Undergraduate Course
BA (Hons) Liberal Arts
(Including Foundation Year)
Now In Clearing
Overview
The details
Liberal Arts (Including Foundation Year)
LQV0
October 2026
Full-time
What is the BA Liberal Arts (including Foundation Year)?
The BA Liberal Arts (including Foundation Year) is a four-year degree designed to develop your academic skills, confidence and subject knowledge before progressing onto the three-year undergraduate degree.
You’ll explore the connections between subjects including history, politics, philosophy, literature, art history, psychology, media studies and sociology, developing a broader understanding of the world around you. Your Foundation Year will help you build the skills needed for university-level study while introducing you to the interdisciplinary approach that makes Liberal Arts unique.
Why this course
The BA Liberal Arts (including Foundation Year) is ideal if you’re curious about a wide range of subjects and want to explore how different areas of knowledge connect. Rather than being limited to one discipline, you’ll develop the ability to think across subjects and examine complex questions from multiple perspectives.
During your Foundation Year, you’ll develop essential academic skills including research, writing, communication and critical thinking, while gaining an introduction to the humanities and social sciences. You’ll be supported in building the confidence needed to succeed throughout your degree.
Once you progress onto your undergraduate studies, you’ll have the flexibility to shape your degree around your interests. You can major in subjects including Psychology, History, Literature, Art History, Philosophy, Politics, Media Studies or Sociology, while choosing optional modules from across a wide range of disciplines. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
You’ll explore challenging and thought-provoking ideas, from culture and identity to politics, society, creativity and human behaviour. By bringing different perspectives together, you’ll develop the ability to question assumptions, analyse evidence and understand the world in new ways.
Add a placement year or study abroad to broaden your experience, develop professional skills and gain international perspectives.
By the end of your degree, you’ll have developed strong research, analytical, communication and problem-solving skills, alongside the adaptability and intellectual curiosity valued by employers across many sectors.
Who should apply
- Students who enjoy exploring a range of subjects and want to keep their options open
- Curious thinkers who enjoy questioning ideas and looking at issues from different perspectives
- Learners who want additional support and preparation before beginning undergraduate study
- Students looking for a flexible degree that develops highly transferable skills for a wide range of careers
What you'll learn
- Foundation skills for university study: Develop academic writing, research, communication and critical thinking skills to support your progression onto the undergraduate degree
- Interdisciplinary thinking: Learn how different subjects connect to help us understand complex social, cultural and global issues
- Humanities and social sciences: Explore ideas from subjects including history, politics, philosophy, literature, sociology and psychology
- Critical analysis: Develop the ability to evaluate evidence, challenge assumptions and construct persuasive arguments
- Independent enquiry: Build confidence in researching topics and developing your own academic interests
Your learning experience
- Supportive Foundation Year: Build confidence and develop the academic skills needed for successful university study before progressing onto your degree
- Flexible degree structure: Choose modules across disciplines including literature, film, philosophy, history, art history, politics, sociology, modern languages and more
- Choose your academic focus: Develop your interests through a major subject area while continuing to explore ideas across other disciplines
- Expert teaching: Learn from academics across the humanities and social sciences whose research explores contemporary and global issues
- Optional study abroad year: Spend a year at one of our partner universities and experience another culture with the Study Abroad programme
- Optional placement year: Gain professional experience in an organisation with university support from Placements at Essex
- Specialist facilities: Access facilities including the Albert Sloman Library, research collections and specialist resources such as the Essex Collection of Art from Latin America (ESCALA)
Careers and outcomes
A BA Liberal Arts (including Foundation Year) degree can prepare you for careers in sectors and roles such as:
- Media and communications: Journalism, publishing, marketing, public relations and content roles
- Government and public service: Policy research, civil service, local government and administration
- Arts and culture: Museums, galleries, heritage organisations and creative industries
- Charities and voluntary organisations: Community development, advocacy and social impact roles
- Business and management: Consultancy, project management, research and organisational roles
- Further study: Postgraduate study across humanities, social sciences and related disciplines
Employers of graduates from this course
Graduates from this course have developed adaptable skills suited to careers across a wide range of organisations, including:
- Government departments and public organisations
- Media and publishing companies
- Charities and voluntary organisations
- Cultural and heritage organisations
- Businesses and professional services organisations
Why we're great.
- 13th for liberal arts in the UK (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026).
- Guarantee a place on your chosen course upon successful completion of your foundation year.
- Small class sizes allow you to work closely with your teachers and classmates.
Course content
Components and modules explained
Components
Components are the blocks of study that make up your course. A component may have a set module which you must study, or a number of modules from which you can choose.
