French literature and the French language form of one of the richest cultural traditions in Europe and the globalized world, which makes the study of French just as rich and wide-ranging. The area of literary studies provides an overview of the history and development of francophone literatures from the Middle Ages to today. It deals with literary criticism and its analytical and interpretive methods, such as stylistics, narratology, poetics, intertextuality, and semiotics. And it addresses the role of literature in the cultural context of the French language, such as its connections to politics, philosophy, or science. The linguistic part of French studies takes up the differences and transformations of French in Europe and the world: in speech and writing; in formal and informal use; in standard and non-standard versions; in contact with and in many different milieus. A final, essential part of the course of studies is the development of high-level French-language skills.

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

Linguistics takes an analytical perspective on French in synchrony (the comparison of language phenomena at one point in time) and diachrony (the comparison of the development of language phenomena over the course of time), as well as on the varieties of French in Europe and the world, the interaction of oral and written language, formal and informal use of French, standard and non-standard varieties, and contact with other languages (among a wide range of groups, including language learners, migrants, or 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's 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 — often 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 bachelor’s degree subect, 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.