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Our BA in Liberal Arts combines the expertise of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences to provide a unique multi-disciplinary programme at central London's only campus-based university.
This programme combines an innovative and research-driven curriculum grounded within the distinct, established areas of academic specialisation and excellence found within the constituent schools of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
The programme provides distinct tracks or 'majors' that facilitate greater flexibility in module choice and a broader basis than in degrees in single or joint subjects, alongside the development of an intellectual and disciplinary focus as you progress through your degree. You will benefit from engaging with a range of subjects from different disciplinary perspectives, including the study of a foreign language during your first year (whether as a beginner or building on existing competence). As well as practical language study, you will work on related aspects of literature, culture, history, society and linguistics.
The three themes include:
Our BA Liberal Arts programme combines the academic expertise across the School of Languages, Linguistics and Film together with the School of English and Drama, the School of Politics and International Relations, the School of Geography, the School of History and the School of Economics and Finance.
The programme is organised around Liberal Arts compulsory modules and seminars in the first and second years, and culminates in a unique research project drawing on expert supervision.
The modules offered will be dependent upon the major and minor track chosen. Within your first year of BA study (second year for foundation students), students will study across all tracks and be supported by an academic advisor to select the best major and minor routes for their following years. The below provides an indicative list of what you may study within each of the tracks.
All routes
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The modules offered will be dependent upon the major and minor track chosen. The below provides an indicative list of what you may study within each of the tracks.
Students across all tracks will take 30 credits of Liberal Arts compulsory modules:
Language and Culture Theme Electives
Language and Culture Major / Global Cultures Minor
Language and Culture Major / Interactions: Societies and Cities Minor
Global Cultures Major / Language and Culture Minor
Global Cultures Major/ Interactions: Societies and Cities Minor
Interactions: Society and the Cities Major / Language and Culture Minor
Interactions: Society and Cities Major / Global Cultures Minor
Students across all tracks will take the Liberal Arts Research Project module.
Interactions: Society and Cities Major / Language and Culture Minor
(If 15 credits remain, and a 15 credit option in Modern Language minor has not been taken at Level 4 or 5: 15 credit option in Modern Language and Culture)
Interactions: Society and the City Major / Language and Culture Minor
(If 15 credits remain, and a 15 credit option in Language and Culture Minor has not been taken at Level 4 or 5: 15 credit option in Modern Language and Culture)
In your second year (third for those taking a foundation year), you choose to specialise in a major area and a minor area of study, which will define the focal points of your whole degree. There are three areas: Language and culture, Global cultures, and Interactions: societies and cities.
Alongside choosing from the three themes as major and minor specialisms, the BA Liberal Arts programme also includes Discovery modules, which enable you to explore new themes and forms of study beyond your major and minor choices.
You can spend the third year of the four-year version of the degree (fourth of fifth for those taking the foundation year) on an international exchange with one of our partner universities. The four-year option is compulsory for those taking a modern languages as a major or minor.
For details on all our modules, please visit the module directory.
Apply for this degree with any of the following options. Take care to use the correct UCAS code - it may not be possible to change your selection later.
International students can apply for our Liberal Arts BA with an Integrated Foundation Year. The foundation year, taught on campus by Queen Mary lecturers, prepares you for the rest of the programme and can be started in either September or January.
You have three options for how to spend your year abroad:
To find out more about the Year Abroad, please visit our website.
Teaching takes a number of forms, which may include:
Assessment is varied and will take a number of forms within the programme, typically a combination of written exams and coursework, final-year dissertations, and independent projects.
The Schools offer excellent on-campus resources to aid your studies, including:
Alternative offers may be made to applicants taking the Extended Project Qualification.
For further information please visit: qmul.ac.uk/undergraduate/entry/epq
Our standard contextual offer: Grades BCC. This must include at least one essay based A-Level in a humanities or social sciences subject. Excludes General Studies, Critical Thinking.
Our enhanced contextual offer (for care experienced students, refugee/asylum seekers or students who have completed Realising Opportunities or Access to Queen Mary): Grades CCC. This must include at least one essay based A-Level in a humanities or social sciences subject. Excludes General Studies, Critical Thinking.
More information on how this information is used for a contextual offer can be found on our contextualised admissions page.
