Introduction
French and Sociology at Aberdeen is a great combination, adding to your language and cultural skills with a fascinating awakening of your ‘sociological imagination’. You will explore how the societies we live in shape us as individuals in all sorts of ways, with top-rated teaching and a culture of dynamic research will give you the skills to be a sought-after graduate by employers in many sectors and with strong international possibilities.
This programme is studied on campus.
French at Aberdeen has an outstanding reputation, gaining the highest possible rating of ‘Excellent’ in the last national Teaching Quality Assessment.
You will add to your growing language skills with courses in contemporary civilisation and culture, Francophone and post-colonial studies, philosophy, history, sociology, linguistics, theatre and most genres and periods of literature from the middle ages to the present day.
You will be taught by staff recognised internationally for their research, from Renaissance studies to the politics of culture and difference in contemporary France.
Sociology at Aberdeen will complement and add depth to your studies of French society. You will explore how society shapes us as individuals in all sorts of ways and study sociology of the family, work-life balance, religion and society.
You will be taught by experts in social movements, conflict and peace, religion and secularisation and global political sociology. You will become skilled in the social research methods used to gather the evidence to better understand aspects of society – such as observation, interviews, large-scale surveys or analysing the content of documents and videos.
As an integral part of your 5-year programme, you will spend the whole of year three taking your language and cultural skills to a very high level as a Teaching Assistant or visiting student in a French-speaking country.
In addition to your technical and language ability, you will develop great skills in thinking critically and posing probing questions – which have tremendous value to employers, for example in journalism, marketing and advertising, social and market research, teaching, health and social services, charities and human resources.
Key Programme Information
At a Glance
- Learning Mode
- On Campus Learning
- Degree Qualification
- MA
- Duration
- 60 months
- Study Mode
- Full Time
- Start Month
- September
- UCAS Code
- RL13
What You'll Study
- Year 1
-
Year 1
Compulsory Courses
- Introduction to Sociology I: Self, Identity & Society (SO1007) - 15 Credit Points
-
Sociology is the study of human social groups. It particularly focuses on modern societies, analysing how they work and how the major social institutions in them (such as religion, the media, government and the economy) operate. The course provides students with a general introduction to the unique manner in which sociologists seek to understand contemporary societies. Students are presented with current and classical approaches to understanding the social processes that underlie self-construction, group formation and social interaction, within urbanizing and globalizing social contexts.
- Introduction to Sociology II: Systems of Power (SO1509) - 15 Credit Points
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This course is an introduction to macro-sociology, which analyses the ways that people’s lives are shaped by large-scale forces, structures, and institutions. Students are introduced to the particular ways in which classical and contemporary sociologists understand social forces in the modern domestic and global environment and learn to think critically about those social forces that impact their everyday lives using the sociological imagination. Substantive topics likely to be covered in this course include the media, politics, religion, surveillance, education, class stratification, international inequalities, and the relationship between humans and other animals.
- Professional Skills Part 1 (PD1001)
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This course, which is prescribed for level 1 students and optional for level 2 students, is studied entirely online and covers topics relating to careers and employability, equality and diversity and health, safety and wellbeing. During the course you will learn about the Aberdeen Graduate Attributes, how they are relevant to you and the opportunities available to develop your skills and attributes alongside your University studies. You will also gain an understanding of equality and diversity and health, safety and wellbeing issues. Successful completion of this course will be recorded on your Enhanced Transcript as ‘Achieved’ (non-completion will be recorded as ‘Not Achieved’). The course takes approximately 3 hours to complete and can be taken in one sitting, or spread across a number of weeks and it will be available to you throughout the academic year.
This course, which is prescribed for level 1 students and optional for level 2 students and above, is studied entirely online and covers topics relating to careers and employability, equality and diversity and health, safety and wellbeing. During the course you will learn about the Aberdeen Graduate Attributes, how they are relevant to you and the opportunities available to develop your skills and attributes alongside your University studies. You will also gain an understanding of equality and diversity and health, safety and wellbeing issues. Successful completion of this course will be recorded on your Enhanced Transcript as ‘Achieved’ (non-completion will be recorded as ‘Not Achieved’). The course takes approximately 3 hours to complete and can be taken in one sitting, or spread across a number of weeks and it will be available to you throughout the academic year.
