J.K. Rowling studied French at the University of Exeter.
Rowling attended the University of Exeter and graduated in 1987 with a degree in French and Classics. Her course included a year of study in Paris, giving her direct experience of living and studying in France before she became a published novelist.
Her academic background is relevant to the Harry Potter books because the series contains many names and terms drawn from Latin, Greek, French, and other languages. However, French was her university subject, while Latin and Greek influences appear mainly through classical language and mythology used in the fiction.
A common mix-up is to answer Classics alone, because Rowling’s degree included Classics and her books contain numerous classical references. The specific modern language associated with her university studies was French. Her education also helped distinguish the linguistic roots of fictional spells from the details of her formal degree.