都柏林圣三一学院

What is French?

French is a major world language, with a rich cultural and intellectual heritage. Knowledge of the French language and its literature and culture opens up a world of opportunities to those who study them. French is an official working language of many international organisations (UN, OECD, NATO, etc.) and plays a decisive role in world affairs. French studies also develop transferable skills (excellent writing and oral communication abilities, critical thinking, extensive analytical skills) that are highly sought after across a range of sectors (the creative industries, public service, tourism, publishing, interpreting, teaching, journalism, broadcasting, the Diplomatic Service, etc.). The study of French language, literature, history, politics and philosophy is a hugely enriching intellectual experience and it also leaves graduates very well placed to succeed in a wide range of professional contexts.

French: The course for you?

If you are fascinated by how other languages and cultures offer a different perspective on the world, French at Trinity could well be the course for you. You will enjoy studying French here if you have a passion for novels, cinema, drama, poetry – literature in all its forms – and if you want to develop your ability to think critically. If you are interested in French and European history, politics and thought, and if you would like to experience French culture first-hand by living and studying in France, then Trinity’s Joint Honours degree programmes in French could be for you.

You may also learn French at Trinity by opting for one of the four non-literary degree programmes: European Studies (with French and another language), Business Studies and French, Law and French, and Computer Science and Language (French).

French @ Trinity

French at Trinity is a four year course providing a breadth and depth of experience that makes our graduates among the most highly qualified in the field. We adopt a holistic approach by teaching the French language through the literatures, histories, politics and societies of the French-speaking world. You will also have weekly oral classes with native French speakers. In your final year, you will undertake a Capstone research project on a topic of your choice. All students are encouraged to go abroad for a full academic year, or a term. There is no better way to learn French than to live and study through the language (see Study Abroad section). You will leave university with a high standard of fluency in the language, both written and spoken, and with a wide knowledge of major aspects of French literature, culture, history and society.

Graduate skills and career opportunities

Graduates of French have excellent written and oral communication skills and acquire highly developed skills in textual analysis and critical thinking that are sought after by employers across a range of industries. Trinity French graduates are working for Google, eBay, Christian Louboutin, The Abbey Theatre, Amazon, the British Institute in Florence, the Museum of Modern Art in New York or the Centre Cultural Irlandais in Paris. Recent graduates are working in areas as diverse as arts administration, translation and interpreting, diplomacy, tourism, publishing, and investment banking, as well as second-level teaching and the Civil Service. Many go on to take postgraduate courses in areas such as law, marketing and business for which a degree in arts and humanities provides an ideal background. The combination of an arts degree and a more vocational or professional programme of studies has proved to be highly attractive to prospective employers.