BA (Hons) Liberal Arts with integrated Foundation
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Course overview
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18 January 2025
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Jan 2025 (Full-time)
| Module | Type | Credits | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academic Writing Skills | Core | 10.00 | 3 |
| Advanced Academic Skills | Core | 10.00 | 3 |
| Britain Since 1945: Changing Roles | Core | 10.00 | 3 |
| Critical Thinking | Core | 10.00 | 3 |
| Digital Skills | Core | 10.00 | 3 |
| Foundations of International Human Rights Law | Core | 10.00 | 3 |
| Global Perspectives | Core | 10.00 | 3 |
| International Studies | Core | 10.00 | 3 |
| Introduction to Political Communication | Core | 10.00 | 3 |
| Key Academic Skills | Core | 10.00 | 3 |
| Research Skills | Core | 10.00 | 3 |
| The Economic Environment of Business | Optional | 10.00 | 3 |
| The English Legal System | Optional | 10.00 | 3 |
| Eras of English | Core | 15.00 | 4 |
| Fiction and Theory | Core | 15.00 | 4 |
| Introduction to Liberal Arts | Core | 15.00 | 4 |
| Introduction to Philosophy | Core | 15.00 | 4 |
| Political Communication | Core | 15.00 | 4 |
| Principles of Macroeconomics | Core | 15.00 | 4 |
| Principles of Microeconomics | Core | 15.00 | 4 |
| Tudors and Stuarts | Core | 15.00 | 4 |
| Comparative Politics Iran and Russia | Core | 15.00 | 5 |
| Literary Journalism 1642-Present | Core | 15.00 | 5 |
| Philosophy of Mind | Core | 15.00 | 5 |
| Rewriting Empire | Core | 15.00 | 5 |
| The European Century 1815-1914 | Core | 15.00 | 5 |
| US Foreign Policy in the Post Cold War Era | Core | 15.00 | 5 |
| Europe in Conflict 1914-1945 | Optional | 15.00 | 5 |
| Warfare and Welfare: Britain's Twentieth Century | Optional | 15.00 | 5 |
| Continental Philosophy | Core | 15.00 | 6 |
| Dissertation (Liberal Arts | Core | 30.00 | 6 |
| History of Economic Thought | Core | 15.00 | 6 |
| Institutions, Policy and Issues | Core | 15.00 | 6 |
| Modern American Literature | Core | 15.00 | 6 |
| Philosophy Of Social Science | Core | 15.00 | 6 |
| The Long Eighteenth Century | Core | 15.00 | 6 |
| Welfare Economics | Core | 15.00 | 6 |
| Contemporary Writing | Optional | 15.00 | 6 |
| International Economics | Optional | 15.00 | 6 |
| International Relations: Theories and Concepts | Optional | 15.00 | 6 |
| Renaissance Literature | Optional | 15.00 | 6 |
Sep 2025 (Full-time)
| Module | Type | Credits | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academic Writing Skills | Core | 10.00 | 3 |
| Advanced Academic Skills | Core | 10.00 | 3 |
| Britain Since 1945: Changing Roles | Core | 10.00 | 3 |
| Critical Thinking | Core | 10.00 | 3 |
| Digital Skills | Core | 10.00 | 3 |
| Foundations of International Human Rights Law | Core | 10.00 | 3 |
| Global Perspectives | Core | 10.00 | 3 |
| International Studies | Core | 10.00 | 3 |
| Introduction to Political Communication | Core | 10.00 | 3 |
| Key Academic Skills | Core | 10.00 | 3 |
| Research Skills | Core | 10.00 | 3 |
| The Economic Environment of Business | Optional | 10.00 | 3 |
| The English Legal System | Optional | 10.00 | 3 |
| Eras of English | Core | 15.00 | 4 |
| Fiction and Theory | Core | 15.00 | 4 |
| Introduction to Liberal Arts | Core | 15.00 | 4 |
| Introduction to Philosophy | Core | 15.00 | 4 |
| Political Communication | Core | 15.00 | 4 |
| Principles of Macroeconomics | Core | 15.00 | 4 |
| Principles of Microeconomics | Core | 15.00 | 4 |
| Tudors and Stuarts | Core | 15.00 | 4 |
| Comparative Politics Iran and Russia | Core | 15.00 | 5 |
