BA Hons French & Politics & International Relations

Program Overview

This joint honors program in French and Politics & International Relations equips students with fluency in French and a deep understanding of politics and international affairs. Combining language skills, critical thinking, and research methods, graduates pursue diverse careers in academia, business, government, and the media. Students benefit from a year abroad, guest lectures from French scholars, and flexible assessment methods, fostering independent learning and professional development.

Program Outline

Outline:

Year 1

• French: Focuses on language work, culture of France and French-speaking countries.

Year 2

• French: Continues to develop reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills.
• Politics & International Relations: Focuses on improving writing and argumentative skills.

Year 3

• French: Students can choose among three main themes: Elections, Parties and Public Opinion; Public Policy; International Relations and Security.
• Politics & International Relations: Opportunities to study abroad in Europe or North America, or continue studies in Glasgow.

Year 4

• French: Concentrate on translation, written and oral language, and interpreting.
• Politics & International Relations: Complete an honours dissertation with flexibility over proposed topic.

Assessment:

French

• Written examinations, including translations
• Writing for a specific purpose
• Essays
• Continuous assessment ranges from online grammar tests to group projects
• Oral/aural tests are performed throughout the course
• Students write a dissertation in their final year

Politics & International Relations

• The School of Government & Public Policy encourages independent learning by reducing assessment through formal exams, instead using more flexible forms of class assessment.
• In pre-Honours classes, students are examined at the end of the semester.
• Two-hour exams are held at the end of each semester.
• For most classes, a formal essay-based exam at the end of the class accounts for two-thirds of the class assessment.
• In pre-Honours classes in research methods, assessment is entirely by class work.
• In some classes, essays are supplemented by or, in part, replaced by project work or book reviews.
• At Honours level, single Honours students complete a 10,000-word dissertation in Politics.

Teaching:

French

• Focus on the four important language skills: reading, writing, speaking, listening
• Use of technology in the classroom – interactive lectures and digital language laboratories
• Scholars from French universities visit regularly to give guest lectures and lead workshops

Politics & International Relations

• In Politics Years 1 to 3, lectures and tutorials are the main forms of teaching.
• In methods classes, lab sessions and practical group work are used.
• At Honours level, all classes are taught in a small group seminar format.
• Tutorials, seminars and student presentations form an essential part of learning and development.

Careers:

French

• Graduates go on to work in a number of areas, with many pursuing academic research careers in the UK, Europe and North America.

Politics & International Relations

• Graduates are employed in the media, management, teaching, sales and advertising, local government, further and higher education and social work.
• Knowledge of the political process is also useful in a business career and this degree provides the normal route of entry into business traineeships.
• Employers are particularly interested in the high-level written and verbal skills of Politics graduates and their ability to research and analyse information.
• Courses in Politics are recognised in the training of Modern Studies teachers, and a Politics degree is also particularly appropriate for entry to the civil service.
• Students who specialise in research methods acquire social science research skills and expertise in the analysis of data, while the study of institutions is an extremely good background for those entering government service or communications, eg journalism, television and advertising.
• There's also a tradition of Strathclyde Politics graduates entering academic research centres in the UK, Europe and North America.

Other:

• 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.
• The Stevenson Exchange Scholarship is a competitive award which offers students funding towards a project they wish to undertake while on their year abroad.

2024/25 Go back Scotland£1,820 Fees for students who meet the relevant residence requirements in Scotland are subject to confirmation by the Scottish Funding Council. England, Wales & Northern Ireland£9,250 Assuming no change in RUK fees policy over the period, the total amount payable by undergraduate students will be capped. For students commencing study in 2024/25, this is capped at £27,750 (with the exception of the MPharm and integrated Masters programmes). MPharm students pay £9,250 for each of the four years. Students studying on integrated Masters degree programmes pay an additional £9,250 for the Masters year with the exception of those undertaking a full-year industrial placement where a separate placement fee will apply. International£19,600 Additional costsInternational students International students may have associated visa and immigration costs. French Course materials & costs The majority of course materials are available to students via Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Students can print course materials at their own expense. Key language texts are used over 2 or 3 years of study. Multiple copies are also available in the University Library. Study abroad Studying abroad is an integral part of the degree course in Modern Languages - and usually takes place in Year 4. Students who choose to study in France are eligible for an Erasmus grant to help minimise the extra costs of living abroad. This however, is not a full maintenance grant. Students are required to meet travel, accommodation and extra living costs. These costs will vary dependent on the country of study. An estimated extra spend of £1,000 should be budgeted. A range of scholarships are available for students of French and awarded on a competitive basis. Students who work as English language assistants will receive a monthly stipend. In the case of France, this amounts approximately to €964.88 per month gross (€800 net after social security deductions). Politics Placement & field trips You'll incur travel costs for visits as part of the course. This course also includes a trip to Westminster - travel costs will vary upon booking (this will be reviewed with reference to post covid-19 travel/social distancing precautions). Please note: All fees shown are annual and may be subject to an increase each year. How can I fund my studies? Scotland England, Wales & Northern Ireland International Go back Students from Scotland Scottish students may also be eligible for a bursary and loan to help cover living costs while at University. Go back Students from England, Wales & Northern Ireland We have a generous package of bursaries on offer for students from England, Northern Ireland and Wales: Strathclyde Access Bursary Strathclyde Excellence Scholarship Strathclyde Accommodation Bursary You don’t need to make a separate application for these. When your place is confirmed at Strathclyde, we’ll assess your eligibility. Go back International Students We have a number of scholarships available to international students. Scholarship search Dean's International Excellence Award This scholarship is for new international students who will begin a full-time undergraduate course in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in September 2024. The award is a £5,000 scholarship per year for the duration of their degree (total of £20,000 for a four year course). All offer-holders are eligible for this scholarship. Dean's International Excellence Award