About the Master's
This Master's programme spans two academic years, i.e. four semesters. It totals 120 ECTS credits (European Credit Transfer System), corresponding to about 1,800 hours of academic work combining theoretical courses, seminars, supervised practical work, research projects and classroom placements. Each semester is worth 30 ECTS credits.
The balance between theoretical teaching, practical fieldwork, research projects and professional placements ensures well-rounded and genuinely professional training. To complete the Master's, students must pass all modules, submit an original research thesis on a question of didactics or literature, and defend this work publicly before an academic panel.
Three Principles of French Teaching
This programme rests on three principles that shape every course, project and academic interaction.
Principle 1: From theory to practice
A balance in which theoretical reflection in linguistics and literature directly informs the design of innovative teaching sequences. Students analyse literary texts and linguistic concepts, and systematically adapt them to create meaningful learning. This approach roots theory in the real context of the classroom.
Principle 2: Supporting change in teaching practice
Training not only qualified teachers, but also professionals able to develop practice in their institutions and educational communities. Our graduates develop the skills to motivate colleagues, implement educational change and contribute to debates on the quality of French teaching at institutional and national level.
Principle 3: Critical African contextualisation
Effective French teaching in Africa must respect the sociolinguistic, cultural and economic realities of learners. At the same time, it prepares students to take part in the global Francophone conversation. The IPA rejects a purely France-centred approach to French. Instead, our students develop an authentically African practice of French, rooted in the continent's Francophone literature, well mastered, culturally meaningful and connected to regional issues.
Curriculum Architecture of the Master's
This Master's programme spans two academic years, i.e. four semesters. It totals 120 ECTS credits (European Credit Transfer System), corresponding to about 1,800 hours of academic work combining theoretical courses, seminars, supervised practical work, research projects and classroom placements. Each semester is worth 30 ECTS credits.
The balance between theoretical teaching, practical fieldwork, research projects and professional placements ensures well-rounded and genuinely professional training. To complete the Master's, students must pass all modules, submit an original research thesis on a question of didactics or literature, and defend this work publicly before an academic panel.
Fundamentals and Practice
Students take core courses in French linguistics (phonetics, morphosyntax, semantics), literary analysis and the history of the French language. They study the didactics of French as a mother tongue and foreign language, psycholinguistics, and qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. Supervised practical work allows systematic classroom observation and the delivery of lessons under the close supervision of a trainer. Students also complete optional modules: Francophone literature, communicative approaches, educational technologies for French teaching.
Research and Innovation
The focus shifts to applied research and independent teaching design. Students carry out a substantial research project (thesis) on a concrete question related to French teaching or literary studies in the Burundian or regional context. Examples of research questions: how can access to Francophone literature be improved in rural areas? How can oral skills be integrated into written French teaching? How can teachers be trained in literary criticism? Specialised seminars allow for in-depth study of themes. Students continue their classroom placements, gradually taking on greater teaching responsibility.
| MASTER 1 SEMESTER 1 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.E | ECUE | Codes | Hours | Credits | |||||
| VHP | CM | TD | TP | TPE | TGE | ||||
| UE 1. Linguistic Theories and Communication | Linguistics Applied to French Teaching | MLEF1101 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 50 | 2 | |
| Advanced Topics in Semantics | MLEF1102 | 45 | 30 | 15 | 30 | 75 | 3 | ||
| Communication and Interaction in the French Classroom | MLEF1103 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 50 | 2 | ||
| Advanced Topics in Morphosyntax | MLEF1104 | 45 | 30 | 15 | 30 | 75 | 3 | ||
| 10 | |||||||||
| UE 2. French Didactics | Didactics of French as a Second Language | MLEF1105 | 45 | 30 | 15 | 30 | 75 | 3 | |
| Didactics of French as a Foreign Language | MLEF1106 | 45 | 30 | 15 | 30 | 75 | 3 | ||
| Didactic Theories and Textbook Analysis | MLEF1107 | 45 | 30 | 15 | 30 | 75 | 3 | ||
| 9 | |||||||||
| UE 3. Computing and Multimedia I | Audiovisual Media in the French Classroom | MLEF1108 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 50 | 2 | |
| French Didactics Software | MLEF1109 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 50 | 2 | ||
| ICT Applied to Language Didactics | MLEF1110 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 50 | 2 | ||
| 6 | |||||||||
| UE 4. Literature | Analysis of Literary Creation in a Multilingual Context | MLEF1111 | 45 | 30 | 15 | 30 | 75 | 3 | |
