2025/26 Undergraduate Programme Catalogue

BA Modern Languages and International Relations (French) (For students entering from September 2024 onwards)

Programme overview

Programme code
BAML/FR&IR-R
UCAS code
Duration
4 Years
Method of Attendance
Full Time
Programme manager
Stephan Petzhold
Contact address
S.Petzold@leeds.ac.uk
Total credits
480
School/Unit responsible for the parenting of students and programme
School of Languages, Cultures and Societies
Examination board through which the programme will be considered
Relevant QAA Subject Benchmark Groups
The programme will meet the QAA Benchmarks defined for Languages, Cultures and Societies outlined here: 

https://www.qaa.ac.uk/docs/qaa/sbs/sbs-languages-cultures-and-societies-23.pdf?sfvrsn=3c71a881_10

The programme will meet the QAA Benchmarks defined for Politics and International Relations outlined here:

https://www.qaa.ac.uk/the-quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements/subject-benchmark-statement-politics-and-international-relations

Entry requirements

Entry Requirements are available on the Course Search entry

Programme specification

The information on this page is accurate for students entering the programme from September 2024. For students who entered the programme before September 2024, you can find the details of your programme:

BA Modern Languages and International Relations (French)

The BA in Modern Languages and International Relations will give you the opportunity to understand how states interact and co-operate in an increasingly globalised and interdependent world. At the same time, you will develop the language skills and cultural competence that will enable you to engage with and understand the interaction between different peoples and societies.

Studying for a Joint Honours degree allows you to gain an in-depth knowledge of two subjects, through first-class teaching and including a period of residence abroad.

This particular programme offers you the chance to learn about how states interact with each other, as well as the impacts and contributions of organisations such as the UN. You will combine core modules on key topics such as security and the concepts, theories and research methods of international relations with a range of optional modules. You can explore topics that interest them, from the politics of aid to the complexities of Middle Eastern politics and the rise of extreme right parties in Europe. This will be complemented by the study of a cultural and linguistic context outside the United Kingdom. You will gain an additional perspective on the United Kingdom’s position on the world stage by both the academic study of another culture and by the experience of living and working/studying elsewhere. This will enrich your understanding of the global context.

Having begun your studies with anything from beginner to post-A-level competence in their language of choice, you will graduate with the ability to communicate and defend their views clearly in this language, either orally or in writing. In addition, you will have strong research and organisational skills and be confident working independently or in a team. You will also have a strong understanding of cultural diversity, allowing you to work effectively with people whose backgrounds differ from your own. In the third and final year, you undertake a dissertation on an in-depth and specialised topic with advice from tutors.

The programme gives you a diverse skillset, useful for career development in a broad range of fields and professions, including journalism, research, advocacy, the civil service, and roles in local and national government. Other language-based careers such as translating or interpreting or training in these, will also be open to you.

Year 1

(For students entering from September 2024 onwards)

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable

Compulsory Modules

Students will be required to study the following compulsory modules

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
MODL1100Politics, Culture and Society20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
PIED1110Comparative Politics20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)PFP
PIED1511International Politics20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)PFP

Optional Modules

Route A

Students on the French A (post A-Level) route must take the following compulsory modules:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
FREN1010French Language Awareness and Skills (Common European Framework B2)20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)PFP
FREN1020Introduction to French Studies (Resistance and Desire)20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Route B

Students on the French B (ab initio) route must take all the following compulsory modules:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
FREN1012French for Beginners (A1 of the CEFR)20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
FREN1013Pre-Intermediate French (A2 of the CEFR)20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)PFP
FREN1023Ab Initio Introduction to French Studies (Resistance and Desire)20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Route A

Students taking FREN1010 may take up to 20 credits of the following optional modules from the list below.

Basket 1

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
FREN1019Writing the self in French20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
FREN1070Introduction to Skills in French Translation20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Discovery Modules

Students taking FREN1010 may take up to 20 credits of discovery modules.

Year 2

(For students entering from September 2024 onwards)

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable

At Level 2, students must study 120 credits. Overall, students must take 100 credits across their two subjects. Students are required to take 40 credits in IR and a minimum of 40 credits in French.  

The remaining 20 credits may be taken as discovery modules or as further options with French. 

