French (BA)

Faculty of Arts

waterloo

Co-op

Master the French language through immersive classroom experiences and an optional exchange at a French-speaking university. Participate in intensive summer language-immersion programs or apply for a summer job in a Francophone country. You’ll develop extensive knowledge of intellectual and cultural developments in the French-speaking world, preparing you to live and work across the globe in a career that demands your bilingual communication skills.

Apply Your Learning

Make the most out of your university career by taking advantage of all that Laurier has to offer you. Volunteer work, campus clubs, leadership programs, studying abroad, work experience – there are so many ways you can extend your classroom experience into the real world.

Here are just a few examples of the experiences you can add to your French program:

Apply for co-op at the end of your first year and gain real-world work experience.
Go on an international exchange to practice French abroad.
Take translation courses to gain practical experience that you can add to your resume.
Volunteer at a local school or another local organization to gain language and professional experience.

Check out the French Experience Guide.

2020 graduates who secured employment or went on to postgraduate studies

Laurier ranks in the top 6 percent of universities worldwide*

students who gained hands-on learning experiences at Laurier in 2019/20

*Center for World University Rankings (CWUR)

Admissions

Format: full time or part time Duration: four years Start: September (fall term) OUAC code: UH

Minimum admission range: low 70s
Competitive admission range based on last year’s admitted students: low 80s
English at 60%

Students applying to this program from a Canadian province outside of Ontario are encouraged to review our course equivalents by province chart. This chart will show you what courses from your province are equivalent to the admission requirements listed under Ontario High School Admission Requirements.

Students applying to this program from an international curriculum are encouraged to review our curriculum-specific requirements; you must also meet all program-specific requirements listed under the Ontario High School Admission Requirements section.

English-Proficiency Requirement

Laurier's language of instruction is English, and so we may require you to provide evidence of your English proficiency to help make sure you experience success in your academic courses.

Your three most recent years of full-time education must be in English without taking any ESL (English as a Second Language) courses. If you do not meet this requirement, you must provide evidence of your English proficiency.

We reserve the right to request an English-language test from any applicant.

If you do not meet Laurier's English proficiency requirement but are academically qualified for your program, you may be eligible for a conditional offer of admission.

Laurier English and Academic Foundation (LEAF) Program

The Laurier English and Academic Foundation (LEAF) program is an academic English program for Laurier applicants who have to prove English proficiency. If you have received an offer to Laurier with a condition to meet our English- proficiency requirement, you can meet that condition by successfully completing the LEAF program.

Graduates from a two-year general Arts and Science diploma program can apply to French within the Faculty of Arts on Laurier’s Waterloo campus. To be considered for admission to the Faculty of Arts, graduates must have an overall average of 75% in their program and a minimum of 60% in a 4U English course or equivalent.

Learn more about our college transfer agreement.

Visit our admission requirements section to find specific requirements for university students, indigenous applicants, mature learners, homeschooled applicants, senior citizens, refugees, and more.

Your Next Steps

Apply Now Strengthen Your Application Important Dates

Program Details

Learning French at Laurier

Laurier’s French program opens innumerable doors. In a bilingual country that requires people with strong analytical and communicative skills in both French and English, a French degree from Laurier prepares you for life after graduation.

The opportunities are endless when you’re a French student at Laurier. You’ll study a wide range of subjects, including:

Advanced writing in French;
The diverse cultures of the French-speaking world;
French and francophone literature, film, music and animation;
French-English translation;
French grammar (beginner, intermediate and advanced level); and
The reflection and practice of teaching in French.

Practise Makes Perfect

There's no better way to learn a language than to be surrounded by it. As a French student at Laurier, you are encouraged to take part in an exchange program at a French-speaking university, participate in Explore programs, or apply for summer jobs in Francophone countries (Laurier's partners include AIESEC Global Talent and Télévision Française de l’Ontario).

Interested in Being a Teacher?

