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Studying French in combination with English Language and Linguistics enables you to learn another language and gain an understanding of how language itself works.
Overview
French is one of the most beautiful romance languages. Outside of France it is spoken as far afield as Canada, the Seychelles, Madagascar and Mali. It is one of the offical languages of the United Nations, and an important language in the EU.
Studying at our Canterbury campus gives you a good opportunity to immerse yourself in the language. There are many French-speaking students on campus, and our proximity to airports, the Channel ports and the Eurostar terminals at Ashford and Ebbsfleet make it quick and easy to get to Paris, Brussels and Lille.
During your year abroad, as part of an Erasmus programme, you could begin to study for a French qualification (Licence), or alternatively you can gain work experience by becoming a language assistant in a French school or by following other career paths.
Within the English Language and Linguistics element of your degree, you explore the structure of language and its relationship with culture, society, and the mind. A broad choice of theoretical topics encompasses such areas as syntax, phonetics and phonology, morphology, sociolinguistics, language acquisition, semantics, pragmatics, literary stylistics and critical and cultural theory, while modules in language learning and teaching, creative and media writing, and language and media have a more vocational focus.
Independent rankings
In the National Student Survey 2015, 91% of French students and 89% of English Language and Linguistics students were satisfied with the quality of teaching on their course.
Over 90% of Modern Language and Linguistics students at Kent were satisfied with the quality of teaching on their course, according to The Guardian University Guide 2017.
Course structure
The course structure below gives a flavour of the modules that will be available to you and provides details of the content of this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation. Most programmes will require you to study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also have the option to take ‘wild’ modules from other programmes offered by the University in order that you may customise your programme and explore other subject areas of interest to you or that may further enhance your employability.
Year abroad
You normally spend all or part of your third year in a French-speaking country. Typically, this involves a year’s study abroad at a partner university, an assistantship in a French or French-Canadian school, or a work placement.
Teaching and assessment
French
Compulsory language modules include small group work with a native speaker, computer-assisted language learning packages and audio and video materials.
At all stages, assessment is based 100% on coursework (essays, oral presentations) in the first half of the year, and a combination of coursework and examination in the second half of the year. Credits from your year abroad count towards your final degree.
English Language and Linguistics
English Language and Linguistics provides an opportunity to discover spoken and written language in all its complexity. While the focus is on English, you will also explore the meaning of language more generally, and discover what language systems have in common.
Combining theoretical and practical elements, the programme explores the structure of language and its relationship with culture, society, and the mind. A broad choice of theoretical topics encompasses such areas as syntax, phonetics and phonology, morphology, sociolinguistics, language acquisition, semantics, literary stylistics and critical and cultural theory. Courses in language learning and teaching, for instance, have a more vocational focus.
Programme aims
The programme aims to:
- provide a challenging and research-led programme of study, relevant to the needs of students with a strong interest in English language and language structure more generally
- meet the needs of those thinking of working in education, training, writing, publishing, commerce, language-based therapy and tourism, or careers where sensitivity to language and communication is required
- offer a grounding in linguistic theory, and sensitivity to, social, cultural and political issues which surround the use of language
- provide teaching informed by current research, scholarship and good practice, requiring engagement with aspects of work at the forefront of knowledge
- enable students to manage their learning and undertake independent research
- develop general critical, analytical and problem-solving skills
- provide opportunities for students to develop personal, communication, research and other key skills appropriate for employment or postgraduate study
- enable students to think and work creatively and intellectually and stimulate their search for knowledge and insight
- provide an opportunity to study another culture's approach to the study of linguistics
- if studying in continental Europe: to develop the ability to communicate in another language, in part through the provision of language modules at the host university.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You gain knowledge and understanding of:
- the inter-disciplinary nature of linguistics and language studies
- the terminology to describe and understand the nature and use of language, including descriptive linguistic concepts and terms in relation to theory and explanation in linguistics, the role of language in social life and sychronic and diachronic perspectives
- the way speech sounds are articulated, described and change in isolation and in natural speech, and how these speech sounds are organised into a system
- the structures and properties of individual words and sentences
- the way meaning is generated in language
- language varieties, styles and registers with particular reference to English
- intercultural language issues
- language acquisition
- discourse in its broader political, historical and socio-cultural contexts, such as analysis of stylistics and text and theories
- approaches to linguistics in another culture.
Intellectual skills
You gain the following intellectual abilities:
- develop lines of argument and make sound judgements in accordance with the basic theories and concepts of the subjects
- engage in critical reflection, verbal discussion and written and interpretative analysis of key material
- present, evaluate and interpret a variety of data using defined techniques in a logical and systematic fashion
- assess the merits of contrasting theories and explanations, including those from other disciplines
- select and use a variety of methods for collecting and analysing data and assess the efficacy of each
- consider the ethical aspects of collecting, handling and storing of data
- summarise and synthesise information from a number of sources
- reach independent judgements about data or theory.