| Literature Didactics | MLEF1112 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 50 | 2 | ||
| 5 | |||||||||
| TOTAL S1 | 450 | 300 | 150 | 300 | 750 | 30 | |||
| MASTER 1 SEMESTER 2 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.E | ECUE | Codes | Hours | Credits | |||||
| VHP | CM | TD | TP | TPE | TGE | ||||
| UE 5. Literary Theories and Analysis | Advanced Topics in Literary Criticism | MLEF1213 | 60 | 20 | 40 | 40 | 100 | 4 | |
| Textual Analysis | MLEF1214 | 60 | 20 | 40 | 40 | 100 | 4 | ||
| 8 | |||||||||
| UE 6. Pedagogy | Curriculum Design and Evaluation | MLEF1215 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 50 | 2 | |
| Inspection and Pedagogical Support | MLEF1216 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 50 | 2 | ||
| Philosophy of Education | MLEF1217 | 45 | 30 | 15 | 30 | 75 | 2 | ||
| 7 | |||||||||
| UE 7. Research I | Research Methodology in Didactics | MLEF1218 | 45 | 30 | 15 | 30 | 75 | 3 | |
| Experimental Pedagogy | MLEF1219 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 50 | 2 | ||
| Research Seminar | MLEF1220 | 45 | 15 | 30 | 30 | 75 | 3 | ||
| 8 | |||||||||
| UE 8. Support Courses | English | MLEF1221 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 50 | 2 | |
| Kiswahili for Specific Purposes | MLEF1222 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 50 | 2 | ||
| Elements of Statistics | MLEF1223 | 45 | 30 | 15 | 30 | 75 | 3 | ||
| 7 | |||||||||
| TOTAL S2 | 450 | 250 | 200 | 300 | 750 | 30 | |||
| TOTAL S1 + S2 | 900 | 550 | 350 | 600 | 1500 | 60 | |||
| MASTER 2 SEMESTER 3 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.E | ECUE | Codes | Hours | Credits | |||||
| VHP | CM | TD | TP | TPE | TGE | ||||
| UE 1. Special Didactics | Assessment of Language Skills | MLEF2301 | 45 | 30 | 15 | 30 | 75 | 3 | |
| Pedagogy of Integration in French Teaching | MLEF2302 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 50 | 2 | ||
| Teaching Large Groups in French | MLEF2303 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 50 | 2 | ||
| 7 | |||||||||
| UE 2. Instructional Design | Language Teaching Engineering | MLEF2304 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 50 | 2 | |
| Project Design and Management in French Didactics | MLEF2305 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 50 | 2 | ||
| 4 | |||||||||
| UE 3. Differentiated Pedagogy | Elements of Differentiated Pedagogy | MLEF2306 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 50 | 2 | |
| School Inclusion | MLEF2307 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 50 | 2 | ||
| 4 | |||||||||
| UE 4. Language Policies | Language and Cultural Policies | MLEF2308 | 45 | 20 | 30 | 30 | 75 | 3 | |
| Sociolinguistic and Didactic Aspects of Plurilingualism | MLEF2309 | 45 | 15 | 30 | 30 | 75 | 3 | ||
| French in a Multilingual Environment | MLEF2310 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 50 | 2 | ||
| 8 | |||||||||
| UE 5. Computing and Multimedia II | ICT in Distance French Teaching | MLEF2311 | 45 | 15 | 30 | 30 | 75 | 3 | |
| Statistical Processing of Language Data | MLEF2312 | 60 | 20 | 40 | 40 | 100 | 4 | ||
| 7 | |||||||||
| TOTAL S3 | 450 | 220 | 230 | 300 | 750 | 30 | |||
Professional Impact and Francophone Careers
Graduates of the IPA's Master's in French go on to diverse careers in the public and private sectors. Many become senior teachers in secondary and higher education institutions, where they directly apply the innovative approaches they have learned and help raise the overall quality of French teaching. Others move into initial or in-service teacher training, working as trainers in teacher training colleges or professional development programmes.
Some graduates take up posts as education officers or curriculum managers in education ministries, international organisations (AUF, French Development Agency) or Francophone cooperation institutions. A few graduates go on to doctoral studies to contribute to fundamental and applied research in French linguistics and didactics. The expected professional impact extends beyond individual careers: our graduates transform educational practice, create more effective and inclusive learning environments, and contribute to the development of quality teaching resources adapted to African contexts.
Admission Criteria and Procedure
The Master's in French is aimed at experienced French teachers and education professionals who wish to deepen their subject and teaching expertise.
Admission to the IPA's Master's in French is based on the three official conditions set by the University of Burundi:
- Hold a first-cycle degree. Applicants must hold one of the following qualifications: a Licence or Bachelor's degree awarded by the University of Burundi, or a university degree recognised as equivalent by the National Commission for the Equivalence of Diplomas.
- Hold a degree compatible with the chosen specialisation. The degree submitted must correspond to the field of the Master's in French applied for, demonstrating adequate prior training in French teaching or related fields (literature, linguistics).
- Pass the entrance examination or admission selection. The University of Burundi generally organises a Master's entrance examination according to an academic calendar published each year. The admissions committee assesses applicants on the basis of their academic record, their examination results and their fit with the objectives of the Master's programme.