Best Universities for French in the UK 2027
Bath and Exeter share first place for French in 2027 with 69 points each. Strathclyde and York share second place on 66, the University of Leeds is third with 65 and the University of Warwick is fourth with 64. The Unifresher ranking compares 19 universities with complete subject-level results across eight measures.
A French degree combines intensive language training with the history, literature, politics and film of France and the wider French-speaking world. Most courses include a year abroad, and many let you start French from beginner level or study it alongside another subject. Because the degree usually lasts four years, the cost and character of the city you study in matter as much as the timetable.
Why this ranking is student-first: most French degrees run for four years with a year abroad, so the city you come back to matters as much as the course itself. Unifresher weighs teaching, support and graduate outcomes alongside cost, safety and social life, so you can see which universities offer the strongest all-round experience.
Top universities for French in 2027
Bath and Exeter tie on 69 points but get there in different ways. Bath pairs 80% satisfaction with £30,000 graduate earnings, while Exeter offers a much cheaper city, with a cost index of 67 against Bath's 82. Strathclyde and York sit three points behind on 66, and both record 100% academic support.
University of Bath
Bath
Joint first, with satisfaction second only to Lancaster and £30,000 graduate earnings, the joint highest in the table.
University of Exeter
Exeter
Joint first, with the cheapest city in the top four and the third-highest sustainability score in the ranking at 61.2.
University of Strathclyde
Glasgow
Joint second, with teaching quality behind only Oxford, plus 100% academic support and £30,000 graduate earnings.
University of York
York
Joint second, with perfect academic support and a safety index of 72.87, the fourth highest in the ranking.
How the French ranking works
Eight measures make up the final score
Each university is ranked on eight measures, and those ranks are added together to give the overall score. Higher totals rank more strongly. Cost of living is treated as an affordability measure, so a lower cost index earns the stronger position.
French University Rankings 2027
Search or sort all 19 ranked universities. The wider table also shows the safety, cost, social-life and sustainability measures that feed into the score.
| Rank | University | Graduate earnings | Satisfaction | Teaching | Academic support | Safety index | Cost index | Social life | Sustainability | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Bath Bath | £30,000 | 80% | 92% | 98% | 73.47 | 82 | 74 | 50.9 | 69 |
| 1 | University of Exeter Exeter | £28,000 | 79% | 88% | 87% | 66.71 | 67 | 78 | 61.2 | 69 |
| 2 | University of Strathclyde Glasgow | £30,000 | 75% | 98% | 100% | 54.76 | 69 | 80 | 40.5 | 66 |
| 2 | University of York York | £28,500 | 77% | 89% | 100% | 72.87 | 73 | 78 | 50.3 | 66 |
| 3 | University of Leeds Leeds | £27,000 | 74% | 90% | 93% | 54.87 | 68 | 84 | 55.4 | 65 |
| 4 | University of Warwick Coventry | £30,000 | 74% | 97% | 95% | 38.29 | 67 | 76 | 57.2 | 64 |
| 5 | Manchester Metropolitan University Manchester | £26,000 | 73% | 96% | 94% | 44.11 | 69 | 82 | 82.6 | 63 |
| 6 | University of Oxford Oxford | £29,000 | 76% | 100% | 89% | 63.00 | 80 | 70 | 59.8 | 62 |
| 6 | University of Surrey Guildford | £28,000 | 78% | 96% | 97% | 74.79 | 78 | 74 | 39.5 | 62 |
| 7 | University of Liverpool Liverpool | £27,500 | 71% | 96% | 89% | 51.45 | 68 | 84 | 60.4 | 61 |
| 8 | Newcastle University Newcastle upon Tyne | £28,000 | 75% | 82% | 91% | 60.61 | 69 | 83 | 53.6 | 60 |
| 9 | University of Southampton Southampton | £29,000 | 76% | 96% | 95% | 46.71 | 69 | 78 | 47.5 | 57 |
| 10 | Lancaster University Lancaster | £27,000 | 82% | 84% | 84% | 55.20 | 65 | 76 | 52.3 | 56 |
| 11 | University of Chester Chester | £27,000 | 78% | 88% | 92% | 78.44 | 67 | 73 | 24.0 | 55 |
| 12 | University of Stirling Stirling | £24,500 | 78% | 92% | 100% | 53.55 | 62 | 72 | 29.2 | 54 |
| 13 | UCL (University College London) London | £30,000 | 68% | 89% | 92% | 44.41 | 91 | 78 | 61.6 | 51 |
| 14 | Queen Mary University of London London | £29,000 | 69% | 80% | 91% | 44.41 | 91 | 79 | 54.5 | 41 |
| 15 | University of Birmingham Birmingham | £28,500 | 72% | 89% | 86% | 36.06 | 70 | 82 | 48.5 | 40 |
| 16 | University of Westminster London | £24,000 | 68% | 92% | 90% | 44.41 | 91 | 78 | 51.0 | 34 |
What the French ranking shows
Joint first place
University of Bath and University of Exeter share first place with 69 points each.
