We welcome applications from the United States of America

We've put together information and resources to guide your application journey as a student from the United States of America.

Overview

Top reasons to study with us

  • 3

    3rd for Linguistics

    The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide (2025)

  • 3

    3rd for Iberian Languages

    The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide (2025)

  • 3

    3rd for French

    The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide (2025)

This four-year degree is provided jointly by our Department of Linguistics and English Language and our School of Global Affairs.

We are one of the largest departments for the study of language in the country and one of the most highly rated in the world (3rd for Linguistics in the QS World Rankings, 2024).

In French Studies we aim to help you become truly fluent. You’ll explore France’s history, culture, politics and social background. You’ll also learn how the English language functions and study traditional linguistic areas such as lexis, grammar and phonetics. In the following year you’ll study core modules such as English Phonetics and Shaping Contemporary France, and develop your French language skills. You’ll also be able to choose from a variety of optional modules. Studying English Language, in tandem with French Studies, will give you greater awareness of language use within context, and should equip you with the skills to identify how language structure interacts with meaning.

The aim of your third year, which is spent living abroad, is to deepen your intercultural sensitivity and your command of the language. You can study at a partner university or carry out a work placement and practice your language skills in a real-world context. Staff members within the department will work with you to help ensure that you are ready for your year in France.

On your return to Lancaster, your fourth year allows you to develop your French to Common European Framework of Reference for Languages C1/C2 levels. You can also specialise in particular fields of study from a range of modules You could also choose to complete a dissertation on a topic you would like to explore in-depth.

You can find some examples of optional modules in the Course Structure section below.

The linguistic, communication and interpersonal skills you will have the opportunity to acquire are highly valued by most employers. The linguistics element of your degree is of professional relevance in many areas, from education to business management, advertising to accountancy. Linguistic awareness is likely to provide a real boost when working for international and multicultural companies and organisations, and our degree programme provides a solid foundation for a career in these areas.

Beginners Languages

Studying a language from beginners level is somewhat intense in nature so we only allow students to study one language from beginners level. Please bear this in mind when looking at our first year module options. If you apply to study a degree with a language from beginners level, your optional modules will only include higher level languages and modules in other subject areas.

Careers

Language study is not just about facts, but learning a range of skills in data management and analysis, the evaluation of evidence, and the synthesis and presentation of results. These are the kinds of skills that today’s employers value.

The jobs that our graduates are interested in include:

  • Journalism, media and publishing
  • Speech and Language Therapy
  • Translation
  • Teaching (primary, secondary, and English as a foreign Language abroad)
  • Speech Technology
  • Public Relations
  • Management

Some of our graduates continue their studies at Lancaster or other institutions and undertake postgraduate studies or professional training in the field of languages or linguistics.


Lancaster University is dedicated to ensuring you not only gain a highly reputable degree, but that you also graduate with relevant life and work based skills. We are unique in that every student is eligible to participate in The Lancaster Award which offers you the opportunity to complete key activities such as work experience, employability/career development, campus community and social development. Visit our Employability section for full details.

Entry requirements

These are the typical grades that you will need to study this course. You may need to have qualifications in relevant subjects. In some cases we may also ask you to attend an interview or submit a portfolio. You must also meet our English language requirements.

Find more about these qualifications and others not shown here

Learn about how we will assess your application

Qualifications and typical requirements accordion

Important information

L1 speakers or French speakers fluent above CEFR B2 will not be accepted onto this course.

Contact Admissions

If you are thinking of applying to Lancaster and you would like to ask us a question, please complete our enquiry form and one of our team will get back to you.

International foundation programmes

Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored foundation pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University degrees. Visit the INTO Lancaster University website for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.

Contextual admissions

Contextual admissions could help you gain a place at university if you have faced additional challenges during your education which might have impacted your results. Visit our contextual admissions page to find out about how this works and whether you could be eligible.

Course structure

Lancaster University offers a range of programmes, some of which follow a structured study programme, and some which offer the chance for you to devise a more flexible programme to complement your main specialism.

Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, and the University will make every reasonable effort to offer modules as advertised. In some cases changes may be necessary and may result in some combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.

Core

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Optional

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Fees and funding

Our annual tuition fee is set for a 12-month session, starting in the October of your year of study.

Our Undergraduate Tuition Fees for 2025/26 are:

Home International
£9,535 £24,700

Fees and funding information

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Scholarships and bursaries

You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.

You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status:

Scheme Based on Amount
Lancaster ScholarshipBased on Entry grades Amount £2,000 in your first year of study
Lancaster Opportunity ScholarshipBased on Contextual offer Amount £1,000 per year of study
Lancaster BursaryBased on Household income Amount £1,000 per year of study
Lancaster Global Scholarship - UndergraduateBased on Entry grades Amount £2,000 in each year of study for applicants joining Part 1 of our undergraduate programmes.

We also have other, more specialised scholarships and bursaries - such as those for students from specific countries.

Browse Lancaster University's scholarships and bursaries.

Important information

The information on this site relates primarily to 2025/2026 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

Our Students’ Charter

We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies.

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