Program Overview

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Culture, Environment and Social Change BA Honours

Overview

The Culture, Environment and Social Change BA will enable you to explore the most important issues in the world today. Ranging from climate change and resource depletion to mass migration and social inequality, you’ll examine critical issues from a variety of disciplinary perspectives in order to make sense of a complex and dynamically changing world at a variety of different scales.

Course Structure

The following subjects are indicative of what you will study on this course.

• Year 1
• Year 2
• Placement Year
• Year 3

Study subjects include:

• CESC Tutorial 1
• Global Governance and Development
• Intercultural Communication: An Introduction
• Land, People, Culture
• Law and Social Media
• Objects and Meaning: The Social Life of Material Culture
• Protests: From Bread Riots to Extinction Rebellion

Credit Level 4

Study subjects include:

• CESC Tutorial 2
• Climate, Change and Culture
• Introduction to Human Rights Law
• Language in the Public Space
• Making Memory: Culture History and Representation
• Social and Environmental Justice
• The Politics of Killing
• Working With Data

Credit Level 5

Professional Experience or Study Abroad Year

Between Years 2 and 3, you’ll have the opportunity to undertake a professional placement year in industry. Completing the placement year will lead to the final award Bachelor of Arts with Honours – Culture, Environment and Social Change with Professional Experience.

Alternatively, you can undertake a period of study abroad at one of Westminster’s partner institutions. Successful completion will lead to the final award Bachelor of Arts with Honours – Culture, Environment and Social Change with International Experience.

Year 1

Study subjects include:

• CESC Tutorial 1
• Global Governance and Development
• Intercultural Communication: An Introduction
• Land, People, Culture
• Law and Social Media
• Objects and Meaning: The Social Life of Material Culture
• Protests: From Bread Riots to Extinction Rebellion

Credit Level 4

Year 2

Study subjects include:

• CESC Tutorial 2
• Climate, Change and Culture
• Introduction to Human Rights Law
• Language in the Public Space
• Making Memory: Culture History and Representation
• Social and Environmental Justice
• The Politics of Killing
• Working With Data

Credit Level 5

Year 3

Study subjects include:

• CESC Project
• Contemporary Ideas and Challenges
• Elements of International Law and Global Justice
• Issues in Culture
• Sex Strike: Gender and Protest
• Social Change
• The Global Politics of Climate Change: Security, Sustainability and Low-Carbon Transition
• Work Placement for Humanities

Credit Level 6

Careers

As a student in the School of Humanities, you’ll have opportunities to gain certification in employability-related skills. This course has been designed with a strong focus on career prospects, with employability skills woven throughout the core modules and tutorial sessions. Innovative modules will require you to organise and present at your own conference and produce digital resources, including campaigns, podcasts or videos.

Employing Humanities Programme

Benefit from our tailored scheme to develop work readiness and draw attention to the wide applicability of humanities skills in working life and careers.

Boost your Employability

Gain international or workplace experience by studying abroad or undertaking a work placement between your second and third year.

Industry Links

In Years 2 and 3, you’ll be taught by practitioners fighting for social and environmental change across education, NGOs, politics, law, journalism and the arts, as well as academics from a range of disciplines.

Internship Opportunities

The University of Westminster is part of an ongoing collaboration with the United Nations Migration Agency, the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Graduate Employers

Graduates of this course can follow a range of different routes that may include:

• Campaigning
• Education
• Environmental and social justice
• Government
• Industry
• Policymaking
• The arts

Job Roles

This course will prepare you for roles in a variety of areas, including:

• Accessibility policy advisor
• Community liaison
• Digital content producer
• Diversity and inclusion manager
• HR officer
• Museum educator
• Outreach officer
• Recruitment officer
• Sustainability development officer
• Talent developer
• Teacher
• Work in charitable or campaigning businesses
• Work in local or national equalities commissions

Westminster Employability Award

Employers value graduates who have invested in their personal and professional development – and our Westminster Employability Award gives you the chance to formally document and demonstrate these activities and achievements.

International Opportunities

Many of our courses offer international study and work experiences, and the University provides other global opportunities that all students can apply for – so whatever you're studying, you'll have the chance to go abroad.

Entry Requirements

• UK
• International

UK

• A levels – BCC (104 UCAS Tariff points)
• T levels – 104 UCAS Tariff points
• International Baccalaureate – 104 UCAS Tariff points from all components of the Diploma Programme. International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme will be considered on a case-by-case basis
• BTEC Extended Diploma – DMM
• BTEC Diploma – D*D
• Access – 104 UCAS Tariff points from the Access course

In addition to one of the above, you should have:

• GCSE English Language grade 4/C – IB grade 4 Higher Level, GCSE Maths grade 4/C – IB grade 4

If your first language is not English, you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 overall, with 5.5 in each component.

International

• International Baccalaureate – 104 UCAS Tariff points from all components of the Diploma Programme. International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme will be considered on a case-by-case basis. You can refer to the UCAS calculator to determine your point score
• We accept a wide range of international high school level qualifications. Please see information on Country-specific entry requirements
• We work in partnership with Kaplan International College London who provide International Foundation Certificate courses for students who don’t meet our entry requirements. Upon successful completion, you can progress to your chosen degree at the University of Westminster. Find out about a range of university preparation courses that are accepted for entry.

English Language Requirements

• If your first language is not English, you should have an IELTS score of 6.0 overall, with a score of 5.5 in each component. Please note we accept a wide range of English language qualifications and assessments. Find out more at English language requirements.
• If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, then we offer online and on campus pre-sessional English programmes to help develop your English language skills to the required level before you start your course. Find out more about our pre-sessional English programmes.

Fees and Funding

• UK
• International

UK

• UK tuition fee: £1,580 (Price per 20-credit module)

Please note that if you defer your place, the first year’s tuition fees will be those of the academic year in which you enrol, which may be higher than the fee shown for this year.

Fees are subject to UK Government Parliamentary procedure.

Find out how we set our tuition fees.

Funding

As well as tuition fee loans, there is a range of funding available to help you fund your studies.

Find out about undergraduate student funding options.

Scholarships

The University is dedicated to supporting ambitious and outstanding students and we offer a variety of scholarships to eligible undergraduate students, which cover all or part of your tuition fees.

Find out if you qualify for one of our scholarships.

Additional Costs

See what you may need to pay for separately and what your tuition fees cover.

International

• International tuition fee: £2,830 (Price per 20-credit module)

When you have enrolled with us, your annual tuition fees will remain the same throughout your studies with us. We do not increase International tuition fees.

Please note that if you defer your place, the first year’s tuition fees will be those of the academic year in which you enrol, which may be higher than the fee shown for this year.

Find out how we set our tuition fees.

EU Qualifications Welcome Award Scheme

If you are an international student accepted on an undergraduate programme starting in September 2024 or September 2025 at level 3 (Foundation) or level 4 (first year) on the basis of an eligible EU qualification only, you will be awarded a tuition fee reduction which will align your fee more closely to the one for UK students. For more information, see the EU Qualifications Welcome Award Scheme.

International Student Funding

Find out about funding for international students.

Additional Costs

See what you may need to pay for separately and what your tuition fees cover.

Teaching and Assessment

Below you will find how learning time and assessment types are distributed on this course. The graphs below give an indication of what you can expect through approximate percentages, taken either from the experience of previous cohorts, or based on the standard module diet where historic course data is unavailable. Changes to the division of learning time and assessment may be made in response to feedback and in accordance with our terms and conditions.

How You'll Be Taught

Teaching methods across all our undergraduate courses focus on active student learning through lectures, seminars, workshops, problem-based and blended learning, and where appropriate practical application. Learning typically falls into three broad categories:

• Scheduled hours: examples include lectures, seminars, practical classes, workshops, supervised time in a studio
• Placement: placement hours normally include placement opportunities, but may also include live projects or virtual activity involving employers
• Independent study: non-scheduled time in which students are expected to study independently. This may include preparation for scheduled sessions, follow-up work, wider reading or practice, completion of assessment tasks, or revision

Year

Year

1

20% Scheduled hours 80% Independent study 0% Placement

Year

2

20% Scheduled hours 80% Independent study 0% Placement

Year

3

18% Scheduled hours 82% Independent study 0% Placement

Year

4

18% Scheduled hours 82% Independent study 0% Placement

Year

P

0% Scheduled hours 0% Independent study 100% Placement

Year

5

15% Scheduled hours 81% Independent study 4% Placement

Year

6

15% Scheduled hours 81% Independent study 4% Placement

Scheduled hours Independent study Placement

How You'll Be Assessed

Our undergraduate courses include a wide variety of assessments.

Assessments typically fall into three broad categories:

• Practical: examples include presentations, videos, podcasts, lab work, creating artefacts
• Written exams: end of semester exams
• Coursework: examples include essays, reports, in-class tests, portfolios, dissertation

Year

Year

1

0% Written exams 32% Practical 68% Coursework

Year

2

0% Written exams 32% Practical 68% Coursework

Year

3

0% Written exams 31% Practical 69% Coursework

Year

4

0% Written exams 31% Practical 69% Coursework

Year

P

0% Written exams 25% Practical 75% Coursework

Year

5

0% Written exams 19% Practical 81% Coursework

Year

6

0% Written exams 19% Practical 81% Coursework

Written exams Practical Coursework

Data from the academic year 2024/25

Supporting You

Our Student Hub is where you’ll find out about the services and support we offer, helping you get the best out of your time with us.

• Study support – workshops, 1-2-1 support and online resources to help improve your academic and research skills
• Personal tutors – support you in fulfilling your academic and personal potential
• Student advice team – provide specialist advice on a range of issues including funding, benefits and visas
• Extra-curricular activities – volunteering opportunities, sports and fitness activities, student events and more

Visit our student hub

Course Location

Our Regent Campus is comprised of two sites, situated on and around Regent Street – one of the most famous and vibrant streets in London.

Subjects including Criminology and Sociology, English and Creative Writing, History, Languages, Politics and International Relations and Visual Culture are based at 309 Regent Street, which includes recently refurbished social spaces, gym facilities and our Regent Street Cinema.

For more details, visit our locations page.

Related Courses

• English Literature BA Honours
• Politics and International Relations BA Honours
• Sociology and Criminology BA Honours