Studies & Degrees in French Language and Literature (in Universities)
French Language and Literature (in Universities) Study Programs
French language and literature, also called French studies or French philology, is the university study of the French language and of the literature and culture written in it, in France and in the wider French-speaking world. It is a different thing from a language course: students are expected to reach an advanced level in French and to use it to study literature, linguistics, history and ideas.
The language has a wide reach. The Organisation internationale de la Francophonie counts 396 million French speakers and 170 million learners of and in French in its 2026 figures, and ranks French as the fourth most spoken language in the world. It is an official language in almost 50 countries, according to the University of Lethbridge, and one of the two official languages of Canada.
What students learn
A degree normally has three strands. The first is advanced language: grammar, phonetics, writing, translation and oral expression. The second is literature, from medieval texts to contemporary French and Francophone authors, often with cinema and theatre. The third is linguistics and culture: the history of the language, sociolinguistics, and the history, philosophy and politics of French-speaking countries. Northwestern University, for example, offers courses in both English and French in literature, cinema, theatre, philosophy, literary theory, cultural history and political thought.
Most programmes include or recommend a period abroad. Northwestern lists programmes in France, Francophone Europe and Francophone Africa that last from a summer to one academic year.
Qualifications and levels
- Spain. The official bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits. At the Universidad de Murcia the Grado en Estudios Franceses lasts four years, has 60 places for new students and is taught at the Facultad de Letras. Students aim for CEFR level C1 in French and add a second foreign language (German, Arabic, English or Italian). A double degree with the Université de Tours or the Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour is possible with one extra year. Official master's degrees have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits.
- United States and Canada. French is a major or minor within a bachelor's degree. At the University of Prince Edward Island a major is a minimum of 42 semester hours of French. The University of Lethbridge offers French within a Bachelor of Arts and in combined degrees such as Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Education. Research universities add master's and PhD programmes, such as Northwestern's PhD in French/Francophone Studies.
- France. Public universities teach the subject at licence and master's level. The national registration fee for 2026-27 is €178 a year for a licence and €255 for a master's degree, according to the French government portal Service Public. Students from outside the European Union should confirm the fee that applies to them with the university.
Admission and language level
Requirements depend on the country. Departments outside France usually accept students with school-level French: the Universidad de Murcia recommends CEFR level A2 on entry. Universities in France expect far more. The DELF and DALF are the official French diplomas for foreign learners. The DELF has four diplomas, from A1 to B2, and the DALF two, C1 and C2; they are valid for life. According to France Éducation international, the DELF B2, and increasingly the DALF C1, gives access to French universities.
Where to study it
SpainExchange lists 247 active schools for this subject. The United States has 100, the United Kingdom 23, Spain 22, France 19 and Canada 16; Ireland has four, and Switzerland, Germany and Denmark three each. Spanish examples are the Universidad de Murcia and the Universidad de Cádiz. In North America the list includes Northwestern University, Stanford University, the University of Michigan, The Ohio State University, the University of Lethbridge and the University of Prince Edward Island.
Careers
The Universidad de Murcia describes two main groups of outlets: linguistic and cultural mediation, and teaching. In practice graduates work as teachers of French, translators, editors and proofreaders, in cultural institutes, libraries, publishing, tourism, international trade and public administration. Some of these paths need a further qualification. Teaching in state schools requires the national or state teaching qualification: in the United States, for example, public school teachers must have a state-issued certification or licence.
For translation and interpreting, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics states that a bachelor's degree is the typical entry requirement and projects employment to grow 2 percent from 2025 to 2035.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to speak French before starting the degree?
Usually some French is expected, but not fluency. The Universidad de Murcia recommends level A2 on entry and aims for C1 at the end. Universities in France generally ask foreign students for DELF B2 or DALF C1.
How long does a degree in French take?
Four years in Spain (240 ECTS credits), and normally four years for a bachelor's degree with a French major in the United States or Canada. A master's degree in Spain adds 60 to 120 ECTS credits.
Is a French degree the same as a DELF or DALF diploma?
No. The DELF and DALF certify a language level. A university degree also covers literature, linguistics and culture, and is the qualification needed for most teaching and research careers.
Can I study French and another subject together?
Yes, in many universities. The Murcia degree includes a second foreign language, and the University of Lethbridge combines French with education, law or management degrees.