Arts & Humanities

Master of Arts in French

The Master of Arts in French is a postgraduate programme offered at four Kenyan universities, providing advanced study of French language, literature, linguistics, and culture. The programme prepares graduates for careers in language education, translation, international relations, diplomacy, and research requiring advanced French language expertise.

The curriculum covers French linguistics, French and Francophone literature, translation theory and practice, French cultural studies, research methods, and advanced language proficiency. Students examine literary texts from French and Francophone traditions, analyse linguistic structures of French, and develop advanced communicative competence in the language.

Admission requires a bachelor's degree in French or a related discipline with at least a Second Class Honours (Upper Division) from a recognised university. Applicants with a Lower Second Class Honours and relevant experience may also be considered. Some institutions require prior undergraduate coursework in French studies. The programme is offered full-time over two years.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and delivered at Kenyatta University, Maseno University, Moi University, and the University of Eastern Africa, Baraton. These institutions represent both public and private universities across different regions of Kenya.

Career prospects include roles in French language teaching, translation and interpretation, diplomatic service, international organisations, tourism, research, and academia. Graduates work in educational institutions, embassies, international organisations, translation services, and businesses requiring French language expertise, particularly in Kenya's francophone East African neighbourhood.

The programme addresses the strategic importance of French in Kenya, surrounded by francophone countries including DRC, Rwanda, Burundi, and Djibouti. With Kenya's growing role in regional trade and diplomacy, and the expansion of la Francophonie in East Africa, demand for advanced French language professionals continues to increase across diplomatic, commercial, and educational sectors.

Skills Required

Advanced French language proficiency
French linguistic analysis
Francophone literary analysis and criticism
Translation and interpretation
French cultural studies
Research methods in language studies
Cross-cultural communication
French language teaching methodology
Academic writing in French
Discourse analysis in French

Key Subjects

French Linguistics
French and Francophone Literature
Translation Theory and Practice
French Cultural Studies
Advanced French Grammar
Research Methods in Language Studies
French Discourse Analysis
Francophone Civilisation
French Language Teaching Methodology
French for Professional Communication

Certifications

DELF/DALF Certification
International Federation of French Teachers (FIPF) Membership
Modern Language Association (MLA) Membership
TESOL/Teaching French as Foreign Language Certification

Specializations

French Linguistics

Focuses on the scientific study of the French language, including phonology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics of French.

Francophone Literature

Examines literary works from French-speaking Africa, the Caribbean, and other francophone regions, including postcolonial literary theory.

Translation and Interpretation

Develops skills in translating between French and English, including translation theory, techniques, and professional practice.

French Language Teaching

Focuses on pedagogy and methodology for teaching French as a foreign language in educational settings.

French Cultural Studies

Examines French and francophone cultures, societies, and civilisations, including cultural theory and intercultural studies.

French for Diplomacy and International Relations

Focuses on French language skills for diplomatic and international contexts, including diplomatic communication and protocol in French.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 216,000
Private, up to: Ksh 186,200
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, School-based
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 15 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

French Linguistics
French and Francophone Literature
Translation Theory and Practice
French Cultural Studies
Advanced French Grammar
Research Methods in Language Studies
French Discourse Analysis
Francophone Civilisation
French Language Teaching Methodology
French for Professional Communication

Modules

11 in the programme

French Linguistics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Linguistic analysis of French, including phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics of the French language.
French and Francophone Literature
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Study of French and Francophone literary texts, including major authors, movements, and literary traditions across the francophone world.
Advanced French Grammar and Composition
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced study of French grammar and composition, developing high-level written communication skills in French.
Research Methods in Language Studies
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Research methodology for language and literary studies, including qualitative methods, textual analysis, and academic writing.
Translation Theory and Practice
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Theories and techniques of translation between French and English, including practical translation exercises and professional translation skills.
Francophone Civilisation and Culture
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Study of francophone cultures and civilisations, including African, Caribbean, and other francophone societies and their cultural expressions.
French Discourse Analysis
Year 1Semester 23 creditsElective
Analysis of French discourse, including spoken and written text analysis, rhetorical analysis, and discourse strategies in French.
French Language Teaching Methodology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsElective
Methodology and pedagogy for teaching French as a foreign language, including curriculum design, assessment, and classroom techniques.
French for Professional Communication
Year 2Semester 33 creditsElective
Advanced French for professional contexts including diplomacy, business, and international organisations, with focus on professional communication skills.
Postcolonial Francophone Studies
Year 2Semester 33 creditsElective
Study of postcolonial themes in francophone literature and culture, including identity, decolonisation, and cultural hybridity in French-speaking contexts.
Thesis / Research Project
Year 2Semester 412 creditsCore
Independent research thesis on a French language, literature, or linguistics topic, conducted under faculty supervision and assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

French Linguistics
Focuses on the scientific study of the French language, including phonology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics of French.
Francophone Literature
Examines literary works from French-speaking Africa, the Caribbean, and other francophone regions, including postcolonial literary theory.
Translation and Interpretation
Develops skills in translating between French and English, including translation theory, techniques, and professional practice.
French Language Teaching
Focuses on pedagogy and methodology for teaching French as a foreign language in educational settings.
French Cultural Studies
Examines French and francophone cultures, societies, and civilisations, including cultural theory and intercultural studies.
French for Diplomacy and International Relations
Focuses on French language skills for diplomatic and international contexts, including diplomatic communication and protocol in French.

