My French is good but what about gaining a qualification?

Client's Question: My French is good ‘A’ level standard, but now having retired to France I have some more time on my hands, I’d like to study further and get a degree. Are there any options other than Open University?

Having found myself in exactly your position a few years ago, I can highly recommend the University of London Royal Holloway College distance learning BA degree. You can complete the degree in a three-year period if you can commit to full-time study, or spread your studies over as long as eight years.To be eligible for the course you need to have a level of French that is at least equivalent to a grade C at A Level. The overall requirements are either two or three A Level passes plus a respective number of AS Level passes or GCSEs with grade C or above.

Foreign students may apply but may be asked to demonstrate their written and spoken ability in English as well. Overseas students may have to travel to London for the oral examination, but there are venues in various countries for written examinations.

Another point to bear in mind is that you will have to refer to a certain number of library books (on top of books that you will have to buy), so you need to live near enough to a good library where you will be able to find such books.

This degree course will develop your reading, writing and speaking skills in French. You will study the origins of the French language, as well as French literature and the social, political and economic institutions of France. In general terms, you will learn to use your abilities to refine information and express your own conclusions.

There are three levels of study, each broken down into a number of full units and half units. You have to complete 12 units in all, at least three of which must be from Level 3, and all core units must be included. You must pass examinations in a minimum of nine units. In any one year, you can sit examinations in as little as one half unit and a maximum of four full units (or equivalent in half units). You have to apply separately to sit for examinations, but you will receive instructions about this from the university. On your successful completion, you will be awarded a classified honours degree.

After registering you will initially receive a student handbook, a subject guide, past examination papers and Examiners' reports, and university regulations. You will also have immediate access to the University of London Online Library, so it is obviously an advantage to apply early.

Updated materials continue to be provided throughout the duration of your study. Once registered, you will have access to the student-to-student network on the website, where you can exchange ideas. While in London, you are allowed to use the University's Senate House Library, although there is an extra charge for this. Another additional cost is the essay marking service.

Level 1 has a core translation half unit, as well as a core progression unit in written French. Additionally, there are five half units: textual analysis; introduction to narrative; linguistics of French 1; perspectives on modern France; and reading the visual.

Level 2 has full core units on translation and written French. At this level the half units are on shaping fictions; writing romance and desire; linguistics of French 2; culture and ideology; and staging the text.

Level 3 has three core half units of practical language work in written French, spoken French, and prose and translation. Three half units can be chosen from French medieval literature; linguistics of French 3; literature of challenge: the French philosophers; love and society in the modern French novel; and modern French dramatists. There is also a full unit Special Subject where the choice is from Rousseau, Baudelaire, Zola, Proust or the Medieval Occitan.

More details on all the units can be found in the prospectus, which can be downloaded online as well as applied for by post. In addition to the BA degree in French, you can combine French with either Italian or German. Visit University of London website for information on these degrees.

A degree awarded by the External Programme of the University of London has a standing equal to that of a degree awarded to a resident student at the university. It is an excellent way of gaining a prestigious qualification for anyone who wishes to study without giving up their career, or for anyone residing overseas. The syllabus covers a wonderfully diverse range of topics and includes study of medieval French texts as well as modern ones. It would be a huge commitment, but one where there is flexibility to study when and where it suits you as an individual, and to decide how much you wish to take on in any particular year.