Undergradute student studying in the George Green library, University Park. November 5th 2021.

Liberal Arts BA

University Park Campus, Nottingham, UK

Course overview

Today's world is complex, and its challenges demand creative, adaptable thinkers. Our Liberal Arts degree empowers you to explore multiple disciplines, combining subjects from the humanities, social sciences, sciences, business, and languages. You’ll develop problem-solving skills, analytical thinking, and an international outlook.

At Nottingham, you have the flexibility to build a bespoke degree that aligns with your interests, passions, and career aspirations. With access to over 500 modules across 20 disciplines, you can tailor your studies to suit your strengths. Our core Liberal Arts modules will develop your ability to connect ideas across fields, nurture your creativity, and enhance key career skills.

Whether you’re interested in culture, politics, science, or business, this degree allows you to build a personalised programme while gaining real-world experience through field trips, placements, and international study opportunities.

Indicative modules

Mandatory

Year 1

Explorations in Liberal Arts

Optional

Year 1

Business

Optional

Year 1

Classics and Archaeology

Optional

Year 1

Cultural, Media and Visual Studies

Optional

Year 1

Education

Optional

Year 1

English

Optional

Year 1

Geography

Optional

Year 1

Health Promotion and Public Health

Optional

Year 1

History

Optional

Year 1

Maths

Optional

Year 1

Modern Languages and Cultures

Optional

Year 1

Music

Optional

Year 1

Philosophy, Theology and Religion

Optional

Year 1

Politics

Optional

Year 1

Psychology

Optional

Year 1

Sociology, Social Policy and Crminology

Optional

Year 1

Arts Engaged in Health (Engaged Arts)

Optional

Year 1

Data, Culture and Society (Engaged Arts)

Optional

Year 1

Digital Projects: Data and Text (Engaged Arts)

Optional

Year 1

Digital Projects: Sound and Vision (Engaged Arts)

Optional

Year 1

Disease and Society (Engaged Arts)

Optional

Year 1

Exploring Digital Arts (Engaged Arts)

Optional

Year 1

Exploring Sustainability (Engaged Arts)

Optional

Year 1

Sustainability Action (Engaged Arts)

Optional

Year 1

The Critical Citizen: Modes of Thinking in Contemporary Society (Engaged Arts)

Optional

Year 1

Writing and Being: Academic, Activist, Professional, Creative and Personal (Engaged Arts)

Mandatory

Year 2

Core Liberal Arts modules

Optional

Year 2

Cultures of Nature - Liberal Arts core

Optional

Year 2

Material cultures - Liberal Arts core

Optional

Year 2

Reading the World: Global Mobilities - Liberal Arts core

Optional

Year 2

Reading the World: Bodies and Societies - Liberal Arts core

Optional

Year 2

Business

Optional

Year 2

Classics and Archaeology

Optional

Year 2

Cultural Media and Visual Studies

Optional

Year 2

Education

Optional

Year 2

English

Optional

Year 2

Geography

Optional

Year 2

Health Promotion and Public Health

Optional

Year 2

History

Optional

Year 2

Maths

Optional

Year 2

Modern Languages and Cultures

Optional

Year 2

Music

Optional

Year 2

Philosophy, Theology and Religion

Optional

Year 2

Politics

Optional

Year 2

Psychology

Optional

Year 2

Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology

Optional

Year 2

Applying the Digital Humanities (Engaged Arts)

Optional

Year 2

Arts Work Placement Module (Engaged Arts)

Optional

Year 2

Community Engagement and Social Impact (Engaged Arts)

Optional

Year 2

Decolonisation and Justice (Engaged Arts)

Optional

Year 2

Employing the Arts (Engaged Arts)

Optional

Year 2

Issues in the Health Humanities (Engaged Arts)

Optional

Year 2

Living and Working in a Multi-Lingual World (Engaged Arts)

Optional

Year 2

Made in Nottingham (Engaged Arts)

Mandatory

Year 3

Signature Project - Liberal Arts core

Optional

Year 3

Business

Optional

Year 3

Classics and Archaeology

Optional

Year 3

Culture, Media and Visual Studies

Optional

Year 3

Education

Optional

Year 3

English

Optional

Year 3

Geography

Optional

Year 3

Health Promotion and Public Health

Optional

Year 3

History

Optional

Year 3

Maths

Optional

Year 3

Modern Languages and Culture

Optional

Year 3

Music

Optional

Year 3

Philosophy, Theology and Religion

Optional

Year 3

Politics

Optional

Year 3

Psychology

Optional

Year 3

Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology

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About modules

The above is a sample of the typical modules we offer, but is not intended to be construed or relied on as a definitive list of what might be available in any given year. This content was last updated on Wednesday 26 March 2025. Due to timetabling availability, there may be restrictions on some module combinations.

Teaching and learning

With such a diverse range of modules across all subjects you'll encounter a wide variety of teaching methods.

You'll be part of large lectures, small seminars and individual tutorials - some will be in person and some will be online.

You'll work in groups on projects and presentations but also be responsible for doing a large amount of individual study.

