Bachelor of Arts (BA)

BA Latin and French

Compare ancient and modern literature with a focus on French language and culture.
  • Duration: 4 years
  • Year of entry: 2025
  • UCAS course code: Q6R1 / Institution code: M20
  • Key features:
  • Study abroad
  • Study with a language

Full entry requirementsHow to apply

Course description

Our BA Latin and French Joint Honours course will enable you to develop your linguistic skills while learning about the literature and culture of both societies.

Both languages can be learned either as a beginner or from A-level standard, but at least one language must be studied from A-level standard. Once you've reached the appropriate level, your learning will allow you to study literary and historical texts in their original language.

Language study offers much more than just language fluency. You'll explore diverse aspects of the culture, society, history, politics and literature of the countries in which the languages are - or were - spoken, helping you to develop intercultural awareness and communication skills - both highly valued by employers.

You'll benefit from excellent teaching, student support and cutting-edge study facilities, as well as from the vibrancy and cultural diversity of Manchester itself, Western Europe's most multilingual city.

With placement options available at partner universities and in professional environments in several French-speaking countries, a compulsory third year abroad gives our undergraduate students unforgettable and invaluable personal and professional experience. Where possible, this includes enrolment on classical courses at an overseas university.

The course unit details listed below are those you may choose to study as part of this programme and are referred to as optional units. These are subject to change and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this programme. Although language units may show here as optional, they are a mandatory part of your modern languages degree and you will take the units relevant to your level of language in each year of study. It is compulsory to study language at all levels of your modern languages degree.

Special features

Residence abroad 

Your year abroad  will offer the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of life in a French-speaking country, and further develop your language skills. 

Learn from language experts 

Modern languages courses are mainly taught by native speakers, giving you a richer learning experience. 

Access outstanding resources 

Explore the exclusive resources of Manchester Museum and the Special Collections of The John Rylands Library - home to papyri, medieval manuscripts and early printed books, including very early copies of the Homeric poems. 

Collaboration with the Institut de Touraine 

In the Loire Valley, the Institut hosts Easter and Summer French language classes dedicated to University of Manchester French students, appropriate for both ab initio students and finalists.

Teaching and learning

The core of most literary and historical course units is provided by lectures, which introduce and survey the main issues, and are supported by small-group tutorials and seminars.

Language classes are taught intensively, with group size capped to encourage participation.

You are encouraged to involve yourself, under guidance, in independent study and original research.

Coursework and assessment

Assessment practices vary between course units, but our aim overall is to achieve a good balance between formal written examinations, continuous assessment and project work, with the option to undertake a final year dissertation supervised by an expert in your field.

Course content for year 1

Latin 

Core units will give you a grounding in the historical and cultural contexts of life in first century Rome via ancient poetry and the study of Latin language. 

Optional units allow you to start exploring key themes and making links between your fields of study. 

French 

In Year 1, you follow 2 weekly hours of grammar classes (post-A-level) or 4-5 weekly hours (ab initio), complemented by oral classes for conversation and fluency. 

Regular independent practice is paramount in order to progress well and fast. 

A compulsory module on 'Modern French Identity' introduces you to 300 years of French history, politics and culture, alongside extracts of literature, cinema and other art forms.

Course units for year 1

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Virgil's Aeneid CAHE10422 20 Mandatory
Constructing Archaic Greek History CAHE10011 20 Optional
From Republic to Empire: Introduction to Roman History, Society & Culture 218-31BC CAHE10022 20 Optional
The Odyssey CAHE10101 20 Optional
The Making of the Mediterranean CAHE10132 20 Optional
Cities and Citizens CAHE10232 20 Optional
Introduction to the History and Culture of Pharaonic Egypt CAHE10651 20 Optional
Intensive Greek 1 CAHE20151 20 Optional
Introduction to Egyptian Hieroglyphs  CAHE20162 20 Optional
Intensive Latin 1 CAHE20171 20 Optional
Advanced Latin Language 1 CAHE30111 20 Optional
Advanced Greek Language 1 CAHE30121 20 Optional
Intensive Greek 2 CAHE30162 20 Optional
Intensive Latin 2 CAHE30182 20 Optional
French Cultural Studies FREN10070 20 Optional
Identity in Modern France FREN10150 20 Optional
French Language 1 FREN51011 20 Optional
French Language 2 FREN51022 20 Optional
French Language 3 FREN51030 20 Optional
Climate change and societal response: Lessons from the past SALC11011 20 Optional
Displaying 10 of 20 course units for year 1

Course content for year 2

You can study up to two-thirds of your credits in either Latin or in French Studies. 

Latin 

With just one compulsory course unit in Latin language, you'll have the flexibility to focus your studies on key areas of interest across historical, literary, cultural and societal themes. 

French 

You will build on the grounding established in Year 1, while preparing for your year abroad, including writing CVs and cover letters, and doing mock interviews for jobs in French. 

Other course units are optional and broadly falling under the following categories: Literature, History and Popular Culture, or Linguistics and Translation. 

Topics include French literature (17th century to the present), colonisation and exoticism, Francophone cinema, theatre, philosophy and contemporary popular culture.

