BA (Hons) Liberal Arts with a Year Abroad
Course
options
Key Details
- Award
- Degree of Bachelor of Arts
- UCAS Course Code
- Y00A
- 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 Year Abroad at UEA harnesses the best expertise from across the University, creating an exciting and innovative degree programme, whilst also offering you the opportunity to study abroad. 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 your Liberal Arts with a Year Abroad, you can make the most of the fantastic resources on your doorstep, from our in-house media facilities to the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts. And you’ll also have the chance to study at one of our partner institutions across the globe, for example in North America, Australasia or Europe. Immerse yourself in another culture and learn how other countries teach your chosen disciplines.
If you’re looking for the freedom to follow your interests and passions, and you want the opportunity to study abroad, then this is the degree 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. Whilst studying with us, you’ll build an original and unique portfolio of expertise that will make you stand out from the crowd.
Year Abroad
UEA has strong links with universities across the globe, including Australia, Canada, the United States and Europe. Going to university in another country will allow you to immerse yourself in a different culture – and possibly language – while studying for your Liberal Arts degree.
Your choice of exchange university for the year abroad may be influenced by the modules you’ve chosen and the research strengths of the individual institutions in those areas. Your academic adviser will discuss your choices and provide advice for your year abroad in year two.
For further details, visit the Study Abroad section of our website.
Note that you can also choose to study this course with a Placement Year (spending much of your third year on a work placement). Or you can spend a Semester Abroad or take a short placement as part of the three-year version of this course.
Study and Modules
Structure
On this course, you’ll be exposed to a wide range of disciplinary perspectives, theories and methods. We’ll encourage you to explore subjects in detail and to use, apply, and combine subjects in order to analyse and understand the complexities of the contemporary world.
At the heart of your Liberal Arts degree at UEA will sit a group of broad-based core modules which will facilitate the development of your abilities to learn from, and through, interdisciplinary approaches.
In year one, the core interdisciplinary module focuses on methodological theory and practice within the Humanities. In addition to this module, you’ll make a wide range of elective choices (selected from within arts and humanities subjects) guided towards a discipline-based major, alongside a minor pathway (with the latter selected from a range of subjects from within the arts and humanities, or social sciences, or sciences).
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Min Credits: 60, Max Credits: 100)Optional B Modules
(Min Credits: 0, Max Credits: 40)Optional C Modules
(Min Credits: 0, Max Credits: 40)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
Liberal Arts at UEA integrates the latest learning and teaching approaches to give you a varied and stimulating programme. No matter which disciplines you explore during your studies, teaching is led by internationally respected academics at the forefront of research. This will involve a mixture of tailored small group experiences with fellow Liberal Arts students, and opportunities to study alongside other students in your major field and optional modules, through a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical classes, workshops, one-on-one support, and self-directed learning.
In first year seminars, you’ll learn how to listen to and critique the ideas of others, as well as how to present and defend your own arguments effectively. In our Liberal Arts core module, you’ll be taught with an interdisciplinary approach in regular seminars by staff with specialisms from across the Humanities. The teaching within your elective modules will depend on the School in which your module is based. Through all these sessions and your academic modules, you’ll gain the crucial interdisciplinary research skills of uncovering resources and critically assessing sources.
Independent Learning
This course will give you an excellent balance of independent thinking and study skills, helping you grow into a self-motivated learner, an expert researcher, and an analytical thinker.
You’ll develop accuracy and precision in your written work through organising evidence, and you’ll become confident in time management, organisation and self-directed study.
Assessment
You’ll be assessed through a variety of methods, which will vary depending on your academic choices. During your first year, assessment methods could include coursework, exams, group work, written reports, or presentations. At the beginning of each module, you’ll be given detailed information on how and when you’ll be assessed.
Structure
In your second year, your studies will continue to include a further broad-based module. This allows you to develop practical expertise in the application of multiple-disciplinary perspectives when solving significant and increasingly complex problems. The core module will be central to the degree, encouraging you to engage with a range of activities traditionally associated with Liberal Arts training: interdisciplinary work, systems thinking, creativity, innovation, and problem-solving.
In this year, you’ll also focus on your specific major and minor subject areas and topics, studying them in greater depth and building upon the cross-disciplinary knowledge you’ll develop in year one.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Min Credits: 60, Max Credits: 100)Optional B Modules
(Min Credits: 0, Max Credits: 40)Optional C Modules
(Min Credits: 0, Max Credits: 40)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 second year, you’ll continue with a core Liberal Arts module in the Autumn Semester, whilst experiencing teaching in different elective modules in disciplines tailored to your specific major and minor pathways. You’ll consolidate your skills of independent and self-motivated learning, thinking and research during this second year of study while also being able to focus on topics which interest you, as well as finding new passions.
Assessment
As with year one, in year two you’ll complete different types of assessment depending on which modules you choose for your major and minor pathways. The types of assessment will build on those you’ve experienced in your first year. Assessment methods might include written reports, coursework, exams, work produced within a group setting, or presentations. As you progress into the second year of your degree, you’ll develop as a self-motivated researcher and independent thinker.
Structure
You’ll spend your third year studying at your assigned university overseas, where you’ll choose modules that will complement your studies at UEA. You’ll have the opportunity to experience local culture and, depending on the location, a different language.
Compulsory Modules
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
For your year abroad, the teaching and learning you’ll experience will be specific to your chosen institution.
Assessment
During your year abroad, any assessments you undertake will be bespoke to your chosen institution.
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 A Modules
(Min Credits: 20, Max Credits: 30)Optional B Modules
(Min Credits: 60, Max Credits: 90)Optional C Modules
(Min Credits: 0, Max Credits: 40)Optional D Modules
(Min Credits: 0, Max Credits: 40)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 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.
Employability
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.
Careers
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.
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 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.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
A levels
AAB
Contextual offer: BBB
BTEC
Level 3 Extended Diploma: DDD
Contextual offer: DDM
Combinations of BTEC and A levels
Extended Diploma: DDD
Contextual: DDM
Diploma: DD plus B at A level.
Contextual: DD plus C at A level.
Extended Certificate: D plus AB at A level.
Contextual: D plus BB 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 36 credits at Level 3 and Merit in 9 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
- Further Examples of Typical Entry Requirements
International Baccalaureate
33 points overall
Irish Leaving Certificate
4 subjects at H2, 2 subjects at H3
Scottish Highers
AAAAA
Scottish Advanced Highers
BBC 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 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.
A levels
AAB
BTEC
Level 3 Extended Diploma: DDD
Combinations of BTEC and A levels
Extended Diploma: DDD
Diploma: DD plus B at A level.
Extended Certificate: D plus AB at A level.
BTEC in Public Services, Uniformed Services and Business Administration are all excluded from our BTEC offers
International Baccalaureate
33 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 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.
Fees and Funding
Tuition Fees
View our information for Tuition Fees.
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 for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
You’re eligible for reduced fees during your year abroad. Further details are available on our Tuition Fees webpages.
There will be extra costs related to items such as travel and accommodation during your year abroad, 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: