French
- PhD
- MPhil
Overview
The Department of French is committed to research innovation and excellence across the field of French Studies. The department has an exceptionally wide range of research expertise, from the early modern period to the present day, visual-textual relations, 19th, 20th and 21st-century literature, film and drama (including screen and stage adaptations), cultural history, politics, and comparative literature. We collaborate extensively with other departments, especially in the fields of visual and literary cultures, conflict and culture, English, and comparative literature.
Each postgraduate research student is assigned to an academic who works in their proposed area of research or a related field, and benefits from the input of a second supervisor who may be from another department, depending on the interdisciplinary nature of the project.
Colleagues in French Studies are active in the School of Modern Languages Research Centres, as well as initiatives across the Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Sciences research centres and groups. A number of our staff members are editors of leading journals and active in subject associations.
Postgraduate students take part in the intellectual life of the Department of French and the School of Modern Languages. The Department regularly hosts research events, including external speakers. At school level, postgraduates attend a fortnightly seminar that provides research and professional development training.
Programme structure
MPhil: a standalone, one-year (full-time) research degree. Students will undertake their own research project, concluding in the submission of a 25,000-word dissertation. Students may have the option to audit units from our taught master's programmes if they are relevant to their research.
PhD: a research project undertaken across four years (full-time, minimum period of study three years), culminating in an 80,000-word thesis. As well as having the option to audit taught units, there may be the potential for PhD students to contribute to undergraduate teaching from their second year onwards onwards.
Entry requirements
MPhil: An upper second-class degree or international equivalent. Please note, acceptance will also depend on evidence of your readiness to pursue a research degree.
PhD: A master's qualification, or be working towards a master's qualification, or international equivalent. Applicants without a master's qualification may be considered on an exceptional basis, provided they hold a first-class undergraduate degree (or international equivalent). Applicants with a non-traditional background may be considered provided they can demonstrate substantial equivalent and relevant experience that has prepared them to undertake their proposed course of study.
See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.
Read the programme admissions statement for important information on entry requirements, the application process and supporting documents required.
This admission statement is for 2026 entry. The 2027 entry admission statement will be available in the Autumn.
Go to admissions statementIf English is not your first language, you will need to reach the requirements outlined in our profile level C.
Further information about English language requirements and profile levels.
Fees and funding
- Home: full-time
- £5,343 per year
- Home: part-time
- £2,672 per year
- Overseas: full-time
- £22,500 per year
Fees are subject to an annual review. For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.
More about tuition fees, living costs and financial support.
Alumni discount
University of Bristol students and graduates can benefit from a 25% reduction in tuition fees for postgraduate study. Check your eligibility for an alumni discount.
Funding and scholarships
For information on funding opportunities, including University-funded studentships and GTA (Graduate Teaching Assistant) scholarships, please see the Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Sciences funding pages. These pages also provide details of scholarships available for UK-domiciled, Home fee status applicants of Black and mixed-Black heritage, as well as co-tutelle scholarships with Macquarie University, Australia and Université Toulouse - Jean Jaurès, France, and a Research Scholarship in association with University of Cape Town, South Africa.
Further information on funding for prospective UK and international postgraduate students.
Career prospects
A number of graduates from this programme develop careers in higher education or work on high-level research projects in the field of French Studies. Some graduates take up careers in translation or writing for international newspapers, while others will go on to work in libraries and archives, the heritage industries, or publishing.
Meet our supervisors
The following list shows potential supervisors for this programme. Visit their profiles for details of their research and expertise.
Research groups
Members of the department are active in a wide range of research centres and groups in the Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Sciences.
Contact us
- Contact
- Postgraduate Research Admissions Team
- uob-pgradmissions@bristol.ac.uk
- Faculties
- Schools
- Departments