| Literary Journalism 1642-Present | Core | 15.00 | 5 |
| Philosophy of Mind | Core | 15.00 | 5 |
| Rewriting Empire | Core | 15.00 | 5 |
| The European Century 1815-1914 | Core | 15.00 | 5 |
| US Foreign Policy in the Post Cold War Era | Core | 15.00 | 5 |
| Europe in Conflict 1914-1945 | Optional | 15.00 | 5 |
| Warfare and Welfare: Britain's Twentieth Century | Optional | 15.00 | 5 |
| Continental Philosophy | Core | 15.00 | 6 |
| Dissertation (Liberal Arts | Core | 30.00 | 6 |
| History of Economic Thought | Core | 15.00 | 6 |
| Institutions, Policy and Issues | Core | 15.00 | 6 |
| Modern American Literature | Core | 15.00 | 6 |
| Philosophy Of Social Science | Core | 15.00 | 6 |
| The Long Eighteenth Century | Core | 15.00 | 6 |
| Welfare Economics | Core | 15.00 | 6 |
| Contemporary Writing | Optional | 15.00 | 6 |
| International Economics | Optional | 15.00 | 6 |
| International Relations: Theories and Concepts | Optional | 15.00 | 6 |
| Renaissance Literature | Optional | 15.00 | 6 |
Jan 2026 (Full-time)
| Module | Type | Credits | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academic Writing Skills | Core | 10.00 | 3 |
| Advanced Academic Skills | Core | 10.00 | 3 |
| Britain Since 1945: Changing Roles | Core | 10.00 | 3 |
| Critical Thinking | Core | 10.00 | 3 |
| Digital Skills | Core | 10.00 | 3 |
| Foundations of International Human Rights Law | Core | 10.00 | 3 |
| Global Perspectives | Core | 10.00 | 3 |
| International Studies | Core | 10.00 | 3 |
| Introduction to Political Communication | Core | 10.00 | 3 |
| Key Academic Skills | Core | 10.00 | 3 |
| Research Skills | Core | 10.00 | 3 |
| The Economic Environment of Business | Optional | 10.00 | 3 |
| The English Legal System | Optional | 10.00 | 3 |
| Eras of English | Core | 15.00 | 4 |
| Fiction and Theory | Core | 15.00 | 4 |
| Introduction to Liberal Arts | Core | 15.00 | 4 |
| Introduction to Philosophy | Core | 15.00 | 4 |
| Political Communication | Core | 15.00 | 4 |
| Principles of Macroeconomics | Core | 15.00 | 4 |
| Principles of Microeconomics | Core | 15.00 | 4 |
| Tudors and Stuarts | Core | 15.00 | 4 |
| Comparative Politics Iran and Russia | Core | 15.00 | 5 |
| Literary Journalism 1642-Present | Core | 15.00 | 5 |
| Philosophy of Mind | Core | 15.00 | 5 |
| Rewriting Empire | Core | 15.00 | 5 |
| The European Century 1815-1914 | Core | 15.00 | 5 |
| US Foreign Policy in the Post Cold War Era | Core | 15.00 | 5 |
| Europe in Conflict 1914-1945 | Optional | 15.00 | 5 |
| Warfare and Welfare: Britain's Twentieth Century | Optional | 15.00 | 5 |
| Continental Philosophy | Core | 15.00 | 6 |
| Dissertation (Liberal Arts | Core | 30.00 | 6 |
| History of Economic Thought | Core | 15.00 | 6 |
| Institutions, Policy and Issues | Core | 15.00 | 6 |
| Modern American Literature | Core | 15.00 | 6 |
| Philosophy Of Social Science | Core | 15.00 | 6 |
| The Long Eighteenth Century | Core | 15.00 | 6 |
| Welfare Economics | Core | 15.00 | 6 |
| Contemporary Writing | Optional | 15.00 | 6 |
| International Economics | Optional | 15.00 | 6 |
| International Relations: Theories and Concepts | Optional | 15.00 | 6 |
| Renaissance Literature | Optional | 15.00 | 6 |
Liberal Arts at The University of Buckingham is a structured programme which introduces students to International Relations, Politics, Economics, History, History of Art, and English Literature. Covering a range of methodologies, both quantitative and qualitative, Liberal Arts offers a unique blend of disciplines and approaches, which also enables students to explore different fields and to then be free to pursue postgraduate studies in any of these.
