Facts & figures
Philologist in French Language, Literature and Culture
Department of French Language and Literature
Institute of Romance Studies
French
Program
La formation est assurée par les vingt enseignants universitaires qualifiés et les trois lecteurs francophones du plus ancien département d’études françaises en Hongrie (235 ans de recherches). Le Département offre un cursus complet : licence, master, doctorat. Les étudiants recevront une formation pluridisciplinaire de haut niveau articulant des cours de langue, de littérature et de civilisation françaises (Voir la liste des cours sur le site internet). Le master se clőt par la soutenance d’un mémoire.
The MA in French Language, Literature and Culture at ELTE is designed for applicants who already possess a broad and thorough knowledge of French, European, and Francophone literature and culture, including the diverse cultures of the French-speaking world beyond Europe.
The programme is particularly suited to students who have an advanced understanding of the French language, literature, and culture, together with the research methodologies required for their scholarly study. Applicants should also be familiar with contemporary developments in linguistics, literary studies, and cultural studies that support the development of future research projects and participation in collaborative research initiatives.
Programme Details
Graduates of the programme will possess comprehensive knowledge of the French language and culture, supported by a strong foundation in linguistics, literary studies, and cultural history. They will also have an in-depth understanding of the cultures, histories, and political systems of French-speaking countries.
The aim of this course is to train high-level specialists capable of meeting the specific demands of the labour market in the fields of cultural and intercultural exchange. In addition to local, national or international authorities in the public sector, it is important to underline the growing need for French graduates in the private sector, e.g. in multinational companies.
The training will also prepare students to continue in one of the Doctoral Schools of the Faculty.
This program enables students to become scholars in French philology, organisers in various fields of French culture, experts on French culture, journalists, specialists in diplomatic affairs.
With more than 235 years of research and teaching, the Department of French Studies of the Faculty of Humanities is the oldest French department in Hungary. A total of 20 qualified instructors, including three francophone lectors, provide students with a multidisciplinary training composed of language classes, literary studies from the Middle Ages to the present time, and courses in French civilization.
La formation est assurée par les vingt enseignants universitaires qualifiés et les trois lecteurs francophones du plus ancien département d’études françaises en Hongrie (235 ans de recherches). Le Département offre un cursus complet : licence, master, doctorat. Les étudiants recevront une formation pluridisciplinaire de haut niveau articulant des cours de langue, de littérature et de civilisation françaises (Voir la liste des cours sur le site internet). Le master se clőt par la soutenance d’un mémoire.)
Le master permet aux étudiants de découvrir des domaines de recherches en littérature française du Moyen Age à l’extrême contemporain d’étudier les littératures francophones de pratiquer l’analyse scientifique des discours et des textes littéraires de mener une recherche documentaire en littérature d’élaborer à l’écrit des textes argumentés et articulés d’exposer à l’oral une argumentation claire et informée d’approfondir leur formation linguistique et d’étudier des domaines de recherches en linguistique (synchronie et diachronie, linguistique théorique et appliquée) le master prépare les étudiants à poursuivre leur formation dans le cadre des Écoles Doctorales de la Faculté : Littérature française du haut Moyen Âge jusqu’à nos jours Linguistique française (au sein de l’école doctorale de romanistique).
Structure
Career
La formation Lettres modernes en général, ainsi le master en langue, littérature et civilisation françaises a pour objectif de former des spécialistes de haut niveau capables de répondre aux exigences du marché de l’emploi dans les domaines de la culture et des échanges interculturels (secteur tertiaire, et plus spécialement les carrières de l’information et de la communication : domaine artistique, presse, édition, traduction en sciences humaines, traduction littéraire, etc). En outre des collectivités locales, nationales ou internationales, il faut aussi souligner l’intérêt croissant du secteur privé (entreprises à vocation internationale) pour les Humanités (indépendamment de la spécialisation). Une grande importance est également accordée à la préparation à la recherche afin de permettre aux étudiants d’envisager un doctorat.
The aim of this course is to train high-level specialists capable of meeting the specific demands of the labour market in the fields of cultural and intercultural exchange. In addition to local, national or international authorities in the public sector, it is important to underline the growing need for French graduates in the private sector, e.g. in multinational companies.
