Welsh and English Language (BA)
The Joint Honours degree in English Language and Welsh provides you with the opportunity of specialising in two university honours subjects.
Course overview
By combining Welsh and English Language, you will gain a wealth of transferable skills and knowledge, opening the doors to a variety of career paths. The Joint Honours degree gives you the opportunity to specialise in two subjects and you will find they often share issues and perspectives.
The Welsh course is relevant to contemporary Wales and delivered by a school noted for its research quality and impact. The course aims to produce graduates with a thorough academic and practical understanding of the Welsh language, its literature and culture, a high level of skill in written and spoken Welsh and well-developed employability and creative skills relevant to modern Wales.
The English course begins with a rigorous grounding in the analysis of the language. You will be provided with traditional tools such as phonetics and grammar but you will also learn how to analyse language in the contemporary media. While arming you with the technical skills, we then expect you to grapple with exciting theories to interpret communication in a meaningful way.
As a joint honours student, you will find that often there are complementary issues and perspectives that link subjects, be they critical analysis, historical contexts or recent research. You will be able to discover and explore the parallels between Welsh and English Language and gain a unique perspective of these two areas of study.
Distinctive features
The distinctive features of the course include:
- the opportunity to follow a degree course that develops skills relevant to both the academic world and the workplace
- a core module which focuses on employability skills and which offers a period of work experience
- a range of core and optional modules in Welsh language, literature and culture as well as the opportunity to specialise in areas of personal and career interest
- the emphasis on practical research skills, that will benefit you throughout your career
- the emphasis on independent learning in a supportive environment
- the involvement of research-active staff in teaching
- the experience of being taught by staff who will recognise you as an individual
- essential English language tools such as phonetics, grammar, discourse analysis and how to analyse contemporary multimodal media combining words, images and sounds
- English language modules directly relevant to career areas in education, the media, health, and the law
- English language opportunities to study abroad in Europe and the United States, including Erasmus programmes with Basel, Bologna and Helsinki
| UCAS code | QQ35 |
|---|---|
| Next intake | September 2019 |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Mode | Full time |
| Typical places available | The School typically has 30 places available. |
| Typical applications received | The School typically receives 100 applications. |
-
School of English, Communication and Philosophy
John Percival Building
Colum Drive
Cardiff
CF10 3EU
-
John Percival Building
Colum Drive
Cardiff
CF10 3EU
-
Bute Building
King Edward VII Avenue
Cardiff
CF10 3NB
-
Arts and Social Studies Library
Arts and Social Studies Library
Colum Drive
Cathays
Cardiff
CF10 3EU
-
Library Wing
Aberdare Hall
Corbett Road
Cardiff
CF10 3UP
-
Bute Building
King Edward VII Avenue
Cardiff
CF10 3NB
-
Bute Building
King Edward VII Avenue
Cardiff
CF10 3NB
-
Videoconference suite, Ty Dewi Sant
Ty Dewi Sant
University Hospital of Wales
Heath Park
Cardiff
CF14 4XN
Contact
Entry requirements
BBB including a B in Welsh First or Second Language. Please note, General Studies and Critical Thinking will not be accepted.
Extended Project Qualification: Applicants with grade A in the EPQ will typically receive an offer one grade lower than the standard A level offer. Please note that any subject specific requirements must still be met.
The Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate will be accepted in lieu of one A-Level (at the grades listed above), excluding any specified subjects.
DM in BTEC Humanities or Social Science and predicted B in A-Level Welsh First or Second Language.
Achieve IB Diploma with 665-655 in 3 HL subjects plus a Welsh Language qualification.
Alternative qualifications may be accepted. For further information on entry requirements, see the School of English, Communication & Philosophy and School of Welsh admissions criteria pages.
If you are an overseas applicant and your first language is not English, please visit our English Language requirements page for more information on our accepted qualifications.
You will require GCSE English or Welsh Language at grade C or grade 4. Alternatively, IGCSE English First Language or English Second Language will be considered at grade C.
Tuition fees
UK and EU students (2019/20)
| Tuition fee | Deposit |
|---|---|
| £9,000 | None |
Visit our tuition fee pages for the latest information.