- Academic Writing for Language & Literature (AW1008)
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This compulsory evaluation is designed to find out if your academic writing is of a sufficient standard to enable you to succeed at university and, if you need it, to provide support to improve. It is completed on-line via MyAberdeen with clear instructions to guide you through it. If you pass the evaluation at the first assessment it will not take much of your time. If you do not, you will be provided with resources to help you improve. This evaluation does not carry credits but if you do not complete it this will be recorded on your degree transcript.
Optional Courses
Beginner
- FR1023: Level 1 French Language 1A: Beginners/Near Beginners
- FR1523: Level 1 French Language 1B : Beginners/Near Beginners
- FR1021: Introduction to Literature and Culture of Modern France 1 AND/OR FR1527: Introduction to Literature and Culture of Modern France in Context
- Select further credit points from courses of choice to reach 120 credit points
Intermediate/Advanced
- EITHER FR1024: Level 1 French Language 2A: Intermediate OR FR1025: Level 1 French Language 3A: Proficient
- FR1524: Level 1 French Language 2B/3B: Intermediate/Proficient
- FR1022: Literature and Culture of Modern France 1 AND/OR FR1526: Literature and Culture of Modern France in Context
- Select further credit points from courses of choice to reach 120 credit points
- Level 1 French Language 1a: Beginners / Near Beginners (Standard Grade / GCSE or Below) (FR1023) - 15 Credit Points
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This intensive language course is designed for students who have little or no previous knowledge of French.
- Level 1 French Language 1b: Beginners / Near Beginners (FR1523) - 15 Credit Points
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This course builds on the work done in FR1023, providing students with an adequate command of French language to allow them the possibility of continuing their studies into level 2 and Honours.
- Introduction to Literature and Culture of Modern France 1 (FR1021) - 15 Credit Points
-
This course offers students who are registered for the Beginners' course in French language an introduction to twentieth and twenty-first century French culture and society through the study of films, short prose texts and poetry. The course is organised around the broad themes of childhood and adolescence, gender, sexuality and love and marginalisation in contemporary France. The texts will be studied in translation or with subtitles.
- Level 1 French Language 2a: Intermediate (FR1024) - 15 Credit Points
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This course is intended for students who have studied French to Higher or equivalent level, but whose knowledge may be rusty. It will enable them to consolidate and extend their knowledge of French, written and spoken.
- Level 1 French Language 3a: Proficient (FR1025) - 15 Credit Points
-
This course is intended for students who have studied French to at least Higher or equivalent level, or beyond to A level or Advanced Higher. It will enable them to consolidate and extend their knowledge of French, written and spoken.
- Level 1 French Language 2b / 3b: Intermediate / Proficient (FR1524) - 15 Credit Points
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This course is intended for students who have studied French to the equivalent of Scottish Higher or beyond. Building on the work done in the first semester in FR1024 or FR1025, it seeks to enable students to consolidate and extend their knowledge of French, written and spoken.
- Literature and Culture of Modern France 1 (FR1022) - 15 Credit Points
-
This course offers students with intermediate or good knowledge French language an introduction to twentieth and twenty-first century French culture and society through the study of films, short prose texts and poetry. The course is organised around the broad themes of childhood and adolescence, gender, sexuality and love and marginalisation in contemporary France.
- Introduction to Literature and Culture of Modern France In Context (FR1527) - 15 Credit Points
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This course offers students who are registered for the beginners' course in French language an advanced introduction to twentieth and twenty-first century French and Francophone culture and society, focusing on the occupation of France during World War II and the experience of colonialism and post-colonialism. Written texts will be studied in translation or with vocabulary help and films will be studied with subtitles.
- Literature and Culture of Modern France in Context (FR1526) - 15 Credit Points
-
This course offers students with intermediate or good knowledge French language an advanced introduction to twentieth and twenty-first century French and Francophone culture and society, focusing on the occupation of France during World War II and the experience of colonialism and post-colonialism.
