Interested in studying more than one subject area in the Humanities and Social Sciences? Take our Liberal Arts degree and explore the value of bringing disciplines together.
Although my degree started with a wide assortment of subjects, by the time I got to deciding my final year modules I knew I just wanted to take English Literature, Anthropology, and History modules: centring on a study of culture rooted in Humanities.
Shape your degree around the subjects that inspire you. With this flexible course, you’ll create a programme unique to you, explore the big questions of our day (through our Big Questions module series) and develop the skills needed to make real-world impact.
The BA Liberal Arts offers unmatched degree flexibility that allows for differing levels of specialism and variety. You could either:
Or
Or
With this flexibility, our BA Liberal Arts puts the ball in your court as to what, and how many, combinations of subjects you want to pursue. At the same time, our core programme will provide you with the opportunity to bring your subjects together in ways not catered to by the traditional joint-honours degree.
You can major or minor in the following subject areas:
While these majors are achieved by pursuing the modules offered by specific departments we also offer the opportunity (upon request) to follow a thematic major in ‘Gender Studies’. The flexibility of module options also means you can create your own pathway and follow interests not designated by existing subject areas.
You do not require specific A level subjects or IB higher level subjects to be accepted onto the BA Liberal Arts, but some majors may have specific A level or GCSE subject requirements.
If you already know that you want to pursue a major, please refer to the relevant subject course page (linked above) for full details on our entry requirements. If you are unsure if you meet the requirements for your preferred major, please contact us to discuss.
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Explore your interests in a wide range of subjects at Birmingham. Study alongside single honours students with teaching from experts across many departments and learn to bring perspectives together on complex topics through our interdisciplinary core modules.
Globally for Arts and Humanities
QS World Subject Rankings 2026
On this course, you’ll meet our academics and researchers from across subjects within the College of Arts and Law and the College of Social Sciences. Explore our Schools, research and exciting news stories.
We’ve partnered with Springpod to create a Subject Spotlight on Liberal Arts, presented by our very own Dr Betsy Porritt. This Spotlight provides a way for you to find out what it would be like to study a Liberal Arts degree.
As the UK's second city, Birmingham is a cultural and creative hub. Our industrial roots paved the way for a rich offering of museums, shops, restaurants and venues. Discover our city for yourself!
From podcasting to brain monitoring, our state-of-the-art facilities empower our students to create, perform, collaborate and explore in new and exciting ways.
Hear more about studying at Birmingham. Chat to one of our friendly students to find out more about your favourite course, our beautiful campus and life in our vibrant and cultural city.
Study at the University of Birmingham and learn from world-class experts — leaders in global teaching and research experience.
At Birmingham, you’ll have plenty of support to help you adjust to university life:
Your degree is designed to help you achieve 120 credits per year, which equals about 40 hours of learning each week. This includes lectures, seminars, workshops, independent study, revision, and assessments.
You’ll be assessed in different ways to suit each module. At the start of a module, you’ll be told how and when you’ll be assessed. Methods will vary but may include coursework (e.g., essays), group or individual presentations and projects, exams, reports or computer-based assignments.
Feedback: You will receive timely feedback on each assessment, so you can learn from it and improve your performance in future assessments.
The modules listed for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods.
The optional module information listed for this programme is intended to be indicative, and the availability of optional modules may vary from year to year. Where a module is no longer available, we will let you know as soon as we can and help you to make other choices.
2026/27 Session
Core modules where you will learn the foundations of cross disciplinary cultural investigation and develop your own liberal arts perspective:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Creative and Critical Thinking Across the Humanities (A): How do we know what we know? | 20 |
| Creative and Critical Thinking (B): The Stories We Tell | 20 |
Students should take 80 credits of optional modules where you can tailor your degree with your major, minor, or exploratory selection. This selection is subject to the limitations of the timetable.
To major you must study 40 credits minimum in first year and students can take up to 60 credits in any one subject per year.
