French and History (BA)

While French normally requires a minimum B grade at A2 level, the department will consider applications from students presenting an A grade in the language at AS level.

Applicants come from a diverse range of backgrounds and we accept a broad range of qualifications in addition to A-levels. Special consideration will be given to mature applicants, and we are happy to consider applicants with QAA-approved Access to HE qualifications.

Students from overseas should visit the International| pages for further information on the entry requirements from their country and English language requirements.  Royal Holloway International offers an International Foundation Programme and English language pre-sessional courses, allowing students the opportunity to develop their study skills and English language before starting their undergraduate degree.

We make decisions based on achieved or predicted grades, personal statements and references. More information on how your application will be assessed, and tips for your personal statement can be found on our Applying| pages.

We occasionally invite candidates to interview, usually in cases where we would like more information on which to base a decision. Applicants who are unable to attend, such as overseas students, will be interviewed by telephone.

• You will be studying at two top-ranking departments with outstanding research records .
• The School of Modern Languages offers excellent quality equipment and dedicated language learning facilities.
• You will have the opportunity to explore a coherent and compelling historical framework that brings history alive under the guidance of internationally-renowned specialists.
• The History Department has a vibrant and friendly atmosphere and a global reputation for the quality of its teaching and research.
• You will spend a year abroad and can choose to study at university, be a teaching assistant or go on a work placement. We have strong links with major universities in metropolitan France as well as Belgium, Switzerland and La Réunion.

Each year you will take two course units in each subject.  

The French element is structured around core course units in spoken and written language. You will use film resources and computer programmes designed by the School of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures; with language laboratories, satellite television and internet available all day for personal study. Elective course units in French introduce key areas such as history, linguistics, politics, literature, theories of communication, cinema and the visual arts.

The History course units blend analysis, narrative and argument. After taking introductory courses in the first year, you will choose from a wide range of elective units covering subjects such as Tudor Britain and the Victorians and countries such as the USA, Spain and China.

Throughout the course, you will:

• learn to converse and write confidently in French
• analyse and critique French materials in a wide variety of media
• understand and critique primary and secondary historical sources
• develop insights, narratives and themes that account for historical events.

All undergraduate degree courses at Royal Holloway are based on the course unit system. This system provides an effective and flexible approach to study, while ensuring that our degrees have a coherent and developmental structure. In the case of combined degree courses, this approach also makes it possible to change the balance of your subjects during your time at Royal Holloway.

The websites of the School of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures| and the Department of History| give detailed lists of the course units taken for each different subject.

The course has a modular structure, whereby students take 14 course units at the rate of four per year in years 1, 2 and 4, and two units during the year abroad. Some course units are compulsory while others are elective thereby offering flexibility and choice.

Assessment is by a mixture of coursework and end-of-year examination in varying proportions, depending on the course units you choose to take. In the final year you will complete a 10,000 word dissertation for History. The first year is foundational and marks do not count towards your final degree. The second year, year abroad and final year marks do count, with more importance being given to the final year marks in order to reward progress and achievement.

Royal Holloway offers rigorous degree courses and valuable transferable skills which will prepare you for a broad range of careers. Our graduates are highly employable and, in recent years, have entered many different language-related fields including international management, consultancy, sales and marketing, media and publishing, banking, the arts, politics, the Civil Service, teaching, travel and tourism, translating and interpreting.  

The History Department works closely with the Careers Service, which offers a range of tailor-made careers events, one-to-one careers advice sessions and skills workshops specifically for history students.

Britain’s membership of the European Union and today’s increasingly globalised economy and labour market make a knowledge of languages a great professional asset anywhere in today’s world.