Subject-specific skills
You gain subject-specific skills in the following:
- demonstrate knowledge of the main methods of enquiry and analysis in linguistics and its sub-fields and apply this knowledge independently
- understand the technical and ethical issues in linguistic data collection
- present linguistic data by means of charts, graphs, tables, matrices, diagrams and quotation
- evaluate and interpret linguistic data, develop lines of argument, and make sound judgements in accordance with the central theories and analytical concepts in linguistics and its sub-fields
- separate descriptive from prescriptive linguistic judgements, challenge linguistic prejudice.
Transferable skills
You gain transferable skills in the following:
- communicate the results of study and work accurately, with well structured, coherent arguments in an effective and fluent manner in speech and writing
- communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions to specialist and non-specialist audiences
- interact effectively within small groups, exercising personal responsibility, sensitivity and appropriate decision-making skills
- manage your own learning effectively and responsibly, demonstrating the ability to conduct independent research, achieve goals, take initiative, be organised and meet deadlines
- understand the dynamics of oral and written communication within a variety of settings
- select and use appropriate library and information technology (IT) application and resources
- show competence at an advanced level in IT, including aspects relating to multimedia and multimodal discourse
- take notes accurately and effectively
- use problem-solving skills in a variety of theoretical and practical situations
- if the year abroad is taken in a European country, enhanced working knowledge of, and ability to, communicate in another language.
Careers
French
The ability to speak a European language other than English is a key asset in the global employment market, and many employers view a graduate with overseas experience as more employable. Through your studies, you also acquire many of the transferable skills considered essential by graduate employers. These include the ability to work independently and as part of a team, the confidence to offer creative solutions when faced with challenges and the ability to express your ideas with clarity and passion.
Our students go into areas such as international banking, diplomacy, publishing, journalism, international product management, interpreting and translating, European media, law or accountancy, and language teaching. Some go on to postgraduate study in fields as varied as international journalism, visual studies and translation.
English Language and Linguistics
Single and joint honours programmes in English Language and Linguistics help you acquire high-level skills in communication, problem solving, group work, IT and numeracy, which will be very important in your future career. The programme prepares students for a wide range of careers where an in-depth understanding of how language functions is essential. These include advertising, journalism and professional writing, media, the law, public relations, marketing and sales, publishing, teaching at all levels, company training, broadcasting, and the civil or diplomatic services. The single honours programme is particularly useful for students who are thinking of English teaching either in the UK or abroad.
Entry requirements
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications, typical requirements are listed below, students offering alternative qualifications should contact the Admissions Office for further advice. It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.
| Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| A level | BBB, with a grade B in French for the post-A Level pathway |
| GCSE | Grade B in French for the post-GSCE pathway, or for the beginner's level, some aptitude for modern languages including a grade C in a GCSE in a modern European language other than English |
| Access to HE Diploma | The University of Kent will not necessarily make conditional offers to all access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If an offer is made candidates will be required to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above. |
| BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma) | The university will consider applicants holding BTEC National Diploma and Extended National Diploma Qualifications (QCF; NQF;OCR) on a case by case basis please contact us via the enquiries tab for further advice on your individual circumstances. |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall or 15 at HL including a modern European language other than English 4 at HL or 5 at SL |
International students
The University receives applications from over 140 different nationalities and consequently will consider applications from prospective students offering a wide range of international qualifications. Our International Development Office will be happy to advise prospective students on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about our country-specific requirements.
Please note that if you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes through Kent International Pathways.
English Language Requirements
Please see our English language entry requirements web page.
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.
General entry requirements
Please also see our general entry requirements.
Fees
The 2016/17 annual tuition fees for this programme are:
| UK/EU | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time |
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.
The University of Kent is currently considering whether to increase its regulated full-time tuition fees for all returning Home and EU undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250 in September 2017. This would be subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses might also rise by 2.8%.
For students continuing on this programme fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.* If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk
UK/EU/International students on an approved Year Abroad for the full 2016/17 academic year pay an annual fee of £1,350 to Kent for that year. Those on an approved Year in Industry pay an annual fee of £865 to Kent for that year. Students studying abroad for less than one academic year will pay full fees according to their fee status.
Funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. Details of our proposed funding opportunities for 2016 entry can be found on our funding page.
General scholarships
Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.
The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence
At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence. For 2016 entry, the scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications as specified on our scholarships pages. Please review the eligibility criteria on that page.