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Whether you aspire to run arts venues, curate exhibitions, work in government or create films, start your career with a degree in Liberal Arts. Discover creative methods of engagement and leadership that will help you to shape the future of our cultural, heritage, political and creative industries. 

  • Complete the degree as a traditional three-year programme or as an accelerated two-year programme with two summer school intensives.
  • Study a cross-section of Humanities subjects, with the option to major in a subject area, should you choose to specialise.
  • There are behind the scenes field trips to cultural institutions and industry-led work placements available.
  • Opportunities to engage in public presentation and creative projects through media outputs, film and podcasts.
  • Degree includes a placement year of paid work experience

Why study Liberal Arts?

On this degree you will explore the Arts and Humanities in an interdisciplinary programme, studying a broad range of subjects. This includes aspects of History, English, Film, Creative Writing, Theology and Politics.

As a Liberal Arts student, you will develop your knowledge, your analytical and communication skills and blend this with your own creativity to make connections across different academic areas, becoming a well-rounded graduate with an enviable skill set.

On successful completion of the degree, you will be able to demonstrate a detailed understanding of the public role of the arts and humanities. You'll show an ability to cross traditional subject boundaries, comparing and contrasting different disciplinary approaches, and draw productive links between them.

There are many opportunities to get involved with creative projects such as film and podcasts throughout the degree. You can also complete a work placement, building your network of industry contacts who will offer support as you progress into your career. 

Why St Mary's?

St Mary’s is a friendly campus university in leafy West London, with fantastic transport links to central London and Heathrow Airport. Within the campus you will find the historic Strawberry Hill House, Britain's finest example of Georgian Gothic Revival architecture.

You will be taught by leading academics and industry specialists. They will help you to prepare for a wide variety of careers that demand creative, analytical and flexible thinking. The team look to support you as an individual and work hard to help you develop the skills that employers look for.

The degree also includes opportunities to attend behind the scenes field trips to a range of cultural institutions. This includes the Royal National Theatre, Museum of London and the Imperial War Museum.

You can study this degree at a pace that suits you:

Choose your own path

In your first year, you will study compulsory Liberal Arts modules along with three modules of your own choosing. This will give you the opportunity to try out a broad cross-section of subjects, discovering new links and creating new knowledge.

Beyond that, in years two and three, you can design your own degree by choosing either to select modules from the broad selection of study areas on offer, or alternatively you can choose to take the majority of your optional modules in one study area and graduate with a BA Liberal Arts with a major in that area e.g. BA Liberal Arts (History). Find out more about the major pathways here:

Placements and professional experience

There is also an opportunity to complete a work placement and to build a network of industry contacts that can offer support as you progress into your career. St Mary’s works closely with theatres, concert halls, museums, heritage sites, publishing houses and charities, to achieve a strong portfolio of placement opportunities for Liberal Arts students.

About the Placement Year

A placement year enables students to undertake a year of experience in an organisation between their second and final year. It is a substantial piece of paid experience where you can make a real contribution to your employer and it can really make you stand out from the crowd.

It will also enable you to:

  • apply the knowledge and skills you gain from your course in a work setting
  • build your commercial awareness and insights into organisations and industries you might want to work in
  • develop your professional skills through company training, networking skills and confidence in the workplace
  • get some great experience for future job applications or even land a graduate job.

Support from St Mary’s every step of the way

Securing a placement can really help you develop your job search skills and the Employability Service placement and Careers Teams can support you to find and apply for available opportunities. You will need to attend some preparatory workshops which will explain all aspects of the placement year and give you the skills to find the placement of your choice. With access to our jobs board, careers events, and employer contacts you will be able to approach companies confidently and find the right opportunity for you.

Please note: in the event that you cannot secure a placement you will be able to transfer onto the three year version of your degree programme.


