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Queen's University Belfast

French - Research

Programme Overview
French and Francophone Studies are part of the Modern Languages research cluster which provides a vibrant environment for both disciplinary and interdisciplinary scholarship. Recognised as a centre of excellence for research into the languages, literatures, histories, linguistics, visual cultures and cultural identities of Europe and beyond, the cluster is founded on a dynamic and forward-looking research ethos. Within this cluster, French and Francophone Studies aim to promote cutting-edge research and debate across a variety of areas. Both individual and collaborative projects are encouraged.

Staff, Postdoctoral research assistants and postgraduate students are strongly encouraged to participate in the School's Research Seminars and in interdisciplinary research activity in the School and beyond, notably in the Institute for Collaborative Research in the Humanities (ICRH), the Interdisciplinary Linguistics Group (ILing) and the Postcolonial Forum. Within the ICRH, the Mobilities Research Group, the International Crime Fiction Research Group and the Health Humanities Research Group are led by staff in French. All staff and postgraduates regularly participate in international conferences and we host major conferences and workshops on a regular basis.

Entry requirements

Research Degrees (PhD/MPhil/MD/Professional Doctorates)

The normal minimum requirement for admission to a research degree programme is an Upper Second Class Honours Degree from a UK or ROI Higher Education Provider or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University.

Specific entrance requirements for individual programmes are available via the online Course Finder and we recommend that you also visit School webpages and contact potential supervisors to discuss your proposed research.

Factors taken into consideration by School selectors will include an assessment of an applicant's academic background and research proposal (if applicable). Relevant publications, professional research experience or other achievements by the applicant may also be considered.

Further information is available on Higher Doctorates and PhD by Published Works.

English Language Requirements

If your first language is not English, evidence of an acceptable level of proficiency will be required. In addition, applicants who are non-EEA nationals must satisfy the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes. Further information is available on the UK Government website.

The evidence should be in the form of a Secure English Language Test (SELT), or another English language qualification acceptable to the University which examines all four elements of language learning Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. IELTS Academic and TOEFL internet based tests should be taken within the last two years. Further information is available here.

Details of the English language requirements for entry to each postgraduate taught and research programme can be found in the individual Course Finder pages.

If you have not yet obtained an acceptable English Language qualification at the required level before sending us your application, your formal offer for postgraduate admission will include an English language condition which you must satisfy before the start of your programme.

INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a wide range of English language courses designed specifically for international students.

International applicants

For more information please visit the international section of our website.

Applicants who require assistance with the application process should email the International Admissions team at intl.student@qub.ac.uk

Duration

3 years

Further enquiries

People teaching you
Dr Maeve McCusker 
Senior Lecturer
SAEL
Email: french@qub.ac.uk

Application date

Postgraduate Research

There is no standard closing date. You should however check both the University's website and refer to the relevant School/Institute webpage for information on deadline dates for postgraduate funding applications, as these will also determine when your application for admission should be submitted.

Research areas

Research information

Associated Research

Linguistics (sociolinguistics, variation, corpus linguistics, discourse analysis)
Literature and visual cultures
Nineteenth-century novel and poetry
Popular culture
Postcolonial literature and theory
Twentieth and twenty-first century French and Francophone literature and film

We also have a strong record in supervising comparative and interdisciplinary theses across the different languages represented in the School of Modern Languages and with other Schools in the University. A number of recent and current research projects have been funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the EU (Horizon 2020), including a project on the digitisation of popular culture in a transnational frame, one on cultural tourism and the role of festivals and one on temporality in French and Occitan oral narrative.