DOING HONOURS IN FRENCH STUDIES

What does doing ‘Honours’ mean? ‘Honours’ is an intensive year-long program

of advanced study with research at its core. The Honours year enables students to engage in depth with a discipline area from their major by undertaking research of their own, under the supervision of an expert in the field. For some students, Honours is the culmination of their formal education while for other students, Honours is the stepping stone to doctoral research and careers as professional researchers and academics.

Entry Requirements

Students need to achieve a Credit result (70%) or higher in eight Senior units (48 credit points) in French

Students in the Introductory Stream must include FRNC2626 or equivalent exchange units. (Note that new scholarships were created in 2014 to facilitate beginners students to go on exchange and continue with Honours)

Students in the Intermediate Stream must include at least two 2000 level Advanced culture units or equivalent exchange units.

Students in the Advanced Stream must include at least a second 3000 level Advanced culture unit or equivalent exchange units.

Entry Requirements

Mid-year entry is possible. Enrolment deadlines for Semester 1 and

Semester 2 are given on the Faculty of Arts website each year.

Joint Honours in French Studies and another discipline from another department is possible.

NB: All Honours’ enrolments now take

place online.

What does doing Honours involve? Honours in French studies consists of:1. A thesis of 18000-20000 words, and2. One 2-hour weekly research seminar per

semester. 6000-8000 words of written work, or its equivalent, is required for each seminar.

The thesis is worth 60% of the final mark, and each seminar is worth 20%. While you will receive marks for all pieces of assessment, your academic transcripts will record only your final, overall Honours’ mark.

Thesis

The Honours thesis constitutes an original piece of research in a field that can be supervised by a member of staff. It amounts to a18000-20000 words’ thesis and must demonstrate both a command of a wide range of secondary source material in French studies, as well as a command of a particular disciplinary or interdisciplinary approach to the topic of the research. The thesis can be written in either French or English.

Emilie M. Schweitzer Honours Scholarships in French The Emilie Marguerite Schweitzer Honours Scholarships

(worth $5,000.00 each) were founded in 2010 by a bequest from Emilie M Schweitzer to the Departments of French Studies and Germanic Studies for the establishment of scholarships for students of French and German proceeding into Honours. The awards will be based on the applicant’s academic achievements and financial needs.This scholarship is open to both local and international students who have completed, or are completing, an undergraduate degree, and who have enrolled full-time in an Honours program at the University of Sydney, majoring in either French or Germanic Studies. Award of the scholarship is conditional upon enrolment in the Honours degree.

Emilie Schweitzer Exchange Scholarships for 3rd Year Students from the introductory stream

• Specifically for 3rd Year students currently enrolled in a French Studies major in the introductory stream, who are taking up an approved exchange place at a French university to be credited towards their degree.

http://sydney.edu.au/arts/french/scholarships/index.shtml

Requirements for scholarships

• Students will need: To demonstrate their intention to continue with French

Honours (or joint Honours) and An average mark of 70% in French (in both language and

cultural units). • Six scholarships will be awarded annually on the basis

of academic merit with the approval of: The Head of School of Languages and Cultures and The Chairs of the Department of French Studies and

Germanic Studies • The value of each scholarship will be $3000. The duration of period in France must be a minimum of

three months.

Exchange as a foundation for Honours

Spending a semester or 2 at a Francophone university is an excellent way to improve your written and spoken French in preparation for Honours

Whilst on exchange, you might discover a passion for a particular theme that could become the topic of your Honours thesis; you could start gathering documentation whilst overseas.

There are various scholarships available to exchange students: the Emilie Schweitzer (previously mentioned); the Nicolas Baudin Scholarship (contact the French Studies Exchange Coordinator for information); Scholarships and loans for exchange students

Exchange as a foundation for Honours

The University has exchange partnerships with 14 French, 2 Canadian-French and 2 Swiss-French universities; follow the link for details:

International exchange to a Francophone country Students from Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced

streams are all encouraged to go on exchange. If you are considering Honours, exchange is strongly advised.

"Close your eyes and jump, all initial doubts and fears fade into insignificance, overwhelmed by new experiences, new thoughts, new friends and new worlds."Georgos S.P, Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Law - University of Cyprus.

Examples of recent theses completed by Honours students in French Studies

‘Sexe et Sensibilité: Jean-Paul Gaulthier et le costume au cinéma’ (Lucy Segal) ‘Vive l’école: le cinéma engagé et le système éducatif français’ (Constance

Leung) ‘La philosophie d’un intellectuel, doublé d’un instinctif: Michel Onfray’ (Robert

Boncardo) ‘The Sarkozy shift: Redefining National Identity in France’ (Charlotte Krass-

Joint Honours French/Government) ‘Culpability across borders. Print media of the DSK affair from an SFL

perspective’ (Michelle Djondro) ‘Qui va garder les enfants ? Entre l'enfant, l'emploi, l'égalité et l'État: La

réforme contestée du congé parental (Marcus Rigg) Value is and Institution: The Empire of Value, ontology, and the methodology

of economics as a social science (Yannick Slade-Caffarel) ‘‘La Langue de chez nous’: évaluation de la politique linguistique québécoise

dans la presse montréalaise’ (Mitchell J. C. Robinson) ‘Amin Maalouf’s Léon l’Africain and the Andalusian Chronotope’ (Adam Akbar

Hashambhoy – Joint Honours French/Arabic) ‘La littérature et la Presse au XIXème siècle : Les Enjeux du débat dans

l’œuvre hybride de Guy de Maupassant’ (Rebecca Allen)

Career and Study opportunities post Honours

More than 200 million people speak French on the five continents and French is the second most widely learned foreign language after English. It is also the only language, alongside English, that is taught in every country in the world.

French is both a working language and an official language of the United Nations, the European Union, UNESCO, NATO, the International Olympic Committee, the International Red Cross and international courts.

French can be used for: careers in teaching and academia, translation and interpretation, the media, public and community service in International Organizations (Governmental, Non-governmental, charitable), careers in travel, tourism and hospitality, in Foreign service and diplomacy.

The ability to speak French opens the doors of the many multinational companies using French as their working language, in a wide range of sectors (retailing, automotive, luxury goods, aeronautics, etc.) in France and other French-speaking parts of the world (Canada, Switzerland, Belgium, and North and sub-Saharan Africa). As the world’s fifth biggest economy and number-three destination for foreign investment, France is a key economic partner.

Speaking French also opens up study opportunities at renowned French and French speaking universities (the Sorbonne, Lyon 2, Aix-Marseille University, Geneva, Quebec etc.), business schools, or elite grandes écoles (Cachan, HEC, Polytechnique, Sciences Po, ESSEC) ranked among the top higher education institutions in Europe and the world.

The cultural knowledge and critical skills provided by a French major are not only marketable for this variety of vocations but will enrich you, and provide you with opportunities throughout your life.