Liberal Arts BA

This degree is highly flexible, and combines different subject areas, enabling you to shape your degree according to your own interests and enthusiasms.

You choose a major subject from within humanities or social sciences – examples include English, History, Music, Theatre and Performance, Philosophy, Politics, and Religious Studies.

You’ll then choose modules from three out of seven topic areas: Literature and the Visual Arts; Society and Politics; Performance, Theatre and Music; the Digital World; Living Histories and Heritage; Learning a Language; and Ethics, Science and Religion.

The course also provides opportunities for engagement with external partners such as businesses, museums and charities. It is a superb opportunity to graduate with both in-depth intellectual knowledge and practical, transferable skills of the kind that employers prize.

In your first year you’ll spend a third of your time being introduced to the key concepts, approaches and methods of your major subject. You’ll also choose optional modules from three of seven topic areas, and take a core module on the Liberal Arts approach which teaches you skills of cross-disciplinary enquiry and how to communicate effectively with diverse audiences.

Read more about Liberal Arts majors

Read more about Liberal Arts topics

You’ll build on this foundation in your second year, when half of the modules you study are in your major subject. You’ll also choose modules from two of the seven topic strands, and undertake a research placement which includes the option of working with external organisations, such as businesses and local government bodies.

You have the option of taking a year abroad or a work placement in the third year of the course, if you wish, before returning for your final year.

Your critical, analytical and cross-disciplinary research skills will be highly developed by the final year and you’ll use them when you undertake an independent research project to explore a question of your choice. You’ll also spend half of your time on your major subject and take an additional topic module.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

Discovery modules

Throughout your degree you will benefit from a range of opportunities to expand your intellectual horizons outside or within your subject area.

This course gives you the opportunity to choose from a range of discovery modules. They’re a great way to tailor your study around your interests or career aspirations and help you stand out from the crowd when you graduate. Find out more about discovery modules on our Broadening webpages.

Learning and teaching

On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

We also use varied types of assessment, including exams, essays, presentations and group work. Support will be on hand throughout your time at Leeds – for example, you’ll be able to attend extra classes on exam technique and public speaking.

Entry requirements

A-level: AAA

Other course specific tests:

• Access to HE Diploma

  Pass diploma with 60 credits overall, including at least 45 credits at level 3, of which 30 credits must be at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit or higher. An interview and a piece of written work may be required.

• BTEC

  BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma: DDD. Other BTEC qualifications are also considered. Please contact the Admissions Office for more information.

• Cambridge Pre-U

  D3, D3, M2.

• International Baccalaureate

  35 points overall with 17 at Higher Level.

• Irish Leaving Certificate (higher Level)

  H2, H2, H2, H2, H2, H2

• Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers

  AA in Advanced Highers and AABBB in Highers, or A in Advanced Highers and AAABB in Highers, or AAAAAA in Highers.

• Welsh Baccalaureate

  The Welsh Baccalaureate is not typically included in the academic conditions of an offer made to you for this course. If you choose to undertake the Welsh Baccalaureate we would strongly encourage you to draw upon these experiences within your personal statement, as your qualification will then be taken into account both when your application is initially considered by the selection panel and again when reviewed by the admissions tutor at the time your A-level results are passed to us.

• Other Qualifications

  European Baccalaureate: 85%

Read more about UK and Republic of Ireland accepted qualifications or contact the School’s Undergraduate Admissions Team.

Alternative entry

We’re committed to identifying the best possible applicants, regardless of personal circumstances or background.

Access to Leeds is a contextual admissions scheme which accepts applications from individuals who might be from low income households, in the first generation of their immediate family to apply to higher education, or have had their studies disrupted.

Find out more about Access to Leeds and contextual admissions.

Typical Access to Leeds offer: ABB at A Level and pass Access to Leeds.

International Foundation Year

International students who do not meet the academic requirements for undergraduate study may be able to study the University of Leeds International Foundation Year. This gives you the opportunity to study on campus, be taught by University of Leeds academics and progress onto a wide range of Leeds undergraduate courses. Find out more about International Foundation Year programmes.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English
If you're an international student and you don't meet the English language requirements for this programme, you may be able to study our undergraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

How to apply

Apply to this course through UCAS. Check the deadline for applications on the UCAS website.

International students apply through UCAS in the same way as UK students. Our network of international representatives can help you with your application. If you’re unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Major subjects

When applying to the BA Liberal Arts programme, please indicate your preferred Major subject using the free format field on the UCAS form. Because there are restrictions on the number of characters you can use, please refer to the table listed on the Liberal Arts website for details of the keywords to use to record your choice of Major.

Admissions policy

University of Leeds Taught Admissions Policy 2024

Fees

UK/EU: See fees section below

International: £19,500 (per year)

Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2024/25
Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students are set by the UK Government and will be £9,250 for students starting in 2024/25.

The fee may increase in future years of your course in line with inflation only, as a consequence of future changes in Government legislation and as permitted by law.

Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2025/26
Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students starting in 2025/26 have not yet been confirmed by the UK government. When the fee is available we will update individual course pages.

Tuition fees for international undergraduate students starting in 2024/25 and 2025/26
Tuition fees for international students for 2024/25 are available on individual course pages. Fees for students starting in 2025/26 will be available from September 2024.

Tuition fees for a study abroad or work placement year
If you take a study abroad or work placement year, you’ll pay a reduced tuition fee during this period. For more information, see Study abroad and work placement tuition fees and loans.

Read more about paying fees and charges.

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There is help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more in our Undergraduate funding overview.

A Liberal Arts degree is varied and challenging. It equips you with impressively broad subject knowledge as well as transferable skills that are valued by all kinds of employers. Through your programme, you have the option to work with partners external to the University, so you can make connections through you studies and the world beyond the classroom.

You’ll be an excellent communicator who can present and defend your views clearly, and you’ll be comfortable working independently or as a team. You’ll also have strong research skills and highly developed skills of analysis and interpretation.

All of these qualities are attractive to employers, and our graduates have gone on to succeed in areas such as politics, management, the civil service, journalism, the media, education and the charity sector. Many have also pursued postgraduate study.

We do everything we can to support your career ambitions. Our students particularly benefit from our “directors’ teas” -– small seminars which give you the chance to meet and learn from entrepreneurs in the world of business, charities or elsewhere in the third sector.

Careers support

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

Leeds for Life is our unique approach to helping you make the most of University by supporting your academic and personal development. Find out more at the Leeds for Life website.

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more about Careers support.

Study abroad

On this course you have the opportunity to apply to spend time abroad, usually as an extra academic year. We have over 300 University partners worldwide and popular destinations for our students include Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Africa and Latin America. 

Find out more at the Study Abroad website.

Work placements

Practical work experience can help you decide on your career and improve your employability. On this course you have the option to apply to take a placement year module with organisations across the public, private and voluntary sectors in the UK, or overseas.

Find out more about work experience on the Careers website.