Each component has a status and carries a certain number of credits towards your qualification.
| Status | What this means |
| Core |
You must take the set module for this component and you must pass. No failure can be permitted. |
| Core with Options |
You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component but you must pass. No failure can be permitted. |
| Compulsory |
You must take the set module for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail. |
| Compulsory with Options |
You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail. |
| Optional |
You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail. |
The modules that are available for you to choose for each component will depend on several factors, including which modules you have chosen for other components, which modules you have completed in previous years of your course, and which term the module is taught in.
Modules
Modules are the individual units of study for your course. Each module has its own set of learning outcomes and assessment criteria and also carries a certain number of credits.
In most cases you will study one module per component, but in some cases you may need to study more than one module. For example, a 30-credit component may comprise of either one 30-credit module, or two 15-credit modules, depending on the options available.
Modules may be taught at different times of the year and by a different department or school to the one your course is primarily based in. You can find this information from the module code. For example, the module code HR100-4-FY means:
| HR | 100 | 4 | FY |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The department or school the module will be taught by. In this example, the module would be taught by the Department of History. |
The module number. |
The UK academic level of the module. A standard undergraduate course will comprise of level 4, 5 and 6 modules - increasing as you progress through the course. A standard postgraduate taught course will comprise of level 7 modules. A postgraduate research degree is a level 8 qualification. |
The term the module will be taught in.
|
COMPONENT 01: CORE
Research and Academic Skills for University
(30 CREDITS)
This module is designed to support students in their academic subject disciplines and to strengthen their confidence in key skills areas such as: academic writing, research, academic integrity, collaborative and reflective practices. The students are supported through the use of subject-specific materials tailored to their chosen degrees with alignment of assessments between academic subject modules and the skills module.
View Research and Academic Skills for University on our Module Directory
COMPONENT 02: CORE
Understanding People and Society
(30 CREDITS)
The module aims to establish a theoretical foundation for students pursuing degrees in Social Science through the introduction of some key theories and concepts associated with the fields of Sociology, Criminology and Psychoanalysis and Psychosocial studies. The relevance of these theories will be demonstrated through opportunities to consider their role in specific contemporary social issues. As such the Autumn Term focuses on criminological theory and its application to contemporary society whilst also encouraging the development of a Sociological Imagination through debating current social issues based on the work of key social theorists. In Spring term building upon the learning in Autumn Term, students will use the lens of psychoanalysis to explore how people interact within society. They will consider the way individuals affect one another and how institutions affect the people who work in them and vice versa. Throughout the module, expert guest speakers are periodically invited to contribute to lectures and seminars.
View Understanding People and Society on our Module Directory
COMPONENT 03: CORE
Global Politics and Economic Policies
(15 CREDITS)
COMPONENT 04: CORE
Making an Impact: Independent Project
(15 CREDITS)
COMPONENT 05: CORE
Ways of Reading
(30 CREDITS)
COMPONENT 01: COMPULSORY
Interdisciplinary Research and Problem-Solving: An Introduction
(15 CREDITS)
The world does not have disciplines; it has problems. What's more, the most important problems we face - problems like climate change, migration, sustainable economic production, democratic governance, and so on - cannot be solved with the tools of any single discipline. Such problems require collaborative, creative, and interdisciplinary approaches, and this module introduces students to this type of interdisciplinary thinking. Students will learn how to approach complex problems by drawing on theories and methods from multiple disciplines, learning how to think flexibly and work with others to find creative solutions to real-world problems.
View Interdisciplinary Research and Problem-Solving: An Introduction on our Module Directory
COMPONENT 02: COMPULSORY
Ways of Knowing
(15 CREDITS)
This interdisciplinary module explores the rich diversity of ways of knowing the world. We examine different frameworks of knowing that have characterised and shaped human societies historically and today.
COMPONENT 06: COMPULSORY
Beyond the BA: Skills for the Next Step
(0 CREDITS)
This course introduces key academic, professional and personal skills to support a successful transition beyond undergraduate study. Students develop confidence in critical thinking, communication, teamwork and self reflection while exploring future study and career options.
View Beyond the BA: Skills for the Next Step on our Module Directory
COMPONENT 01: COMPULSORY
Addressing the Environmental Crisis: Historical Origins, Current Causes, Sustainable Solutions
(15 CREDITS)
How have contemporary societies been shaped by the legacies of the Enlightenment, colonialism, and the different phases of capitalism? This interdisciplinary module helps you to critically understand some of the key forces and processes that have shaped the challenges we face in the 20th and 21st century. It is divided into three broad themes; Empire, The Self, and Nature. We’ll be examining processes of ‘othering’ that were intrinsic to colonialism; changing conceptions of the self; as well as both the causes of and potential solutions to the ecological crisis we are confronting today. The module is co-taught by academics from Art History, ISC, LiFTs, Philosophy, Psychoanalytic Studies and Sociology. This module has been designed to enable students to integrate their subject knowledge with an understanding of sustainable development, acquiring the skills and competencies essential for addressing the urgent sustainability challenges of the 21st century.
