French Subject regulations
The French programme offers papers in language, literature, culture and translation. 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 Education, Law, Management, Music and Science.
French is available as a specialisation within the International Languages and Cultures major. Details of the requirements for the French language specialisation can be found under International Languages and Cultures.
French may also be taken as a minor in other undergraduate degrees, subject to approval of the Division in which the student is enrolled.
The point of entry into the French language papers depends on previous experience. Those with no previous experience of French, take FRNCH131 followed by FRNCH231 in the subsequent year. Students with 14 credits at Level 3 in NCEA French or equivalent, will gain direct entry into FRNCH232. Students with excellent results at Level 2 in NCEA French or equivalent, may, at the discretion of the Convenor of French, begin with FRNCH232. Native speakers of French may not enrol in FRNCH131, FRNCH231, FRNCH232, FRNCH331 or FRNCH332. Students whose heritage language is French and who wish to enrol in a French language acquisition paper should contact a lecturer in the subject to determine the appropriate level. Please consult with the Programme Convenor for general advice on entry point into French language acquisition papers.
Students are encouraged to contact the Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences Office for programme advice.
Enrolment into the PGCert, PGDip, BA(Hons) and MA in French will be suspended from 2022 onwards.
Other qualifications
Prescriptions for:
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GradCert(Fren) and GradDip(Fren) A Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma are available to graduates who have not included French at an advanced level in their first degree.
For further details, contact the Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences Office.
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PGCert(Fren), PGDip(Fren), BA(Hons) and MA To complete a BA(Hons) in French, students must gain 120 points at 500 level, including at least 30 points in research (normally FRNCH591) and at least 30 points from papers listed for French.
To be eligible to be considered for enrolment in the MA in French, a student should have completed either:
a) a BA with a major in International Languages and Cultures: French pathway (or equivalent) and have gained at least a B average in either the best three of their 300 level French papers or all of their undergraduate French papers, or
b) a BA(Hons) in French (or equivalent) and have gained at least second class honours (second division).
Completion requirements for the MA in French vary according to admission criteria:
Students admitted under a) above must complete 180 points from approved 500 level papers, including one of FRNCH501, FRNCH510 or FRNCH524, and either a 120 point thesis, a 90 point thesis or a 60 point dissertation.
Students admitted under b) above must complete a 120 point thesis, a 90 point thesis and a further 30 points from approved 500 level papers, or a 60 point dissertation and a further 60 points from approved 500 level papers.
Students are advised to consult with the Convenor of French about their programme of study.
Note: There will be no new intakes into all of these postgraduate qualifications in 2022 onwards.
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MPhil The Master of Philosophy is a one year research-based degree in which students undertake a programme of approved and supervised research that leads to a thesis which critically investigates an approved topic of substance and significance, demonstrates expertise in the methods of research and scholarship, displays intellectual independence and makes a substantial original contribution to the subject area concerned, and is of publishable quality.
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PhD The Doctor of Philosophy is a three year research-based degree in which students undertake a programme of approved and supervised research that leads to a thesis which critically investigates an approved topic of substance and significance, demonstrates expertise in the methods of research and scholarship, displays intellectual independence and makes a substantial original contribution to the subject area concerned, and is of publishable quality.
French papers
| Code and paper title | Points | |
|---|---|---|
FRNCH131
French for Beginners
Learn the basics of written and spoken French including greetings, family, city life and daily routines. No previous knowledge of French is needed. |
15 | 26C (Online) |
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FRNCH131 French for Beginners
Learn the basics of written and spoken French including greetings, family, city life and daily routines. No previous knowledge of French is needed.
Points 15
2026 Catalogue of Papers information current as of 23 Aug 2025 01:00am