Doctor of Philosophy in French (PhD)

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Overview

The Graduate Program in French Studies offers a dynamic curriculum that focuses on a contextualized understanding of the languages, literatures, and cultures of France, Québec, and the Francophone world. Students may specialize in literature or linguistics, or propose a research program combining both fields.

For specific program requirements, please refer to the departmental program website

What makes the program unique?

Cutting-edge Research:
The doctoral program in French Studies provides a wide variety of graduate courses taught by a growing team of faculty members specializing in innovative research, from Medieval French literature to 21st-century Francophone cultures. The program offers solid academic training through our research clusters, reading groups, and research seminar. Students may participate in or even lead these initiatives, both within the department and in interdisciplinary centres, such as Green College, the Public Humanities Hub, and the Liu Institute for Global Issues. In addition, our co-tutelle doctoral program gives students the opportunity to work with two supervisors - one from UBC and one from a French partner institution - and earn a Ph.D. degree with a parchment from each university.

Professional Development:
We provide a comprehensive Teaching Assistant training program as well as academic and professional development workshops - on grant writing, publishing, and conference attendance, among other topics - to help graduate students diversify their skillset and make an impact on society. 75% of graduates from our PhD program successfully landed careers in academia according to a career outcome survey.

Community Involvement:
Our annual Graduate Student Symposium allows graduate students to present their research to the entire Department. The biennial FHIS Graduate Student Conference, organized by the graduate students themselves with the assistance of faculty members, offers a platform to share research results with the wider academic community, network with local and international peers, and plan large-scale academic events. Through the FHIS Learning Centre, graduate students may also volunteer as tutors to help undergraduate students become proficient in the languages that are taught in our Department. In addition, the FHIS Cultural Club encourages students to discuss noteworthy social and cultural phenomena with our tight-knit community, engaging with current debates in our disciplines.

 

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Program Enquiries

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Admission Information & Requirements

1) Check Eligibility

Minimum Academic Requirements

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies establishes the minimum admission requirements common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC). The graduate program that you are applying to may have additional requirements. Please review the specific requirements for applicants with credentials from institutions in:

Each program may set higher academic minimum requirements. Please review the program website carefully to understand the program requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as it is a competitive process.

English Language Test

Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.

Minimum requirements for the two most common English language proficiency tests to apply to this program are listed below:

TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language - internet-based

Overall score requirement: 90

Reading

22

Writing

21

Speaking

21

Listening

22

IELTS: International English Language Testing System

Overall score requirement: 6.5

Reading

6.0

Writing

6.0

Speaking

6.0

Listening

6.0

Other Test Scores

Some programs require additional test scores such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Test (GMAT). The requirements for this program are:

The GRE is not required.

2) Meet Deadlines

Application open dates and deadlines for an upcoming intake have not yet been configured in the admissions system. Please check back later.

3) Prepare Application

Transcripts

All applicants have to submit transcripts from all past post-secondary study. Document submission requirements depend on whether your institution of study is within Canada or outside of Canada.

Letters of Reference

A minimum of three references are required for application to graduate programs at UBC. References should be requested from individuals who are prepared to provide a report on your academic ability and qualifications.

Statement of Interest

Many programs require a statement of interest, sometimes called a "statement of intent", "description of research interests" or something similar.

Thesis Supervision

Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their supervisor. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.

Instructions regarding thesis supervisor contact for Doctor of Philosophy in French (PhD)
Applicants should browse faculty profiles and indicate in their application who they are interested in working with. However, it is not necessary for applicants to contact faculty members prior to their application.

Citizenship Verification

Permanent Residents of Canada must provide a clear photocopy of both sides of the Permanent Resident card.

4) Apply Online

All applicants must complete an online application form and pay the application fee to be considered for admission to UBC.

Research Information

Research Highlights

We invite you to learn more about our research by visiting our departmental research spotlight webpage.

Tuition & Financial Support

Tuition

FeesCanadian Citizen / Permanent Resident / Refugee / DiplomatInternational
Application Fee$112.00$168.25
Tuition *
Installments per year33
Tuition per installment$1,802.52$3,166.73
Tuition per year
(plus annual increase, usually 2%-5%)		$5,407.56$9,500.19
Int. Tuition Award (ITA) per year (if eligible) $3,200.00 (-)
Other Fees and Costs
Student Fees (yearly)$1,081.64 (approx.)
Costs of living (yearly)starting at $18,517.90 (check cost calculator)
* Regular, full-time tuition. For on-leave, extension, continuing or part time (if applicable) fees see UBC Calendar.
All fees for the year are subject to adjustment and UBC reserves the right to change any fees without notice at any time, including tuition and student fees. Tuition fees are reviewed annually by the UBC Board of Governors. In recent years, tuition increases have been 2% for continuing domestic students and between 2% and 5% for continuing international students. New students may see higher increases in tuition. Admitted students who defer their admission are subject to the potentially higher tuition fees for incoming students effective at the later program start date. In case of a discrepancy between this webpage and the UBC Calendar, the UBC Calendar entry will be held to be correct.

