BA (Hons) Liberal Arts with a Placement Year
Key Details
- Award
- Degree of Bachelor of Arts
- Typical Offer
- ABB
- Contextual Offer
- BBC
- Course Length
- 4 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2025
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Why you should choose us
Course Overview
Cross subject and discipline boundaries. Build a unique degree that fits your interests and career goals.
BA Liberal Arts with a Placement Year at UEA harnesses the best expertise from across the University, creating an exciting and innovative programme, with the invaluable opportunity to gain real-world experience in a work environment. You’ll experience the renowned teaching of UEA’s academics while being supported by a core team.
Take control of your own studies. Start by choosing your major from the Arts and Humanities. Choose your minor subject from a wide range of options, including Arts and Humanities, Sciences and Social Sciences. Select a minor from subjects as diverse as Film Production, Business or Computing. Your choices can produce some unique connections and insights! By taking modules from different Schools, you’ll sample various methods, approaches, and theories throughout your degree.
During BA Liberal Arts with a Placement Year, you’ll spend your third year working with an external company or charity. This might be from the dynamic Norwich cultural industries, a local or national business, or even further afield. You’ll have access to fantastic resources on your doorstep, from our in-house media facilities, to the Sainsbury Centre.
If you’re looking for the freedom to follow your interests and passions, then Liberal Arts at UEA is for you. This course will equip you with the knowledge, skills and confidence to lead and innovate. After your degree, you’ll be in a perfect position to take advantage of future job prospects. While studying with us, you’ll build an original and unique portfolio of expertise that will make you stand out from the crowd.
Placement Year
Relevant work experience is an incredibly useful asset in today’s competitive job market, and our Placement Year programme ensures you’ll graduate one step ahead. You’ll gain first-hand knowledge, secure valuable contacts, and learn how to put theory into practice, working within time and financial constraints.
You’ll be expected to seek your own work placement. In the first two weeks of your second year, you’ll write a CV and apply to a range of companies. Not only will this ensure that you work within your preferred field, it’ll also provide you with the essential job-hunting skills you’ll require after graduation. We’ll offer our guidance and support while you’re identifying and negotiating placement opportunities.
Please note that we cannot guarantee any student a work placement as this decision rests with potential employers.
If you’re unable to secure a work placement by the end of your second year, you’ll have the option to transfer onto the equivalent degree programme without a Placement Year or take the Year Abroad option.
This version of the degree gives you the opportunity and support to greatly enhance your employability by securing and undertaking a year-long placement in the third year of your degree. Find out more about this exciting opportunity on our 'Placement Years in Arts and Humanities' page.
Study and Modules
Structure
In your final year of study, alongside your elective major and minor modules, you’ll undertake a substantial research project that can reflect your own interests and will be supervised by an academic working in the same research area.
With guided support from the Liberal Arts team, you’ll create a degree which is unique to you.
Optional B Modules
(Min Credits: 60, Max Credits: 90)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
In your final year, you’ll continue to take increasingly specialist elective modules in your major and minor subject areas. You’ll also have dedicated tutorials to help formulate, research and write your Independent Research Project under the skilled supervision of a member of academic staff with research expertise in your area of study.
Assessment
In your final year, you’ll choose increasingly specialised modules, taught by staff who are experts in their field. In turn, your assessments will allow you to focus on the subjects and areas which are of greatest interest to you. You’ll also have the opportunity to undertake an Independent Research Project which aligns with the main topics you’ve investigated during your degree. This project will bring together the knowledge and expertise that you’ve acquired through your major and minor pathways.
Careers
Career Pathways
Example of careers that you could enter include:
- Consultancy and Management
- Education
- Culture and Media Industries
- Civil Service
- NGOs
- Public Relations and Marketing
Discover more on our Careers webpages.
After the Course
Liberal Arts at UEA will provide you with a competitive edge in today’s job market. You’ll develop the transferable skills, breadth of experience and adaptability that employers seek. Liberal Arts graduates are highly employable and especially attractive to employers because of the range of their intellectual skills, their capacity to make creative connections, and their independence of mind. As a result, Liberal Arts programmes produce world leaders in the arts, culture and media industries, politics, education, business, marketing, advertising, humanitarian work, technology, public service, amongst many other professions in the private and public sectors.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
We welcome and value a wide range of qualifications, and we recognise that some students might take a mixture of different qualifications. We have listed typical examples that we accept for entry.