A day as a student

A typical day combines language practice with literary and linguistic analysis. Mornings involve lectures on French linguistics, Francophone literature, or translation theory, often conducted partly in French. Afternoons include translation workshops, literary analysis seminars, or research methodology sessions. Students engage with French and Francophone literary texts, films, and cultural materials. At Kenyatta University, the programme benefits from established French studies faculty and resources. Independent reading in French, literary analysis essays, translation exercises, and thesis research occupy significant time. Students are encouraged to engage with Alliance Française and francophone cultural events in Nairobi.

The trade offs

In its favour

French is strategically important in Kenya's francophone neighbourhood, creating demand for French language professionals.
Offered at four universities including both public and private institutions, providing choice of institution and cost.
Diverse career paths including teaching, translation, diplomacy, international organisations, and tourism.
Kenyatta University offers a well-established programme with experienced French studies faculty.

Against it

Relatively small cohorts and limited faculty specialisation across institutions may constrain programme depth.
Career opportunities, while diverse, may be concentrated in specific sectors like education and diplomacy.
Limited immersion opportunities for French language practice in predominantly Anglophone Kenya.
Programme quality and resources may vary significantly across the four institutions.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 188 arts & humanities courses

Public120k to 216k

120k at Moi University216k at Kenyatta University

Private165k to 186k

165k at Kabarak University186k at University of Eastern Africa Baraton

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

KU 216K, UEAB 186.2K, Kabarak 165.2K verified. Moi unverified.

HELB offers postgraduate loans for Kenyan students. The Organisation internationale de la Francophonie provides scholarships and study grants for French language studies. Kenyatta University may offer institutional graduate scholarships. Alliance Française may provide cultural exchange and study opportunities.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
Organisation internationale de la Francophonie Scholarships
Kenyatta University Graduate Scholarships

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan citizens pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities. Applicants must meet HELB eligibility criteria.
OIF Study Grant
ScholarshipKsh 300,000
The Organisation internationale de la Francophonie provides study grants and scholarships for French language studies in francophone and partner countries.
Kenyatta University Graduate Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 216,000Kenyan
Kenyatta University may offer institutional graduate scholarships based on academic merit. Contact the School of Graduate Studies for details.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Applicants must have taken French studies at undergraduate level. Some institutions accept Bachelor of Education (Arts) with French specialisation. Those with Lower Second Class Honours may be considered with grade C and above in units relevant to their area of specialisation. The programme is offered full-time over two years at Kenyatta University, Maseno University, Moi University, and UEAB.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment
Coursework40% of the mark
Ongoing assessment through translation exercises, literary analysis essays, linguistic assignments, and seminar presentations throughout each semester.
End-of-Semester Examination
Examination60% of the mark
Written examination conducted at the end of each semester for each course unit, often including French language proficiency components.
Thesis / Research Project
Project100% of the mark
Independent research thesis on a French language, literature, or linguistics topic, assessed through written submission and oral defence.
Translation Practical
Practical30% of the mark
Assessment of translation skills through practical translation exercises between French and English under timed conditions.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), Kenya's statutory body for university quality assurance. All four offering institutions are CUE-accredited universities.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Statutory accreditation required for all university programmes in Kenya. All four offering institutions are CUE-accredited universities.
Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF)
Professional alignment
International organisation of French-speaking countries. Graduates may access OIF professional networks and certification programmes.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

French Language Teacher
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 200,000
Teaches French language and literature at secondary schools, colleges, or universities, developing curriculum and assessing student learning.
Translator and Interpreter
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 280,000
Provides translation and interpretation services between French and English for organisations, embassies, and international bodies.
Diplomatic Officer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 300,000
Serves in diplomatic missions and foreign affairs roles requiring French language proficiency, particularly for francophone relations.
International Organisation Officer
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 320,000
Works in international organisations including OIF, UN agencies, and NGOs operating in francophone contexts.
University Lecturer in French
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 250,000
Teaches French language, literature, or linguistics at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, conducts research, and supervises student projects.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers in French language teaching, translation, diplomatic service, international organisations, tourism, research, and academia across educational institutions, embassies, and international bodies.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

AntConc
Corpus analysis softwarePrimary
Corpus analysis toolkit for French language concordance analysis, collocation analysis, and corpus-based linguistic research.
SDL Trados
Translation softwarePrimary
Professional translation software for French-English translation projects, including translation memory and terminology management.
NVivo
Research software
Qualitative data analysis software for analysing French literary texts, interview data, and qualitative language research.
EndNote
Reference management
Reference management software for organising citations and bibliographies in French studies research and thesis preparation.
JSTOR
Research database
Digital library providing access to academic journals and books for French and francophone literary and linguistic research.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

French is not useful in Kenya.
Kenya is surrounded by francophone countries and French is increasingly important for regional trade, diplomacy, and international organisations based in Nairobi.
A French degree only leads to teaching.
Graduates pursue diverse careers including translation, diplomacy, international organisations, tourism, business, and research, not only teaching.
You need to be fluent in French before starting the programme.
While a foundation in French is required, the programme develops advanced proficiency through structured coursework and immersion.
Francophone literature is the same as French literature.
Francophone literature encompasses works from French-speaking Africa, the Caribbean, and other regions, with distinct cultural and literary traditions from metropolitan French literature.
Translation is just word-for-word conversion.
Translation involves complex linguistic, cultural, and contextual analysis, requiring deep understanding of both source and target languages and cultures.
A degree from a smaller university like UEAB is less valuable.
UEAB is CUE-accredited and its MA French programme meets the same statutory quality standards as programmes at larger universities.