French Graduate Programs Accepting Applications (Second Intake)

The graduate program in French Studies at the University of British Columbia is opening a second application period for the 2024–2025 academic year. 

Our MA and PhD programs delve into the languages, literatures, and cultures of France, Québec, and the Francophone world in an environment that celebrates intellectual curiosity and freedom of inquiry. Our diverse team of nationally and internationally recognized faculty specialize in a variety of interdisciplinary research, blending French Studies with History, Visual Arts, Gender Studies, Linguistics, and more. Our hands-on approach to mentorship and vibrant community are frequently cited as contributing factors to the success of our graduate students. We encourage all eligible candidates to apply to achieve their education and career goals at our top-ranked Canadian university! 

GRADUATE STUDENT FUNDING 

We offer entrance scholarships, multi-year funding packages, tuition awards, and scholarship top-ups. Graduate students may also earn an income through Teaching Assistantships and potential Research Assistantships. There is a wide array of additional opportunities for financial support from departmental, university, and external sources. For example, the Ministry of Education (French Education Branch, British Columbia) offers bursaries to residents of the province who take at least 55% of their courses in French (https://www.bcedextranet.gov.bc.ca/bursary/ ), and the Baxter & Alma Ricard Foundation provides scholarships to Canadian citizens who are finishing their BA or starting an MA or PhD degree and are living in a Francophone minority environment (https://fondationricard.com/ ). More details are available on our "Funding" webpage at https://fhis.ubc.ca/graduate/funding/ .

Please note that all full-time PhD students are provided with a minimum funding package of $24,000—which is often higher—for each of their first four years. 

ACADEMIC & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

We provide a comprehensive Teaching Assistant training program, as well as academic and professional development workshops—on grant writing, publishing, the job market, and wellbeing, among other topics—to support our graduate students' experience at our university and help them make an impact on society.

CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH

From Medieval French literature to 21st-century African and Caribbean cultures, we offer solid academic training through a variety of innovative courses, research clusters, reading groups, and research seminars. Students may participate or even lead these initiatives, both in the department and in interdisciplinary centres, such as Green College, the Public Humanities Hub, and the Liu Institute for Global Issues. For an overview of recent MA and PhD theses, please consult our "Graduate Spotlight" rubric at https://fhis.ubc.ca/news/?topic=&type=graduate .

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Our biennial Graduate Student Conference, organized by graduate students with the assistance of faculty members, offers a platform to share research with the wider academic community, network with local and international peers, and plan large-scale academic events. Our annual Graduate Student Symposium allows graduate students to present their research to the department. Graduate students may also volunteer as tutors at the FHIS Learning Centre to help undergraduate students become proficient in the languages they are studying. In addition, our Cultural Club features Language Tables and a variety of events that allow students to discuss noteworthy social and cultural phenomena within our community. 

LIFE IN VANCOUVER 

Learning at UBC means enjoying a superb campus in one of the planet’s truly spectacular regions—beautiful British Columbia. Vancouver is BC’s cosmopolitan urban centre, providing a temperate climate, safe streets, a vibrant arts and cultural scene, and a welcoming, culturally diverse population. 

ADMISSION PERIOD 

For the terms starting in September 2024 and January 2025: 

March 15, 2024 – April 30, 2024

Due to visa processing times, international applicants should apply for a January 2025 start date only. Domestic applicants may apply for a September 2023 or January 2025 start date.

For more information, please visit our website at https://fhis.ubc.ca/graduate/admissions/ . If you have any questions about our program, do not hesitate to contact the graduate advisor, Dr. Patrick Moran, at [email protected] .