Financial support may be available to individuals who meet certain criteria. For more information visit our funding section. Please note that these sources of financial support are limited and therefore not everyone who meets the criteria are guaranteed to receive the support.
Students from outside the EU (2019/20)
| Tuition fee | Deposit |
|---|---|
| £16,650 | None |
Tuition fees for international students are fixed for the majority of three year undergraduate courses. This means the price you pay in year one will be the same in years two and three. Some courses are exempt, including four and five year programmes and Medical and Dental courses. Visit our tuition fee pages for the latest information.
Additional costs
Course specific equipment
You will not need any specific equipment.
Accommodation
We have a range of residences to suit your needs and budget. Find out more on our accommodation pages.
Course structure
This is a three-year full-time degree, consisting of 120 credits a year. You’ll study six 20-credit modules a year, split equally between Welsh and English Language.
The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum and will be reviewed prior to the 2019/20 academic year. The final modules will be published by September 2019.
Year one
You will take 120 credits in all. There are two routes in the first year, one for students who have studied Welsh as a first language and the other for students who have studied Welsh as a second language. First-language Welsh students will take 60 credits in Welsh and 60 in English Language, while second-language students will take 80 credits in Welsh and 40 in English Language.
The emphasis in year one Welsh is on developing key skills (linguistic, analytical, creative and employability) in the fields of language and literature, and all students follow a set number of modules with an appropriate number of contact hours. The School will also provide additional arrangements for second language students to develop and practise their language skills.
Normally, students who have studied A-level Welsh as a second language follow the second-language route, but we will consider your linguistic skills, both oral and written, before deciding which route you will follow.
For the first-language route the core modules are:
- Iaith ac Ystyr [Language and Meaning]
- Awdur, Testun a Darllenydd [Author, Text and Reader]
- Y Gymraeg yn y Gymru Gyfoes [The Welsh Language in Contemporary Wales]
For the second-language route the core modules are:
- Sgiliau Llafar [Oral Skills]
- Defnyddio’r Gymraeg [Using Welsh]
- Astudio Llenyddiaeth [Studying Literature]
- Y Gymraeg Heddiw [The Welsh Language Today]
You will study core English Language modules to provide you with an excellent grounding in language description, analysis and interpretation, and in sociolinguistics. You will then choose from four optional modules to complete your credit requirement.
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| How Language Works 1 | SE1113 | 20 credits |
| How Language Works 2 | SE1114 | 20 credits |
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Sgiliau llafar | CY1500 | 20 credits |
| Defnyddio'r Gymraeg | CY1501 | 20 credits |
| Y Gymraeg Heddiw | CY1508 | 20 credits |
| Astudio Testunau Llenyddol | CY1512 | 20 credits |
| Iaith ac Ystyr | CY1600 | 20 credits |
| Awdur, Testun a Darllenydd | CY1601 | 20 credits |
| Y Gymraeg yn y Gymru Gyfoes | CY1602 | 20 credits |
| Language and the Mind | SE1111 | 20 credits |
| Reading and Writing in the Digital Age | SE1112 | 20 credits |
| Developing English: History and Society | SE1115 | 20 credits |
| Understanding Communication | SE1116 | 20 credits |
Year two
You will take 60 credits in Welsh and 60 credits in English Language.
In year two Welsh, you will build on the skills and knowledge acquired in year one. The core linguistic elements of the course focus on language skills within both an academic and a vocational context, and include a period of work experience in a workplace in which Welsh is used on a daily basis.
Alongside these core elements, the Welsh course offers optional modules in years two and three in Welsh language, literature and culture, including several with direct relevance to specific fields of employment, such as language planning, scriptwriting and translation.
Two core English Language modules cover all the essential elements of phonetics, grammar and lexical semantics (word meaning), and all the major theories of discourse analysis, building a common stock of knowledge and understanding.
The optional ‘foundation’ modules in year two provide engaging introductions to a range of key areas of study in English language. Topics currently include sociolinguistics, language and culture, history of English, child language development, language and gender, research methods, stylistics and others.
