The major difference in whether you take French Studies as your first subject or as your second subject is when it comes to choosing the topic of your Bachelor’s thesis. In either case, you will complete a number of self-contained modules (teaching and learning units including examinations) from various areas, allowing you to specialize in an area of your choice.

In the first study phase lasting one year students acquire a sound knowledge of language practice, linguistics and literary studies by attending introductory modules (basic modules).

In the second study phase students expand, specialize and contextualize their subject and methodological skills (advanced modules).

In the third study phase students specialize in a selected area. Students gain the skills they need to conduct independent academic work (specialization modules).

• An interest in the French language, literature and culture and a willingness to explore these aspects from an academic perspective.
• An interest in exploring texts and in spoken and written communication
• A good knowledge of French at a level equivalent to B1 (according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages; this is equivalent to French lessons over at least three consecutive school years); students with a lower level of prior knowledge can take intensive courses at the FAU Language Centre (in the winter semester during which they start the degree program as well as during the following lecture free period)
• Curiosity about French and French-speaking countries across the globe

Due to the internationalization of many companies, a good command of Romance languages is a valuable asset to have in addition to English. It not only makes it possible for you to work abroad, it also increasingly plays an important role when applying for jobs in Germany. Thanks to their language skills, Romance language graduates can therefore find employment in many professional fields. However, they are also particularly in demand in the following areas, where the knowledge of cultural history acquired during their studies stands them in good stead:

• Information processing and documentation
• Journalism
• Libraries and publishing houses
• Media
• Adult education and other forms of language teaching
• Intercultural areas involving economics, politics and culture (as in tourism or public relations, or at national and international institutions).

Possible combinations without overlaps

• Archaeological Sciences
• Book Studies
• Business and Economics
• Chinese Studies
• Cultural History of Christianity
• Education
• English and American Studies
• German studies
• Hispanic Studies
• History
• Indo-European and Indo-Iranian Studies
• Islamic Religious Studies
• Italian Studies
• Japanese Studies
• Latin Philology
• Oriental Studies
• Philosophy
• Political Science
• Scandinavian Studies (BA)
• Theater and Media Studies

With these subject combinations, there are generally no overlaps in the timetable.

Possible overlaps in the timetable

• Art History
• Computational Linguistics
• Digital Humanities and Social Sciences
• Geography: Cultural Geography as a two subject Bachelor's degree program
• Greek Philology
• Medieval Latin and Neo-Latin
• Sociology

If you combine these subjects, individual courses may overlap in your timetable. For this reason, you can only combine the following subjects with your chosen subject after a consultation. Students are responsible for ensuring that the combination can be studied and that the deadlines set out in Section 11 of the ABMStPOPhil are met. When enrolling, proof of a corresponding consultation with the Central Student Advisory Service or the Student Service Center (Faculty of Humanities, Social Studies, and Theology) must be submitted.