Welsh and Politics (BA)
Politics and Welsh BA (Joint Honours) gives students the opportunity to combine governmental and political theory with the study of the Welsh language, its literature and culture.
Course overview
By combining Welsh and Politics, you will gain a wealth of transferable skills and knowledge, opening the doors to a variety of career paths. You may find studying a joint honours degree both stimulating and rewarding as you observe similarities and differences between the two subjects. Often there are complementary issues and perspectives that link the subjects, be they critical analysis, historical context or recent research.
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.
Our Politics programme allows you to explore how parliaments and governments function and evaluate political ideas such as power, freedom, democracy, conflict, legitimacy or accountability as well as incorporating international relations.
Modules are varied, allowing you to explore how politics works in Britain and further afield as well as investigate how public policy is made. Other strands of work discuss justice, democracy, human rights and international relations; providing you with a broad understanding of politics tailored to your own particular needs.
This degree aims to provide you with an excellent understanding of politics and government while also equipping you with associated intellectual and communications skills that will be of value whether you work in government or in the private or voluntary sectors.
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
- academic links with the National Assembly for Wales via the Welsh Governance Centre and long established relationships with national and international organisations such as the Westminster parliament, European Union and NATO.
| UCAS code | QL52 |
|---|---|
| Next intake | September 2019 |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Mode | Full time |
| Typical places available | The School of Welsh typically has 30 places available. |
| Typical applications received | The School of Welsh typically receives 100 applications. |
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Law Building
Museum Avenue
Cardiff
CF10 3AX
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John Percival Building
Colum Drive
Cardiff
CF10 3EU
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Bute Building
King Edward VII Avenue
Cardiff
CF10 3NB
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Arts and Social Studies Library
Arts and Social Studies Library
Colum Drive
Cathays
Cardiff
CF10 3EU
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Library Wing
Aberdare Hall
Corbett Road
Cardiff
CF10 3UP
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Bute Building
King Edward VII Avenue
Cardiff
CF10 3NB
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Bute Building
King Edward VII Avenue
Cardiff
CF10 3NB
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Videoconference suite, Ty Dewi Sant
Ty Dewi Sant
University Hospital of Wales
Heath Park
Cardiff
CF14 4XN
Contact
Entry requirements
BBB-BBC including a B in Welsh First or Second Language. Please note, General Studies 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 Cardiff School of Law and Politics 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 grade C, IGCSE English as a Second Language 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.
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 Politics, while second-language students will take 80 credits in Welsh and 40 in Politics.
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]
Year one Politics is a foundation year to give you the skills for advanced study and an overview of the subject to inform your later choices. You will take our foundation core modules to lay the groundwork for your study in years two and three.
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Political Thought | PL9196 | 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 |
| Introduction to Political Science | PL9194 | 20 credits |
| Introduction to International Relations | PL9195 | 20 credits |
| Introduction to Globalisation | PL9197 | 20 credits |
| Introduction to European Integration | PL9198 | 20 credits |
| Introduction to Government | PL9199 | 20 credits |
Year two
You will take 60 credits in Welsh and 60 credits in Politics.
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.
You will also take optional modules from our range of politics and international relations options.
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Yr Iaith ar Waith | CY2205 | 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 |
| Gender, Sex and Death | PL9220 | 20 credits |
| International Relations of the Cold War | PL9221 | 20 credits |
| Colonialism, GPE and Development | PL9222 | 20 credits |
| Digital Technologies and Global Politics | PL9223 | 20 credits |
| Global Governance | PL9224 | 20 credits |
| EU Politics | PL9225 | 20 credits |
| Comparative Politics: Protest, Power and Populism | PL9226 | 20 credits |
| From Espionage to Counter-Terrorism: Intelligence in Contemporary Politics | PL9229 | 20 credits |
| The Power and Politics of Research Methods | PL9230 | 20 credits |
| Critical War and Military Studies: an Introduction | PL9231 | 20 credits |
| Modern Welsh Politics | PL9233 | 20 credits |
| Credoau'r Cymry | PL9286 | 20 credits |
| British Politics since 1945 | PL9287 | 20 credits |
| International Security: Concepts and Issues | PL9288 | 20 credits |
| Justice and Politics: Contemporary Political Theory | PL9291 | 20 credits |
| Global Justice | PL9292 | 20 credits |
| Political Thought from Marx to Nietzsche | PL9293 | 20 credits |
| Political Thought from Machiavelli to Rousseau | PL9294 | 20 credits |
| International Law in a Changing World | PL9299 | 20 credits |
| The History of Thought in International Relations | PL9311 | 20 credits |
Year three
You will take 60 credits in Welsh and 60 credits in Politics.
