BA

Welsh / Welsh History

BA Welsh / Welsh History Code QVN1 Attend an Open Day Attend an Open Day

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You are viewing this course for September start 2022

Key Facts

QVN1

  • UCAS Tariff

    120 - 104

  • Course duration

    3 years

Further details on entry requirements

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By choosing to study BA Welsh / Welsh History at Aberystwyth University you will divide your time between two renowned departments.

On the Welsh elements of this degree, you will be introduced to engaging, interesting and relevant modules dealing with the way in which we see Wales and the world through Welsh. During your time as a student in the Department of Welsh and Celtic Studies you will get to choose from a wide variety of modules that span a wide range of interests, and you will become part of the buzz of activity for which the Department is known. You will be taught by specialists who are innovators in their fields and you will follow an exciting and challenging course.

On the history elements of this degree, you will have the chance to study a range of historical eras and develop your historical interests, by enhancing and deepening your knowledge and your understanding of the subject. Most of us are curious about the past and about the way in which human society has evolved over time. As well as being interesting in itself, studying an element of history offers a vision that can help us to understand the events that are taking place today. This degree will enable you to put the past in perspective by developing the analytical, interpretation and communication skills that are so important in our everyday lives. 

Course Overview

Why study Welsh / Welsh History at Aberystwyth?

  • The Department of Welsh and Celtic Studies leads the sector in fields such as creative writing, Welsh in the professional workplace and translation services.
  • History has been taught in Aberystwyth since 1872, which means that our department is the oldest in Wales and one of the foremost in Britain. 
  • Our degrees make use of innovating teaching methods, ensuring that you get the best qualification.
  • We receive consistently high scores in the annual National Student Survey (NSS).
  • In the Department of Welsh and Celtic Studies, there are a remarkably interesting variety of individual courses, reflecting the lecturers' recent research interests, for example: women’s studies and sexuality studies, creative writing and scripting, the language in a professional context, Welsh and the media, sociology of the Welsh language. The Welsh element of this course offers a first and second language pathway.
  • In the Department of Welsh and Welsh History, our subject specialisms enable you to follow your historical interests from the medieval period to the present day, ranging across four continents, and embracing political, social, economic and cultural history. By studying primary sources and working closely with our lecturers, you will be contributing to our research community, and as well as learning about the past, you will actively engage in the process of building new understandings of history.
  • You will have plenty of opportunity to get 'hands-on' experience and access to the world-class resources that are available in Aberystwyth. These include the National Library of Wales - one of the five Copyright Libraries of the UK and Wales’s leading archive repository. 
  • Exciting exchange opportunities are also on offer. Find out more about these opportunities on our website. 
Our Staff

All academic staff in the Department of Welsh and Celtic Studies are research active scholars and experts in their chosen fields of study, including the study of languages and literatures as well as creative writing.

Staff in the Department of History and Welsh History are active researchers and experts in their field of History. Most are qualified to PhD level and hold PGCHE. To find out more about our staff visit, please visit our departmental staff page.

Modules September start - 2022

Please note: The modules listed below are those currently intended for delivery during the next academic year and may be subject to change. They are included here to give an indication of how the course is structured.

Core

Module Name Module Code Credit Value

Options

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Europe and the World, 1000-2000 HY12420 20
Medieval and Early Modern Britain and Europe, 1000-1800 HY11420 20
People, Power and Identity: Wales 1200-1999 WH11720 20
The Modern World, 1789 to the present HY11820 20