Working with experts in each subject, students will benefit from research active academics in an environment of small group teaching. While working across areas, the programme is drawn together by its ethos of curiosity and interdisciplinary exploration, encouraging students to think not of isolated artefacts, but to develop a sense of the interrelationships between politics and the arts. Liberal Arts fosters an open, inclusive environment within which to examine often controversial issues. Buckingham is ranked in the top 5 UK universities for Graduate Outcomes, Student Satisfaction, and top for Freedom of Expression in the recent National Student Survey.
The Liberal Arts programme aims to:
- Provide historical knowledge of a range of topics and periods in British, European, international and global history, literature, art, and politics, providing a long-term perspective.
- Train students in the critical assessment of secondary sources and the presentation of arguments.
- Train students in the critical use of texts and primary sources.
- Instil an awareness of the process and the evolution of a range of cognate disciplines.
- Introduce students to research, independent study and presentation skills through writing a dissertation.
- Instil understanding of the methodologies and critical approaches, at basic, intermediate and advanced levels, of a range of cognate or contrasting subjects.
- Facilitate the study, either broad or in-depth, of more than one subject/discipline.
- Provide a wider range of skills-related outcomes than the study of Single Honours.
In so doing, the Liberal Arts Programme prepares students for diverse career pathways, and/or for further study in any one of the disciplines covered. In a general sense, the intention is to produce students with an ability to synthesise information, knowledge, and methodologies from a diverse range of disciplines to understand the complexity of their interactions. If you are interested in gaining expertise in various fields, and learning how these work together, please do get in touch and join us in either January or September.
Programme Director
Dr Peter Sloane is Senior Lecturer in English and Liberal Arts Programme Director (please email for an informal chat or to ask any questions: peter.sloane@buckingham.ac.uk). Peter works in contemporary anglophone cultures and has published widely on contemporary literature and film, including David Foster Wallace and the Body (Routledge 2019) and Kazuo Ishiguro’s Gestural Poetics (Bloomsbury 2021). He is currently writing From Rupture to Refuge: 21st Century Refugee Fiction and Life Writing (Liverpool University Press 2025).
Entry Requirements
Applicants must have a minimum of 5 GCSEs at grades 4-9, including English and Maths, or their international equivalents. In addition, applicants must have one of the following qualifications or their international equivalents:
- A Levels with minimum grades of DD
- BTEC National Diploma with minimum grades of MPP
- Other Level 3 qualifications equivalent to at least 48 UCAS points
International Applicants: We welcome equivalent qualifications from around the world. However, you must also demonstrate your English language proficiency by achieving an IELTS score of 6 with a minimum score of 5.5 in each component, or another approved language test.
Flexible entry
All of our undergraduate programmes operate a flexible entry process, and the Admissions Tutor is happy to consider entrants from all backgrounds with slightly lower qualifications if they are able to demonstrate alternative eligibility for the course. This may be in the form of relevant work experience, keen aptitude and a passion for the subject, or unlocked potential that you feel can be discovered through your studies at Buckingham. If you are uncertain whether you will be eligible to apply for this course, please contact the Admissions Team.
UCAS applications
You may apply either through the national UCAS university admissions system or at any time directly to the University using our own online application form.
Mature students
Because of our two-year degree, we find that the age range of our student body varies between those who have recently completed A-levels (or equivalent) to more mature students. Age is no barrier to learning and we welcome all applications from suitably qualified students.
International students
We are happy to consider all international applications and if you are an international student, you may find it useful to visit our international pages for details of entry requirements from your home country.
The University is a UKVI Student Sponsor.
English levels
If English is not your first language, please check our undergraduate English language requirements. If your English levels don’t meet our minimum requirements, you may be interested in applying for our Pre-sessional English Language Foundation Programmes.
