Comparative Literature and French with a Year Abroad

Comparative Literature and French with Year Abroad at the University of Kent offers a comprehensive and immersive study of two rich and diverse cultural traditions. This interdisciplinary programme is designed to develop students' critical thinking, analytical skills, and cultural awareness through the exploration of literature, language, and cultural studies in both French and comparative contexts. Throughout the course, students will engage with a wide range of literary texts, from classic to contemporary, spanning different periods, genres, and nations, fostering a deep understanding of the themes, styles, and historical backgrounds that shape literary production.

A distinctive feature of this programme is the Year Abroad component, which provides students with the opportunity to spend a year studying in France at partner institutions. This experience enhances language proficiency, intercultural competence, and personal development, enabling students to immerse themselves fully in French culture and society. The year abroad facilitates real-world language use and intercultural exchange, which are integral to achieving mastery in French and understanding its cultural nuances.

The programme combines rigorous academic study with practical language training, ensuring that students graduate with advanced linguistic skills alongside a broad knowledge of literary and cultural analysis. Students are encouraged to think critically about the relationships between literature, culture, and society, and to compare and contrast French and other literary traditions through the lens of comparative literature. Employing various methodologies, including literary theory, cultural studies, and historical analysis, students learn to interpret texts and cultural phenomena critically and contextually.

Graduates of the programme are well-equipped for a range of career paths, including translation, publishing, academia, cultural policy, international relations, and more. The programme's emphasis on language proficiency, analytical skills, and cultural understanding makes it highly relevant in a globalized world. Whether you are passionate about literature, languages, or cultural studies, this unique programme offers a challenging and rewarding academic journey that broadens horizons, enhances employability, and fosters a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of European cultures and beyond.

Detailed Course Facts

Application deadline January 15 Tuition fee

• GBP 9000 Year (EEA)
• GBP 12450 Year (Non-EEA)

Start date September 2015 Credits (ECTS) 180 ECTS
Duration full-time 48 months Languages Take an IELTS test

• English

Delivery mode On Campus Educational variant Full-time More information Go To The Course Website

Course Content

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.

Stage 1

Possible modules may include:

CP311 - The Tale

FR327 - Learning French 2A (Post GCSE)

FR328 - Learning French 2B (Post GCSE)

FR330 - Intensive French for Beginners

FR300 - Learning French 3 (Post A Level)

FR301 - Writer and Genre in France I

FR302 - Writer and Genre in France II

FR308 - Questions of French Cinema

FR310 - Twentieth Century France in Crisis

FR331 - French Drama: Love, Marriage and Politics (in translation)

FR332 - French Narratives: Love, Marriage and Politics (in translation)

FR337 - Texts and Contexts 1

FR338 - Texts and Contexts 2

You have the opportunity to select wild modules in this stage

Stage 2

Possible modules may include:

FR589 - Learning French 4

CP651 - Postmodernism

CP594 - Travel Literature

CP603 - The Modernist Idiom

CP609 - Modernism and the European Avant-Garde

CP622 - Jewish Writing from the Diaspora and Israel

CP624 - The Shoah in Literature, Film and Culture

CP626 - Romance: From Classical to Postmodern Literature

CP627 - Science Fiction: History and Innovation

CP629 - Second Thoughts: Women Novelists from Bronte to Jelinek

CP636 - European Realism

CP642 - The Epic: From Homer to Walcott

CP644 - Creatures of the Night: Vampires in Literature and Film

CP646 - Prize Winners

CP650 - Decadence in Fin-de-Siecle Europe

CP652 - Postcolonial Images of Africa and South Asia

FR632 - Modern French Theatre 1

FR633 - Modern French Theatre (2)

FR638 - French Detective Fiction

FR566 - French: Second Year Extended Essay

FR620 - Memory and Childhood in 20th Century French Fiction

FR546 - Short Narrative Fiction in French

FR593 - Paris: Myth and Reality in the 19th century

FR594 - Paris: Myth and Reality in the 20th century

FR598 - Occupation and Resistance in the French Novel

FR599 - Description of Modern French

FR600 - Literary Trailblazers: Four Women Writers of the 20th Century

You have the opportunity to select wild modules in this stage

Year abroad

The University of Kent has Erasmus agreements with several universities in France, Belgium, Canada and Switzerland. See the Go Abroad website for an up to date list.