- Year 2
-
Year 2
Compulsory Courses
- Sociology of Everyday Life i: the Embodied Self (SO2006) - 30 Credit Points
-
This follows on from level-one sociology. It is designed to highlight the ways that sociological theory informs the research endeavour, not only the questions sociologists raise, but also the particular modes through which we go about investigating them. The module examines these points in relation to a range of micro-level topics – the body, food and feeding, health and illness, the emotions, group behaviour, sex and gender, the life course and death and dying – all of which emphasise the nature of human interaction and sociological efforts to understand it.
- Sociology of Everyday Life II: Global Issues in the 21st Century (SO2509) - 30 Credit Points
-
This macro-sociology course extends students’ understanding of large-scale social, as well as political and economic, processes and institutions. Particular focus is on the sociological analysis of global issues and socio-political controversies, many of which are subject to topical and, at times, contentious debate at the beginning of the 21st century. The substantive topics include areas of social and political concern such as globalisation; the changing nature of economy, work and leisure; risk and insecurity; multiculturalism; food production and security; social movements; nationalism and identities.
Optional Courses
Beginner
- FR2012: Advanced Introductory French Language 1
- FR2014: Introduction to French Identities: Individual and Society
- FR2512: Advanced Introductory French Language 2
- FR2514: Introduction to French Identities: Centre and Periphery
Intermediate/Advanced
- FR2002: Advanced French Language 1
- FR2502: Advanced French Language 2
Plus, select one of the following:
- FR2013: French Identities: Individual and Society AND FR2513: French Identities: Centre and Periphery
- FR2013: French Identities: Individual and Society AND FR2510: Introduction to French Linguistics
- FR2510: French Identities: Centre and Periphery AND FR2513: Introduction to French Linguistics
- Advanced Introductory French Language 1 (FR2012) - 15 Credit Points
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This second year French language course which runs in the first half-session is only open to students who have passed FR1523. It will improve their written, oral and aural skills, and is one of the two second year French language courses (along with FR2512) that has to have passed to be allowed into the French honours Programme.
- Advanced Introductory French Language 2 (FR2512) - 15 Credit Points
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This second year French language course which runs in the second half-session is only open to students who have followed FR2012. It will improve their written, oral and aural skills, and is one of the two second year French language pre-requisite courses (along with FR2012) that one must have passed to be allowed into the French honours Programme.
- Advanced French Language 1 (FR2002) - 15 Credit Points
-
This second year French language course which runs in the first half-session is only open to students who have passed FR1524. It will improve their written, oral and aural skills, and is one of the two second year French language courses (with FR2502) that one has to have passed to be allowed into the French honours Programme.
- Advanced French Language 2 (FR2502) - 15 Credit Points
-
This second year French language course which runs in the second half-session is only open to students who have followed FR2002. It will improve their written, oral and aural skills, and is one of the two second year French language pre-requisite courses (along with FR2002) that one must have passed to be allowed into the French honours Programme.
- Introduction to French Linguistics (FR2510) - 15 Credit Points
-
This course will look at
- the French sound system (with the spin-off of helping you to improve your pronunciation).
- word meaning and also speaker meaning (what a speaker means by, e.g., "were you born in a barn?")
- how new words are formed
- how sentences can be analysed
- how French has developed from the Middle Ages up to the present
- how French spread throughout the world (including French-based creoles)
- how French varies according to the person using the language, and the purpose for which they are using it
- Introduction to French Identities: Individual and Society (FR2014) - 15 Credit Points
-
This course will introduce students to a variety of texts which focus on the theme of relationships between the individual and society in France from the 18th century onwards. The course will involve lectures and tutorials and will include the study of novels, a play and a film.
- Introduction to French Identities: Centre and Periphery (FR2514) - 15 Credit Points
-
This course will introduce students to a variety of texts which focus on the theme of relationships between the centre and periphery in France and the Francophone world from the 17th century onwards. The course will involve lectures and tutorials and will include the study of a play, poetry, postcolonial theory and a film.