Course units for year 2

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Ekphrasis in Latin texts CAHE20292 20 Mandatory
Through Cicero's Eyes CAHE20031 20 Optional
The Conquering Hero: The Life, Times and Legacy of Alexander The Great CAHE20041 20 Optional
The Roman Empire 31BC - AD313 Rome's Golden Age CAHE20051 20 Optional
Politics and Society in Classical Greece CAHE20062 20 Optional
Intensive Greek 1 CAHE20151 20 Optional
Introduction to Egyptian Hieroglyphs  CAHE20162 20 Optional
Greco-Roman Society and Technology  CAHE20261 20 Optional
Roman Love Elegy CAHE20272 20 Optional
Dispute and Desire: the Erotics of Ancient Greek Literature CAHE20282 20 Optional
Ancient Medicine CAHE20382 20 Optional
Roman Women in 22 Objects CAHE20532 20 Optional
Tomb and Temple: Religion and the Afterlife in Ancient Egypt CAHE20701 20 Optional
The First Cities: The Archaeology of Urbanism in the Near East CAHE20912 20 Optional
Greek Epic Poetry CAHE21041 20 Optional
Grief and Loss in Latin literature: Coping with the Romans CAHE21061 20 Optional
Gods, Kings and Heroes: The Poetry of Archaic Greece CAHE24102 20 Optional
Finding Happiness in the Ancient World CAHE24401 20 Optional
From Sites to Statues: Understanding Heritage in a time of Culture Wars CAHE24602 20 Optional
Chariots, Cauldrons and Celts: The Archaeology of the Iron Age in Britain and Ireland CAHE25461 20 Optional
Art and Technology in Ancient Egypt CAHE25762 20 Optional
Advanced Latin Language 1 CAHE30111 20 Optional
Advanced Greek Language 1 CAHE30121 20 Optional
Intensive Greek 2 CAHE30162 20 Optional
Advanced Latin Language 2 CAHE30211 20 Optional
Art in France FREN20271 20 Optional
Temptations of the Tragic: Love and Death in French Literature FREN20682 20 Optional
Media, Performance, & Digital Culture in Contemporary France FREN21212 20 Optional
Gender and Sexuality in French Cinema FREN21331 20 Optional
Stardom in France FREN21771 20 Optional
French Language 4 FREN51040 20 Optional
French Language 5 FREN51050 20 Optional
Pragmatics: Meaning, Context, and Interaction LELA20291 20 Optional
Data Literacy in a Digital World SALC20081 20 Optional
Displaying 10 of 34 course units for year 2

Course content for year 3

You will spend the third year abroad  in approved study or work in a Francophone country or countries. 

Work opportunities include teaching as an English language assistant.

Course content for year 4

Students can take up to two-thirds of their units in Latin, or in language and cultural studies.

Latin

Continue to shape your understanding according to specific interests, with interdisciplinary and advanced course unit options, in addition to your Advanced Latin language unit.

French

Continue with your core language course for increased accuracy and sophistication, with regular practice in essay writing, translation, oral debate and presentations.

You also choose additional cultural units that build on Year 2 study and relate to the research interests of staff members (representation of race and conflict, performance, gender, national identity, linguistic creativity across theatre, literature, cinema, poetry, popular music).

You can also write a dissertation on an approved topic of your choice.

Course units for year 4

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Ekphrasis in Latin texts CAHE30292 20 Mandatory
French Language 6 FREN51060 20 Mandatory
Introduction to Egyptian Hieroglyphs  CAHE20162 20 Optional
Classics, Ancient History, Archaeology and Egyptology Dissertation CAHE30000 40 Optional
Through Cicero's Eyes CAHE30031 20 Optional
Advanced Latin Language 2 CAHE30211 20 Optional
Greco-Roman Society and Technology  CAHE30261 20 Optional
Roman Love Elegy CAHE30272 20 Optional
Advanced Latin Language 3 CAHE30311 20 Optional
Ancient Medicine CAHE30382 20 Optional
Tomb and Temple: Religion and the Afterlife in Ancient Egypt CAHE30701 20 Optional
The Roman Army and the North-West Frontiers CAHE30882 20 Optional
The First Cities: The Archaeology of Urbanism in the Near East CAHE30912 20 Optional
Greek Epic Poetry CAHE31041 20 Optional
Grief and Loss in Latin literature: Coping with the Romans CAHE31061 20 Optional
Gods, Kings, and Heroes: The Poetry of Archaic Greece CAHE34102 20 Optional
Finding Happiness in the Ancient World CAHE34401 20 Optional
From Sites to Statues: Understanding Heritage in a time of Culture Wars CAHE34602 20 Optional
Chariots, Cauldrons and Celts: The Archaeology of the Iron Age in Britain and Ireland CAHE35461 20 Optional
Art and Technology in Ancient Egypt CAHE35762 20 Optional
Art, Culture and Activism in France in the Age of Social Media FREN30732 20 Optional
History and Memory in Francophone Cinema FREN30832 20 Optional
Wild and Tamed: Nature in French Culture and Politics FREN30841 20 Optional
Exoticism & Orientalism in C19th France: French Romantics and Local Colour FREN30871 20 Optional
Dissertation in Modern Languages and Cultures LALC30000 40 Optional
Displaying 10 of 25 course units for year 4

Facilities

The John Rylands Library

At The John Rylands Library , you'll have exclusive access to our internationally significant collections, including papyri, medieval manuscripts and early printed books such as very early copies of the Homeric poems.

Manchester Museum

The UK's leading university museum has more than four million objects spanning millennia, including one of the largest collections of ancient Egyptian artefacts in the UK. Go behind-the-scenes to handle, analyse and interpret rare artefacts, including exclusive material specific to ancient history.

The University Language Centre

Home to language resources, including a new interpreting suite, purpose-built recording rooms and resources for over 70 languages, the Centre also offers multilingual word processing, language learning software, off-air recording and AV duplication, multilingual terrestrial and satellite TV and support and advice.

Societies

The University is home to over 30 international and language related student societies offering a breadth of cultural activities and experiences. Learn more about colloquialisms in language through native speakers and take part in discussion groups and socials. Some of our societies also coordinate trips abroad to language-specific destinations.

Find out more on the Facilities pages for Classics and Ancient History and Modern Languages and Cultures .

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: dass@manchester.ac.uk