The department is developing innovative ways of teaching. For example, you follow a language group project in your first year. During the first two years you follow courses designed to enhance your analytical skills to enable you to engage critically with French culture, literature and politics. In the final year you take greater responsibility by selecting four from a wide range of options. Current choices include autobiography, film, stylistics, the revolutionary idea, French culture post-1945, the Algerian war, historical crises of the 20th century, and a broad spectrum of literary and cultural topics.
Teaching takes the form of lectures, seminars and group work.
In all years, assessment consists of both sessional examinations and continuous assessment. The final degree classification is determined by examination and continuous assessment of all the courses followed in the second, third and fourth years. The programme for Joint Honours also lasts four years. You follow the same core language modules as Single Honours students, and a smaller number of the non-language modules. In your final year you follow two, rather than four, non-language options.