Financial Support

Applicants to UBC have access to a variety of funding options, including merit-based (i.e. based on your academic performance) and need-based (i.e. based on your financial situation) opportunities.

Program Funding Packages

All doctoral students are guaranteed a minimum funding package of $22,000 per year for the first five years of full-time study through a combination of Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships, awards, and scholarships. We offer a variety of additional financial aid options, including a Graduate Research Grant to conduct doctoral research and a Graduate Student Travel Grant to attend conferences abroad. Moreover, the Dorothy Dallas Doctoral Fellowship is awarded to meritorious students specializing in 17th or 18th century French literature.

Average Funding
Based on the criteria outlined below, 5 students within this program were included in this study because they received funding through UBC in the form of teaching, research/academic assistantships or internal or external awards averaging $29,778.
  • 5 students received Teaching Assistantships. Average TA funding based on 5 students was $11,772.
  • 5 students received Research/Academic Assistantships. Average RA/AA funding based on 5 students was $5,540.
  • 5 students received internal awards. Average internal award funding based on 5 students was $11,134.
  • 1 student received an external award valued at $6,667.

Study Period: Sep 2020 to Aug 2021 - average funding for full-time PhD students enrolled in three terms per academic year in this program across years 1-4, the period covered by UBC's Minimum Funding Guarantee. Averages might mask variability in sources and amounts of funding received by individual students. Beyond year 4, funding packages become even more individualized.
Review methodology
Scholarships & awards (merit-based funding)

All applicants are encouraged to review the awards listing to identify potential opportunities to fund their graduate education. The database lists merit-based scholarships and awards and allows for filtering by various criteria, such as domestic vs. international or degree level.

Teaching Assistantships (GTA)

Graduate programs may have Teaching Assistantships available for registered full-time graduate students. Full teaching assistantships involve 12 hours work per week in preparation, lecturing, or laboratory instruction although many graduate programs offer partial TA appointments at less than 12 hours per week. Teaching assistantship rates are set by collective bargaining between the University and the Teaching Assistants' Union.

Research Assistantships (GRA)

Many professors are able to provide Research Assistantships (GRA) from their research grants to support full-time graduate students studying under their direction. The duties usually constitute part of the student's graduate degree requirements. A Graduate Research Assistantship is a form of financial support for a period of graduate study and is, therefore, not covered by a collective agreement. Unlike other forms of fellowship support for graduate students, the amount of a GRA is neither fixed nor subject to a university-wide formula. The stipend amounts vary widely, and are dependent on the field of study and the type of research grant from which the assistantship is being funded. Some research projects also require targeted research assistance and thus hire graduate students on an hourly basis.

Financial aid (need-based funding)

Canadian and US applicants may qualify for governmental loans to finance their studies. Please review eligibility and types of loans.

All students may be able to access private sector or bank loans.

Foreign government scholarships

Many foreign governments provide support to their citizens in pursuing education abroad. International applicants should check the various governmental resources in their home country, such as the Department of Education, for available scholarships.

Working while studying

The possibility to pursue work to supplement income may depend on the demands the program has on students. It should be carefully weighed if work leads to prolonged program durations or whether work placements can be meaningfully embedded into a program.

International students enrolled as full-time students with a valid study permit can work on campus for unlimited hours and work off-campus for no more than 20 hours a week.

A good starting point to explore student jobs is the UBC Work Learn program or a Co-Op placement.

Tax credits and RRSP withdrawals

Students with taxable income in Canada may be able to claim federal or provincial tax credits.

Canadian residents with RRSP accounts may be able to use the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) which allows students to withdraw amounts from their registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs) to finance full-time training or education for themselves or their partner.

Please review Filing taxes in Canada on the student services website for more information.

Cost Calculator

Applicants have access to the cost calculator to develop a financial plan that takes into account various income sources and expenses.

