MA and PhD in Francophone Studies at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, USA

MA & PhD in Francophone Studies at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette 

Priority funding deadlines: October 15 (for Spring 2027) and February 15 (for Fall 2027) 

Applications will still be accepted after these dates, although funding may be more limited. 

The Department of Modern Languages at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette is now accepting application to MA and PhD program in Francophone assistantship funding (tuition waiver and stipend). UL Lafayette is in the heart of Cajun and Creole Louisiana, a cultural crossroads joining many areas of the contemporary Francophone world that share historical and linguistic roots. The natural beauty of the landscape provides a fitting setting for the culture’s unique heritage and multicultural diversity.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is the only institution in the U.S. that is a member of the Agence universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) and offers one of few graduate programs specifically in Francophone Studies by providing students the opportunity to study practically all regions of la francophonie individually and as a whole.

View a video overview of our program here.

The breadth and reach of the courses and approaches offered in the Master’s and PhD programs reflect this diversity and richness and make the experience at UL Lafayette unique. Our dynamic, innovative, and interdisciplinary program regularly provides courses on the literatures, cinema, and cultures of France, Belgium, Quebec, Acadia, Louisiana, the Antilles, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Maghreb. 

Our program also boasts two journals : Etudes Francophones a refereed scholarly journal in Francophone Studies, and Feux Follets, our graduate student-led creative writing journal in French.

Students from all over the world come together at UL Lafayette to explore the rich variety, hybridity, and créolisation of the global Francophonie using a variety of approaches. The faculty’s theoretical interests cover digital humanities, migration, eco-criticism, medieval studies, postcolonial studies, visual studies, etc. Special attention to professionalization is also an important component of our program, with monthly workshops to help students be successful on the job market (both in and outside of academia). 

Financial support is available for graduate students primarily through graduate and/or research assistantships and fellowships, which are available to foreign nationals and U.S. citizens. Selected students receive a waiver of tuition and fees along with a monthly stipend ($20,000 at the PhD level, guaranteed for up to 5 years), as well as 50% contribution to health insurance for international student. Annual scholarships, summer research awards, and travel grants are also available. The degree cannot be completed online/remotely.

Former MA students have received competitive PhD packages from the University of Pittsburgh and UC Davis. PhD graduates work in academia (Tulane, George Mason University, CUNY, Université de Moncton etc.), in French immersion schools in Louisiana, in publishing, academic-adjacent careers, and the cultural sector.

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To request further information for these positions, please consult our website and/or contact the Graduate Coordinator, Dr. Ramona Mielusel at ramona.mielusel@louisiana.edu in French or English. Also, consult our Facebook page for info on recent and upcoming activities: https://www.facebook.com/ULLFrenchGradStudies

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To Apply: https://louisiana.edu/graduateschool/majors-minors/francophone-studies-phd
https://louisiana.edu/graduateschool/majors-minors/french-ma

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French and Francophone Studies Program Information: http://languages.louisiana.edu/French/index.html