French

French is one of the world's major international languages: it is spoken by over 200 million people in 43 countries, on five continents. A knowledge of French may increase access to careers in international relations, development studies, business, science and the arts.

The overall objective of the French Studies program is to teach students to process information from a wide variety of materials in French, both written and spoken, and to produce accounts and discussions of that information in a variety of forms. In subjects at all levels, you will be guided towards undertaking independent research projects into areas including language, literature, politics, cinema, theatre, travel writing, food and wine, immigration and identity.

The core subjects in French are organised in a progressive sequence from French 1 through to French 7. Entry and exit points are determined by the French Program based on the student’s background in the language, placement testing or prerequisites. Students normally progress through the subjects in consecutive order. Mid-year entry is also possible into subjects with even numbers, subject to appropriate prior experience and approval from the head of the French program. Accelerated progression is possible on advice from the French Program.

See program objectives

Duration: The Graduate Diploma in Arts in this area of specialisation is only available part-time and normally takes 2 - 3 years to complete. This specialisation is not available to international students.

Students complete the Graduate Diploma in Arts (French) in the stream appropriate to their background in the langauge.

There are three standard entry points:

• French 1 Entry Point: for candidates with no or very little previous knowledge of French
• French 3 Entry Point: for candidates with four or five years of high school French or a VCE score of up to 35 (up to 4 in IB French) (or equivalent)
• French 5 Entry Point: for candidates with a minimum VCE French with a score of up to 36 or above (5 or more in IB French) or equivalent

The Graduate Diploma in Arts in this area of specialisation requires:

French Entry Point 1:

• eight compulsory subject (100 points)

French Entry Point 3:

• seven compulsory subjects (87.5 points)
• one Level 2 elective subject (12.5 points)

French Entry Point 5:

• five compulsory subjects (62.5 points)
• two Level 2 elective subjects (25 points)
• one Level 3 elective subject (12.5 points)

Total 100 points

Please note: Students will have their appropriate entry point determined by the French Program, based on evidence of prior learning and/or results of a placement test as required. Please refer to the following link for further information: http://languages-linguistics.unimelb.edu.au/french/french-placement-test

French 1 Entry Point: Compulsory Subjects

Eight compulsory subject (100 points)

Please note: that there is an intensive summer subject ‘Intensive Intermediate French’ (25 points) that students can take in lieu of French Intermediate Language and Culture A and B (see the list of level 2 elective subjects below).

French 3 Entry Point: Compulsory Subjects

Seven compulsory subjects (87.5 points)

French 5 Entry Point: Compulsory Subjects

Five compulsory subjects (62.5 points)

Elective Subjects

French Entry Point 3:

• one Level 2 elective subject (12.5 points)

French Entry Point 5:

• two Level 2 elective subjects (25 points)
• one Level 3 elective subjects (12.5 points)