Four universities
University of Bath, University of Strathclyde, University of Warwick and UCL (University College London) share the highest graduate-earnings figure at £30,000.
Lancaster University
Lancaster University records the strongest student-satisfaction result at 82%.
University of Oxford
University of Oxford is the only ranked university with 100% teaching quality.
University of Strathclyde, University of York and University of Stirling
University of Strathclyde, University of York and University of Stirling all reach 100% for academic support.
University of Stirling
University of Stirling has the lowest cost-of-living index in the table at 62.
What this ranking tells you about studying French
The French degrees at the top of this ranking look quite different from one another. Some sit inside a Modern Languages programme, one is only offered as joint honours, and the rules for beginners and the year abroad vary from place to place. The sections below set out what the four leading universities offer for 2027 entry, where the data shows real trade-offs and what to check before you apply.
Bath and Exeter share first place by different routes
Bath teaches French through its Modern Languages BA, a four-year degree in two languages for 2027 entry. At least one language must be French, German or Spanish at advanced level, and French can be either that advanced language or a beginner second language. The third year is spent abroad studying at a partner university, working as a language assistant or on a professional placement, and students can split the year between two countries. French units include a first-year course on France and its revolutions from 1789 to May 1968, and Francophone Politics and Culture in the second year.
Exeter also teaches French within a BA Modern Languages, offered as a three-year degree or a four-year degree with an international placement. French can be started with no prior knowledge, but beginners must take the four-year route. Placements usually last six to 15 months and can involve study, work, a mix of the two or a British Council language assistantship. Module titles range from The Making of Modern France to a second-year course on Baudelaire and Rachilde.
In the data, Bath leads on outcomes and experience. Its 80% satisfaction is the second-highest result in the table, its £30,000 graduate earnings are the joint highest and its academic support reaches 98%. Its weak point is cost: an index of 82 is the highest outside London. Exeter makes up the ground on affordability and sustainability, with a cost index of 67 and a sustainability score of 61.2. Its 87% academic support is among the lowest in the table, so it is worth asking how language classes and personal tutoring are organised.
Why Unifresher looks beyond graduate pay: Bath, Strathclyde, Warwick and UCL share the highest graduate-earnings figure at £30,000, yet UCL finishes 13th. London's cost index of 91 and UCL's 68% satisfaction, the joint lowest in the table, outweigh its earnings.
Strathclyde: French as a joint honours degree
Strathclyde only offers French as part of a joint honours BA, paired with subjects such as English, Law, History, Psychology, Marketing, Journalism or Politics and International Relations. The degree takes four years. First-year French is taught in two streams, one for students with Higher French or an equivalent and one for those without, so the course is open to students who have not taken French to a high level. Honours students spend a year abroad studying at a French university, working as an English language assistant or on a work placement, and the university lists exchange links in Dijon, Paris and Angers.
Strathclyde's 98% teaching quality is the second highest in the ranking, behind Oxford's 100%, and it shares the top academic-support result of 100% with York and Stirling. It also shares the highest graduate-earnings figure at £30,000. Glasgow's safety index of 54.76 and a sustainability score of 40.5 are what hold it back from first place.
York: French with linguistics and other subjects
York's French and Linguistics BA with a year abroad is a four-year degree with a typical offer of AAB. Beginners are welcome in French, and students with A level French follow a separate post-A level route. The third year is spent abroad at a partner university, on a work placement or internship, or possibly as a British Council English Language Assistant, and it is assessed on a pass or fail basis. Final-year options include a module on the legacy of the French Occupation of 1940 to 1944 and another on translation methods.
Students who would rather not go abroad can take Linguistics with French, a three-year degree, and the linguistics ranking is worth comparing if that side appeals. York also pairs French with Spanish, German, Italian, Philosophy, Education and International Relations. In the data, its 100% academic support and safety index of 72.87 stand out, though its cost index of 73 is higher than Exeter's or Strathclyde's.
