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The information on this page relates to September 2019 entry. For 2020 information, including grade requirements, please check our prospectus.
By studying French/Mathematics, at Aberystwyth University, you will become an all-round expert in many aspects
of France and other French-speaking countries and simultaneously explore the
language of mathematics which underpins much of the modern world.
Both
departments aim to create a friendly, open and supportive learning environment which
students are able to reach their full potential.
The combination of French with Mathematics
allows you to develop the skills that are highly sought after by employers, across a range of industries.
97% overall satisfaction for the Department of Mathematics. (NSS 2019)
96% of our graduates were in work or further study within 6 months, 4% more than Mathematical Science graduates nationally (HESA 2018*)
100% overall student satisfaction for the Department of Modern Languages (NSS 2019)
95% of our graduates were in work or further study within 6 months, 4% more than Language graduates nationally (HESA 2018*)
Overview
Why study French/ Mathematics at Aberystwyth University?
There is a wide range of expertise available within our Department and this is reflected in the module choices we offer. Students could choose modules on linguistics (both modern and historical); dialectical (the study of different forms of French, past and present); literature; the history of ideas and artistic movements; literary representations of Paris, travel literature and current affairs.
All students on this course will spend their third year living independently in a French-speaking country. You could choose to study at University, work as language assistant or other forms of work placements.
Mathematics has been taught in Aberystwyth since 1872, so that the department builds on over 140 of teaching excellence.
Mathematics as a subject will provide you with the opportunity to uncover a discipline that combines the identification and analysis of shapes and patterns with the ability to confidently analyse data.
During the first year, you will receive a comprehensive introduction to French studies and related research skills, in tutorial form.
You will become a student in the Department of Modern Languages that scored 93% for student satisfaction in the 2017 National Student Survey (NSS, 2017), demonstrating our commitment to provide you with an experience that is memorable and cherished. The Department of Mathematics has also scored 100% overall student satisfaction (NSS 2018).
Modern Language graduates are statistically amongst the most employable graduates. In the 2017 Destination of Leavers for Higher Education report published in 2018 demonstrated that a degree in Modern Languages provides a clear pathway to employment or further study. For our department, 95% of our graduates were in work or further study within 6 months after graduating (HESA 2018). From the Department of Mathematics, 96% of the students who graduated in 2017 are in work or further study 6 months after graduation, this figure is 4% higher than the national average for Mathematics students (HESA 2018). In addition, the recent Good University Guide published by the Times and the Sunday Times ranked us as a top 10 department for graduate prospects (employment outcomes), for the subject area of French. Our purposeful teaching ensures that you will have a smooth transition from campus to career.
This degree is available to beginners and advanced students. Beginners will follow an intensive course in the first year.
Our Staff
All lecturers in the
Department of Mathematics are qualified to PhD level and are research active.
The majority have a postgraduate teaching qualification and new staff are
required to complete the PGCTHE. The department also employs a number of part
time tutors, with extensive teaching experience, and some student
demonstrators, who are selected from our undergraduate and postgraduate students.
All of the lecturers in the Department of Modern Languages are qualified to PhD level and are research active specialists in their chosen field. We also employ highly qualified and experienced language tutors, and native-speakers, who will ensure that your learning is of the highest possible quality and who will provide you with constant support through your years of study.
Modules
Please note: The modules listed below are those currently intended for delivery during the next academic year and may be subject to change. They are included here to give an indication of how the course is structured.
What can I do with a French and Mathematics degree?
Our graduates have found employment in the following sectors:
Statistical consultancy;
Teaching;
Accountancy and banking;
Risk analysis, and actuarial work;
Financial management and investment analysis;
Information technology and data science;
Interpretation/ Translation;
Marketing and Communications.
Transferable Skills
Studying for a degree in French and Maths will equip you with a range of transferable skills which are highly valued by employers. These include:
Ability to express ideas and communicate information in a clear and structured manner, in both written and oral form;
Effective problem-solving and creative thinking skills;
Ability to work independently;
Time-management and organisational skills, including the ability to meet deadlines;
Self-motivation and self-reliance;
Team-work, with the ability to discuss concepts in groups, accommodating different ideas and reaching agreement;
Research skills.
Teaching & Learning
What will I learn?
The breakdown below will provide you with an illustration of what you may study during the four-year degree scheme.
During your four years, you will have four weekly hours of language work, which includes:
Oral;
Written;
Aural;
Translation.
In the first year you will discover:
Introduction to literary studies and civilisation;
European Film;
Algebra and calculus;
Geometry;
Differential probability and statistics;
Politics and culture of language across Europe.
In your second year you will explore:
Possibility of an independent research project;
An option of specialised languages modules (language of business etc.);
Analysis and partial differential equations;
Abstract and linear algebra;
Statistical modeling;
Hydrodynamics;
A vast choice of content modules on literature, film, and art;
Current issues in French and francophone society;
Teaching English to speakers of other languages.
In your third year, you will take part in your Year Abroad where you will study with our partner Universities under the Erasmus + Programme
In your final year, you will study:
Semantics and Lexicography;
French linguistics;
Cultural and Artistic Movements;
French Literature of 18th and 19th Century;
Current issues in a French-speaking country;
A compulsory independent research project.
How will I be taught?
Our students are taught through the medium of lectures, seminars and language workshops.
We assess our students in a variety of ways depending on the modules. In our language classes, you will be assessed through continuous assessments and an exam at the end of Year 1 and Year 4. Our elective and compulsory modules are assessed through coursework in the format of a presentation and/ or essay and an examination.
Your progress will be regularly monitored through tutorial consultations and with the Personal Development Portfolio (PDP). In your last year, in order to prepare you for life after university, the PDP is replaced by writing a CV and cover letter in French.