Core

Module Name Module Code Credit Value

Options

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
An Age of Empire: Britain and Ireland, 1850-1914 HY26920 20
Between Revolution and Reform: China since 1800 HY28520 20
Crime, Riot and Morality in Wales 1750-1850 WH23420 20
European Society and the Medieval Mind 1200-1500 HY25820 20
From Poor Law to Welfare State: Poverty and Welfare in Modern Britain, 1815-1948 HY29220 20
Globalising Post-War Germany(s) 1945-2015 HY29520 20
Knighthood and Chivalry in high medieval England, 1066-1300 HY20420 20
Media and Society in Twentieth Century Britain HY27520 20
Modern American History HY28320 20
Modern Japan: From Samurai to Salary Men HY29820 20
Modern Welsh Society, 1868-1950 WH24420 20
Science, Religion and Magic HY28620 20
The Atlantic World, 1492-1825 HY29720 20
The British Isles in the Long Eighteenth Century HY22020 20
The European Reformation HY26520 20
The Great Divergence: Europe and Asia, c.1300-c.1800 HY26320 20
The Making of Europe: Christendom and beyond, c. 1000-1300 HY25720 20
The Nazi Dictatorship: Regime and Society in Germany 1933-1945 HY29420 20
The Rise of Modern Medicine, c.1750-2000 HY27320 20
The Tudors: A European Dynasty? HY20920 20
Wales and the Kings of Britain: Conflict, Power and Identities in the British Isles 1039-1417 WH20120 20
Wales under the Tudors WH23520 20
American History skills module HY25020 20
Dread and Despair? Living with Disability in the Middle Ages HY23320 20
Exploring Nineteenth-Century Exhibitions HY24620 20
From Babylon Berlin to Hollywood: movies as sources for cultural history HY24920 20
History as myth-Making: the 'Myth of the Blitz' HY23420 20
Image Wars in Southeast Asia: Studying 20th Century Propaganda HY23720 20
Memory, Myth and History: Investigating Medieval Chronicles, c. 1000-1250 HY24120 20

* Also available partially or entirely through the medium of Welsh

Careers

What can I do with a degree in Welsh / Welsh History?

Our graduates have been successful in securing professions in many different fields:

  • education
  • law
  • archiving
  • presenting
  • politics
  • the Civil Service
  • the Media
  • the Armed Forces
  • entrepreneurship

As a department, we are very pleased of our previous notable students and high of their praise:

  • Dr Tim Brain, previous Main Constable Gloucester Job
  • Guto Bebb, Member of Parliament
  • Dr Joanne Cayford, the BBC
  • Berwyn Davies, Head of Office Higher Education Wales in Brussels
  • Iwan Griffiths, S4C sport Correspondent.

Which opportunities are available for work experience whilst you’ll be studying?

Click here to learn about the different opportunities that Aberystwyth University Career Team offer.

Better your employability opportunities with GO Wales and BMG (the Year in Workplace Scheme) which is being controlled by our Career Department.

Student placements in the inheritance sector

Our department has strong connections with the inheritance sector, and a stationary portfolio of students placements. In the past, students have spent up to three weeks in the National Library of Wales (including Welsh medium opportunities), Royal Commission for Ancient Monuments Wales and the Antiquarian Society in London. These placements offer an opportunity to have practical work experience and an understanding of the inheritance sector, and very valuable on any CV!

Tweet by students on placement in 2014 with the Antiquarian Society:

‘Right now today we have seen three summits from the Magna Carta! ‘Praise for Aberystwyth University for helping me to find the placement- can’t wait for tomorrow’

International opportunities: Erasmus and the Study Abroad Programme

  • Having a variety of experiences is important for life after university, and the Erasmus schemes or Study Abroad offer outstanding experiences. History and Welsh History have established Erasmus exchange programmes with universities in Germany, Prague, Budapest and now Norway. The departments has strong connections with a number of colleges in America too.

Mentoring by previous students and graduates discussions:

  • The Mentoring Scheme by previous students will enable you to connect with graduates from the past in variety of careers in a safe and supportive environment. History and Welsh History also arrange discussions by previous students on different periods in their careers. Amongst the recent discussions is ‘From the University to a career in the inheritance sector: the first steps’ which were presented by a previous student whom graduated recently and by this time has secured a place on a Coaching Scheme high its praise in Tate the Gallery.

Teaching & Learning

What will I learn?

The summary below provides an overview of what you may study during this three-year degree scheme.