Course lead

Dr Stewart McCain headshotDr Stewart McCain
Programme Director - History

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Entry requirements

96-112UCAS points required

Check how many points your grades are worth

Calculate your total UCAS points

80 UCAS points should include at least two B grades at A Level (or equivalent).

We will make you an offer if you are within the tariff band range and you meet subject-specific requirements (where applicable).

For undergraduate programmes we will take into account subjects studied at Level 3, your GCSEs (or equivalent) profile, relevant non-academic achievements outlined in your personal statement, references, and your motivation for study.

International requirements

International students should check our country-specific pages for equivalents. If English is not your first language you will need to achieve an IELTS score of 6.0 overall with no less than 5.5 in any section (or equivalent). (or equivalent).

UCAS Personal statement support

Create your UCAS personal statement through our online builder and we'll email you a copy of your completed version at the end.

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Course content

In the first year, you will study three core modules and three modules of your own choosing from across a minimum of two subject study areas.

You will study two core modules in the second year and select four optional modules. If you wish to follow a major pathway you will need to choose a minimum of three modules from that subject study area.

There is one core module in the third year and you will need to select an additional four optional modules. If you wish to follow a major pathway you will need to choose a minimum of three modules from that subject study area.

Indicative modules might be as follows:

Year one

  •  Core
  •  Core
  •  Optional (Creative Writing)
  •  Optional (Creative Writing)
  •  Optional (English)
  •  Optional (English)
  •  Optional (Film and Media)
  •  Optional (Film and Media)
  •  Optional (Film and Media)
  •  Optional (Film and Media)
  •  Optional (Film and Media)
  •  Optional (History)
  •  Optional (History)
  •  Optional (Political Science)
  •  Optional (Political Science)
  •  Optional (Theology)
  •  Optional (Theology)
  •  Optional (Theology)
  •  Optional (Theology)
  •  Optional (Theology)

Year two

  •  Core
  •  Core
  •  Optional (Creative Writing)
  •  Optional (Creative Writing)
  •  Optional (Creative Writing)
  •  Optional (Creative Writing)
  •  Optional (English)
  •  Optional (English)
  •  Optional (English)
  •  Optional (English)
  •  Optional (Film and Media)
  •  Optional (Film and Media)
  •  Optional (Film and Media)
  •  Optional (Film and Media)
  •  Optional (Film and Media)
  •  Optional (History)
  •  Optional (History)
  •  Optional (History)
  •  Optional (History)
  •  Optional (Political Science)
  •  Optional (Political Science)
  •  Optional (Political Science)
  •  Optional (Political Science)
  •  Optional (Theology)
  •  Optional (Theology)
  •  Optional (Theology)
  •  Optional (Theology)
  •  Optional (Theology)
  •  Optional (Theology)
  •  Optional (Theology)
  •  Optional
  •  Optional
  •  Optional

Year three

Year four

  •  Core
  •  Optional (Creative Writing)
  •  Optional (Creative Writing)
  •  Optional (Creative Writing)
  •  Optional (English)
  •  Optional (English)
  •  Optional (English)
  •  Optional (Film and Media)
  •  Optional (Film and Media)
  •  Optional (Film and Media)
  •  Optional (Film and Media)
  •  Optional (History)
  •  Optional (History)
  •  Optional (History)
  •  Optional (Political Science)
  •  Optional (Political Science)
  •  Optional (Political Science)
  •  Optional (Theology)
  •  Optional (Theology)
  •  Optional (Theology)
  •  Optional (Theology)
  •  Optional (Theology)
  •  Optional (Theology)
  •  Optional (Theology)
  •  Optional (Theology)
  •  Optional (Theology)
  •  Optional (Theology)

Please note: it is possible that a module listed on the website will not be able to run due to reasons beyond our control. For more information please refer to our course information disclaimer.

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Career opportunities

The Liberal Arts degree programme will equip you with skills that are highly desired by employers, including the ability to research, analyse complex information, to work both independently and as part of a team in order to create solutions.

Our programme will set you apart in a competitive job market as you meet the growing demand for dynamic, business and public service leaders.