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Yr Iaith ar Waith | CY2205 | 20 credits |
| Sound, Structure and Meaning | SE1411 | 20 credits |
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Sgiliau Academaidd Uwch | CY2210 | 20 credits |
| Llenyddiaeth Plant | CY2310 | 20 credits |
| Theori a Beirniadaeth Lenyddol | CY2330 | 20 credits |
| Ysgrifennu Creadigol | CY2360 | 20 credits |
| Bywydau Llên | CY2425 | 20 credits |
| Tafodieitheg | CY2450 | 20 credits |
| Sosioieithyddiaeth | CY2530 | 20 credits |
| Treftadaeth a Thwristiaeth | CY2665 | 20 credits |
| Children, Language and Communication | SE1312 | 20 credits |
| Sounds of Speech | SE1336 | 20 credits |
| Discourse | SE1362 | 20 credits |
| Sociolinguistics | SE1369 | 20 credits |
| Words and Meaning | SE1370 | 20 credits |
| Visual Communication | SE1373 | 20 credits |
| History of English | SE1398 | 20 credits |
| Language and Gender | SE1403 | 20 credits |
| Style and Genre | SE1416 | 20 credits |
| ENCAP Employability Module | SE6255 | 20 credits |
Year three
You will take 60 credits in Welsh and 60 credits in English Language.
In Welsh, it is compulsory to choose one of the following modules:
- Blas ar Ymchwil [Research Taster]
- Ymchwilio Estynedig [Extended Research]
You will have a choice of an essay or project of 5,000 words (20 credits) or 9,000 words (40 credits), to be completed under the direction of a member of staff who is an expert in the relevant field. This may lead to further research or provide an effective showcase for potential employers. You will also choose more optional modules.
Third year English Language modules are offered in the subject areas in which staff are currently working, giving you unique insight into some of the most up-to-date and innovative work in English language research. These modules often require you to gather and analyse your own data. There are also opportunities to undertake a project (20 credits) or extended dissertation (40 credits) in your chosen area of research (subject to performance in year two).
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Llenyddiaeth Plant | CY3310 | 20 credits |
| Theori a Beirniadaeth Lenyddol | CY3330 | 20 credits |
| Ysgrifennu Creadigol | CY3360 | 20 credits |
| Bywydau Llên | CY3425 | 20 credits |
| Tafodieitheg | CY3450 | 20 credits |
| Sosioieithyddiaeth | CY3530 | 20 credits |
| Yr Ystafell Ddosbarth | CY3660 | 20 credits |
| Treftadaeth a Thwristiaeth | CY3665 | 20 credits |
| Cyfieithu Proffesiynol | CY3705 | 20 credits |
| Blas ar Ymchwil | CY3900 | 20 credits |
| Ymchwilio Estynedig | CY3905 | 40 credits |
| Forensic Linguistics | SE1324 | 20 credits |
| Language Learning and Teaching | SE1329 | 20 credits |
| Functions of Grammar | SE1340 | 20 credits |
| Communicating in Relationships | SE1344 | 20 credits |
| Communication Disorders | SE1347 | 20 credits |
| Dissertation in Language and Communication 1 | SE1383 | 20 credits |
| Dissertation in Language and Communication 2 | SE1384 | 20 credits |
| Extended Dissertation | SE1385 | 40 credits |
| Patterns of Language | SE1396 | 20 credits |
| Media Discourse | SE1408 | 20 credits |
| Persuasion in the Legal Process | SE1414 | 20 credits |
| Professional and Intercultural Communication | SE1417 | 20 credits |
| Experimental Approaches to Psycholinguistics | SE1418 | 20 credits |
| Language and Popular Culture | SE1419 | 20 credits |
Learning and assessment
How will I be taught?
We offer a supportive learning environment, where you are enabled to acquire a range of skills and a wealth of specialist knowledge. Our courses foster intellectual skills, such as critical thinking, close analysis, evaluating evidence, constructing arguments, using theory and the effective deployment of language in writing and in debate. We also help you gain experience in team working, independent research and time management.