In your first year you might discover:

Welsh

  • first language - a variety of literary periods as well as other aspects of the subject to enable you to choose your own unique combination of modules in the second and third years.
  • second language - modules that give you an opportunity to build confidence and improve your language skills, including written Welsh, discussing contemporary world issues, contemporary and historical Welsh literature

History

  • new concepts and historical skills
  • new methods and historical periods
  • Welsh history from 1250-1800
  • The First World War and Britain
  • Modernism and creating Asia.

You will also choose from our collection of other modules that reflect wide chronological and thematic variety.

In your second year you will study:

Welsh

  • other language modules and you will also choose from the wide variety of modules that the Department offers

History

  • historical methods that look at the way in which meaning, methods and writing history have changed over time; European history; Germany and Nazism; Britain and Ireland 1850-1914; the craft of the historian, and other subjects.

In your third year you could study:

  • a special subject that enables you to undertake intensive research using original sources
  • sexuality in History
  • British society and the French revolution
  • Stalin and Russia.

How will I be taught and assessed?

You will be taught through a combination of traditional lectures, seminars and other innovative teaching methods. In the seminars, the groups are smaller and the atmosphere more informal, to foster open discussion. You will be assessed through essays, examinations, continuous assessment, specific exercises, research work and developing ideas, giving presentations, and working as part of a team, amongst others.

Personal Tutor

A personal tutor will be allocated to you for the duration of your degree course. The tutor will be able to help you with any problems or queries that you may have, whether academic or personal. You are welcome to contact your personal tutor at any time if you need assistance.

Student Testimonials

I came here on an open day and fell in love with the place and its atmosphere, so I decided to come here to study. I got a scholarship to come here, which was also a big help.

It was easy for me to settle in here. As it’s such a small town, everything is close together and it’s full of students. There is a homely environment, and it doesn’t take much time for you to make friends.

The History and Welsh History Department is excellent. It’s easy to communicate with department staff and they’re always there for you if you’ve got any problems.

As I am studying Welsh History the National Library is very useful - every single book is available as it’s a copyright library.

I’m a member of the Aberystwyth Welsh Students' Union (UMCA). There are plenty of societies here, it’s incredible. By being a member of these societies you mix with other students.

The thing that I like most about Aber is the social life, the town’s warm atmosphere and the fact that everything is close together. The only thing I don’t like is the hill!

I would definitely recommend others to study at Aberystwyth University. This is the best experience you will get! Ceri Phillips

I was very happy to receive the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol’s Motivation Scholarship and every penny is helpful to me as I start my degree at Aberystwyth. Welsh is my first language and I followed all my subjects through the medium of Welsh in school. It was a natural choice to do so at university. The History and Welsh History Department’s good name and the Welsh society here in Aberystwyth was what attracted me here. Heledd Eleri Evans

Typical Entry Requirements

UCAS Tariff 120 - 104

A Levels BBB-BCC gan gynnwys Cymraeg Iaith Gyntaf neu Ail Iaith (gradd B)

GCSE requirements (minimum grade C/4):
English or Welsh

BTEC National Diploma:
DDM-DMM, plus B in A level Welsh 1st or 2nd Language

International Baccalaureate:
30-28, plus B in A level Welsh 1st or 2nd Language

European Baccalaureate:
75%-65% overall, plus B in A level Welsh 1st or 2nd Language

English Language Requirements:
See our Undergraduate English Language Requirements for this course. Pre-sessional English Programmes are also available for students who do not meet our English Language Requirements.

Country Specific Entry Requirements:
International students whose qualification is not listed on this page, can check our Country Specific Entry Requirements for further information.

The University welcomes undergraduate applications from students studying the Access to Higher Education Diploma or T-level qualifications, provided that relevant subject content and learning outcomes are met. We are not able to accept Access to Higher Education Diplomas or T-levels as a general qualification for every undergraduate degree course.
Our inclusive admissions policy values breadth as well as depth of study. Applicants are selected on their own individual merits and offers can vary. If you would like to check the eligibility of your qualifications before submitting an application, please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for advice and guidance.

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