French - Undergraduate Study

The French programme offers papers in language, literature, linguistics, civilisation and translation. Students majoring in French will acquire a good grounding in the core areas of the subject that will prepare them for graduate studies in French. The University has exchange agreements with several French universities, and students are encouraged to undertake a semester of study in France. French may be usefully combined with subjects outside the BA, including Law, Management, Music and Science. Students intending to pursue a career in secondary language teaching should enrol in another language as well.

French is available as a supporting subject. Within the International Languages and Culture major a pathway in French is also available. Within the BA, BBA(Fin), BCS, BECom, BMS, BSocSc and BTour a French Language specialisation is available, within the BSc and BSc(Tech) a specialisation in Science International in French is available, and within the BMS International Management major a specialisation in French is also available. Details of the specialisation requirements can be obtained from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering or the Waikato Management School.

The point of entry into the French programme depends on previous experience. Those with no previous experience of French take FREN131 and FREN132. Students normally take both papers in a single year and take FREN231 and FREN232 in the following year. Students with some experience of French (Year 11 or equivalent) will begin with FREN132. Students with 14 credits at Level 3 in NCEA French, or equivalent, will gain direct entry into FREN231. Students with excellent results at Level 2 in NCEA French, or equivalent, may, at the discretion of the Convenor of French, begin with FREN231.

Note: Normally, candidates must gain at least 60 points at 100 level in any subject(s) before enrolling in French papers above 100 level, and at least 90 points at 100 and 200 level before enrolling in French papers above 200 level. There will be no new intake into the French major from 2011. However, papers in French are offered up to advanced level as part of the new International Languages and Culture major or as part of a language specialisation as indicated above. The International Languages and Culture major is offered subject to approval by the Universities New Zealand Committee on University Academic Programmes (CUAP).

Undergraduate French Papers (Catalogue of Papers)