COMPONENT 02: OPTIONAL
Outside option(s) from list: Choose discipline taken in previous year
(30 CREDITS)
COMPONENT 03: OPTIONAL
Outside option(s) from list: Choose discipline taken in previous year
(30 CREDITS)
COMPONENT 04: COMPULSORY WITH OPTIONS
CS200-5-SP or (CS207-5-AU and option from list or outside option)
(15 CREDITS)
COMPONENT 01: COMPULSORY WITH OPTIONS
CS831-6-FY or BE947-6-FY or (CS301-6-SP and option from list)
(30 CREDITS)
Entry requirements
Clearing entry requirements
We currently have places available in Clearing across a range of our courses with most offers expected to be made at CCD - CDD (88 - 80 UCAS tariff points) or equivalent. A complete breakdown of expected Clearing entry requirements, by course, is available on our Clearing entry requirements page.
We consider each application individually and requirements may be lower for some of our courses, so please still get in touch if your grades are below those outlined.
English language requirements
English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English
IELTS 5.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component, or specified score in an equivalent test that we accept.
If we accept the English component of an international qualification it will be included in the academic levels listed above for the relevant countries.
Pre-sessional English courses
If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.
Additional Notes
If you’re an international student, but do not meet the requirements for direct admission to this degree or the first year of a degree at Essex, you could prepare and gain entry through a pathway course. Find out more about opportunities available to you at the University of Essex International College
Fees and funding
Home/UK fee
£5,760 per year
This fee is set by the UK Government for classroom-based Foundation Years only. Your fee will increase in your next year in alignment with the Undergraduate course fee set by the UK Government.
International fee
£21,500 per year
The standard undergraduate degree fee for international students will apply in subsequent years.
Fees will increase for each academic year of study.
If your course has the option to include a placement year or study abroad, and you choose to do so, you will pay the following:
Placement year
20% of your standard tuition fee for that year
Study abroad
Full year abroad
15% of your standard tuition fee for that year
Single term abroad
Standard tuition fee
Scholarships and financial support
There may be scholarships, bursaries or discounts available to help with the cost of this course.
Fees and funding guide
What's next
Open Days
Our events are a great way to find out more about studying at Essex. We run a number of Open Days throughout the year which enable you to discover what our campus has to offer. You have the chance to:
- tour our campus and accommodation
- find out answers to your questions about our courses, student finance, graduate employability, student support and more
- meet our students and staff
Check out our Visit Us pages to find out more information about booking onto one of our events. And if the dates aren’t suitable for you, feel free to book a campus tour here.
2026 Open Days (Colchester Campus)
How to apply during Clearing
Once you’ve checked that we have the right course for you, applying couldn’t be simpler. Fill in our quick and easy Clearing application form with as much detail as you can. We’ll then take a look and get back to you with a decision.
If you already hold an offer from Essex
Please don't reapply through Clearing. We'll review your existing application using our Clearing entry requirements. If you're worried about meeting your offer or would like to change course, please contact our Admissions Team on ugquery@essex.ac.uk.
Interviews
We don’t require an interview for most of our courses that are available through Clearing, however there are some courses such as those in our School of Health and Social Care and East 15 Acting School where an interview (or audition) may be required. If this is something that’s required for the course you have applied for, we’ll email you with all of the details.
Visit Colchester Campus
Set within 200 acres of award-winning parkland - Wivenhoe Park and located two miles from the historic city centre of Colchester – England's oldest recorded development. Our Colchester Campus is also easily reached from London and Stansted Airport in under one hour.
Virtual tours
If you live too far away to come to Essex (or have a busy lifestyle), no problem. Our 360-degree virtual tour allows you to explore our University from the comfort of your home. Check out our Colchester virtual tour to see accommodation options, facilities and social spaces.
At Essex we pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive student community. We offer a wide range of support to individuals and groups of student members who may have specific requirements, interests or responsibilities.
The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its programme specification is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to courses, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include, but are not limited to: strikes, other industrial action, staff illness, severe weather, fire, civil commotion, riot, invasion, terrorist attack or threat of terrorist attack (whether declared or not), natural disaster, restrictions imposed by government or public authorities, epidemic or pandemic disease, failure of public utilities or transport systems or the withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to courses may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications. The University would inform and engage with you if your course was to be discontinued, and would provide you with options, where appropriate, in line with our Compensation and Refund Policy.
The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.
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