Selection process
Wherever possible, you will be invited to the University to meet the Admissions Tutor for an informal interview and to have a tour of our campus. If you are an international applicant, it may not be possible for you to visit in person, so if the Admissions Tutor has any queries about your application you may be contacted by Microsoft Teams, email or phone.
Our Admissions Team will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Call us on +44 (0)1280 820227 or get in touch via our online contact form.
Teaching & Assessment
Quality teaching
We offer high quality, traditional Oxbridge-style teaching, which leads to our degrees being recognised around the world. The standards of degrees and awards are safeguarded by distinguished external examiners – senior academic staff from other universities in the UK – who approve and moderate assessed work.
High calibre staff
Most of our academic staff teach for three terms out of four, with the remaining term dedicated to research. Because of this, we have no difficulty in attracting high calibre, highly respected lecturers, many of whom also have a background in business or industry and can offer networking opportunities for students.
Teaching methods
Teaching is carried out through a combination of lectures supported by seminars and tutorials. A key feature of the Buckingham teaching method is the use of small tutorial groups which provide the most effective means of ensuring that the students benefit from the academic expertise at their disposal. It is also the philosophy of Buckingham’s faculty to be available to students outside the scheduled tutorial times and to encourage good working relationships between staff and students.
Assessment methods
The assessment of individual modules within each course varies according to the subject. Assessment is usually by examination, assessed coursework, or a combination of the two. Please check module information for more details.
Preparation for work
All our degree courses combine academic challenge with the transferable skills that will stand you in good stead for future employment. Many of our more vocationally-focused degrees offer the opportunity of work placements and experience in industry.
After Your Course
Buckingham’s Liberal Arts programme will prepare students for diverse career pathways, whilst opening up options for further study in any one of the disciplines covered.
In a general sense, the intention is to produce students with an ability to synthesise information, knowledge, and methodologies from a diverse range of disciplines to understand the complexity of their interactions.
Students can pursue postgraduate study in English, History, Politics, Economics, or Philosophy, and will be well placed to apply their detailed knowledge of each field in wider contexts. Given that the course employs qualitative and quantitative methods, students will also develop a uniquely broad range of transferable skills.
They might seek careers in journalism, content writing, public relations, teaching, or any vocation that requires critical thinking and writing skills.
Fees & Scholarships
The fees for this course are:
| Start | Type | First Year | Total cost |
|---|---|---|---|
Jan 2025 Full-time (3 Years) | UK | £9,250 | £37,000 |
| INT | £14,800 | £59,200 | |
Sep 2025 Full-time (3 Years) | UK | £9,250 | £37,000 |
| INT | £14,800 | £59,200 | |
Jan 2026 Full-time (3 Years) | UK | £9,250 | £37,000 |
| INT | £14,800 | £59,200 |
The University reserves the right to increase course fees annually in line with inflation linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI). If the University intends to increase your course fees it will notify you via email of this as soon as reasonably practicable.
Course fees do not include additional costs such as books, equipment, writing up fees and other ancillary charges. Where applicable, these additional costs will be made clear.
Discounts
Students who graduate from the University and plan to continue their studies with a postgraduate degree at Buckingham can benefit from a very generous automatic discount on their fees:
- 33%, those with a first class honours degree from Buckingham
- 25%, those with a Second Class Honours, Upper Division (2:1) degree from Buckingham
Scholarships
Details of our scholarships can be found on our Bursaries and Scholarships page.
How To Apply
We welcome applications in two different ways – directly via our online application form or through UCAS.
Apply directly
Apply online via our course pages:
- Most flexible option
- Apply until shortly before the course starts
- No application fees
- You can apply to us as an extra option alongside your UCAS choices
You can apply directly through our website by clicking the ‘apply’ button at the bottom of the course page.
Apply via UCAS
You can easily make Buckingham one of your UCAS choices:
- You can apply to up to 5 choices
- The application and decision deadlines are set by UCAS
- There is an application fee to UCAS
Our UCAS code is B90.
If you’re interested in transferring to Buckingham from another university then please get in touch to talk through your options.