Students wishing to pursue a defined Major or Minor may be required to take one or more approved modules from a list provided by the programme lead each year. Students can take up to 60 credits in any one subject.
2027/28 Session
Semester 1
Students must choose one ‘Innovation, Industry and Community’ module from the following list:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Global Enterprise Project | 20 |
| Media in Practice | 20 |
| Professional Skills | 20 |
| Professional Skills – Freelance | 20 |
| Work, The Future and You | 20 |
Semester 2
Students must choose one ‘Big Questions’ module from the following list:
Students will complete their required 120 credits with 80 credits optional modules from their major, minor, or personalised programme of study with support from academic staff.
Students can take up to 60 credits in any one subject per year.
2028/29 Session
Students will complete between 20 and 40 credits of independent research through one of the following:
Students may also fulfil the independent research requirement by completing another approved research-based module based on their major or minor.
Students must choose one of the following ‘Big Questions’ modules in semester one:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Big Questions - How to Live Ethically | 20 |
| Big Questions - Identity across States, People, and Cultures | 20 |
| Big Questions - Imagining the Future | 20 |
Students will complete their required 120 credits with optional modules from their major, minor, or personalised programme of study with support from academic staff.
In addition, students are also permitted to take one of the following modules providing they have not already taken the module in their second year:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Professional Skills | 20 |
| Professional Skills - Freelance | 20 |
And any final year module subject to the limitations of the timetable, the requirements to graduate, and the agreement of the Liberal Arts programme lead.
The Professional Skills Module allows students to take part in an internship that they can apply for from a bank of placements provided by the college, or an internship that they land by themselves externally, as a means of promoting hands-on learning.
In the College of Arts and Law, we're committed to helping you become career-ready. With our intercalated options, we offer undergraduate students the opportunity to take an additional year and dive into industry, language and more.
To secure a place at Birmingham, you'll need to meet our general entry requirements as well as those specific to your course.
AAB
6,6,5 including 32 points overall.
BTEC Extended Diploma - DDD; BTEC Diploma - DD, plus a B at A level; BTEC Subsidiary Diploma - D, plus AB at A level
Number of A levels required: 3
You do not need specific A-level subjects or IB higher level subjects to be accepted onto the course itself, but you may need specific qualifications to study certain subjects.
Applicants who take the EPQ and meet our offer criteria will be made the typical offer for their programme of choice, plus an alternative offer which will be one grade lower plus a grade B in the EPQ. This offer would apply if you make Birmingham your firm choice.
Applicants who take the Core Maths qualification and meet our offer criteria will be made the typical offer for their programme of choice, plus an alternative offer which will be one grade lower plus a grade B in Core Maths. If you are also taking A-level Maths, you will not be eligible for an alternative offer through studying Core Maths. This offer would apply if you make Birmingham your firm choice.
If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification or a Presessional English course.
If you have a conditional offer for Birmingham where English is a requirement, you can take a Presessional English course as an alternative to retaking IELTS or a similar qualification. We offer on-campus courses all year round starting from September, including additional online courses in the summer term. Teaching takes place in small classes with no more than 18 students to maximise class participation.
Students who are eligible and complete a Pathways to Birmingham programme will receive an alternative offer, which is typically two grades below the standard offer.
Our Contextual Offer scheme recognises the potential of students whose personal circumstances may have restricted achievement in school or college. If you are eligible to benefit from the Contextual Offer scheme, you will receive an offer which is one grade lower than the standard offer. You don’t need to apply for this – it will be assessed and applied at the point of application if you’re eligible.
BBB - A level
ABB - A level
The University tuition fee covers the cost of your tuition, examination and graduation, and includes membership of the Guild of Students.
per year for domestic (UK) students for 2026/27
*The University will charge the maximum approved tuition fee per year. If Parliament agrees on an increase in tuition fees, the University will increase fees for each year of study, normally in line with these changes and will communicate any change in the fees to you without delay. The fee for September 2026 entry is £9,790 for UK students. If you decide to do a placement year, you will only pay 15% of the agreed tuition fee for that year. If you are applying for 2027 entry, you will be advised of the annual tuition fee once it is confirmed by the Government.
