PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
Programme title:
Final award (BSc, MA etc):
(where stopping off points exist they should be detailed
French and an Asian or African Language
BA (Hons) here and defined later in the document)
UCAS code:
(where applicable)
Cohort(s) to which this programme specification is applicable:
(e.g. from 2008 intake onwards)
Awarding institution/body:
Teaching institution:
Faculty:
Parent Department:
(the department responsible for the administration of the programme)
Departmental web page address:
(if applicable)
RT19
Intakes from 2008 (updated 2013)
University College London
University College London
Arts and Humanities
French
School of European Languages, Culture and Society http://www.ucl.ac.uk/French http://www.ucl.ac.uk/selcs
Full-time/Part-time Method of study:
Full-time/Part-time/Other
Criteria for admission to the programme:
Length of the programme:
(please note any periods spent away from UCL, such as study abroad or placements in industry) http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospstudents/prospectus/pdf/arts/ugp09_arts_french.pdf
Four years full-time. All students spend the third year abroad in a
French-speaking country on an approved university course of study, as a language assistant in a school or on an approved work placement.
Advanced Level (Level 6) Level on Framework for Higher Education
Qualifications (FHEQ)
(see Guidance notes )
Relevant subject benchmark statement
(SBS)
(see Guidance notes)
Brief outline of the structure of the programme and its assessment methods:
(see guidance notes)
Language and related studies (unit 29) http://www.qaa.ac.uk/Publications/InformationAndGuidance/Pages/S ubject-benchmark-statement-Languages-and-related-studies.aspx
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/undergraduatestudy/degrees/ubafreaaal05
For the SOAS half of the degree, refer to the relevant prog spec at www.soas.ac.uk

Board of Examiners:
Professional body accreditation
(if applicable):
EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME:
N/A
Name of Board of Examiners:
SELCS Board of Examiners
Date of next scheduled accreditation visit:
The programme aims to develop the learner's interest in and knowledge and understanding of the French and francophone worlds, past and present, including language, literature, cinema, culture and history, and in so doing to offer society the resource of intellectually trained individuals capable of acting as bridges of understanding and conduits of knowledge between French, francophone and British cultures, who may enter employment in a wide range of contexts and become life-long learners with an appreciation of the value to society of the critical skills provided by an education in the humanities.
For the SOAS half of the degree, refer to the relevant prog spec at www.soas.ac.uk
PROGRAMME OUTCOMES:
The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:
A: Knowledge and understanding
Knowledge and understanding of:
1. The French language (spoken and written);
2. French literature, past and present;
3. The culture of France and other francophone countries;
4. The position of 2 and 3 above in a wider European and world context;
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
Acquisition of 1 is through small-group classes, tutorials and regular (marked but non-assessed) coursework, with emphasis on group discussions; additional support is provided through the self-access facilities for language learning in the Language Centre. The year spent abroad provides total immersion in the target language and culture. Acquisition of 2-4 is through a combination of
5. Key methods and concepts of literary,
historical and linguistic analysis
For the SOAS half of the degree, refer to the relevant prog spec at www.soas.ac.uk
lectures, classes and tutorials; the basic knowledge of 5 is initially provided through core courses (lectures and seminars) in Year 1, and subsequently developed through lectures and small-group teaching and tutorials in later years. Throughout, the learner is encouraged to undertake independent reading both to supplement and consolidate what is being taught/learnt and to broaden their individual knowledge and understanding of the subject.
For the SOAS half of the degree, refer to the relevant prog spec at www.soas.ac.uk

Intellectual (thinking) skills:
1. reason critically;
2. apply linguistic, literary and historical concepts;
3. identify and solve problems;
4. analyse and interpret;
5. demonstrate and exercise
independence of mind and thought.
For the SOAS half of the degree, refer to the relevant prog spec at www.soas.ac.uk
Assessment:
Testing of the knowledge base is through a combination of unseen written examinations (1-5), assessed essays
(2-5), take-home examinations (2-5), oral examinations
(1) and, where applicable, the year-abroad project (an extended piece of writing in French based on individual research).
For the SOAS half of the degree, refer to the relevant prog spec at www.soas.ac.uk
B: Skills and other attributes
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
Intellectual skills are developed through the teaching and learning programme outlined above. Each course, whatever the format of the teaching, involves discussion of key issues, practice in applying concepts both orally and in writing, analysis and interpretation of material, and individual feedback on work produced.
For the SOAS half of the degree, refer to the relevant prog spec at www.soas.ac.uk
Assessment:
The variety of assessment methods employed all place great emphasis (as shown in their assessment criteria) on the learner's ability to demonstrate skills 1-5 through the production of coherent written and oral responses either to problems or tasks set; unseen written examinations, assessed essays and the year-abroad project provide appropriate vehicles for the demonstration of these skills.
For the SOAS half of the degree, refer to the relevant prog spec at www.soas.ac.uk

