BA (Hons) Liberal Arts with French (with a year abroad) Bachelor's degree at the University of York
BA (Hons) Liberal Arts with French (with a year abroad) at University of York. What makes this course distinctive is its combination of the flexibility of a Liberal Arts framework with sustained study of French, culminating in a year abroad.
About this course
BA (Hons) Liberal Arts with French (with a year abroad) is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at the University of York. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Modern Languages, see the sections below.
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
- Discovering the Humanities
- Bridging the Humanities
- Intensive French Language and Cultures: Beginner
- French Language and Cultures: Upper Intermediate
- Understanding French-speaking C
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
Across the four years, you'll work through a structured progression of study areas, such as core theory, research and methods, applied practice, specialist options, an independent project and professional skills. Core theory modules give you the conceptual foundations that underpin Liberal Arts as a way of studying, encouraging you to look at questions from multiple disciplinary angles rather than a single fixed perspective. Research and methods components build your ability to investigate, analyse and construct arguments using appropriate methods and evidence, skills that carry across whichever combination of subjects you choose. Applied practice modules put that thinking into action, while specialist options let you go deeper into particular areas of interest as your degree progresses. Running alongside this is your French language study, which develops steadily year on year, preparing you for the year abroad when you'll be immersed in a francophone environment and expected to use the language in real, practical contexts. The independent project towards the end of the course gives you space to pursue a topic of your own choosing in depth, while professional skills components help you translate everything you've learned into abilities that are useful beyond the degree itself.
Who it's for
This course suits someone who is curious across subjects rather than committed to a single discipline, and who wants their degree to reflect that breadth. You might already have an interest in French language and culture, or be keen to build on existing study of the language, but you should also be someone who enjoys reading widely, making connections between ideas, and isn't put off by having to shape some of your own academic path rather than following one prescribed route. A willingness to spend an extended period living and studying abroad is essential, you should be someone who's genuinely excited by the prospect of immersing yourself in a different culture and language for a sustained stretch, rather than simply ticking a box. Studying this way will feel less like working through a fixed syllabus and more like building your own intellectual profile, module by module, while steadily gaining confidence and fluency in French. It suits people who are organised enough to manage that flexibility, comfortable with independent study, and motivated by the idea of combining language skills with a genuinely interdisciplinary education.
Careers & job market
Nationally, across Modern Languages courses, 85% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating, and of those in work, 70% are in highly skilled roles. These are national Graduate Outcomes figures rather than statistics specific to this course or university, but they give a broad sense of the destinations open to Modern Languages graduates generally. National earnings data (LEO) shows starting salaries 15 months after graduation ranging from £24,000 to £33,500, rising to between £25,500 and £36,000 after three years, and between £32,725 and £46,200 after five years, again, national figures reflecting the spread of outcomes across the sector rather than a guarantee tied to this specific degree. The combination of a Liberal Arts education with a modern language and a year abroad is often valued by employers looking for adaptable graduates who can demonstrate independent thinking, cross-cultural communication and genuine language proficiency, alongside the research and analytical skills built into the course. Nationally, 90% of students on comparable courses continue past their first year, either still enrolled or having completed, suggesting that most students who start this kind of programme find it sustainable to continue with.
University & format
This BA (Hons) is delivered full-time over four years at the University of York, with the additional year reflecting the built-in year abroad. The University of York is a public, Russell Group university founded in 1963, currently home to 17,155 students, and. It holds a Gold rating in the Office for Students' TEF 2023 for teaching quality. Teaching and assessment are conducted in English, with French language modules taught and assessed as part of the language strand of the course. The course is listed under UCAS code Y0R1 for applicants.
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
Entry & how to get in
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code Y0R1). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at University of York →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Modern Languages graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in modern languages · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Modern Languages nationally
National figures for Modern Languages graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
Job market & outlook
How Modern Languages graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Modern Languages graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Translation agencies
- International businesses
- Government (FCDO)
- Tourism & education
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Modern Languages graduates.
Head of Modern Languages, Inspire, Lead & Develop MFLSuffolk County Council11 To 18 (Secondary) QTS Programme - Modern Languages (French, Spanish or German)Diversity DashboardHead of Modern Languages - Inspire & Lead GCSE FrenchCoast and Vale Learning TrustHead Of Department of Modern LanguagesSheringham High SchoolHead of MFL: Lead & Grow our Modern Languages DepartmentWayman Learning TrustModern Foreign Languages Assistant (French) 18 hrs p/w (temporary position)The Cherwell SchoolWho studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
The University of York
Language and area studies across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around The University of York
739 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Modern Languages right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to University of York from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £26,900 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check University of York’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with University of York and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at University of York
BA (Hons) French and German (with a year abroad)BA (Hons) · University of YorkBA (Hons) French and Italian (with a year abroad)BA (Hons) · University of YorkBA (Hons) French and Spanish (with a year abroad)BA (Hons) · University of YorkBA (Hons) German and Italian (with a year abroad)BA (Hons) · University of York
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates earn?
What will it cost me?
Request information about BA (Hons) Liberal Arts with French (with a year abroad)
Prospectus, key dates, entry and funding, free to your inbox.