- Year 3
-
Year 3
Compulsory Courses
- Academic year spent in French-speaking country
- Year 4
-
Year 4
Compulsory Courses
- Junior Honours French Language (FR3089) - 15 Credit Points
-
This Junior Honours French language course, whose pre-requisites are FR2502 or FR2512, runs over the full session and is only open to Single and Joint Junior Honours degree in French students.
Building on the skills gained during their first two years of study of French, this course will improve the students' French language skills in all four areas of listening, speaking, reading and writing, whilst increasing their grammatical and lexical knowledge, as well as their sensitivity to linguistic variety.
It carries 15 credits and is assessed by way of four equally weighted assignments.
- Social Research Methods (SO3524) - 30 Credit Points
-
Sociologists use a range of methods and techniques to explore and test sociological theory. This module introduces many of these methods and techniques. It aims to ground students’ theoretical understanding of society through the practical analysis of a variety of data. It starts by introducing the varying philosophical starting points of research and goes on to provide foundation level critical analysis skills in the key quantitative and qualitative methods that sociologists have deployed to understand and ‘capture’ the social world.
Optional Courses
- Religion and Society (SO3067) or Thinking Sociologically (SO3066)
Plus a further 45 credit points from level 3 courses in French
- Religion and Society (SO3067) - 30 Credit Points
-
Modernization changes the nature and social position of religion: what was once imposed on entire societies becomes a matter of choice and as societies become more religiously diverse, religion is increasingly confined to the home and the family. National churches are replaced by denominations and sects and the state’s increasing neutrality allows new religious movements to flourish. This course uses secularization to examine such basic sociological concepts as social differentiation, individualism, social cohesion, community versus voluntary association, immigration, conversion, recruitment, gender, and cultural defence.
- Thinking Sociologically (SO3066) - 30 Credit Points
-
Thinking Sociologically is the department's core sociological theory module. The course offers our students an introduction to a range of key sociological thinkers and bodies of thought, both classical and contemporary, that inform sociological analysis of social life and social institutions. As such, this course is intended to provide our honours students with a conceptual 'toolkit', that can be applied to facilitate understanding, insight and informed critique with respect to a broad range of historical and contemporary social, political and economic phenomena.
- Year 5
-
Year 5
Compulsory Courses
- Senior Honours French Language (FR4089) - 30 Credit Points
-
This Senior Honours French language course, whose prerequisite is the Junior Honours French Language course, is run over the full session and is only open to Single and Joint Senior Honours degree in French students.
Building on the skills gained in their third year of study of French, this course will help the students' French language gain very high skills in all four areas of listening, speaking, reading and writing, whilst increasing their grammatical and lexical knowledge, as well as their sensitivity to linguistic variety.
Optional Courses
Choose one of the following dissertation courses:
- French Dissertation (FR4097)
- Research Project (Sociology) (SO4049)
Plus further credit points from level 4 courses in French and Sociology to gain a total of 60 credits in each discipline
- Senior Honours French Language (FR4089) - 30 Credit Points
-
This Senior Honours French language course, whose prerequisite is the Junior Honours French Language course, is run over the full session and is only open to Single and Joint Senior Honours degree in French students.
Building on the skills gained in their third year of study of French, this course will help the students' French language gain very high skills in all four areas of listening, speaking, reading and writing, whilst increasing their grammatical and lexical knowledge, as well as their sensitivity to linguistic variety.
- Dissertation in French (FR4097) - 15 Credit Points
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Candidates will write a dissertation of 8,000 words on a subject to be decided in consultation with the Course Co-ordinator, to be researched and written (under supervision by a member of staff) in the second half session of Junior Honours, and submitted at the beginning of Senior Honours.
Course Availability
We will endeavour to make all course options available; however, these may be subject to timetabling and other constraints. Please see our InfoHub pages for further information.
How You'll Study
Learning Methods
- Individual Projects
- Lectures
- Research
- Tutorials
Assessment Methods
Students are assessed by any combination of three assessment methods:
- Coursework such as essays and reports completed throughout the course.