Practical skills (able to):
1. retrieve, sift and select information from a variety of sources;
2. plan, undertake and draft a bibliographically-based piece of research;
3. speak, write and read the French language at a high level of proficiency;
4. apply key methods and concepts of
literary, historical and linguistic
analysis.
For the SOAS half of the degree, refer to the relevant prog spec at www.soas.ac.uk
C: Skills and other attributes
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
All learners receive initial guidance on how to identify, locate and use material available in libraries, from electronic sources and elsewhere. Bibliographies are provided for each course at the outset, as are guidelines for the production of coursework essays and extended essays. Classes and lectures are given on literary, historical and linguistic concepts, and on translation practice. Throughout their studies, learners take classes in written and oral French (taught in the target language); all primary and many secondary texts they are required to read are in French. The Year Abroad further promotes the active learning of language to a high level.
For the SOAS half of the degree, refer to the relevant prog spec at www.soas.ac.uk
Assessment:
Skills 1, 2 and 4 are primarily assessed through both the assessed coursework (i.e. essays produced by learners out of class), which forms an integral part of the assessment for several courses in French literature, history and culture, and the year-abroad project.
Additionally, skill 4 is assessed by unseen written examinations in these areas. Language is assessed throughout by orals, specific term-time assignments and unseen written examination.
For the SOAS half of the degree, refer to the relevant prog spec at www.soas.ac.uk

Transferable skills (able to):
1. structure and communicate ideas effectively both orally and in writing;
2. manage time and work to deadlines;
3. participate constructively in groups;
4. work independently;
5. find information and use information technology;
6. be self-reliant;
7. assess the relevance and importance of the ideas of others.
For the SOAS half of the degree, refer to the relevant prog spec at www.soas.ac.uk
D: Skills and other attributes
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
All courses require regular written work, usually in the form of essays, and regular feedback on this is given to the learner to develop not only their understanding but also their powers of expression (skill 1). Skill 2 is learnt
(rather than taught) through the management of time to meet the various deadlines (all notified at the outset of each course) for submission of coursework. Skills 3 and
7 are developed in classes, seminars and tutorials, which rely on discussion and interaction, as well as presentations given by individuals or groups of students.
Skills 4 and 6 are particularly developed during the Year
Abroad, for which learners are prepared in advance. IT skills are largely developed through individual learning.
For the SOAS half of the degree, refer to the relevant prog spec at www.soas.ac.uk
Assessment:
Effective communication of ideas is an important criterion in assessing all areas of a learner's work, and the regular feedback as well as the final mark reflect this. Skills 4, 6 and 7 are assessed by both the coursework and the assessed essays produced, which, although guided, are nevertheless the results of independent thought and work/research by the learner. Skill 5 is assessed through the assembly of necessary information for essays, etc., and their production on PCs. Skills 1, 2, 4 and 6 are assessed by unseen written examinations. Skill 3 is not formally assessed.
For the SOAS half of the degree, refer to the relevant prog spec at www.soas.ac.uk
The following reference points were used in designing the programme:

the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications:
( http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/Framework-Higher-Education-Qualifications-08.pdf
);

the relevant Subject Benchmark Statements:
( http://www.qaa.ac.uk/assuring-standards-and-quality/the-quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements );

the programme specifications for UCL degree programmes in relevant subjects (where applicable);

UCL teaching and learning policies;

staff research.
For the SOAS half of the degree, refer to the relevant prog spec at www.soas.ac.uk
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided. More detailed information on the learning outcomes, content and teaching, learning and assessment methods of each course unit/module can be found in the departmental course handbook. The accuracy of the information contained in this document is reviewed annually by

UCL and may be checked by the Quality Assurance Agency.
Programme Organiser(s) Name(s):
Date of Production:
Date of Review:
Date approved by Head of
Department:
Date approved by Chair of
Departmental Teaching
Committee:
Date approved by Faculty
Teaching Committee
Head of Department
May 1995
May 2014
April 2013
Professor Mairéad Hanrahan
1 October 2008