Academic requirements
This programme combines a three-year degree with a bespoke foundation year, providing you with a smooth pathway as an international or EU student whose prior education or English language proficiency does not enable you to apply directly for a three-year degree.
This programme is designed for students who have completed a good high school education that consists of at least 12 years study. For full country specific entry requirements and qualification equivalencies visit: qmul.ac.uk/international/countries
If you have taken both GCSE and A level exams (or equivalent qualifications) in the UK you will not be considered for admission to this programme. In such cases we recommend that you apply for the relevant three year programme with entry in year 1.
Applicants who have studied A levels in the UK will be considered on a case by case basis.
Current University Foundation Programme or International Foundation Programme applicants will not be considered for the Integrated Foundation level course.
Please contact the Admissions team if you are unsure about eligibility.
English language requirements
Minimum of IELTS 6.0, with a minimum of 5.5 in each component.
We accept a wide range of European and international qualifications in addition to A-levels, the International Baccalaureate and BTEC qualifications. Please visit International Admissions for full details.
Find out more about our English language entry requirements, including the types of test we accept and the scores needed for entry to the programme.
You may also be able to meet the English language requirement for your programme by joining a summer pre-sessional programme before starting your degree.
See our general undergraduate entry requirements.
UK students accepted onto this course are eligible to apply for tuition fee and maintenance loans from Student Finance England or other government bodies.
Queen Mary offers a generous package of scholarships and bursaries, which currently benefits around 50 per cent of our undergraduates.
Scholarships are available for home, EU and international students. Specific funding is also available for students from the local area. International students may be eligible for a fee reduction. We offer means-tested funding, as well as subject-specific funding for many degrees.
Find out what scholarships and bursaries are available to you.
We offer specialist support on all financial and welfare issues through our Advice and Counselling Service, which you can access as soon as you have applied for a place at Queen Mary.
Take a look at our Student Advice Guides which cover ways to finance your degree, including:
Graduates from Queen Mary's School of the Arts and the wider Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences go on to work in a wide variety of careers. Some apply their degree knowledge directly, entering careers such as education and the arts, whilst others transfer skills gained during study into areas such as public relations. Graduates who have developed specialisations in the wider Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences often find employment in areas such as business, finance, government and the media.
Whichever of these area specialisations you may have chosen, you will develop a wide range of skills and you will cover a wider range of topics and approaches than in a typical single or joint honours degree.
As a student on the BA Liberal Arts programme, you will also improve your abilities to analyse material, present arguments underpinned by evidence, evaluate different views and approaches to a subject, and express yourself effectively both orally and in writing.
You’ll have access to bespoke careers support every step of your degree, including personal academic support from the French and Politics departments. You’ll benefit from regular careers events for language students, including a workshop for students returning from their year abroad, and a Make Languages Work For You speedmeet with alumni.
Our careers team can also offer:
Learn more about career support and development at Queen Mary.
Liberal Arts - BA (Hons)
Liberal Arts with Integrated Foundation Year - BA (Hons)
Liberal Arts with Year in Industry - BA (Hons)
Liberal Arts with Year in Industry and Integrated Foundation Year - BA (Hons)
Liberal Arts with Year Abroad - BA (Hons)
Liberal Arts with Year Abroad and Integrated Foundation Year - BA (Hons)
The Discover Uni dataset (formerly Unistats)
The School of the Arts combines innovation, discovery and excellence in education and research in Drama, Film, Modern Languages, English & Comparative Literature, Creative Writing, Linguistics and Liberal Arts. We rank in the top 100 worldwide for Arts and Humanities (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024)
With our commitment to social justice, inclusivity and social mobility, our collaborations with external organisations, prominent writers and performers, and our facilities that support both academic and practice-based learning, an education in the School of the Arts equips our students with critical thinking and practical skills, unleashes their imagination and enables them to reach the levels of excellence needed in today’s industries.
We regularly host prominent writers and performers and collaborate with leading organisations such as the V&A, the Barbican, the Live Art Development Agency and Shakespeare’s Globe.
We are renowned for the depth and impact of research - which leads our teaching. We rank 1st for drama and in the top 10 for film in the UK for the quality of our research (REF2021). Our multilingual community brings together brilliant minds from across the world to share a wealth of expertise combining research excellence with an unrivalled commitment to social justice and social mobility.