Possible modules may include:

LA514 - Year Abroad Module

Stage 3

Possible modules may include:

FR590 - Learning French: Business French I

CP652 - Postcolonial Images of Africa and South Asia

CP650 - Decadence in Fin-de-Siecle Europe

CP647 - Prize Winners

CP644 - Creatures of the Night: Vampires in Literature and Film

CP642 - The Epic: From Homer to Walcott

CP636 - European Realism

CP641 - SWIPE Undergraduate Conference

CP629 - Second Thoughts: Women Novelists from Bronte to Jelinek

CP627 - Science Fiction: History and Innovation

CP626 - Romance: From Classical to Postmodern Literature

CP623 - Jewish Writing from the Diaspora and Israel

CP609 - Modernism and the European Avant-Garde

CP594 - Travel Literature

CP502 - Fiction and Power

CP510 - The Text: Approaches to Comparative Literature

CP518 - The Book and the Film: Adaptation and Interpretation

CP526 - The Novella: From Boccaccio to Bolano

CP651 - Postmodernism

FR621 - The Painting as Phantom : Diderot to Proust

FR567 - French: Final Year Dissertation

FR640 - Trainspotting

FR601 - Mothers and Daughters in Women's Writing

FR613 - The Reader and the Text

FR616 - African and Caribbean Francophone Writing

FR550 - Images of Monarchy in French Classical Tragedy

FR551 - Introduction to Autobiography in 20th Century France

FR561 - Contemporary French Cinema

FR615 - French: Socio-Linguistics

You have the opportunity to select wild modules in this stage

English Language Requirements

IELTS band : 6.5

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

take an IELTS test.

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: ABB
• GCSE:French grade B or aptitude for modern European languages
• 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 16 points at HL including IB 4 at HL or 5 at SL in a modern European language other than English

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.

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

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Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Access Bursary

  Bursary for UK students all subjects where the variable tuition fee rate is payable.

• Alumni Bursary

  Alumni Bursary for UK Undergraduate students

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than University of Kent.

Funding

Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. Our 2015 financial support package includes a £6,000 cash bursary spread over the duration of your course. For Ts&Cs and to find out more, visit 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, which will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications as specified on our funding pages. Please note that details of the scholarship for 2015 entry have not yet been finalised and are subject to change.

The BA in Comparative Literature and French with a Year Abroad at the University of Kent offers students an in-depth exploration of literary and cultural texts in both English and French, with an emphasis on comparative analysis. This interdisciplinary program is designed to develop students' critical thinking, language skills, and cultural awareness through comprehensive coursework, language immersion, and international experience. The inclusion of a Year Abroad provides students with the opportunity to immerse themselves in French-speaking environments, enhance their language proficiency, and gain valuable insights into French culture and society. Throughout the course, students engage with a diverse range of texts from classical to contemporary periods, exploring themes such as identity, migration, gender, and postcolonialism from multiple perspectives.

The program combines modules in Comparative Literature, where students analyze texts across different languages and cultural contexts, with modules in French language, literature, and cultural studies. They learn to compare literary forms, themes, and styles, fostering a nuanced understanding of the interconnectedness of European and global literatures. The Year Abroad is typically undertaken in France, where students may attend partner universities or undertake internships, study regional dialects, or engage in cultural projects. This year enhances linguistic abilities and intercultural competence, making graduates highly employable in international careers.

Assessment methods include essays, presentations, examinations, and a dissertation focusing on comparative topics. The program aims to produce graduates who are proficient bilingual communicators, with a sophisticated understanding of literary and cultural dynamics across languages. Career prospects for graduates include roles in publishing, translation, international relations, education, and cultural management. The University of Kent’s strong partnerships with institutions abroad and its dedicated support services facilitate a successful year abroad. Overall, this degree prepares students for further academic study, diplomatic service, international NGOs, or any field requiring intercultural competency and advanced language skills.