How is liberal arts different?

Dedicated Liberal Arts modules

At the heart of your Liberal Arts degree are dedicated modules that connect your interests and individual subjects, empowering you to collaborate and tackle complex problems with creativity and purpose. Every year, 40 out of your annual limit of 120 credits will comprise Liberal Arts Core Modules.

• Year one - you will take two mandatory Liberal Arts modules
• Year two – you will select at least two optional Liberal Arts modules from available choices
• Final year – you will choose 40 credits worth of optional Liberal Arts modules from available choices

The modules look at some of the key issues facing society today such as migration, globalisation and sustainability. Using your collective and varied knowledge, skills and approaches, you will work both as individuals and in groups to develop innovative solutions to difficult questions.

An interdisciplinary approach

We make connections across subject areas to:

• give you the ability to see the world from multiple perspectives
• understand the complexity of our social, political, cultural and economic environment
• solve problems.

We call this being interdisciplinary and it's at the heart of studying liberal arts.

For example, to understand issues concerning society’s attitudes to a global issue such as climate change, we need to assess:

• the traditions present within social life
• the relationship between people and governments
• attitudes towards consumerism
• the values we place on the environment.

That’s history, sociology, politics, and philosophy. Combining these different approaches gives you a unique perspective and helps generate innovative solutions.

Cross-disciplinary Expertise

We enable students to develop their expertise in their chosen subjects by putting together their own combination of subjects that they can study through the years. Our students benefit from the research excellence of all our participating subject areas.

Personalised support

This flexibility and choice is a new approach for many people. Using their experience and contacts across the university our liberal arts academics will work closely with you to look at the best options available to achieve your goals.

A new learning environment 

Our liberal arts  academics use innovative teaching techniques which emphasise student involvement and personalised support and development.  
Collaboration across disciplines is key. You will bring your own unique perspective to creating coursework across a range of assignment formats, working both independently and within small groups. 
 
You will be encouraged to see all of our campuses in the UK, China and Malaysia  as your classroom for a truly global perspective. 
 
We'll also help you move out of the classroom and get real-world experience through placements, internships and projects and the Nottingham Advantage Award. 

Alternative assessments 

Alongside traditional assessment methods (such as exams, presentations, and essays) you’ll be encouraged to present your work in innovative and diverse ways.

Following your interests, and depending on the module and assignment, this might include: 

• writing a blog post, article, or other piece for wider audiences 
• developing a literature review, social advocacy brief, or policy paper 
• creating a physical or digital artwork, musical composition, or film 
• crafting a memoir, poem, short story, or script 
• designing a website or online exhibition.

In each case, you’ll learn how to express academic ideas, theories, and approaches within different forms, shaped by the interests and needs of specific audiences and contexts. We support a flexible approach to assessment and encourage you to think differently and design unique solutions.