You will be taught both by lecture and seminar. Lectures provide an overview of the key concepts and frameworks for a topic, equipping you to carry out independent research for the seminars and to develop your own ideas. Seminars provide an opportunity for you to explore the ideas outlined in the lectures.
Seminars usually consist of about 15 students and the seminar leader (a member of the teaching team). Seminars may take various formats, including plenary group discussion, small-group work and student-led presentations. For Welsh, there is also an important role to be played by tutorials, workshops and language classes (especially for students following the second language route).
How will I be supported?
As well as having regular feedback from your personal tutor in each course, you will have a reading week each semester for guided study and a chance to catch up on assessed work, reading and revision. These weeks are also used by staff to visit students on their year abroad.
You will have access through the Learning Central website to relevant multimedia material, presentations, lecture handouts, bibliographies, further links, electronic exercises and discussion circles.
The University offers a range of services including the Careers Service, the Counselling Service, the Disability and Dyslexia Service, the Student Support Service, and excellent libraries and resource centres.
Feedback
We’ll provide you with frequent feedback on your work. This comes in a variety of formats including oral feedback during tutorials, personalised feedback on written work, feedback in lectures and seminars, generic written feedback and feedback on tutorial performance.
Coursework will be marked by your module tutor and your tutor will give you written feedback on your work. You will also have a feedback class after each assessment. Students will be given general feedback in relation to examinations following the May/June examination period and you will be able to discuss your overall performance with your personal tutor as part of the monitored student self-assessment scheme.
How will I be assessed?
A range of assessment methods are used, including essays, examinations, presentations, portfolios and creative assignments.
Essays and examinations are used not only for assessment purposes but also as a means of developing your capacities to gather, organise, evaluate and deploy relevant information and ideas from a variety of sources in reasoned arguments. Dedicated essay workshops and individual advice enable you to produce your best work, and written feedback on essays feeds forward into future work, enabling you to develop your strengths and address any weaker areas.
The optional final-year dissertation provides you with the opportunity to investigate a specific topic of interest to you in depth and to acquire detailed knowledge about a particular field of study, to use your initiative in the collection and presentation of material and present a clear, cogent argument and draw appropriate conclusions.
What skills will I practise and develop?
As a result of engaging fully with this course, you will acquire and develop a range of valuable skills, both those which are discipline specific and more generic ‘employability skills’. These will allow you to:
- grasp complex issues with confidence
- ask the right questions of complex texts
- have an imaginative appreciation of different views and options and analyse these critically
- identify and apply relevant data
- develop practical research skills
- propose imaginative solutions of your own that are rooted in evidence
- communicate clearly, concisely and persuasively in writing and speech
- work to deadlines and priorities, managing a range of tasks at the same time
- learn from constructive criticism and incorporate its insights
- work as part of a team, developing a collaborative approach to problem-solving
- use IT programmes and digital media, where appropriate
- take responsibility for your own learning programme and professional development
Careers and placements
Career prospects
We provide our students with a highly satisfying academic experience that assists their development as critically-minded, culturally-aware citizens whose high analytic skills, powers of expression and progressive self-reliance make them extremely attractive to employers.
The demand for Welsh speakers means that a degree in Welsh can be highly valuable for jobs and roles that require bilingual speakers. Many of our graduates are now following careers in areas such as law, politics, media, performing arts, administration and education, or engaged in postgraduate study.
Degrees in English Language combine the best of humanities skills (flexibility, communication, critique) and social science skills (technical analysis and systematic method). Common destinations include primary and secondary school teaching, teaching English as a foreign language, (digital) journalism, marketing and public relations, sales and advertising, the civil service and public administration.
In 2016/17, 91% of graduates from the School of Welsh who were available for work reported they were in employment and/or further study within six months of graduating, while 95% of the School of English, Communication and Philosophy’s graduates who were available for work reported they were in employment and/or further study within six months of graduating.
Placements
Year two includes a period of work experience in a workplace in which Welsh is used on a daily basis. This period of work experience is part of a programme of events designed to focus on developing employability and career skills.
Studying in Welsh
Up to 56% of this course is available through the medium of Welsh. Please contact the Admissions tutor for more information.
Next Undergraduate Open Day