Top-ranking students in this program are given high priority consideration for admission to Laurier's Bachelor of Education program. In your fourth year, you'll be eligible for consideration for this stream if you have a GPA of at least 75% and at least 50 hours of relevant volunteer work.

Program Options and Courses

Options and Minors

These are a few of the many popular academic opportunities which allow you to dive deeper into your major area of study or broaden your knowledge:

Arabic Minor
German Minor
Italian Minor
Spanish Minor

Check out other options to enhance your degree.

First-Year Courses

The level of French you previously completed will determine which of the following courses you will need to complete in your first year of study:

Introductory French I
Introductory French II
Practical French I
Practical French II
Atelier in Composition and Stylistics
Language through Popular Culture I

Upper-Year Courses

We also offer plenty of in-class experiences to flex your language muscles in practical applications within our upper-year courses, such as:

Blog writing;
Community service with a French organization;
Creating mini magazines;
Creative writing;
Making a documentary;
Making video clips;
Placement in a French school; and
Singing in French and making your own playlist.

Similar Programs

Languages (BA) | Waterloo
Spanish (BA) | Waterloo
English (BA) | Waterloo
English (BA) | Brantford
Communication Studies (BA) | Waterloo

Advice from Current Students

Get the inside scoop on what to expect from this transition and your first year at Laurier

Favourite Courses and Professors

Start planning what courses you'll take in first year at Laurier

Memorable Experiences

Current Arts students recount their most memorable experiences while at Laurier

Advice from Current Students

Get the inside scoop on what to expect from this transition and your first year at Laurier

Favourite Courses and Professors

Start planning what courses you'll take in first year at Laurier

Memorable Experiences

Current Arts students recount their most memorable experiences while at Laurier

Co-op

Co-op is a way to integrate what you are learning in the classroom with practical experience in your field of study. Build your resume, earn money, develop your network, and graduate with work experience.

You can apply for admission to co-op in your first year and may be eligible for an admission interview early in your second year. As a student in this program, you will be eligible to complete paid work terms lasting 12 to 16 weeks.

Interested? Learn more about co-op.

Tuition and Scholarships

Getting a university education is an investment in your future.

At Laurier, we take financial health seriously by providing a wide variety of funding opportunities for you throughout your degree, such as scholarships and bursaries, and by equipping you with the skills to manage your finances effectively in the years to come.

"Often people say that in university you are just a number. However, in this program, the professors know your first name and care about you. I enjoyed the small class sizes, a welcoming environment of the entire Languages and Literatures department."

Miranda Boone, French graduate

"I would not have my position I do today if I had not completed a BA in French. I am currently working at a bilingual campus where everyone who is employed must be bilingual."

Meaghan Kay, French graduate

Your Career Awaits

It’s not only about the journey; it’s about the destination. Let us help you get to where you’re going.

Here are just some examples of our graduates' destinations. What’s yours?

Sample Career Options

Note: Additional training and education may be required.

communications specialist
customs/immigration officer
dialect coach
ESL instructor
film translator (dubbing)
foreign correspondent
interpreter
linguist
speech-language pathologist
teacher/educator
translator

Explore more careers.

Support After Graduation

Alumni for life means that you have access to Career and Employment Support offered at Laurier for your entire career.

Waterloo Campus

The Waterloo campus is tucked into about one city block, so you’re steps away from your classes, food and your new favourite study spot.

There are many ways to tour our Waterloo campus, whether that's on a guided tour with one of our Laurier student ambassadors, on your own using virtual reality, or even on-demand through one of our pre-recorded tours. See our campus spaces and start to picture yourself at Laurier.

"I really enjoyed the variety of courses in this program. Dr. Freidel’s courses were all very interesting and her teaching style was engaging. She was very helpful and incredibly knowledgeable. This program prepares you with a sense of French culture and language – which will benefit me in years to come."

Damla Kostek, French graduate