The Master curriculum in French extends the academic and cultural knowledge of the students in the areas of linguistics and literary studies. During their studies, students can specialize in one of the two areas. The linguistic program includes research into the language in a variety of types of uses and forms of communication: oral and written, formal and informal, in monolingual and multilingual contexts. One special focus in Basel is interactional linguistics, in which the use of the resources of language in social interactions are studied with video recordings. The program in literary studies includes the entire spectrum from the Middle Ages to the present, including contemporary Francophone literature and culture. In the language courses of the master’s degree subject, students can develop advanced written and oral skills for communication in academic and professional environments.

French Studies at the University of Basel includes the three subject areas of linguistics, literary studies, and language education.

Linguistics takes an analytical perspective on French in synchrony and diachrony, as well as on the varieties of French in Europe and the world, oral and written interactivity, formal and informal use of French, standard and non-standard varieties, and contact with other languages (among a wide range of groups, from language learners and migrants to cosmopolitan professionals). In addition, with its specialization in interactional linguistics, the team is internationally renowned for research on multimodality by means of video recordings of a wide range of social situations. This specialization is primarily part of instruction on the level of the Master and the doctorate, as well as part of research projects.

Instruction in literary studies covers French literature from the Middle Ages to today from the perspective of many different genres and themes, as well as the history of literary criticism and the complex relationships between literature and culture. The research of the teaching team — primarily relations between literature and the history of ideas, as well as literary theory and comparative literary studies —forms the basis of courses. A further feature of the subject is the study of francophone literature from Africa. The subject area works with the Center for Africa Studies of the University of Basel and invites African authors to readings, lectures, and discussions in seminars.

In the language courses of the master’s degree subject, essential skills are taught and put into practice, accompanied by reflection on the language. The courses also address the use in academic contexts of the oral and written skills that are required for the study of French linguistics and literature. This includes such issues as academic vocabulary and text-analysis skills that provide a foundation for the synthesis and analysis of academic texts. In the Bachelor program, the courses reach C1 level, in the Master program C2.

Along with pleasure in reading, a semester or more at a francophone university is recommended (but not required) as part of the students' language studies. The students profit from the excellent connections that the French program at the University of Basel has with many partner universities, such as Neuchâtel, Strasbourg, and Paris.

Our courses are primarily taught in French.