You will take a bespoke Liberal Arts work placement during your second year and also have the opportunity to take an optional further placement in the final year.

Whilst on placement you will carry out a project that both enhances your understanding of organisational culture and feeds into the work of the host employer. This will develop the attributes needed to help support your future career.

The Careers Service has more information on careers and postgraduate study options available to Liberal Arts (with a Placement Year) students who have started their studies at St Mary’s.

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How the degree is taught

Teaching methods

You'll be taught on our beautiful and historic campus located in Twickenham, London.

Most modules will share the common 4 hour per week structure of Humanities programmes which includes 3 hours of seminars/group tutorials and a 1 hour lecture.

However, the applied nature of the programme means that much of the work is supported by consultancy with key industry figures/mentors.

The Liberal Arts Independent Project is assessed in a variety of different ways from traditional dissertation to website design, podcast, short film – the media most appropriate to showcase the learning aims defined at the project’s inception.

Students will be allocated a personal tutor, but in line with the focus on collective problem solving embedded through the course content, each cohort will also meet as a group on a weekly basis.

Teaching breakdown

Learning on the course is made up through a combination of:

  • Contact time: 19%
  • Guided learning: 40%
  • Independent study: 40%

Independent study is a key feature of your degree and is crucial to furthering your knowledge.

You will receive your timetable a week before teaching is due to start at the latest.

Assessment methods

There are a large range of assessment strategies available. You'll be expected to not just develop your skills as an academic writer through formal essay, but as a charismatic communicator through public presentation, a group problem solver through project work and a creative artist through media outputs, film, podcast and/or performance.

All forms of assessment will be designed to enable lecturers to meet the three-week turnaround requirement for feedback.

Feedback

We adhere to the university’s policy of providing feedback on assessments within three weeks.

See how your final degree mark is calculated...

Compensated passes

Please refer to the information on compensated passes throughout your degree as outlined in the academic regulations.

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Facilities

View all facilities
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Fees and funding

2023/24 fees

  • Home: £9,250 (£1,200 during placement year)
  • International: £14,850 (£1,200 during placement year)

*Please note: these fees are annual and may increase in line with inflation each year subject to the Governments review of Higher Education Funding.

Information about tuition fees, student loans, and funding your studies can be found within our fees and funding section.

Additional costs

Your tuition fees will cover the cost of all mandatory elements of your programme.

Additional costs could be incurred depending on optional modules chosen and other projects undertaken.

For further information about additional costs please see our additional costs webpage

Scholarships

A range of scholarships and bursaries are available to new undergraduate students. This includes:

Living costs

A guide to your living costs has been created by our Student Funding Team.

Accommodation costs vary depending on whether you opt for an en suite room and on-site catering. Take a look at our accommodation options and the prices you can expect to pay.

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Meet your lecturers

Dr Kim Salmons (Associate Professor Humanities and Liberal Arts)

Dr Kim Salmons

I think all lecturers look forward to seeing their students celebrate their amazing achievement. It’s wonderful to see the students’ hard work pay off and gives lecturers a huge sense of satisfaction.

Read Kim's story

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Further information


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Visit the campus

Upcoming open days

Meet current students, explore our green campus, and find out why St Mary’s could be the place for you.

You'll also get a chance to:

Staff from various teams, including the Student’s Union, Student Funding, and Admissions, will also be around to discuss any questions you may have about studying at St Mary’s.

Book your place now

Campus tours

There are plenty of opportunities for you to explore the campus, even if you can't make it to an Open Day. We run campus tours every Wednesday at 12pm. If you'd like to join us for one of these tours please register your place for your preferred day.

Virtual tour

We know that for it's important to you to see where you'll be living and studying before you make your decision. However, we also know that for many people it's not always easy to make it to the campus.

That's why we've developed a virtual tour of campus, allowing you to explore that facilities and the beautiful views that we have to offer.

Launch the virtual tour

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UCAS Application Timeline