Compulsory Modules

Students will be required to study the following compulsory modules: 

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
PIED2501Theories of International Relations20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)PFP
PIED2559Global Security Challenges20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)PFP

Optional Modules

Route A

Students who took FREN1010 in Year 1 (post A-Level route) must take the following compulsory module:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
FREN2010French Language in Contexts20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)PFP

Route B

Students who took FREN1012 and FREN1013 (on the B/ab initio route) must take the following compulsory modules:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
FREN2017French Language Skills (B1/B2 of the CEFR)20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)PFP
FREN2210Forms of Subversion20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Route A

Students on the post A-Level route must take a minimum of 20 credits and may take up to 40 credits from the following optional modules:

Route B

Students taking FREN2017 and FREN2210 may take FREN2351 from the following optional modules:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
FREN2090Politics and Society in France since 194520Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
FREN2340Twentieth and Twenty-First Century French Fiction20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
FREN2351Aspects of French History 1789-194520Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
FREN2352Self and Other20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)

Route A

Students on the Post A-level route may take 20 credits from the following optional modules:

Route B

Students taking FREN2017 and FREN2210 may take FREN2200 from the following optional modules:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
FREN2200Cinema in France: The Seventh Art20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
FREN2350Introduction to Professional French Translation and Interpreting20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
FREN2360The French-Speaking Business World20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

All students may study up to 20 credits from the following optional modules: 

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
MODL2003Global Queer Politics and Cultures20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MODL2015Black Europe20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL2070Reception, Transmission and Translation: The Global Circulation of Literature20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL2075Global Environmental Humanities20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MODL2250Digital Communications Across Cultures20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Discovery Modules

Students may choose to take 20 credits of discovery modules.

Year 3

(For students entering from September 2024 onwards)

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable

Compulsory Modules

Students will be required to study the following compulsory modules

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
MODL9500LCS Year Abroad120Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)PFP

Year 4

(For students entering from September 2024 onwards)

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable

Compulsory Modules

At Level 3, students must study 120 credits. Students are required to take a minimum of 40 credits in French and a minimum of 40 credits in IR. Overall, students must take 100 credits across their two subjects. The remaining 20 credits may be taken as discovery modules or as further options with IR or French.  All students must take 40 credits as a Final Year Project (FYP) module, which can be taken in - and count towards - either of their two subjects (EITHER IR OR French). 

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
FREN3010Advanced French Language Skills20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)PFP

Optional Modules

Students will be required to study ONE of the following Final Year Project modules.

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
MODL3050Final Year Project40Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)PFP
PIED3750Dissertation40Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)PFP

Students who take their FYP in French (MODL3300/MODL3340/MODL3350) are required to take 40 credits from the following lists of optional modules (from EITHER Basket 1 OR Basket 2). Students can take only ONE module per Basket. 

Basket 1:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
PIED3158British Foreign Policy20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PIED3342Gender and Security in Global Politics20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PIED3402American Foreign Policy20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PIED3565Terrorism: Concepts, Debates, Cases20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PIED3810Video Games: Politics, Society and Culture20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Basket 2:

Climate Change - 20 Credits

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
PIED3261Violence and Reconciliation in Africa20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PIED3325Europe in the World20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PIED3408Nuclear Weapons and Global Politics20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PIED3650Global Political Economy20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)

Students who take their FYP in IR (PIED3750) are required to take a minimum of 20 credits and may take up to 40 credits from the following list of optional module. 

Students who take their FYP in French (MODL3300/MODL3340/MODL3350) may take up to 20 credits from the following list of optional modules. 

Basket 3

From Algiers to Paris and beyond: protest from below - 20 Credits
Global Storytelling in French - 20 Credits
Visual Culture - 20 Credits

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
FREN3073Theory and Practice of Interpreting (French and English)20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
FREN3093Iconic Images20Not running in 202526
FREN3094The Kaleidoscope: Cultural Perspectives on Contemporary France20Not running in 202526
FREN3641The Algerian War of Independence: From the Colonial to the Post-Colonial20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
FREN3865Paris in Revolt. The May 1968 events, past and present20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)

Basket 4

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
MODL3200Representing the Holocaust: Transgression and the Taboo20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MODL3410Contemporary World Literature20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL3600Material Cultures and Cultures of Consumption20Not running in 202526
MODL3610Adventures of the Imagination: Crime and the Fantastic Across Continents20Not running in 202526
MODL3620Decolonial Approaches20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MODL3630Social Movements across Cultures20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MODL3650Minoritised Languages, Dialects and Cultures from Past to Present20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MODL3800Linguists into Schools20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Discovery Modules

Students may choose to take 20 credits of discovery modules.

Last updated: 16/07/2025 16:58:50

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