To help with the cost of studies, undergraduate students from the UK can apply for student finance through the Student Loans Company. The support available is made up of a tuition fee loan and a maintenance loan which helps to cover living costs.
At Birmingham, we believe that financial worries should not be a barrier to accessing higher education. That’s why we offer a range of additional financial support for students through scholarships, bursaries and other awards.
If you're a UK student and starting university in September 2026, find out more about what financial support is available to you.
We want to help you reach your full potential. Explore our wide variety of scholarships available for international students.
Whatever your journey to university looks like, we’re here to support you every step of the way. For all undergraduate courses at Birmingham, you apply online through UCAS. The UCAS website has lots of information and advice around the process.
Application deadline for September 2026 entry. Applications close at 18:00 GMT.
View further information on how to apply for undergraduate courses, including advice for UK and overseas applicants.
If you have a question about our admissions process, including how to apply, your offer and how to track your application, please speak to our team.
Studying a BA Liberal Arts degree at Birmingham will set you apart in a competitive job market.
A Liberal Arts degree allows you to formulate a personalised portfolio, but it's about much more than the specific content. It’s a way of learning, connecting and adapting. This programme will equip you with the knowledge and skills to develop and sustain a meaningful career in a range of industries. Skills include:
Supported by the University's Careers Network team, you will be encouraged to acquire and develop your skills for the jobs of tomorrow. Throughout the course of your degree, you will develop a range of abilities from communication to research, analysis to leadership which will equip you to succeed.
Our students have gone on to secure roles such as UI/UX Designer, Assistant Professor, Marketing Manager, and Operations Analyst working for organisations such as:
The University has commissioned Cturtle as our data partner for tracking our alumni destinations. The data above is a subset from 43,666 alumni who completed their course up to 31 July 2024.
The unique benefit of a BA Liberal Arts is the access to discipline-specific services, support and centres. Whether you see yourself as a future lawyer or not, the Centre for Employability Professional Legal Education and Research (CEPLER) opens up a world of professional skills and networking through the Birmingham Law School.
We’re consistently one of the top UK universities targeted by leading graduate employers
High Fliers ‘Graduate Market in 2026’ report
Receive one-to-one careers advice, including guidance on your job applications, writing your CV and improving your interview technique.
Meet employers face-to-face at on-campus recruitment fairs and employer presentations.
Our aim is to make sure that success in your studies leads you on to a fulfilling career. Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network offer support to help you identify your options, develop your skills and gain access to opportunities that propel you towards your career goal.
Hear from some of our inspiring alumni who have gone on to work for leading employers such as the UK Space Agency and BBC Sport.
Your experience studying at Birmingham will give you the opportunity to discover new experiences, develop different skills and make friends for life.
Our bustling campus with its beautiful grounds, friendly community, and excellent facilities will quickly make you feel at home. We offer you a huge variety of accommodation options in the UK’s second city, exciting activities to get involved in outside your studies, as well as all the support and advice you need.
Coming to Birmingham to study might be your first time living away from home. In our student accommodation, you can enjoy your independence in safe, welcoming and sociable surroundings.
Our cosmopolitan city has a unique history and so much to see and do. With an ever-changing food and drink scene, a vibrant nightlife and plenty of culture, our city is more than somewhere to study.
Whoever you are and wherever you come from, we are committed to providing the best possible support to our students, both before you start and throughout your time on campus.
Our beautiful campus is the place where our diverse community comes together to learn and socialise. Like a town of its own, it’s just minutes from the hustle and bustle of the UK’s second city.
Explore your options for combining subjects and shape your degree around your interests, whilst developing key skills for the world of work.
Our intercalated opportunities offer the chance to take a year out from your existing course to study within another field. This takes place usually between year 2 and year 3 of your programme.
Explore our beautiful campus from wherever you are. Get a feel for the wide range of historic and modern spaces and state-of-the-art facilities.
