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Independent Study in French - LAN00044H

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  • Department: Language and Linguistic Science
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2023-24

Module summary

This module allows you to explore, develop and study in depth an area that is not covered in other modules in your programme, but where French teaching staff have expertise. It enables you to develop advanced independent research skills, in-depth knowledge and understanding of an area of language, society & culture of French-speaking countries, and extensive practice and refinement of your French writing skills.

Related modules

Pre-requisite module

French Language and Cultures: Advanced 

NB. Students may undertake no more than one Independent Study module in languages.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2023-24
B Semester 2 2023-24

Module aims

The aim is to allow students to develop a detailed programme of study on a topic, which, while falling within the areas where teaching staff in French has expertise, is beyond what is available in the teaching programme on offer to them.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module students should be able to:

  • design a course of study in a chosen area of French

  • demonstrate an ability to read critically some of the research which has previously been undertaken in that area

  • bring to bear their prior knowledge of the society and culture of a French-speaking country

  • understand the main issues that have been raised in the literature on that topic

  • demonstrate an ability to critique and to summarise previous scholarship on the area of study

  • demonstrate an ability to communicative sophisticated ideas, complex concepts and arguments in written form in French

Module content

Contact hours

Four contact hours to be arranged with the supervisor. A total of 196 hours of independent work is required.

Registration procedure

Students are responsible for designing a course of study, which will allow them to explore a topic area in depth. A student wishing to take such a module must consult (during the academic year prior to the final year) a member of staff with expertise in the relevant area on the feasibility of undertaking such a course of study. Students will receive information on the areas of expertise staff are willing to supervise them. Once a member of staff has agreed that they could in principle supervise such a course of study, they will provide the student with feedback on the plan they have designed. The plan must be approved by a sub-committee of the Board of Studies, no later than the term prior to that in which the module is to be undertaken.

Using the proposal form from the Department website, students should make a detailed proposal of their plans, for discussion with a potential supervisor, giving information on:

  • The content of the module

  • An outline of the work that needs to be conducted

  • A preliminary timetable for completion of the work

  • References, or a proposed bibliography, as appropriate (at least 5 titles)

Permission will not be given to students to take this module unless the supervising member of staff and the approval committee see adequate evidence that the proposed work is realistic and feasible.

NB. Until the project has been approved, students will be required to register for an alternative module.

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Module feedback

Feedback on formative work

  • You can expect feedback during discussion and presentation sessions as you develop your project.

  • Summative assessment and feedback

  • Written feedback form with a mark on the university marking scale, confirmed by the second marker; and written comments on different aspects of the work, i.e. structure, content, logic and argumentation, grammatical accuracy, examples of typical mistakes (language). Feedback will be given within 25 working days.

Indicative reading

To be determined by the student in consultation with the module supervisor.



The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.