- Practical assessments of the skills and competencies they learn on the course.
- Written examinations at the end of each course.
The exact mix of these methods differs between subject areas, years of study and individual courses.
Honours projects are typically assessed on the basis of a written dissertation.
Further Information
- View detailed learning and assessment information for this programme
-
How the programme is taught
The typical time spent in scheduled learning activities (lectures, tutorials, seminars, practicals), independent self-study or placement is shown for each year of the programme based on the most popular course choices selected by students.
How the programme is assessed
The typical percentage of assessment methods broken down by written examination, coursework or practical exams is shown for each year of the programme based on the most popular course choices selected by students.
Year 1
Learning Method
scheduled: 22%
independent: 78%
placement: 0%
Assessment
written: 70%
coursework: 21%
practical: 9%
Year 2
Learning Method
scheduled: 18%
independent: 82%
placement: 0%
Assessment
written: 54%
coursework: 43%
practical: 3%
Year 3
Learning Method
scheduled: 0%
independent: 0%
placement: 100%
Assessment
written: 0%
coursework: 0%
practical: 0%
Year 4
Learning Method
scheduled: 16%
independent: 84%
placement: 0%
Assessment
written: 40%
coursework: 60%
practical: 0%
Year 5
Learning Method
scheduled: 10%
independent: 90%
placement: 0%
Assessment
written: 52%
coursework: 42%
practical: 6%
Why Study French and Sociology?
Why French
- French at Aberdeen gained the highest possible rating of ‘Excellent’ in the last national Scottish Teaching Quality Assessment.
- A vibrant international community on campus and across Aberdeen and north-east Scotland, with many French and French-speaking students, staff and activities on campus and across the region.
- A dynamic French Society, organising social and topical events throughout the year, and a brilliant way to get to know other students studying or speaking French.
- The spectacular, award-winning Sir Duncan Rice Library, with stunning study facilities, state-of-the-art learning technology, and a first-class collection of French books and films for your course.
- A packed campus programme of events, exhibitions, invited speakers and the popular annual May Festival which welcomes international figures, experts, authors and scientists to campus every spring, with an increasingly European flavour.
- Your year abroad as a language assistant or visiting student at locations including Lyon, Rennes, Grenoble, Réunion, Brussels, Geneva, Lausanne, the IFP (Institute of French Petroleum) School in Paris and the Club des Langues in Anglet.
- International recognition as a centre for study and research in French, with research covering not only France, but also French-speaking Africa and the Caribbean.
Why Sociology
- An international reputation for our sociology research, and recognised by the UK’s Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) as a centre for research training and supervision for postgraduate students.
- Teaching with a top rating of ‘Excellent’ in the most recent Teaching Quality Assessment.
- Consistently rated very highly, including by students in the National Student Survey (NSS) from whom we get great feedback.
- Sociology at Aberdeen is rated as 5th in the UK in the Complete University Guide 2017.
- The spectacular, award-winning Sir Duncan Rice Library with its top-class study environment, state-of-the-art technology, and extensive collection of sociology publications and resources for your study.
- A packed programme of student and public events, lectures, exhibitions, seminars, invited speakers, plus the annual May Festival, British Science Week and Being Human Festival regularly featuring Aberdeen research in social sciences.
- Participation in the European Social Survey, one of the largest and most reliable sources of data about Europeans’ attitudes, behaviours and experiences, with data from more than 350,000 individuals across 36 countries since 2002.
Entry Requirements
Qualifications
The information below is provided as a guide only and does not guarantee entry to the University of Aberdeen.
General Entry Requirements
- 2019 Entry
- 2020 Entry
-
SQA Highers
Standard Offer: AABB - BBB
Applicants who have achieved between AABB - BBB are encouraged to apply and will be considered. Good performance in additional Highers / Advanced Highers may be required in order to receive an offer of admission.Adjusted / Access Threshold: BB (or below)
Applicants who have achieved BB, and who meet one or more Widening Participation criteria, are encouraged to apply and will be considered. Good performance in additional Highers / Advanced Highers will be required in order to receive an offer of admission.More information on our definition of Standard, Adjusted and Access Threshold entry qualifications.
