Integrated year abroad French MA (Hons) 2025 entry

It is possible for students applying for the MA (Hons) in French to work abroad in a French-speaking country between their second and third year of study. This adds an extra year to the MA (Hons) course, making it five years in total.

Students who spend a year abroad not only gain valuable work experience as teachers and tutors, but also develop their linguistic skills, intercultural competence and self-confidence.

UK students are usually placed in a school through the British Council’s Language Assistantship scheme. Successful applicants go on to teach English at a school, college or university in a French-speaking country. Assistants are paid a salary locally and, after attending a basic induction course in teaching resources and methods, are typically required to teach for 12 hours per week under the supervision of local staff at the educational institution employing them.

You can also organise an alternative work placement with the approval of the French Department.

The year abroad experience is competitive and is not guaranteed. Places are judged on merit during the second year of study, and therefore this does not take into account the initial UCAS application. If students are unsuccessful with their year abroad application, they will be moved to the four-year French MA single Honours degree programme.

To find out more information, or to discuss the possibility of an integrated year abroad, please contact the Department of French.

UCAS code
R111
Start date
September 2025
End date
September 2030
Duration
Five years full time
School
School of Modern Languages

Entry requirements

The entry requirements for French with a year abroad are the same as for the French MA (Hons) degree.

To be eligible for French with a year abroad, students must gain Honours entry in all subjects that they intend on taking at Honours level. Students who do not achieve entry to Honours-level in their chosen subjects must withdraw from their selected year abroad destination at that point.

Course details

The MA (Hons) in French with an integrated year abroad follows the same course structure as the French MA (Hons) degree, with the addition of a year abroad between second and third years of study.

During their integrated year abroad, students are required to take the following compulsory module:

  • French Integrated Year Abroad: language learning and cultural familiarisation through a work placement in a French-speaking country. Placements will be as language assistants in schools or on other assignments approved by the department.

More information about the French modules currently on offer can be found in the module catalogue.

Joint Honours degrees

You can also take French (WIYA) as part of a joint Honours degree in which you will take core modules of your chosen subjects.

It is also possible to take French as part of a Modern Languages joint Honours degree with two modern languages and one additional subject. Find out more about the triple subject combinations available.

"With" degrees

You can take French (WIYA) as part of a "with" Honours degree in which the majority of the course deals with the first name subject. St Andrews offers the following "with" degrees in French (WIYA):

  • Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology with French (With Integrated Year Abroad) - UCAS code C1R1
  • Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology with French - UCAS code CCR1
  • Bachelor of Science (Honours) Chemistry with French (With Integrated Year Abroad) - UCAS code F1RC
  • Bachelor of Science (Honours) Chemistry with French - UCAS code F1R1
  • Master in Chemistry (Honours) Chemistry with French (With External Placement) - UCAS code F1RA
  • Master in Chemistry (Honours) Chemistry with French - UCAS code F1RD

"With" degrees taken with French are also available 'With Integrated Year Abroad'.

Careers

Modern languages graduates have an extremely good record of employment after graduating, not only in all sectors that require advanced language skills but also in professional environments that demand good communication and analytical skills. 

Employers value language graduates because they demonstrate excellent communication, interpersonal and intercultural skills. 

Many graduates go on to: 

  • specialise in translation and interpreting services, in language teaching or other sector-specific careers
  • join international institutions and enterprises, working in international development departments, human resources, administration, media and communication jobs
  • start a career in the banking and financial sector
  • join the civil service, particularly in positions within the Foreign Office
  • continue to study at postgraduate level

The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students to build their employability skills.

What to do next

Online information events

Join us for one of our information events where you can find out about different levels of study and specific courses we run. There are also sessions available for parents and college counsellors.

Undergraduate visiting days

We encourage all students who are thinking of applying to the University to attend one of our online or in-person visiting days.

Contact us

Phone
+44 (0)1334 46 3643
Email
frenchhod@st-andrews.ac.uk
Address
Department of French
Buchanan Building
Union Street
St Andrews
KY16 9PH

Department of French website

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