Career Outcomes

8 students graduated between 2005 and 2013. Of these, career information was obtained for 8 alumni (based on research conducted between Feb-May 2016):


RI (Research-Intensive) Faculty: typically tenure-track faculty positions (equivalent of the North American Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor positions) in PhD-granting institutions
TI (Teaching-Intensive) Faculty: typically full-time faculty positions in colleges or in institutions not granting PhDs, and teaching faculty at PhD-granting institutions
Term Faculty: faculty in term appointments (e.g. sessional lecturers, visiting assistant professors, etc.)
Sample Employers in Higher Education
Lakehead University
University of Waterloo
Rhode Island College
University of British Columbia
University of Otago
University of Strasbourg
Sample Employers Outside Higher Education
Postcard Teas
Russian Educational Club
Sample Job Titles Outside Higher Education
Organization Manager
Teacher
PhD Career Outcome Survey
You may view the full report on career outcomes of UBC PhD graduates on outcomes.grad.ubc.ca.
Disclaimer
These data represent historical employment information and do not guarantee future employment prospects for graduates of this program. They are for informational purposes only. Data were collected through either alumni surveys or internet research.
Career Options

The PhD prepares students for a teaching and research career at the university level. Recent PhD graduates from the department have obtained positions at various universities, such as the University of Lethbridge, Mount Royal College, Lakehead University, Carleton University, Mount Alison University, University of South Carolina, Rhode Island College, University of Aberdeen, and the University of Otago. Former students have also obtained positions in the public sector, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats

These statistics show data for the Doctor of Philosophy in French (PhD). Data are separated for each degree program combination. You may view data for other degree options in the respective program profile.

Enrolment Data

 20212020201920182017
Applications4135710
Offers142 3
New registrations132 2
Total enrolment911131211

Completion Rates & Times

Based on 5 graduations between 2017 - 2020 the minimum time to completion is 5.66 years and the maximum time is 8.33 years with an average of 6.80 years of study. All calculations exclude leave times.
Disclaimer
Admissions data refer to all UBC Vancouver applications, offers, new registrants for each year, May to April [data updated: 7 April 2022]. Enrolment data are based on March 1 snapshots. Program completion data are only provided for datasets comprised of more than 4 individuals. Rates and times of completion depend on a number of variables (e.g. curriculum requirements, student funding), some of which may have changed in recent years for some programs [data updated: 19 October 2021].

Research Supervisors

Thesis Supervision

Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their supervisor. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.

Instructions regarding thesis supervisor contact for Doctor of Philosophy in French (PhD)
Applicants should browse faculty profiles and indicate in their application who they are interested in working with. However, it is not necessary for applicants to contact faculty members prior to their application.
 
 

This list shows faculty members with full supervisory privileges who are affiliated with this program. It is not a comprehensive list of all potential supervisors as faculty from other programs or faculty members without full supervisory privileges can request approvals to supervise graduate students in this program.

  • Ayan, Irem (French language; Sociology of translation and interpreting; Gender and work exploitation; Emotional labour and work alienation; Fictional representations of translators and interpreters)
  • Boccassini, Daniela (Italian Verbal and visual arts, mediterranean cultural exchanges)
  • Bouchard, Marie-Eve (Humanities and the arts; Sociolinguistics; Linguistic Anthropology; ethnography; language ideologies; Language and identity; migration; Language variation and change; Language contact; Creole languages)
  • Castonguay-Belanger, Joel (French language; History of the book and print culture; Québec literature and culture; Science and literature; The Enlightenment and the French Revolution)
  • Frelick, Nancy (16th century literature, theory &criticism, genre studies, women's writing &gender studies, early modern medicine)
  • Gelinas-Lemaire, Vincent (French language; Arts, Literature and Subjectivity; Comparative Literature; Creative Writing; French Literature (1945 to the present); Québec and French-Canadian Literature and Culture; Spatial Poetics; Visual Culture)
  • Laroussi, Farid (Contemporary French studies, Maghreb literature(s) in French and postcolonial studies)
  • Moran, Patrick (French language; Arts, Literature and Subjectivity; History of Major Eras, Great Civilisations or Geographical Corpuses; Popular Cultures Produced and Broadcasted by Media; Arthurian Romance; Cognitive Poetics; Comparative Medieval Literature; Genre Theory; Interactive Fiction; Material Philology; Medieval French Literature; Medieval Narrative Literature; Medievalism; Narrative Theory; Old French; Reader-Response Theory; Science Fiction and Fantasy)
  • Piechocki, Katharina (Seventeenth-century French literature, Early modern French and Romance literature, Theater, opera, cartography, gender, affect, and translation studies)
  • Rocheleau, Alain-Michel (French cinema; French and Quebecois theatre; Anglican Church and Roman Catholic Tradition )
  • Salamon, Anne (Literatures in French outside Quebec; French language; Historical linguistics, diachronics, and dialectology; Romance Philology; Medieval French Litterature; Manuscript studies; History of the French language; Critical editing of medieval texts)
  • Testa, Carlo (Italian literature, history of cinema, theory/film studies )
  • Zhang, Gaoheng (Intercultural and Ethnic Relationships; Cultural Exchanges; Migrations, Populations, Cultural Exchanges; Media and Society; Media Ethics; Media and Democratization; Migration Studies; Mobility Studies; Postcolonial Studies; Gender and Masculinity Studies; Race Theory; Film and Media Studies; Rhetoric and Communication Studies; Cultural Theory; Italian-Chinese relations; Italy's global networks; Modern and contemporary Italian literature and culture)
  • Ziethen, Antje (African Literatures; Francophone Literatures and Cultures; Speculative fiction; (Urban) Space; Postcolonial Studies; Diaspora Studies; Transnationalism; Gender Studies; Modernity)