Leeds and Warwick are close behind
Leeds is third on 65, just one point behind the joint second-placed pair. It shares the highest social-life score in the table, 84, with Liverpool, and records 90% teaching quality. Warwick is fourth on 64, with 97% teaching quality and £30,000 graduate earnings, but its safety index of 38.29 is the second lowest in the ranking and keeps it out of the top three.
Both universities record 74% satisfaction, below every university in the top four. That is the clearest gap between them and the leaders, and it is worth asking current French students at either university about class sizes and contact time.
High satisfaction and low costs do not guarantee a top place
Lancaster has the highest student satisfaction in the French ranking at 82%, yet it finishes tenth. Its 84% academic support is the lowest in the table, and its 84% teaching score is also near the bottom. Stirling shows a different trade-off. It has the cheapest city, with a cost index of 62, and 100% academic support, but £24,500 graduate earnings and a sustainability score of 29.2 leave it 12th.
Oxford is the only university with 100% teaching quality, but a cost index of 80 and 89% academic support place it joint sixth with Surrey. In French, as in most subjects, one standout figure rarely decides a position on its own.
Starting French from scratch
You do not always need A level French to study it at university. Exeter, York and Bath all offer beginner routes, and Strathclyde runs a first-year stream for students without Higher French. The catch is structure. At Exeter, beginners must take the four-year programme, and at Bath French can only be started from scratch as the second of your two languages.
Beginner routes move quickly, because you need to be ready to live and study in French by the third year. Ask how many hours of language teaching beginners get each week, how the beginner and post-A level groups are brought together, and what extra support is offered if you fall behind.
How the French year abroad works
At all four leading universities, the year abroad comes in the third year or, at Strathclyde, after it. The usual options are similar: study at a partner university, work as an English language assistant in a school, or take a work placement. Exeter allows a mix of study and work, and Bath lets students split the year between two countries.
Check how the year counts towards your degree. York assesses it on a pass or fail basis. Ask each university how the year affects your final classification, what support is available while you are away and whether you can spend time in French-speaking countries outside France.
Modern Languages or a joint degree
Few of the leading universities offer French as a stand-alone degree. Bath and Exeter teach it inside a Modern Languages BA, Strathclyde only offers it as joint honours, and York pairs it with another subject. That is not a drawback, but it changes the shape of your week.
If you want to stay focused on languages, Exeter lets you take one, two or three languages within Modern Languages. If you want a second discipline, look at Exeter's combined honours degrees with History or International Relations, Bath's International Politics and Modern Languages, or Strathclyde's pairings. Exeter's combined honours students can only choose one language, so check the rules before you commit.
Think about how you want to spend the year abroad too. On a two-language degree, you may need to divide your time between two countries or choose which language to prioritise, so ask how each university handles this before you decide on a combination.
Entry requirements vary more than the ranking suggests
York asks for AAB for French and Linguistics. Bath's typical Modern Languages offer is ABB, and your advanced language should normally be one of your A levels. Exeter lists ABB to BBB for Modern Languages, while Strathclyde's standard offer is AAAA at Higher or ABB to BBB at A level. Always check the exact course, because joint degrees can carry different requirements.
Strathclyde also lists direct entry to the second year for applicants with higher grades, at AAA to ABB at A level or 36 to 32 points in the International Baccalaureate. If you are considering that route, ask how it affects the year abroad and the language teaching you would miss in first year.
Careers: translation is only one route
Translation and interpreting are the obvious careers, but they are only part of where French graduates go. Exeter lists destinations including education, finance, the civil service, media and law, and Bath says its graduates have worked in global businesses, journalism and charities. Teaching is another common path, and Exeter names PGCE teacher training among its further study options.
If you do want to translate, the National Careers Service notes that most translators work freelance or through agencies, and that the Chartered Institute of Linguists offers a Diploma in Translation. It also lists postgraduate study as a route in for graduates with a relevant degree.
Graduate earnings in context
French graduate earnings in this ranking run from £24,000 at Westminster to £30,000, with a median of £28,000. The figures come from the Graduate Outcomes survey, taken about 15 months after students finish. Some language graduates spend that time on further study, teacher training or work abroad, so early pay is only a rough guide to where a French degree can lead.
Within the top four, Bath and Strathclyde record £30,000, York £28,500 and Exeter £28,000, which matches the table median. With only £6,000 between the highest and lowest figures in the whole ranking, earnings alone say little about which French course will suit you.
