French and Music (BA)

Performance Requirements
To ensure the practical musical understanding necessary for this programme, we require all students who receive an offer to provide evidence of adequate musical performance skills. We accept either:
(a) Grade 7 or higher (ABRSM, Trinity/Guildhall, Rock School), or
(b) an audition video demonstrating performance of two contrasted pieces (in genres in which you feel comfortable).

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.

 

• You will be studying at two top-ranking departments with outstanding research records .
• The Music Department received the highest rating for research in the UK in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise.
• The School of Modern Languages offers excellent quality equipment and dedicated language learning facilities.
• You will have access to major performance spaces on campus as well as several music technology spaces with the latest industry-standard hardware and software.
• 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.

In Music you will study core areas such as tonal music and the history of music, as well as choosing from a wide variety of options comprising subjects such as composition, performance and theory and analysis.

Throughout the course, you will:

• learn to converse and write confidently in French
• analyse and critique French materials in a wide variety of media
• work with industry standard equipment in specially designed music studios and rehearsal facilities
• work alongside practising professionals from different musical traditions. 

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 Music| 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. 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. They also launch careers as musicians, music, dance and drama teachers, technicians, managers and policy makers.

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.