Program Overview

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Liberal Arts

Follow your intellectual interests, learn about the world around you and unlock opportunities across a range of sectors.

Start Dates

• September 2026
• September 2025

Degree Type

BA

Course Length

3 or 4 years full-time

Location

Durham City

UCAS Code

LA01

Typical Offers

• A Level: A*AA
• BTEC: D*DD
• International Baccalaureate: 38

Course Details

If you’re creative and curious with an interest in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, the BA in Liberal Arts could be what you’re looking for. A highly regarded degree subject with a long-standing tradition, Liberal Arts gives you the freedom to craft a programme of study that is tailored around your interests and career aspirations. You can also apply to add a placement year or a year abroad to your degree, increasing the course from three years to four.

This course appeals to highly qualified, self-motivated and independent-minded students who are seeking to make creative connections between their subjects. A multidisciplinary qualification that sits outside of traditional boundaries, the course offers exceptional flexibility and the opportunity to learn in some of the UK’s most prestigious Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences departments.

You can choose to focus on two subjects at a deeper level or spread your learning across a wider range of subjects. You will explore a diverse selection of contemporary worldwide issues which will develop your intellectual and critical skills. As such, you will be well placed to take up careers in fields as diverse as law, teaching, publishing and the financial services.

Arts and Humanities Subjects

• Classics and Ancient History
• English Literature
• History
• Music
• Philosophy
• Theology and Religious Studies
• Visual Arts
• Languages, currently Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish

Social Sciences Subjects

• Anthropology
• Archaeology
• Business
• Economics
• Education
• Geography
• International Relations
• Politics
• Sociology and Criminology

Learning

Methods of learning vary according to subject choice but are likely to include a blend of lectures and small-group seminars alongside tutorials, language classes, workshops and practical classes. Alongside formal learning sessions will be informal one-on-one support, and self-directed learning, such as research, reading and writing.

Seminars, workshops, and practical classes take place in smaller groups than lectures, allowing one-on-one interaction with the academic team. The small-group format and personal attention from your academic advisor are embedded into the learning experience helping you get more out of your studies.

As you progress to the final year there's an increased focus on self-directed learning and independent research, including a major project, as you prepare for professional or postgraduate life.

Assessment

Your subject and module choices determine how your work is assessed, this may include essays, examinations and presentations. Assessment is designed to evaluate your knowledge and understanding, test your critical thinking and allow you to relate your learning to real-world issues.

In your final year, you will also complete a research project or dissertation that makes up one-third of your final-year marks. You will be expected to think independently and take greater control of your direction of study.

Entry Requirements

• A level offer: A*AA
• Contextual offer: AAB
• BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma/OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma: D*DD and subject-specific A levels (or equivalent)
• IB Diploma score: 38 with 666 in higher level subjects. Subject requirements as listed above for A level.

Fees and Funding

The fees for this academic year have not been confirmed yet.

The tuition fees shown for home students are for one complete academic year of full-time study and are set according to the academic year of entry. Fees for subsequent years of your course may rise in line with an inflationary uplift as determined by the government.

The tuition fees shown for overseas and EU students are for one complete academic year of full-time study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and will be subject to an annual inflationary increase expected to rise throughout the programme of study.

Career Opportunities

Combined Honours graduates acquire a range of subject-specific skills coupled with adaptability and the capacity to make creative connections. They are highly employable in a diverse range of careers and sectors.

Liberal Arts graduates undertake roles including marketing and communications, business development, the Civil Service, and the charity sector.

Many Combined Honours students undertake postgraduate degrees or professional training while others begin graduate careers.

Department Information

Design your own bespoke qualification with this suite of highly adaptable degrees that allow you to combine subjects beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries.

Real-world challenges often require multidisciplinary solutions. Our Combined Honours degrees transcend traditional subject boundaries, bringing together a range of ideas and disciplinary perspectives. Focus on two subjects from the outset, or choose a broader range of modules across three or four subjects. These highly flexible courses include the opportunity to undertake a year abroad or a placement year, to develop additional skills and enjoy new experiences.

Liberal Arts offers you the opportunity to construct a distinctive programme of study and make creative connections between your subjects. Focus on the arts and humanities, with the option to select modules from social sciences.

Rankings

• Arts and Humanities ranked Top 50 QS World University Subject Rankings 2025

Facilities

Durham University’s departments and services are spread across the historic city.