Doctoral Citations

A doctoral citation summarizes the nature of the independent research, provides a high-level overview of the study, states the significance of the work and says who will benefit from the findings in clear, non-specialized language, so that members of a lay audience will understand it.
Year Citation
2022 Dr. Blanc's dissertation focuses on writers who embarked on a journey of self-writing. She demonstrates the complexities of the subject who reclaims their identity through the exploration of a past marked by the absence of the parental figure. It reveals that all identities are a product of a multitude of stories: past, present, and future.
2022 Dr. Booluck-Miller's work studies how selected female authors use the individual experiences of characters in Francophone literatures to reveal the lived reality of migration trauma. She examines the role of space, psychological dispositions, and sociological implications in African, Caribbean, and Indo-oceanic migrations.
2022 Dr. Mushiya has examined the social and economic impacts of new technology on African societies. She has demonstrated that globalization is an extension of imperialism engrained in the predation of minerals used in technology. Her research provides insight into the role of industry and legislators in the chronic poverty of African societies.
2020 Dr. Marpeau studied the reception of Madame Bovary by Flaubert over time, according to various interpretive communities. Her research contributes to the field of cultural studies in the sense that it uses interdisciplinary academic approaches to understand a cultural object and its effects on its readers.
2020 Dr. Turgeon-Solis studied Eighteenth Century authors' fascination with the figure of the nun. Her research sheds new light on a social imagination that was prevalent in the Eighteenth Century, and is an original contribution to the study of the representation of women in literature.
2020 Dr. Bolen studied the role of the five primary senses (sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste) in contemporary québécois literature. Her research examines the fascinating, albeit complex, relationship between sensory memory and storytelling in novels written by "migrant" writers.
2017 Dr. Romengo examined the paratexts, work that accompanies a text, of sixteenth century French writer, Marguerite de Navarre. Her analysis brought to light not only the material and historical conditions of their publication, but also the literary and extraliterary stakes involved in the early editions of Marguerite de Navarre's works.
2015 Dr. Fotsing examined the concept of culture in the contemporary African novel. His analysis demonstrates that there is a mixture of local and global cultures in fictional books written by African authors. It is therefore difficult to refer to that literature as if it had one single identity. This research challenges assumptions about African writing.
2014 Dr. Fall's research in Senegal examined the role of the mother tongue, Wolof, in the development of French as a second language. He found that school children who had early exposure to written Arabic decode and read French better than those with little or no exposure. This study illuminates the role of early literacy in learning a second language.
2013 Dr. Shilliday studied trauma and World War Two in the French contemporary novel. Her research explored the works of World War Two survivors and authors and second-generation writers. Her findings underline the importance of an empathetic engagement with testimony, an aesthetic relationship to the text and a sense of responsibility towards history.

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Further Information

Specialization

French

Graduate French programs offer opportunities for advanced study in the language and literatures of France and Québec, as well as in African and Caribbean literatures in French.

UBC Calendar

https://vancouver.calendar.ubc.ca/faculties-colleges-and-schools/faculty-graduate-and-postdoctoral-studies/degree-programs/french

Program Website

https://fhis.ubc.ca/graduate/french-studies/french-phd-program/

Faculty Overview

Faculty of Arts

Academic Unit

Department of French, Hispanic & Italian Studies

Program Identifier

VGDPHD-KA

Classification

French language
Quebec literatures
Literatures in French outside Quebec
 
 
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