skills to the best of your ability.

You will be able to pursue your interests through a wide range of optional modules in French and francophone culture, history, literature, theatre, politics and film. You will have the opportunity to study with staff who are internationally-recognised experts in French-speaking literature, history and culture; including the literature of the French Caribbean; French children’s books and publishing; twentieth-century French history; medieval literature, history and art, as well as translation and adaptation studies.

In economics, you will study practical issues in economics and explore the relationship between economics and society more widely. This course places less emphasis on mathematical and statistical content, and instead you will focus on the relevance of these techniques to applied problems. You will still learn necessary maths skills in your core modules with extensive support, should you need it. Optional modules span a number of topics, including business, policy, economic history and even the economics of climate change.

An integral part of the course is the opportunity for you to spend up to a year in a French-speaking country, either studying at a university or working on a placement. This allows you to immerse yourself in the culture of your host country and develop your language to a near-native level. The core language module in the second year will prepare you for your time abroad, equipping you with the skills and knowledge required to work and live in a different culture.

By the time you graduate, you will be able to write and speak fluently in French – an immensely useful skill to have given that there is currently a great shortage of well-qualified linguists in the UK. The experience of studying or working abroad also distinguishes you from non-language graduates, providing evidence of self-reliance, adaptability and enterprise. Furthermore, you will be in high demand as a result of the analytical skills and specialist knowledge of economics you develop through this course. Both subjects provide you with numerous transferable skills in research, analysis, presenting and group working.

Our graduates have an excellent record of gaining employment or progressing to further study. Recent graduates have gone on to careers ranging from translating, teaching and research (doctorates at Oxford and Queen Mary, University of London) to financial services (HSBC, Zurich Insurance), telecommunications (Vodafone), marketing, the fashion industry (Chanel), the international art business (Christie’s) regional development (the Design Wales Project).