The Department of French has strived to maintain a high standard in academics and research. Created in 1987, the Department of French aims to promote French & Francophone Studies as well as Translation Studies in India at the Post-Graduate and Doctorate levels, thus enhancing the historical links Puducherry has had with France, and renewing the bilateral ties and cultural dialogues with the Francophone countries. The French Dept. has a 100% placement ; its alumni are well placed, mostly in the teaching profession, or in the French Embassy at New Delhi, or as Language Specialists in reputed companies of the corporate world such as Renault – Nissan, Cognizant, TCS, Infosys, Ernst & Young, or banks like HSBC, Société Générale, and Deutsche Bank. As per the M.O.U.s signed with many Universities in France, the exchange of students and Faculty has been concretized. Under the Study India Programme too, French students come to pursue studies at our University, and the French Dept. acts as a liaison between them and the Depts where they follow courses.

Every year, there is an increasing demand for admission to M.A. French and Basic French courses offered by the Dept. This Department of French of Pondicherry University is one of the first in French Studies in India to get the SAP ; this Project has now entered its Phase-II and was granted one Crore by the UGC. The Department of French is also designated by
SWAYAM-ARPIT as the National Resource Centre for the French modules on MOOC.