The program in French Studies deals with the language, literature and culture in all regions, situations, texts and traditions where French is used. In addition to France, the regional focus of the program is Belgium, Switzerland and Luxembourg, Quebec, the Caribbean and Francophone Africa. During your studies, you will acquire a wide range of skills in dealing with texts and media as well as the ability to assess public and private situations, to judge representations aesthetically and to work on them in oral and written communication in French. You will become experts for the francophone regions of the world.
The subject can be studied as a major or minor subject in the Interdisciplinary Bachelor’s degree program in the Aisthesis. cultural and media studies variant or in the flexible variant in the amount of up to 120 ECTS credits. It is possible to combine the subject with one or more other subjects and/or the Studium Individuale.
In the part of the program devoted to literary and cultural studies, you will become familiar with French literature and culture from the Middle Ages to the present, but also with French-language literature from non-European cultures. In the linguistic part of the program, you will systematically deal with the structure and history of the French language. You can already choose your individual specializations from the second semester onwards. In addition, the examination regulations valid throughout Bavaria guarantee that students can take the State Examination, which is uniform throughout the entire federal state.
An essential component of the program is the deepening and broadening of your own French proficiency. You will choose from a wide range of practical language and cultural courses conducted by native speakers.
In the first semester, students attend introductory courses in the three sub-disciplines – French Literature or Cultural Studies, Linguistics and Language Practice – which impart basic methodological skills and basic knowledge. In the following semesters, these basic knowledge and skills will be further deepened and expanded in courses that build on them. Students in the flexible profile of the Interdisciplinary BA can, if they are interested, focus on French Literature and Cultural Studies or Linguistics from the second semester onwards.
In the following semesters, students will attend in-depth courses, whereby either all areas can be continued or the focus can be expanded to include French Linguistics or Literary Studies in the Interdisciplinary BA. In this way, all students in the second year of study acquire the ability to carry out independent scientific work and thus already learn the basics for finding topics and writing the Bachelor's thesis in the third year of study.
In the fifth semester, students have the possibility to study abroad in France. The KU has a wide network of partner universities to choose from. During this phase of the program, especially in the final semester, the focus is on writing the Bachelor's thesis. The research topic chosen for this purpose is presented and discussed by the students in a scientific colloquium, which they usually attend in the sixth semester.
For optimal acquisition and consolidation of foreign language skills, the KU Language Center has set up a multimedia center for students. Regular guest lectures, guided visits to cultural events and organized field trips to French-speaking regions offer additional opportunities to broaden your linguistic and philological horizons while studying.
KU students and alumni have voted for their University to be Germany's most popular university in the 2024 ranking of the online portal StudyCheck. This is the third time in a row, as KU was also voted the most popular university in 2021 and 2022. The ranking was based on over 78,000 evaluations for more than 500 higher education institutions and universities. 97 percent of students questioned for the ranking would recommend studying at the KU to others.
"There is no better praise for a university than almost 100 percent of students and alumni agreeing: I can only recommend studying at the KU! That is why we are very pleased with the ranking’s outcome, because it expresses the high level of satisfaction of our students," says KU President Prof. Dr. Gabriele Gien.
A semester abroad in a French-speaking country can be completed in the fifth semester. During the semester abroad, you can choose courses from your field of specialization freely. In addition, you will gain rich cultural and interpersonal experiences that can be very valuable for your future life and professional career. The KU Eichstätt has a vast network of partner universities worldwide.
Further information on the application process and organization of an ERASMUS semester can be found on the website of the International Office of the KU Eichstätt-Ingolstadt.
In addition, you can spend a self-organized semester abroad at other universities in French-speaking countries.
We maintain Erasmus partnerships with the following universities in France:
Angers Université Catholique de l'Ouest
Arras Université d'Artois
Brest Université de Bretagne Occidentale
Clermont-Ferrand Université Clermont Auvergne
Lille Université Charles de Gaulle and Université Catholique de Lille
Montpellier Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3
Paris Université Paris 13 Nord and Institut Catholique de Paris
Reims Université Reims Champagne Ardenne
Saint-Etienne Université Jean Monnet de Saint-Etienne
Toulouse Institut Catholique de Toulouse
The Interdisciplinary Bachelor's degree program provides for a four-week required internship, which brings students into contact with possible professional fields at an early stage. Students also have the possibility to complete their internship abroad; for individual advice and support in finding an internship and financing possibilities, the KU Career Service and the International Internship Service are happy to help.
In the course of your studies, you will acquire a differentiated knowledge of the French language and literature as well as practical skills in spoken and written French. In addition, you will develop a critical and structured way of thinking in dealing with texts as well as the ability to dialog with French-speaking cultural spheres in the globalized world.
After completing your program in French Studies you will have access to a broad range of professional fields. In addition to the teaching profession or an academic career, your acquired knowledge will also qualify you for work in the media and journalism. Possible fields of activity include political organizations, press and public relations, cultural institutions, the library and publishing industry, language teaching and adult education.
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"Italiano, français, español, português ...
From Italian literature and French regional studies to Spanish language history and Portuguese language practice – a journey through different places and times right in the heart of Bavaria. That was my everyday study life, or rather: my study adventure!
Romance studies…
"Italiano, français, español, português ...
From Italian literature and French regional studies to Spanish language history and Portuguese language practice – a journey through different places and times right in the heart of Bavaria. That was my everyday study life, or rather: my study adventure!
Romance studies enabled me to immerse myself more and more in languages and their cultures. What at first seemed like a collection of many small islands gradually merged into a large world of countless and hidden connections. That's why I liked the linguistic-cultural roots and bridges between them best during my studies. Of course, every single Romance language also has its own treasure, which I was able to discover together with like-minded people in many lectures and seminars.
Because this overarching common interest brought the special flair: I found a new social and mental home in Eichstätt and the University family. Here, you know each other and meet friends everywhere immediately. Fellow students quickly became friends and, thanks to the excellent staff-to-student ratio and close relationship with professors, they became valuable supporters and advisors who were close at hand and who were eager to take wishes into account when offering courses and to actively support us students.
Eichstätt and a Romance language?
Mi piace! J'aime! ¡Me gusta! Gosto!
What about you?”
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"Mais Ou Et Donc OrNiCar ?
You thought you knew French, but now you have problems with this sentence? Don't worry, this is just a mnemonic for the correct punctuation of the above mentioned words, which you will be familiarized with right at the beginning of your French studies in the practical language course.
However,…
"Mais Ou Et Donc OrNiCar ?
You thought you knew French, but now you have problems with this sentence? Don't worry, this is just a mnemonic for the correct punctuation of the above mentioned words, which you will be familiarized with right at the beginning of your French studies in the practical language course.
However, Romance Studies not only includes the correct command of the language, which you will be able to deepen authentically guided by native French speakers in Eichstätt, but also allows you to study French literature from all over the world, to discover literary-cultural peculiarities and differences, and to get an insight into the origins of the French language and the development of vocabulary and grammar. In Romance Studies, this often happens in small-group seminars in which it is easy to get into contact with others and you do not get lost in the masses.
The latter can't happen to you in the small university town of Eichstätt anyway, because due to various student groups, university parties, a manageable number of cozy bars and restaurants and regular student parties, you will find numerous opportunities to end a day at university in a relaxed atmosphere.
What are you waiting for? "
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"I studied at the KU from 2014 to 2018. At that time, I enrolled in the teaching degree program LehramtPlus with the subject combination French/Spanish, as this model not only offered the option of becoming a foreign language teacher, but also allowed me to deepen my knowledge of literature and linguistics. I also chose…
"I studied at the KU from 2014 to 2018. At that time, I enrolled in the teaching degree program LehramtPlus with the subject combination French/Spanish, as this model not only offered the option of becoming a foreign language teacher, but also allowed me to deepen my knowledge of literature and linguistics. I also chose this latter option and left the KU after completing my Bachelor's degree in Spanish literary studies. Since then, I have devoted my literary knowledge to the Social Code at a large health insurance company, where I work in the field service.
The main advantage of the University is its size. The number of participants in the lectures allows for intensive support (also for me personally) provided by the lecturers. After a while, you know the lecturers and they know you as well, so they know how to best support you and are very helpful with all questions you may have.
I also received this kind of intensive support when it came to planning my semester abroad. I highly recommend this experience to everyone, especially when studying Romance Studies.
If you want to broaden your horizon, the Main Library provides a vast amount of literature that is a valuable source of inspiration for your studies and written assignments.
I particularly acquired skills that are important for me during the many internships I completed at schools. Even though you might be afraid to stand in front of a class at the beginning, this fear fades relatively quickly and you notice that speaking freely becomes easier and the ‘stage fright’ disappears more and more. That helps me a lot today, especially when I give presentations in front of a larger group."
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"When I came to Eichstätt for the first time in the summer of 2016, I immediately fell in love with the Hofgarten, the park in front of the building where enrollment took place. When the weather is nice, the park with its fountains and shady places invites you to relax between lectures.
The great advantage of studying…
"When I came to Eichstätt for the first time in the summer of 2016, I immediately fell in love with the Hofgarten, the park in front of the building where enrollment took place. When the weather is nice, the park with its fountains and shady places invites you to relax between lectures.
The great advantage of studying Romance Studies at the KU is the friendly and informal atmosphere. Courses are often held in small groups, which promises individual attention from the lecturers and makes it easier to make new contacts. In addition, the KU also offers numerous opportunities for those who are drawn from the Altmühltal region to the wide world for part of their studies. On the one hand, there are numerous partner universities on all continents where you can spend some time abroad; on the other hand, the lecturers offer regular field trips (e.g. Cuba, Barcelona, Perpignan, Corsica) for those who want to experience the language and culture on site without spending a whole semester abroad. I also find it a great enrichment that the lecturers in the practical language courses are native speakers, which greatly enhances progress in our language skills and also provides authentic insights into the society of the target country.
Finally, it should be mentioned that the ‘LehramtPlus’ program at the KU offers the unique opportunity to take the State Examination as well as an integrated Bachelor’s and Master’s degree, which is clearly a double benefit for the chances of a successful career entry, especially in times of crisis in the civil service.
So if you are open-minded and want to learn (new) languages in an idyllic friendly and informal environment – then come to Eichstätt.”
The KU has two campuses: Eichstätt and Ingolstadt. Seven faculties are located in Eichstätt. The Ingolstadt School of Management (WFI) and MIDS (Institute of Applied Mathematics, Machine Learning and Data Science) are located on our Ingolstadt campus.
This degree program is taught on our Eichstätt campus.
The district of Eichstätt and the city of Ingolstadt are located in the heart of Bavaria. This central location also means that the KU is easy to reach. Eichstätt impresses with its unique combination of baroque architecture, modern amenities and the picturesque nature of the Altmühltal natural park.
Short distances and lavish green spaces characterize the KU campus in Eichstätt. The KU is a campus University with modern facilities. The buildings on campus are located close to the Eichstätt old town.
Studying at the KU not only provides you with the specialist knowledge you need, but also aims to open up real future prospects for its students. We want to support our students in finding their own personal path to their individual dream future! The question is not "What career do I want to pursue?", but rather "Who do I want to be?"
Some offers and study conditions are different for international students – our International Office is happy to provide help and support. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our team. We are happy to accompany you on your way to the KU and hope that we can welcome you in person soon!
The application process for international applicants is now completely digital. You can register online in our application portal and carry out and submit your application. After you have carried out the application and uploaded your documents, you do not need to send your documents to us again by post. You do have to submit certified true copies only if you are admitted at the time of enrollment.
Depending on the course of study, you may be asked for information on internships, professional experience, etc. Please upload the relevant documents in the upload area for all the information you provide, even if these are not mandatory fields!
Before you start the application process, please read the additional information on this page, in particular the information on the respective (German) language requirements and university entrance qualifications.
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