A LEVELS
Standard offer: BBB
Adjusted / Access Threshold: BB (or below)
More information on our definition of Standard, Adjusted and Access Threshold entry qualifications.
International Baccalaureate
32 points, including 5, 5, 5 at HL.
Irish Leaving Certificate
5H with 3 at H2 AND 2 at H3 OR AAABB, obtained in a single sitting. (B must be at B2 or above)
-
SQA Highers
Standard: AABB
Applicants who have achieved AABB (or better), are encouraged to apply and will be considered. Good performance in additional Highers/ Advanced Highers may be required.
Minimum: BBB
Applicants who have achieved BBB (or are on course to achieve this by the end of S5) are encouraged to apply and will be considered. Good performance in additional Highers/Advanced Highers will normally be required.
Adjusted: BB
Applicants who have achieved BB, and who meet one of the widening participation criteria are encouraged to apply and will be considered. Good performance in additional Highers/Advanced Highers will be required.
More information on our definition of Standard, Minimum and Adjusted entry qualifications.
A LEVELS
Standard: BBB
Minimum: BBC
Adjusted: CCC
More information on our definition of Standard, Minimum and Adjusted entry qualifications.
International Baccalaureate
32 points, including 5, 5, 5 at HL.
Irish Leaving Certificate
5H with 3 at H2 AND 2 at H3 OR AAABB, obtained in a single sitting. (B must be at B2 or above).
The information displayed in this section shows a shortened summary of our entry requirements. For more information, or for full entry requirements for Arts and Social Sciences degrees, see our detailed entry requirements section.
English Language Requirements
To study for an Undergraduate degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write English fluently. The minimum requirements for this degree are as follows:
IELTS Academic:
OVERALL - 6.0 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 5.5; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0
TOEFL iBT:
OVERALL - 78 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 18; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21
PTE Academic:
OVERALL - 54 with: Listening - 51; Reading - 51; Speaking - 51; Writing - 54
Cambridge English Advanced & Proficiency:
OVERALL - 169 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 162; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169
Read more about specific English Language requirements here.
International Applicants
Fees and Funding
You will be classified as one of the fee categories below.
Fee Waiver
For international students (all non-EU students) the tuition fee charged upon entry will apply to all years of study; however, most international students will be eligible for a fee waiver in their final year via the International Undergraduate Scholarship.
| Fee category | Cost |
|---|---|
| Home / EU | £1,820 |
| All Students | |
| RUK | £9,250 |
| Students Admitted in 2019/20 | |
| International Students | £15,300 |
| Students Admitted in 2019/20 |
International non-EU Applicants
Further Information about tuition fees and the cost of living in Aberdeen
Additional Fees
- In exceptional circumstances there may be additional fees associated with specialist courses, for example field trips. Any additional fees for a course can be found in our Catalogue of Courses.
- For more information about tuition fees for this programme, including payment plans and our refund policy, please visit our InfoHub Tuition Fees page.
Our Funding Database
View all funding options in our Funding Database.
Careers
There are many opportunities at the University of Aberdeen to develop your knowledge, gain experience and build a competitive set of skills to enhance your employability. This is essential for your future career success. The Careers Service can help you to plan your career and support your choices throughout your time with us, from first to final year – and beyond.
- More information on employability at the University of Aberdeen
- More information on the Careers Service
Our Experts
Information About Staff Changes
You will be taught by a range of experts including professors, lecturers, teaching fellows and postgraduate tutors. Staff changes will occur from time to time; please see our InfoHub pages for further information.
Unistats
Unistats draws together comparable information in areas students have identified as important in making decisions about what and where to study. You can compare these and other data for different degree programmes in which you are interested.
Get in Touch
Contact Details
- Address
-
Student Recruitment & Admissions Service
University of Aberdeen
University Office
Regent Walk
Aberdeen
AB24 3FX