Study at Cardiff | Undergraduate

Education and Welsh BA (Joint Honours) gives first-language Welsh students the opportunity to combine study of Welsh with educational policy and development theory – leading onto a number of different possible career routes within the education system in Wales. Students will develop valuable transferable skills through highly flexible modular programmes, leading to a distinct edge within the global graduate market.

Key Facts

The BA joint honours is either a three-year or (in the case of Welsh and a modern language where the third year is spent abroad) a four-year programme. It has two routes, one for students who have studied Welsh as a first language, and one for students who have studied Welsh as a second language. In the Year 1 Welsh modules these cohorts are taught separately. The students of the two routes come together for some modules in Year 2, and in the Final Year, everyone is taught together. At the end of the programme all students receive the same degree.

The School of Welsh’s teaching philosophy is based on helping you develop key skills (linguistic, analytical, creative and employability) while also enabling you to become an independent learner at a high level. This philosophy is reflected in the structure of the BA. For both routes, the emphasis in Year 1 is on developing skills in the fields of language and literature, and all students follow a set number of core modules with a high number of contact hours. The School of Welsh makes special arrangements for second-language students to spend extra time developing and practising their language skills in Year 1.

In Year 2, the core linguistic modules concentrate on language skills within both an academic and a vocational context, and include a period of work experience in a workplace in which Welsh is used on a daily basis.

In the Final Year, you will undertake an extended essay or project which enables you to use the range of skills that you have developed during the programme and to further your ability to operate as an independent learner. These essays or projects may lead on to further research, or prove to be an effective showcase for your achievements from the point of view of future employers.
Alongside these core elements, the BA offers numerous optional modules, including several with have direct relevance to specific fields of employment, such as language planning, scriptwriting and translation. Whatever your interests, there should be optional modules that meet yourn attractive feature of our programme is its flexibility – you may specialise in literary studies, medieval or modern, language studies, or you may take a combination of modules reflecting your own particular academic interests and vocational needs.

In addition, you will take modules in the other subject of your joint-honours programme.
(On both routes, all modules in the School of Welsh are taught through the medium of Welsh.)

Year 2 First-language Route

You will take one compulsory linguistic core module:

• Cymraeg y Gweithle a’r Gymuned [Welsh in the Workplace and the Community]

Year 2 Second-language Route

You will take two compulsory linguistic core modules:

• Sgiliau Cyfathrebu Uwch (Year 2 second-language route) [Further Communication Skills]
• Ysgrifennu Estynedig (Year 2 second-language route) [Extended Writing Skills]

Compulsory Final Year extended essay or project

You will have a choice of either a 4,000 or a 8,000 word essay or project (20 or 40 credits), which will be completed under the direction of a member of staff who is an expert in the relevant field.

Optional Modules: Year 2 and the Final Year (both routes)

Individual modules are normally offered in alternative years, and so may be available in Year 2 or in the Final Year:

• Ailddehongli Llenyddiaeth yr Oesoedd Canol [Reinterpreting Medieval Welsh Literature]
• Amlddiwylliannedd yn y Diwylliant Cymraeg [Multiculturalism in Welsh-language Culture]
• Canu'r Gymru Newydd: Barddoniaeth 1990-2010 [Poetry of the New Wales: Poetry 1990-2010
• Cyfieithu Proffesiynol [Professional Translation]
• Cyflwyniad i Astudiaethau Gwerin [Introduction to Welsh Folklore]
• Cyflwyniad i Hanes yr Iaith [History of the Welsh Language]
• Cymdeithaseg yr Wyddeleg [The Sociology of the Irish Language]
• Cymraeg i Oedolion [Teaching Welsh to Adults]
• Cymru ar Daith: Llên Teithio Gymraeg [Wales on the Move: Welsh Travel Writing]
• Cynllunio Ieithyddol [Language Planning]
• Y Chwedl Arthuraidd [The Arthurian Legend]
• Dadeni a Diwygiad 1550-1900 [Renaissance and Revival 1550-1900]
• Dafydd ap Gwilym [Dafydd ap Gwilym]
• Y Ddrama Gyfoes [Contemporary Drama]
• Y Ferch yn yr Oesoedd Canol [Women in Medieval Wales]
• I Fyd y Faled [The World of the Ballad]
• Gwleidyddiaeth a Phropaganda yn Llenyddiaeth yr 20g [Politics and Propaganda in 20th Century Literature]
• Hanes y Ddrama [History of Welsh Drama]
• Hunaniaeth a Diwylliant y Wladfa [The Identity and Culture of the Welsh Colony in Patagonia]
• Iaith, y Ddinas a Chymdeithas [Language, the City and Society]
• Iaith, Gwleidyddiaeth a Gwrthdaro [Language, Politics and Conflict]
• Llenyddiaeth er 1900 [Literature since 1900]
• Llenyddiaeth Plant [Children's Literature]
• Llên y Ddinas [Urban Literature]
• Merched a Llên yn y Cyfnod Modern [Women and Literature in the Modern Period]
• Pedeir Keinc y Mabinogi [The Four Branches of the Mabinogi]
• Rhyddiaith Ddiweddar [Modern Welsh Prose]
• Saunders Lewis [Saunders Lewis]
• Sgriptio [Scriptwriting]
• Sosioieithyddiaeth [Sociolinguistics]
• Theori a Beirniadaeth Lenyddol [Literary Criticism and Theory]
• Williams Pantycelyn a'r Emyn [Williams Pantycelyn and the Welsh Hymn]
• Ysgrifennu Creadigol [Creative Writing]

Click here for more information about the course structure, modules and teaching for Education.

For more information about learning and  assessment for these subjects, please visit the individual profiles of Education and Welsh on our website.

A list of commonly accepted alternative entry qualifications and admissions and selection criteria for this degree programme can be read here.