French

Course Outline

The Higher Diploma in French is aimed at graduates who want to be considered for a master’s course in French, but do not have an honours degree in French, or who want to add a Higher Diploma in Arts subject to their qualifications.



Objectives of the course:

-to provide you with opportunities to further develop your skills in the study and the use of the French language

-to provide you with opportunities to extend and deepen your skills in the reading and discussion of texts

-to introduce you to work in specialised areas of French as a multidisciplinary subject

-to give you a sense of French culture in French-speaking countries around the world



The modules on offer, are in the main, those offered to second-year and final-year degree students. French as a degree-level subject is organised into a number of distinct elements:



- language modules on reading, writing, speaking and listening



- core modules dealing with the study of culture and literature



- specialised modules covering different areas of French as a multidisciplinary subject, including literary studies, linguistics, French thought and the history of ideas, cultural studies, French society and institutions, and the francophone world



If you are applying for this course to gain a teaching subject, you are advised to check the requirements for the subject area by consulting the https://www.teachingcouncil.ie/ and verify the following:



1) Curricular Subject Requirements

2) Subject Declaration for French



If you are applying for this course for future eligibility into the Profession Master of Education, further information is available at https://www.ucc.ie/en/pec01/

Modules (60 credits):

FR2602 Modern French Culture

FR4202 Structure and Varieties of Contemporary French

FR2305 Introduction to Francophone Postcolonial Studies

FR2306 The Theatre of the Absurd

FR4307 Contemporary French Theatre

FR2404 French Language Today

LL3002 Travel Writing

FR2403 Introduction to Specialist Translation

FR4308 Literary Studies: Modern French Fiction

FR4407 Advanced Specialist Translation

FR4403 Second Language Acquisition

FR2702 Women in French Society and Culture

FR2204 Topics in Literature and Culture

FR4702 Contemporary Society and Politics in the French-Speaking World



Part-Time Option

The part-time option will be taught during weekday working hours over two years.

It is intended for those who already have a 3 or 4-year primary degree, preferably in the area of Arts or the Sciences, and who wish to study the subject French intensively over one academic year. The Higher Diploma in Arts is a conversion programme and applicants would not normally have studied the relevant subject to the Honours Degree level previously.



For Applicants with Qualifications Completed Outside of Ireland

Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements. For more information see our Qualification Comparison page.



International/Non-EU Applicants

For full details of the non-EU application procedure visit our how to apply pages for international students.



In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.

Note that not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above. For more information contact the International Office.



English Language Requirements

Applicants who are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university-approved English language requirements. Visit our PG English Language Requirements page for more information.

Closing Date: Rolling deadline. Open until all places have been filled. Early application is advised.



Non-EU Closing Date: Open until all places have been filled or no later than 15 June. Early application is advised.

Assessment is by a combination of essays and final year examinations in both written and oral French.

Higher Diploma 60 ECTS credits

1 year full-time, 2 years part-time.

Start Date 7 September 2026

Skills and Careers Information



This course will enable you to:



develop your language skills through extensive reading of materials in French

comment analytically on a wide range of materials in French

demonstrate an awareness of French and francophone culture and cultural production

apply critical methodologies developed by French and francophone writers in thought and/or literature and/or linguistics and/or cultural studies

apply research methodologies to prepare original, well-argued essays on a range of subjects relating to French language and culture.



These skills of analysis and research and these forms of cultural and inter-cultural competencies are of critical importance to those wishing to pursue careers in education, journalism, government, European institutions, and executive administration in multinational companies.