Programme structure

lafr1ba  2019-2020  Louvain-la-Neuve

The bachelor programme in Ancient and Modern Languages and Letters totals 180 credits over 3 years (3 x 60 credits). It consists of a basic major syllabus of 150 credits and a minor syllabus of 30 credits (2 x 15 credits, over years 2 and 3).

 Three pivotal courses make up the 150 credits of the major orientation of the bachelor syllabus:

  • (1) introduction to the human sciences (historical criticism, arts and civilisations, European literature, modern languages, philosophy, language science, logic and argumentation, anthropology and psychology, religious sciences);
  • (2) methodological and disciplinary training in Latin language and literature (literary history, explanation of authors [prose and poetry], Latin syntax, introduction to the sciences of Antiquity);
  • (3) methodological and disciplinary training in French languages and literature (literary history, theory of literature, analysis of texts [Ancient and Middle French: the novel, poetry and theatre in the French language], francophone literature in Belgium, French syntax, French linguistics [synchronic and diachronic considerations]).

The first year of undergraduate studies starts with a term of general foundation courses common to all of the faculty's Bachelor's programmes. Students will be introduced to history, art history, and literature, providing them with a solid grounding and the opportunity to transfer to a different programme if they so wish at the end of the first term.

They will also receive discipline-specific courses from the first term of Year 1. These will become their core courses in the second term of Year 1. 


From Year 2, students continue their studies in their major subject and are also invited to choose a 30-credit minor with a view to broadening their intellectual and professional horizons. This minor can be selected from another faculty discipline or from another UCLouvain faculty, subject to certain admission requirements set by the programme managers.