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French and Computing enables you to learn the language and culture of France, alongside learning the practical skills involving in computing, such as databases, programming and web skills. Both subject areas can be studied from scratch, without any prior knowledge.
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 official 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.
We offer the opportunity for you to spend a year studying or working abroad in a French speaking country, where you can experience the language and business world of France, Switzerland, or Canada first hand, make useful contacts and practise your language skills.
Computing at Kent focuses on the practical application of computers rather than the more theoretical aspects of computer science. Central to the computing element are programming and information systems. You can also choose from a wide range of topics that focus on computer applications including web publishing and electronic commerce.
Graduates who can offer employers a thorough understanding of the application of computing to business situations are in great demand. With the addition of language skills, this joint honours degree will give you a competitive advantage in the working world.
Independent rankings
In the National Student Survey 2015, 91% of French students and 87% of computing students were satisfied with the quality of teaching on their course.
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 can spend all or part of your third year in a French speaking country. Typically this involves a year study abroad at a partner university, an assistantship in a French or French- Canadian school or a work placement.
We currently have exchange agreements with French universities in Avignon, Grenoble, Lille, Littoral, Lyon, Montpellier, Nice, Paris, Poitiers, Reims, with Canadian universities in Ottawa and Montréal, with the University of Namur in Belgium, and with Swiss universities in Geneva, Lausanne and Neuchâtel. We normally visit you during your year abroad.
Teaching and assessment
Most modules run for a single 12-week term, and usually include a combination of lectures, seminars, private study and practical sessions. Assessment is by a combination of coursework and end-of-year examination and details are shown in the module outlines on the web. Project modules are assessed wholly by coursework.
French
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 you final degree.
Programme aims
The programme aims to:
- provide a sound knowledge and systematic understanding of the principles of computing
- provide generally applicable skills which will be of lasting value in a constantly changing field
- offer a range of modules covering the foundations of computing, and a range of options to enable students to study selected areas of computing in depth
- provide teaching which is informed by current research and scholarship and which requires students to engage with aspects of work at the frontiers of knowledge
- develop general critical, analytical and problem-solving skills which can be applied in a wide range of different computing and non-computing settings.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You gain knowledge and understanding of:
- hardware: the major functional components of a computer system
- software: programming languages and practice; tools and packages; computer applications; structuring of data and information
- communications and interaction: basic computer communication network concepts; communication between computers and people; the control and operation of computers
- practice: problem identification and analysis; design development, testing and evaluation.
Intellectual skills
You develop intellectual skills in:
- modelling: knowledge and understanding in the modelling and design of computer-based systems in a way that demonstrates comprehension of the trade-off involved in design choices
- reflection and communication: presenting succinctly to a range of audiences rational and reasoned arguments
- requirements: identifying and analysing criteria and specifications appropriate to specific problems and planning strategies for their solution
- criteria evaluation and testing: analysing the extent to which a computer-based system meets the criteria defined for its current use and future development
- methods and tools: deploying appropriate theory, practices and tools for the specification, design, implementation and evaluation of computer-based systems
- professional responsibility: recognising and being guided by the professional, economic, social, environmental, moral and ethical issues involved in the sustainable exploitation of computer technology
- computational thinking: demonstrating a basic analytical ability and its relevance to everyday life.
Subject-specific skills
You gain subject-specific skills in:
- design and implementation: specifying, designing and implementing computer-based systems
- evaluation: evaluating systems in terms of general quality attributes and possible trade-offs presented within the given problem
- information management: applying the principles of effective information management, information organisation and information retrieval skills to information of various kinds
- tools: deploying effectively the tools used for the construction and documentation of software, with particular emphasis on understanding the whole process involved in using computers to solve practical problems.
Transferable skills
You gain transferable skills in:
- teamworking: working effectively as a member of a development team
- communication: making succinct presentations to a range of audiences about technical problems and their solutions
- information technology: effective information-retrieval skills (including the use of browsers, search engines and catalogues) and effective use of general IT facilities
- self management: managing one’s own learning and development, including time-management and organisational skills.
Careers
Our reputation for providing top quality graduates puts Kent fifth out of all Computing departments for "Career after 6 months" in the Guardian league tables for 2013. This is testimony to our strong links with industry and the unique opportunities provided by the Kent IT Clinic where students gain first-hand experience of working as IT consultants as part of their degree.
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 French department also has a close relationship with Avignon, Rheims and Paris III Universities and often sends new graduates to teach English there, which is a great way to enhance any job application, especially if you are considering working in France or teaching in any country.
Our high graduate employment rate speaks for itself, with recent graduates going on to work at Accenture, BT, GlaxoSmithKline, IBM, Intel, KCC, Lilly, Microsoft, Morgan Stanley, Oracle, Thomson Reuters and T-Mobile.
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 points 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.