Lecturer in French Language and Literature

LECTURER: FRENCH LANGUAGE & LITERATURE (with Romance Languages)

School Of Languages & Literatures (SLL)

FACULTY OF HUMANITIES

The School of Languages and Literatures (SLL), in the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Cape Town invites applications for a permanent appointment as Lecturer in French Language and Literature, with the capacity to also teach in one of the other Romance languages taught at SLL (Italian, Portuguese, Spanish) as an interdisciplinary opening.

The School of Languages and Literatures houses full academic teaching programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in an interdisciplinary environment comprising a dozen scholarly fields related to the study of national, continental, and global as well as modern and classical languages and literatures. It engages increasingly with questions about transnational and Global South identities and contributes to the University’s transformation purpose “Vision 2030”.

The French Language and Literature section currently offers two undergraduate majors as well as postgraduate study (Honours, Research Masters and PhD). Its members are involved in several international research projects, frequently host scientific events, thereby consolidating UCT’s position as a major centre for the study of French and Francophone cultures in Southern Africa. The discipline also allows productive collaborations with other fields taught at the department, such as the School’s Romance languages as well as Didactics (in Language and Literature), and Translation.

To consolidate and diversify the section’s programmes, to complement the expertise of current staff (notably in fields such as [Socio]Linguistics, Discourse analysis, Didactics, and Translation), to strengthen interdisciplinary bridges, and to actively participate in the departmental research culture, the School of Languages and Literatures invites applications for this permanent lectureship as soon as possible.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE POSITION:

• A completed PhD degree in French Language (such as [Socio]linguistics, Discourse analysis, French Language Didactics, Teaching French as an Additional Language, Translation), or a closely related field.


• Experience in teaching French language and literature at tertiary level.


• A research strategy and publications commensurate with career stage.


• Demonstrated high proficiency (oral and written) in French.


• Proficiency in English.


• Demonstrated proficiency (oral and written) in Italian, and/or Portuguese, and/or Spanish.

THE FOLLOWING WOULD BE ADVANTAGEOUS:

• Experience in teaching Italian, and/or Portuguese, and/or Spanish at secondary or tertiary level.


• Experience in interdisciplinary research.


• Capacity to work independently as well as collaboratively in a team.


• Administrative skills.


• Experience or interest in internationalisation (e.g. study abroad programmes).


• Experience in supervision of student research.

RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

• Teaching and convening French Language & Literature from beginners to advanced levels (75% of teaching load).


• Teaching and convening one of the additional sets of expertise (Italian/Portuguese/Spanish) (25% of teaching load).


• Active engagement in research and publication.


• Academic administration.


• Active contribution to the French Section’s research projects.


• Active participation in the School’s research culture.

The annual cost of employment, including benefits for 2026, is R 974, 126

To apply, please visit the UCT Jobs Site (www.jobs.uct.ac.za) to create a candidate profile and to submit your application.

Please complete/attach the following to your profile before submitting your application:

• A letter of motivation that speaks to the requirements of the role.


• Curriculum Vitae (CV).


• Academic writing sample in the field of French language and literature (e.g. journal article, book chapter).


• Copies of relevant academic transcripts.


• Copy of ID / Passport.


• The names of three referees, including their title and name, position details, relationship to you, their e-mail address, and telephone number.

An application which does not comply with the above requirements will be regarded as incomplete. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Shortlisted candidates may be required to undergo competency assessments and pre-placement-medical placements. References may be requested by UCT at any stage of the selection process.

Any enquiries for the position to be addressed to Ms. Natasha Khan at [email protected] or 021650 3469.

Closing date:               15th November 2026

Website: https://humanities.uct.ac.za/school-languages-literatures/french-language-and-literature

UCT is a designated employer and is committed to the pursuit of excellence, diversity, and redress in achieving its equity targets in accordance with the Employment Equity Plan of the University and its Employment Equity goals and targets. Preference will be given to candidates from the under-represented designated groups. Our Employment Equity Policy is available at https://uct.ac.za/oic/employment-equity 

When you apply for a position at UCT, we collect your personal information to assess your application, communicate with you, and coordinate interview logistics. Information such as race, gender, nationality, and disability status is used to support our Employment Equity obligations. We also verify your references, qualifications, conduct criminal and, for certain roles, credit checks. For more information about how the University of Cape Town uses personal information and your rights, please email [email protected].

The University reserves the right to extend the closing date for applications if deemed necessary and reserves the right to make no appointment.