BA Liberal Arts
About this course
BA (Hons) Liberal Arts, a degree centred on sustained study in two subject areas drawn from across the Arts and Humanities, with options also available from the Social Sciences. Core topics include Research Methods. Students take two pathways from departments within the university's arts and humanities offering, or pair one arts and humanities pathway with one from the Social Sciences. The course runs for three years full-time, and a placement year or a year abroad can be added, extending it to four. The first year combines compulsory Liberal Arts modules with pathway study in a chosen department. Sources of the Self examines how religion, culture, science, nature and technology have shaped ideas about selfhood and identity, while The Strange Death of Liberal Modernity considers the political, cultural and intellectual foundations of the modern liberal world and the pressures now placed on them. Students also take Pathway 1 in a department in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities and Pathway 2 in a department in either the Faculty of Arts and Humanities or the Faculty of Social Sciences, each drawing on compulsory and optional modules. The second year involves 120 credits of optional modules drawn from Arts and Humanities and Social Sciences, with at least 60 credits from Arts and Humanities, including examples such as Arts and Humanities in the Workplace and Exploration modules from across arts and humanities departments. In the final year, students complete 80 credits of optional modules alongside the compulsory Interdisciplinary Dissertation in the Arts and Humanities, an original research project that brings together theories and materials from two subjects studied on the programme.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: A*AA To study English Literature, an A at A level is required in the subject. To study History, an A at A level is required in the subject. To study Music, an A at A level is required in the subject. To study French, German, Italian, Russian, Chinese, Japanese or Spanish at an advanced level, an A at A level in the language is required. To study Arabic, French, German, Italian, Russian or Spanish at a beginner’s level, an A at A level in a modern foreign language is required. IB: 37 with 766 in higher level subjects. Subject requirements as listed above for A level.
Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 39%: 190 offers from 490 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 27 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 93%
- Learning opportunities: 84%
- Assessment and feedback: 86%
- Academic support: 99%
- Organisation and management: 79%
- Learning resources: 96%
- Student voice: 84%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 70 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 97%
- Left higher education: 3%
What graduates do next
Based on about 23 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 65%
- Working and studying: 10%
- Further study: 15%
- Unemployed: 5%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 20%
- Elementary occupations: 10%
- Managers, directors and senior officials: 10%
- Teaching Professionals: 10%
- Finance Professionals: 10%
- Find their work meaningful: 70%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 60%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 40%
Who gets in
Based on about 85 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 98%
- Baccalaureate: 1%
- Other qualifications: 1%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Silver for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- Sources of the Self
- The Strange Death of Liberal Modernity
- Pathway 1 in a department in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities
- Pathway 2 in a department in either the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, or the Faculty of Social Sciences
- Example optional modules
- Interdisciplinary Dissertation in the Arts and Humanities
- Example optional modules
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Liberal Arts at Durham University earn?
The median salary is £31,500 after 15 months. After fifteen months the middle half of graduates earn between £27,500 and £38,500. The £31,500 median after fifteen months is £3,500 more than the UK median for Humanities.
What do graduates of BA Liberal Arts at Durham University do next?
90% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Liberal Arts at Durham University?
93% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Liberal Arts at Durham University?
The typical offer is A*AA at A level. The average entrant had 172 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA Liberal Arts at Durham University?
39% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 190 offers from 490 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does BA Liberal Arts at Durham University include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional placement year and an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on BA Liberal Arts at Durham University?
97% of students continued into their second year, and 3% left higher education.