The training will also prepare the student to continue in one of the Doctoral Schools of the Faculty.
Our graduates find positions mainly in the sectors of education and research, tourism management, banking and finance, and intercultural communications.
Scholar in French philology, organiser in various fields of French culture, expert on French culture, journalist, specialist in diplomatic affairs.
Admissions
| EU/EEA students | Non-EU/EEA students | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition fee/semester | 2,500 EUR | 2,500 EUR |
| Application fee |
The application fee is discounted for Early Bird applicants: EUR 100 (non-refundable) between 01/10/2026 - 30/11/2026 and between 01/02/2027 - 31/03/2027;
The regular application fee is: EUR 150 (non-refundable) between 01/04/2027-31/05/2027
|
The application fee is discounted for Early Bird applicants: EUR 100 (non-refundable) between 01/10/2026 - 30/11/2026 and between 01/02/2027 - 31/03/2027;
The regular application fee is: EUR 150 (non-refundable) between 01/04/2027-31/05/2027
|
| Entrance exam fee | 100 EUR (non-refundable) | 100 EUR (non-refundable) |
| Other cost |
Entry requirements
Applicants must hold a university bachelor’s degree (or an equivalent college degree) in the fields listed below. Full credit acknowledgement is only given for a Bachelor’s degree in Romance Philology, Specialized in French Studies or French as a Foreign Language Teacher qualification.
In case of any other degree, each diploma will be considered individually. The applicant must have at least 50 credits in the field of French studies (Linguistics, Literature and Culture) to enter the programme. Transcripts from your bachelor's degree as well as course descriptions will be requested.
The educational and outcome requirements are defined by the Ministry of Human Capacities, Regulation No. 18/2016. (VIII. 5.). Details of the application and admission process are defined by the Organisational and Operational Regulations of ELTE.
Language requirements
Niveau linguistique requis: Français (Niveau Autonome, C1 selon CECRL)
Suivant le dossier et le profil de l’étudiant, d'éventuels cours de mise à niveau peuvent être proposés.
C1-level French (CEFR/CECRL)
Depending on its (academic) profile, the applicant might be offered preparatory courses if this level of proficiency has not been reached yet.
Accepted language certificates at C1 level:
— DALF
— DHEF
English is the language of administration for all international courses at ELTE Faculty of Humanities. All communication in administrative matters will be conducted in English. It is therefore recommended that all applicants speak a minimum of A2 level of English, even if it is not the language of tuition of their chosen programme.
| Document | Comment |
|---|---|
| Online application form | - |
| Secondary school certificate (graduation certificate) | Notarized copy only on request. |
| Bachelor-level degree | An official copy of your completed Bachelor degree |
| Transcript of records | |
| CV | In English, in MS Word format with one low resolution photo |
| Motivation letter | A maximum of 500 words. |
| Copy of the main pages of the passport (needs to be valid) | Scanned, in colour all personal details and expiry date must be shown. Passport must be valid. |
| Copy of application fee payment receipt | |
| Copy of the Entrance exam fee payment receipt | |
| Language certificate | Official test result or certificate must be provided; see program specific proficiency requirements. |
| Other: An official English translation of the certificates and the records if the language of the original is not English |
Optional documents for admissions
- Research Proposal
Please consult with the coordinating department for more information - Letter of Reference
Also called "Letter of recommendation." From a former instructor and/or employer.
Application deadlines
The deadline for application means the deadline of submission of the full and complete application package in the online system.
Period 1 (with Early Bird discount): 01/10-30/11/2026 23:59 (CET)
Period 2 (with Early Bird discount): 01/02-31/03/2027 23:59 (CET)
Period 3: 01/04-31/05/2027 23:59 (CET)
The application procedure includes 3 periods in order to give the applicants the freedom to submit their application when it’s most suitable for them. The applicants of each period have the same chance to get admittance for the programme. However, please note, that the Faculty of Humanities ELTE reserves the right to cancel the entrance periods in case the number of the admitted applicants reaches the limit during the previous entrance periods.
Procedure of the application
The application starts in the online application system. Students need to register in the system, fill in the online application form, upload the required documents and follow the instructions during the application process.