Core modules

The core modules help you connect and combine into a coherent whole what you learn on your different subject modules. In the 2022 National Student Survey 97% of our students agreed the course has provided them with opportunities to bring information and ideas together from different topics – a great confirmation of our interdisciplinary approach.

The core modules also develop skills that you can apply in your subject modules.

We record all of our core module lectures. This allows you to watch important points again, review your notes and catch up if life means you can't attend in person.

Teaching quality

We work hard on our teaching to ensure you benefit from the unique Liberal Arts mix. Staff have wide experience of interdisciplinary programmes across the arts, humanities and social sciences and use this to support your specific needs.

We asked all our Liberal Arts students what they thought about the teaching and learning on the degree. The anonymous survey revealed:

  • over 96% satisfaction with course content, learning spaces and support
  • 100% satisfaction with assessments and lecturers

Supportive environment

If you have worries about your work we won't wait for them to become problems. You'll have a personal tutor who will review your academic progress and help find solutions to any issues.

Teaching methods

  • Field trips
  • Lab sessions
  • Lectures
  • Oral classes
  • Practical classes
  • Seminars
  • Tutorials
  • Placements
  • Workshops

Teaching is delivered through a mix of in-person and online methods. The majority of your teaching will be in-person.

In Liberal Arts you will have access to a range of assessments that will help you to hone your academic skills, prepare for real-world assignments in your future career, as well as express your creativity.

Your future career won't be essays and exams! Our core modules encourage you to apply what you learn with assessments that reflect real jobs. This might include:

  • design a website
  • film a video
  • write a blog
  • make an object
  • map a city
  • report on research
  • create an exhibition

If you enjoy creative expression, then some of our core modules will also give you the option of being evaluated through a creative interpretation of the topics taught. This can include:

  • artwork
  • sculpture
  • short films
  • fiction and poetry
  • multimedia expressions

For your subject specific modules a combination of essays and exams are the norm. Weekly reading summaries, presentations and online quizzes and tests may also be used by individual lecturers. Depending on the modules you take you might be asked to create an artwork, produce a vlog or write a film review!

Assessment methods

We use a variety of assessment methods which may include:

  • Commentary
  • Dissertation
  • Essay
  • In-class test
  • Oral exam
  • Portfolio (written/digital)
  • Presentation
  • Reflective review
  • Written exam
  • Work for wider audiences (podcasts, blogs, articles)
  • Educational resources
  • Artworks
  • Multimedia pieces
  • Creative writing

The minimum contact time you will have is:  

  • Year one - at 10-12 hours
  • Year two - at least 10 hours
  • Year three - at least 8 hours

Your lecturers will be available outside your scheduled contact time to discuss issues and develop your understanding. This can be in-person and/or online.

As well as your timetabled sessions you'll carry out extensive independent study. This will include course reading and seminar preparation. As a guide 20 credits (a typical module) is about 200 hours of work (combined teaching and self-study). Class sizes vary depending on topic and type. A popular subject lecture may have up to 200 students while a specialised seminar may contain 10 students.

Your Liberal Arts lecturers will be members of our academic staff. Subject lecturers will be from the relevant schools and departments many of whom are internationally recognised in their fields.

 

   

Careers

Liberal Arts isn't training for a particular profession. It equips you with skills in demand for all careers. This means you'll be able to respond to change and be resilient as the nature of work shifts.

Your skill set will include the ability to:

  • analyse diverse sets of data
  • construct detailed and coherent arguments
  • create, build and design solutions to complex problems
  • engage audiences as you communicate your work
  • undertake independent and innovative research
  • use a range of methodologies and perspectives
  • work independently and collaboratively

Find out more about your opportunities with liberal arts.

Key fact
Only 14% of employers state that specific degree subjects are a selection criterion. (Institute of Student Employers recruitment survey 2019)

Average starting salary and career progression

78.8% of undergraduates from the Faculty of Arts secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation. The average annual starting salary for these graduates was £23,974.

HESA Graduate Outcomes (2017 to 2021 cohorts). The Graduate Outcomes % is calculated using The Guardian University Guide methodology. The average annual salary is based on graduates working full-time within the UK.

Studying for a degree at the University of Nottingham will provide you with the type of skills and experiences that will prove invaluable in any career, whichever direction you decide to take.

Throughout your time with us, our Careers and Employability Service can work with you to improve your employability skills even further; assisting with job or course applications, searching for appropriate work experience placements and hosting events to bring you closer to a wide range of prospective employers.

Have a look at our careers page for an overview of all the employability support and opportunities that we provide to current students.

The University of Nottingham is consistently named as one of the most targeted universities by Britain’s leading graduate employers (Ranked in the top ten in The Graduate Market in 2013-2020, High Fliers Research).

Undergraduate students enjoying Highfields Park and lake

As an individual who thought she would have to forfeit some of her interests to fit a single or double honours program, Liberal Arts at Nottingham has allowed me to explore a huge range of disciplines and maximise my potential.

Niamh Robinson

BA Liberal Arts

Course data

Open Day June 2022