[Sem193]

I need some advice here. I'm in Year 13 and have decided to study Languages after applying to a different course already. I only study Spanish at A level, but studied French at GCSE and got an A* in both of them. I want to study French and Spanish at university but I know you can't study French ab initio so I was wondering if universities would allow me to study French at university if I improved my French to A level standard?

I'm planning to spend about 9 months in France in my gap year and French people tell me that my French now is pretty decent. So would I be able to do a French degree? I was thinking of doing French A level in one year but I really can't stay at home any more because of a bad home situation.

[xmarilynx]

There are some universities that offer ab initio French, but they are few and far between.

If you spend your gap year in France, you should be far better than A Level standard I would advise taking the B2 TCF/DALF/DELF exam to prove your level in French, which universities should normally accept (although I would recommend contacting them first to check). You could alternatively take A Level French as an independent candidate, but since you would have two lots of oral and written exams, that could be a bit much.

Good luck!

[Sem193]

(Original post by xmarilynx)
There are some universities that offer ab initio French, but they are few and far between.

If you spend your gap year in France, you should be far better than A Level standard I would advise taking the B2 TCF/DALF/DELF exam to prove your level in French, which universities should normally accept (although I would recommend contacting them first to check). You could alternatively take A Level French as an independent candidate, but since you would have two lots of oral and written exams, that could be a bit much.

Good luck!

Thanks. I thought about taking the B2/TCF/DALF/DELF exam. I'm going to email the universities that I want to apply to asking whether they will accept having this qualification. Yeah, I thought it would be a bit too much and how my French would be better by spending time in France rather than doing the A level Thanks again for your reply!!

[sam_cluk]

I don't know whereabouts you live but I know that Lancaster University offers French ab initio to anybody taking another language at post-A-Level (because I did it! hehe). You can also do a third subject in first year and just continue with the subject or subject(s) you enjoyed the most (whether they were the ones you actually applied to study or not) (I did that too!)