Key Info
French can be taken as part of the UL Arts Degree as a joint honours combination. Review the subjects you can study with French by looking at the table on the BA Arts course page.
About you
You have an existing basis in the French language and a curiosity to learn more about the socially diverse and culturally rich French-language world. You are interested in both language learning and in how the effective practice of a language depends on an understanding of the cultures and ideas of those who use it.
Uniquely, you wish to engage with other cultures and a specific international language: French. In doing so, you will experience social media, novels, poetry, non-fiction, ideas and systems of values and thought. You wish to tackle French and Francophone writings that have helped us to understand people and the world that we share.
Why study French at UL?
French is offered in the University of Limerick at advanced level, and our objective for students is the achievement of outstanding linguistic and cultural competence over the course of the degree programme. To this end, all French modules are taught through the medium of French, using a full range of appropriate resources and technologies. If you are open to new ideas and experiences, and enthusiastic about extending your own linguistic and intellectual boundaries, a degree with French can be a very rewarding choice.
Learn more about our courses and upcoming events
What you will study
You will study diverse topics and texts related to the French and Francophone world. The FR41 module suite, beginning in your first semester, integrates language study with the treatment of a range of subject areas including social media, cinema, politics, modern literature and thought, work and business, and translation. The FR46 module suite, starting in semester three for those who continue with French, focuses on a range of literary and cultural topics designed to deepen your experience and competence in the language.
Note: French is available at post leaving certificate level only. Students require a minimum H4 grade in French to study French.
French Joint Honours
Modules are subject to change.
| Year 1 | Semester 1 | Semester 2 | |
| FR4141 | French Language & Society 1 | FR4142 | French Language & Society 2 |
| Year 2 | Semester 3 | Semester 4 | |
| FR4143 | French Language & Society 3 | Cooperative Education Work Placement | |
| FR4623 | French Literature and Culture 3 | ||
| Year 3 | Semester 5 | Semester 6 | |
| Erasmus/Exchange placement with a partner institution abroad | FR4146 | French Language & Society 4 | |
| FR4626 | French Literature and Culture 4 | ||
| Year 4 | Semester 7 | Semester 8 | |
| FR4147 | French Language and Society 5 | FR4148 | French Language and Society 6 |
| FR4627 | French Literature and Culture 5 | FR4628 | French Literature and Culture 6 |
How to apply
| Where are you applying from? | How to Apply |
|---|---|
| Ireland | Irish students must apply to UL via the CAO. |
| The UK | Students who have completed their A-Levels can apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found on the Academic Registry website. |
| The EU | EU Students can apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found on the Academic Registry website. |
| Non-EU country | If you are outside of the EU, you can apply for this subject through the Bachelor of Arts degree. |
Fees and funding
Student course fees are broken into three components - Student contribution, Student Levy and Tuition Fees.
A number of illustrative examples of fees for this course based on the current fee levels have been set out in the tables below.
An explanation of the components, how to determine status and the criteria involved is provided below the examples as is a list of possible scholarships and funding available.
EU Students with Free fees status in receipt of a SUSI grant
| HEA pays | Tuition Fees | €2,558 |
| SUSI pays | Student contribution | €3,000 |
| Student pays | Student Levy | €100 |
| €5,658 |
EU Students with Free fees status not in receipt of a grant
| HEA pays | Tuition Fees | €2,558 |
| Student pays | Student contribution | €3,000 |
| Student pays | Student Levy | €100 |
| €5,658 |
Students with EU fee status not in receipt of a grant
| Student pays | Tuition Fees | €2,558 |
| Student pays | Student contribution | €3,000 |
| Student pays | Student Levy | €100 |
| €5,658 |
Non-EU Students
| Student pays | Tuition Fees | €15,262 |
| Student pays | Student Levy | €100 |
| €15,362 |
Student course fees are comprised of the following components:
Student Contribution
Annual charge set by the government for all full-time third level students. All students are liable unless they have been approved for a grant by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). Please refer to https://www.studentfinance.ie to determine your eligibility for a grant and for instructions on how to apply. The current student contribution is set at €3000.
Student Levy
All students are liable to pay the Student Levy of €100. Please note the Student Levy is not covered by the SUSI Grant.
Tuition Fees
These are based on Residency, Citizenship, Course requirements.
Review the three groups of criteria to determine your fee status as follows
-
Residency
- You must have been living in an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland for at least 3 of the 5 years before starting your course
-
Citizenship
- You must be a citizen of an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland or have official refugee status
-
Course Requirements
(all must be met)
- You must be a first time full-time undergraduate (Exceptions are provided for students who hold a Level 6 or Level 7 qualification and are progressing to a Level 8 course in the same general area of study).
- You must be undertaking a full-time undergraduate course of at least 2 year’s duration
- You cannot be undertaking a repeat year of study at the same level unless evidence of exceptional circumstances eg serious illness is provided (in which case this condition may be waived)
Depending on how you meet these criteria your status will be one of the following -
- Free Fee Status: You satisfy all three categories (1, 2 and 3) and therefore are eligible for the Higher Education Authority’s Free Fees scheme.
- EU Fee Status: You satisfy both the citizenship and residency criteria but fail to satisfy the course requirements and are liable to EU fees.
- Non EU Fee Status: You do not meet either the citizenship or residency criteria and are therefore liable to Non EU fees.
More information about fees can be found on the Finance website
These scholarships are available for all courses
| Title | Award | Scholarships Available |
|---|---|---|
| All Ireland Scholarships - sponsored by J.P. McManus | €6,750 | 125 |
| Brad Duffy Access Scholarship | €5,000 for one year | 1 |
| Bursary for my Future Scholarship | €2,750 one off payment | 4 |
| Cooperative Education Award | 1 medal per faculty | |
| Elaine Fagan Scholarship | €1,500 | |
| Financial Aid Fund | ||
| Hegarty Family Access Scholarships | €5,000 for one year | 2 |
| Higher Education Grants & VEC Grants | ||
| Paddy Dooley Rowing Scholarship | €2,500 | |
| Plassey Campus Centre Scholarship Programme | ||
| Provincial GAA Bursaries Scheme | €750 | |
| Stuart Mangan Scholarship | ||
| The Michael Hillery and Jacinta O’Brien Athletics Scholarship | Various benefits equating to over €7,000 in value | |
| UL Sports Scholarships | Varies depending on level of Scholarship | Multiple |
Your future career
Careers open to you with a degree in French include;
- International Business
- European and Irish public service
- Interpreting and Translating
- Teaching (Professional Master of Education required)
- Tourism
- The media and information industry
Follow on study:
Careers open to you with a degree in French include;
- MA French
- MA Applied Linguistics International
- MA TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)
- Professional Master of Education (Modern Languages)
Student profiles
Annabel O’Donnell
I am a student in the Bachelor of Arts and chose French and English as my subjects. UL interested me because of the semester abroad and the semester of Cooperative education (work placement). I felt that these would be very beneficial not only in an academic sense but also for gaining real-world experience, social skills and work ethic. For my Erasmus, I will be studying in Marseille.
I have always found languages intriguing and knew that I wanted to study them in some way. I appreciate how supportive, reassuring and helpful my lecturers and tutors are.
In terms of how we learn on a week-to-week basis, we have lectures but also oral classes and grammar classes. I find it beneficial that the lectures are delivered in French entirely. We don't speak English at all in class which is great because it helps you to adapt more to the language.
In the future, I’m interested in pursuing either speech and language therapy or post-primary teaching in French and English. These have always been my two fundamental options. My advice for students would be just to enjoy it and do your best. Do not skip classes and put in the work. This is good advice in general but especially with languages. I would definitely recommend French on the Bachelor of Arts as a subject to others, especially anyone who has a flair or a strong passion for languages.