Living costs over a four-year degree
Most French degrees with a year abroad take four years, so the cost of the city matters more than on a three-year course. The cost index runs from 62 in Stirling to 91 for the three London universities. Bath's 82 is the highest outside London, while Exeter's 67 is the lowest in the top four. Compare student accommodation costs for the three years you will spend in the UK, and budget separately for the year away.
How to use the ranking when choosing a French degree
Check whether you can start French from scratch
Beginner routes exist at Bath, Exeter, York and Strathclyde, but the rules differ, such as Bath only allowing French from scratch as a second language.
Choose between Modern Languages and a joint degree
Decide whether you want two or three languages or French with another subject, then compare the pairings each university offers.
Compare year abroad options and assessment
Look at whether you can study, work or teach, how long the year lasts and whether it counts towards your final degree.
Budget for four years, including the year away
Compare rent in the UK city for three years and plan separately for living costs and fees during the year abroad.
Related Unifresher rankings and student guides
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best university for French in the UK in 2027?
University of Bath and University of Exeter share first place in the 2027 Unifresher French ranking with overall scores of 69. University of Strathclyde and University of York share second place with 66. University of Leeds is third with 65.
How many universities are included in the French ranking?
The published 2027 ranking compares 19 universities with complete subject-level results. Several universities share positions, so the ranking runs from first to 16th while containing 19 institutions.
What graduate earnings are shown for French?
The graduate-earnings figures range from £24,000 to £30,000, with a median of £28,000 across the 19 ranked universities. Four universities share the highest figure. These are comparative graduate outcomes, not guaranteed starting salaries.
When are graduate outcomes measured?
The Graduate Outcomes survey collects data about 15 months after students finish their course, so the earnings figures describe that point in a career rather than long-term pay.
Do I need A level French to study French at university?
Not always. Exeter and York accept beginners in French, Bath allows French from scratch as a second language alongside an advanced one, and Strathclyde runs a first-year stream for students without Higher French. Beginner routes usually mean a four-year degree and intensive language teaching in the first two years, so check the exact course before applying.
Is the year abroad compulsory on a French degree?
On most four-year French degrees, yes. Bath, York and Strathclyde build a year abroad into the course, and Exeter's four-year route includes an international placement. Some universities offer a three-year alternative without one, such as Exeter's three-year Modern Languages BA or York's Linguistics with French. Beginners at Exeter must take the four-year route.
What can I do during a French year abroad?
The usual options are studying at a partner university, working as an English language assistant in a school, or taking a work placement. Exeter allows a mix of study and work, Bath lets students split the year between two countries, and Strathclyde lists exchange links in Dijon, Paris and Angers. York assesses the year on a pass or fail basis.
What is the difference between a French degree and a Modern Languages degree?
A Modern Languages degree usually lets you study one, two or three languages, with French as one of them. Bath and Exeter teach French this way. Other universities offer French in a joint degree with a second subject, such as Strathclyde's pairings with Law, History or Marketing. The language teaching is similar, but the balance of your timetable changes.
What jobs can you get with a French degree?
French graduates work across business, education, finance, the civil service, media, law and charities, as well as in translation and interpreting. Teaching is a common route through a PGCE. The National Careers Service notes that most translators work freelance or through agencies, and the Chartered Institute of Linguists offers a Diploma in Translation.
How long does a French degree take?
Most French degrees with a year abroad take four years, including those at Bath, Exeter, Strathclyde and York. Some universities offer a three-year route without a year abroad. In Scotland, Strathclyde's joint honours BA takes four years and includes a year abroad for Honours students.
French course and careers information
- Unifresher university rankings methodology for wider ranking context.
- Graduate Outcomes survey (HESA) for the 15-month graduate survey point.
- University of Bath: Modern Languages BA (Hons) with study or work abroad for language levels, beginner options, the Year 3 abroad and entry requirements.
- University of Exeter: BA Modern Languages for the three and four-year routes, French for beginners, placements and careers.
- University of Strathclyde: English and French BA for joint honours structure, first-year streams, the year abroad and entry requirements.
- University of Strathclyde: French and Politics and International Relations BA for exchange links and the compulsory year abroad for Honours.
- University of York: French and Linguistics (with a year abroad) BA for the typical offer, beginner route, year abroad options and modules.
- University of York: Linguistics with French BA for the three-year route without a year abroad.
- National Careers Service: Translator for entry routes, freelance working and translation qualifications.