Applications will only be processed if the application fee (non-refundable) has been paid on the University’s online payment platform.
Before making the payment please visit the Faculty’s website (go to section Application and Entrance Exam fees) for detailed guidance on how to use the payment platform.
Payment platform: https://epay.elte.hu/
Entrance examination and selection process
After the university receives the full application package and it is checked by the Department of International Affairs, applicants will be invited to an oral entrance exam. An entrance exam date option will be sent no later than the application deadline for the relevant period. Please, check your messages in the application system, and the e-mail address that is linked to the account regularly.
Procedure of the entrance examination
The entrance exam contains a discussion about the motivation of the applicant. Successful applicants must have a good command of French to pass the entrance exam. The format of the entrance exam is an online interview. Applicants must show a photo ID at the start of the interview, and a camera showing the student and his/her surroundings must be on throughout the interview. The applicant is prohibited from using earphones or headphones during the online oral examination. Ranking is based on the overall evaluation of academic excellence (based on the submitted documents) and the results of the entrance exam.
Results and the official decision will be announced in the application system. Admission letters are sent out also in the online application system within a few days.
Oral Interview
The oral examination is intended to assess the applicant’s level of language proficiency. During the interview, candidates will be invited to discuss a range of topics related to linguistics, literature, and civilisation. Preparation for the oral entrance examination is supported by the list of examination topics and the recommended reading materials provided in the bibliography.
A. Linguistics
1. The position, global spread, and dialects of the French language
2. Major cultural and historical milestones in the development of French as a national language
3. The main characteristics of the French vowel and consonant systems
4. The role of the unstable “e” sound in comprehension and pronunciation
5. Language varieties and registers in contemporary French
6. The main components of the sentence I: The noun phrase
7. The main components of the sentence II: The verb phrase
8. The system of French verb tenses and their use
9. Fundamentals of sentence analysis I: The simple sentence
10. Fundamentals of sentence analysis II: The complex sentence
Recommended reading
Kelemen J. (et al): Grammaire du français contemporain. Nemzeti Tankönyvkiadó, Budapest, 1985.
Riegel, M. – Pellat, J.-C. – Rioul, R., Grammaire méthodique du francais. Presses Universitaires de France, Paris, 2007.
Walter, H.: Le français dans tous les sens. Robert Laffont, Paris, 1988.
B. Literature
1. Modern approaches to literary criticism
2. Medieval literary genres
3. Seventeenth-century poetry
4. Seventeenth-century theatre
5. The eighteenth-century novel
6. Literature and philosophy in the Age of Enlightenment
7. Poetry of the Romantic period
8. The nineteenth-century novel
9. French theatre after 1945
10. The modern French novel
Recommended Reading
Michel Prigent (ed.): Histoire de la France littéraire. Vols. I-III. Presses Universitaires de France, Paris, 2006.
Claude Pichois (ed.): Histoire de la littérature française. Vols. I-IX. Flammarion, Paris, 1998.
Dominique Viart – Bruno Vercier: La littérature française au présent. Héritage, modernité, mutations. Bordas, Paris, 2005.
Jean-Yves Tadié: La critique littéraire au XXe siècle. Belfond, Paris, 1987.
Daniel Bergez (ed.): Introduction aux méthodes critiques pour l’analyse littéraire. Bordas, Paris, 1990.
C. French Civilisation and Culture
1. The regional divisions of France
2. Major periods and key figures in French art history
3. The age of Charlemagne
4. French statehood in the thirteenth century
5. Sixteenth-century France
6. French absolutism
7. The First Empire and the Restoration
8. The Second Empire
9. The French Third Republic
10. France between the two World Wars
Recommended Reading
Georges Duby – Robert Mandrou: Histoire de la civilisation française. Armand Colin, Paris, 1984.
Georges Duby (ed.): Histoire de la France. Vols. I-III. Références Larousse, Paris, various editions.
Contacts
Admission
Department of International Affairs
E-mail: admission@btk.elte.hu
Address: 1088 Budapest, Múzeum krt. 4.
More information
Website
Dr. Tivadar PALÁGYI
Department of French Studies, Institute of Romance Studies
Find the structure of the program on the webpage of the Faculty.