In Welsh it is compulsory to choose one of the following modules:
- Blas ar Ymchwil [Research Taster]
- Ymchwilio Estynedig [Extended Research]
You 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.
You will take 60 credits in optional year three politics modules, including the option of writing a dissertation. Our final year dissertation module gives you the option to write a dissertation and engage more deeply with a chosen topic area, as well as extending your research and analytical skills.
| 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 |
| International Politics in the Nuclear Age | PL9320 | 20 credits |
| Global Environmental Politics | PL9322 | 20 credits |
| Bombs, Bullets and Ballot-boxes: the Northern Ireland Conflict, 1969 to 1998 | PL9324 | 20 credits |
| Political Economy: Rationality in an Irrational World? | PL9325 | 20 credits |
| Popular Culture and World Politics | PL9328 | 20 credits |
| China in the World | PL9330 | 20 credits |
| Cybersecurity: Diplomacy and Digital Rights in Global Politics | PL9332 | 20 credits |
| A History of British Intelligence | PL9333 | 20 credits |
| The Politics of Violence and Killing | PL9335 | 20 credits |
| Justice, Legitimacy and International Law | PL9336 | 20 credits |
| Latin American Politics | PL9337 | 20 credits |
| Sex, Drugs and Public Policy | PL9338 | 20 credits |
| Visual Global Politics | PL9339 | 20 credits |
| Politics in Practice: Work Placement Module | PL9340 | 20 credits |
| The Soul and the City: Plato’s Political Philosophy | PL9341 | 20 credits |
| US Government and Politics | PL9374 | 20 credits |
| The Limits of Ethics in International Relations | PL9376 | 20 credits |
| Cyfiawnder Byd-eang | PL9377 | 20 credits |
| Parliamentary Studies Module | PL9380 | 20 credits |
| International Relations Dissertation | PL9385 | 20 credits |
| Politics Dissertation | PL9386 | 20 credits |
| Elections in the UK | PL9387 | 20 credits |
| Global International Organisation in World Politics | PL9391 | 20 credits |
| Personality and Power | PL9392 | 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).
All modules in the School of Welsh are taught through the medium of Welsh. Politics and International Relations provide opportunities for learning and teaching through the medium of Welsh. Seminar teaching in Welsh is available in modules in each of Years 1, 2 and 3. Students may elect to write all or some of their assessed work and examinations in Welsh.
Year 1
Scheduled learning and teaching activities
18%
Guided independent study
82%
Placements
0%
Year 2
Scheduled learning and teaching activities
null%
Guided independent study
null%
Placements
null%
Year 3
Scheduled learning and teaching activities
15%
Guided independent study
85%
Placements
0%
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.
Assessment methods (2017/18 data)
Year 1
Written exams
38%
Practical exams
8%
Coursework
53%
Year 2
Written exams
null%
Practical exams
null%
Coursework
null%
Year 3
Written exams
21%
Practical exams
7%
Coursework
73%
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
- hone linguistic skills and a broad appreciation of the culture, literature and history of Italian and Italian-speaking countries
- 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
School of Welsh
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.
In 2015/16, 100% of the School of Welsh’s graduates who were available for work reported they were in employment and/or further study within six months of graduating.
School of Law and Politics
In 2015/16, 97% of the School’s graduates who were available for work reported they were in employment and/or further study within six months of graduating.
Politics at Cardiff is a respected recruitment pool for a variety of employers within this sector with the Public Service Ombudsman for Wales, the Department for Education, Oxford City Council, the UK Border Agency and a range of political parties all recruiting from the last graduating year.
The degree is also of interest to employers in both the public and private sectors, with graduates taking up management training opportunities within Ernst & Young, Enterprise Rent A Car, Zurich Insurance and King Worldwide.
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.
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