You should hold or be working towards the specified English and Mathematics requirements and one of the examples of typical entry qualifications listed below. If your qualifications aren’t listed, or if you are taking a combination of qualifications that isn’t specified, please contact Admissions.
- English and Mathematics
All applicants must hold or be working towards GCSEs in English Language and Mathematics at minimum grade C or grade C.
In place of Mathematics GCSE we can also consider Functional Skills Level 2 Mathematics.
We accept a wide range of English Language qualifications, please see our English Language equivalencies(opens in a new window) page.
- Contextual Offers
UEA are committed to ensuring that Higher Education is accessible to all, regardless of their background or experiences. One of the ways we do this is through our contextual admissions schemes(opens in a new window).
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
A levels
ABB
Contextual offer: BBC
BTEC
Level 3 Extended Diploma: DDM
Contextual offer: DMM
Combinations of BTEC and A levels
Extended Diploma: DDM
Contextual: DMM
Diploma: DD plus B at A level.
Contextual: DD plus C at A level.
Extended Certificate: D plus BB at A level.
Contextual: D plus BC at A level.
BTEC in Public Services, Uniformed Services and Business Administration are all excluded from our BTEC offers
Access to HE Diploma
Access to Humanities and Social Sciences Pathway. Pass Access to HE Diploma with Distinction in 30 credits at Level 3 and Merit in 15 credits at Level 3
T levels
Obtain an overall Pass including an A in the core of the T Level and a Distinction in the Occupational Specialism.
Any subject is acceptable.
Foundation Year options:
If you do not meet the academic requirements for direct entry, you may be interested in one of our Foundation Year programmes such as - Liberal Arts with a Foundation Year (opens in a new window)
- Further Examples of Typical Entry Requirements
International Baccalaureate
32 points overall
Irish Leaving Certificate
3 subjects at H2, 3 subjects at H3
Scottish Highers
AAABB
Scottish Advanced Highers
BCC A combination of Advanced Highers and Highers may be acceptable
- Deferred Entry
We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year. We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
We welcome and value a wide range of qualifications, and we recognise that some students might take a mixture of different qualifications. We have listed typical examples that we accept for entry.
You should hold or be working towards the specified English and Mathematics requirements and one of the examples of typical entry qualifications listed below. If your qualifications aren’t listed, or if you are taking a combination of qualifications that isn’t specified, please contact Admissions.
- English and Mathematics
All applicants must hold or be working towards GCSEs in English Language and Mathematics at minimum grade C or grade C.
In place of Mathematics GCSE we can also consider Functional Skills Level 2 Mathematics.
We accept a wide range of English Language qualifications, please see our English Language equivalencies(opens in a new window) page.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
We accept many international qualifications for entry to this course. For specific details about your country, view our information for International Students(opens in a new window).
A levels
ABB
BTEC
Level 3 Extended Diploma: DDM
Combinations of BTEC and A levels
Extended Diploma: DDM
Diploma: DD plus B at A level.
Extended Certificate: D plus BB at A level.
BTEC in Public Services, Uniformed Services and Business Administration are all excluded from our BTEC offers
International Baccalaureate
32 points overall
- INTO UEA
If you do not meet the academic and/or English language requirements for direct entry our partner, INTO UEA offers progression on to this undergraduate degree upon successful completion of a preparation programme. Depending on your interests, and your qualifications you can take a variety of routes to this degree.
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
-
IELTS: 6.5 overall (minimum 5.5 in all components)
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies(opens in a new window) for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study.
-
- Deferred Entry
We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year. We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.
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Fees and Funding
Tuition Fees
View our information for Tuition Fees(opens in a new window).
Scholarships and Bursaries
We are committed to ensuring that costs do not act as a barrier to those aspiring to come to a world leading university and have developed a funding package to reward those with excellent qualifications and assist those from lower income backgrounds. View our range of Scholarships(opens in a new window) for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
You’re eligible for reduced fees during your placement year. Further details are available on our Tuition Fees webpages.
There may be extra costs related to items such as travel and accommodation during your placement year, which will vary depending on location.
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of other course-related costs.
How to Apply
UCAS Hub is a secure online application system that allows you to apply for full-time undergraduate courses at universities and colleges in the United Kingdom.
Your application does not have to be completed all at once. Register or sign in to UCAS to get started.
Once you submit your completed application, UCAS will process it and send it to your chosen universities and colleges.
The Institution code for the University of East Anglia is E14.
View our guide to applying through UCAS for useful tips, key dates and further information: