French MScR
Awards: MScR
Study modes: Full-time, Part-time
Funding opportunities
Programme website: French
A Masters by Research (MScR) programme is ideal if you would like to complete a short piece of independent research in French and Francophone Studies. This programme is designed to enable students who have taken a first degree in French to specialise in an aspect of French or Francophone literature or culture, while acquiring core skills in theories and methods of study.
The programme is a good stepping stone to a PhD, but is equally of value as a stand-alone qualification. As a Masters by Research student, you will be part of a wider postgraduate community while specialising in what most interests you right from the beginning of the programme, which is how it differs from a taught Masters (MSc).
French has been taught here since 1894, making it one of the first European languages to be offered at Edinburgh. We specialise in the language, literatures and cultures of France and the many countries around the world in which French is spoken.
Join our community and undertake two research assignments and a 15,000-word dissertation under the guidance of an experienced and well-published supervisor. Language, to us, is inseparable from culture. As such, we encourage you to think broadly and explore the implications of language in a wider perspective.
Research excellence
In the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), our research in French and Francophone Studies was submitted in Modern Languages and Linguistics (Panel D - Arts and Humanities; Unit of Assessment 26).
The results reaffirm Edinburgh’s position as one of the UK’s leading research universities, ranked third in the UK for Modern Languages.
As published in Times Higher Education's REF power ratings, this result is based on the quality and breadth of our research in the unit of assessment.
Our research expertise covers a wide range of areas, including:
- Literature from the Middle Ages to the present day
- Film and screen studies
- Theatre studies
- Intermediality studies
- Adaptation studies
- Visual culture
- French political thought
- Contemporary politics and institutions
- Representing the city
- Francophone post-colonial studies and decolonial thought
- Reparations and reparatory justice
- Black studies
- Gender studies
- Queer studies
- Self-writing
- Medical humanities
- Translation studies
Explore our range of research centres, networks and projects in French and Francophone Studies
Go beyond the books
Beyond the Books is a podcast from the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC) that gives you a behind-the-scenes look at research and the people who make it happen.
Listen to a mix of PhD, early career and established researchers talk about their journey to and through academia and about their current and recent research.
This programme is delivered and assessed through:
- two 20-credit courses on research skills, methods and problems
- two 40-credit supervised research assignments
- one 60-credit supervised 15,000 word dissertation
Find out more about compulsory and optional courses
We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.
| Award | Title | Duration | Study mode | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MScR | French and Francophone Studies | 1 Year | Full-time | Programme structure 2024/25 |
| MScR | French and Francophone Studies | 2 Years | Part-time | Programme structure 2024/25 |
This programme includes 40 credits of training on research skills, methods and problems.
Between the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC), the Careers Service and the Institute for Academic Development (IAD), you will find a further range of programmes and resources to help you develop your postgraduate skills.
You will also have access to the University’s fantastic libraries, collections and worldwide strategic partnerships.
Join in
As part of our research community, you will be immersed in a world of knowledge exchange, with lots of opportunities to share ideas, learning and creative work.
Activities range from a regular seminar series in European Languages and Cultures (with talks by staff, research students and visiting speakers), to film screenings and workshops, including those organised by the Centre de recherches francophones belges and the Diaspolinks research network.
Our graduates tell us that they value LLC’s friendliness, the connections they make here and the in-depth guidance they receive from our staff, who are published experts in their field.
On campus
The Main University Library holds academic books, journals and databases, including over 118,500 books and 25,500 journals in French, as well as films, newspapers and other media.
The Library is also the home of the University's Centre for Research Collections which brings together:
- more than 400,000 rare books
- six kilometres of archives and manuscripts
- thousands of works of art, historical musical instruments and other objects
Many of our Special Collections are digitised and available online from our excellent Resource Centre and Computing Labs in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC).
In the city
As a research student at Edinburgh, you will be based in a world-leading festival city with fantastic cinemas, theatres, galleries, museums, and collections.
Many of the city’s resources are located close to the University's Central Area, making them very easy to access when you are on campus. For example, the National Library of Scotland is less than one kilometre from our School. It has one of the best French collections in the UK.
You will also have membership of the Institut Français d’Ecosse, a major centre of French culture.
Edinburgh’s French film scene is particularly strong, with an annual French Film Festival and plenty to see throughout the year.
Most of the city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with the Old Town retaining many of its medieval buildings and streets.
These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.
You should have near-native speaker competence in French.
MScR: A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a related subject.
International qualifications
Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:
English language requirements
Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.
English language tests
We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:
- IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
- TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 23 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
- C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 176 in each component.
- Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
- PTE Academic: total 73 with at least 65 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
- Oxford ELLT: 8 overall with at least 7 in each component.
Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.
Degrees taught and assessed in English
We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:
We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).
If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.
Find out more about our language requirements:
| Award | Title | Duration | Study mode | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MScR | French and Francophone Studies | 1 Year | Full-time | Tuition fees |
| MScR | French and Francophone Studies | 2 Years | Part-time | Tuition fees |
Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.
Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:
borrowing money
taking out a loan
family support
personal savings
income from work
employer sponsorship
- scholarships
Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study
Featured funding
You may be eligible to apply for a Muriel Smith Award for this programme, which covers tuition fees for a maximum of one year.
If you are a current student or graduate of the University of Edinburgh, you are also eligible to apply for a John Orr Award. This award of £2,300 per annum is for applicants to a masters degree programme in any Romance literature, language or dialect.
Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:
- Phone: +44 (0)131 650 4086
- Contact: llc.PGResearch@ed.ac.uk
- School of Literatures, Languages & Cultures
- 50 George Square
- Central Campus
- Edinburgh
- EH8 9LH
- Programme: French
- School: Literatures, Languages & Cultures
- College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
Applying
Select your programme and preferred start date to begin your application.
MSc by Research French and Francophone Studies - 1 Year (Full-time)
MSc by Research French and Francophone Studies - 2 Years (Part-time)
If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.
You must submit two references with your application.
The online application process involves the completion of a web form and the submission of supporting documents.
For a Masters by Research programme, you should include:
- a sample of written work of about 3,000 words (this can be a previous piece of work from an undergraduate degree)
- a research proposal - an outline of your proposed area of study, helping us gain a clearer picture of what you hope to achieve
See our guidance:
Before you apply, you should look at the interests and expertise of our research community on the programme website. This will help you decide if this programme is right for you and your supervision needs.
Programme website - research centres, networks and projects in French and Francophone Studies
Programme website - our postgraduate environment in French and Francophone Studies
Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:
Further information
- Phone: +44 (0)131 650 4086
- Contact: llc.PGResearch@ed.ac.uk
- School of Literatures, Languages & Cultures
- 50 George Square
- Central Campus
- Edinburgh
- EH8 9LH
- Programme: French
- School: Literatures, Languages & Cultures
- College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences