Course Structure
BA in Combined Honours allows you to take two or three subjects.
Your academic year
Each academic year (Stage) is divided into two semesters. You'll study a total of 120 credits over a Stage, taking no more than 70 credits in any one semester.
Most of the modules on Combined Honours are 10 or 20 credits each, and dissertation modules are 40 credits.
This is so you can easily divide your credits across your chosen subjects.
The modules you take may be assessed either throughout the year, at the end of the semester in which they are taken, or at the end of the Stage.
Subject choices
You can choose two or three subjects to study in Stage 1. You must continue with at least two throughout the remainder of your degree.
In Stage 1, you divide your time equally between the two or three subjects you have chosen. From Stage 2 onwards, you can choose the balance of study between your subjects.
Your degree certificate will reference the subjects you studied in Stages 2 and 3. This allows employers to identify your areas of expertise, for example, BA Combined Honours in English Literature and French.
Stage 1
Modules offered at Stage 1 are worth 10 or 20 credits. You must take 120 credits over the 2 Semesters with no more than 70 credits in any one semester.
You must study two or three subjects in Stage 1.
Three subjects
- Subject A (40 credits) + Subject B (40 credits) + Subject C (40 credits) = 120 credits
Two subjects
- Subject A (60 credits) + Subject B (60 credits) = 120 credits
Stages 2 and 3
You will continue studying subjects from Stage 1. If you studied three subjects, you have the option to drop a third subject at the start of Stage 2. In Stage 2 you also decide the weighting of your subjects.
Each module is worth 20 credits. You must take 120 credits over the two semesters with no more than 70 credits in any one semester.
A minimum of 40 credits and a maximum of 80 credits may be studied in any one subject. Also note that you must take the same credit split in Stage 3 as you take in Stage 2.
Choosing the weighting of your subjects
Combined route option
Students who study three subjects equally receive the 'Degree of BA Combined Honours in Subject A, Subject B and Subject C'. Your certificate lists the subjects alphabetically.
- Subject A (40 credits) + Subject B (40 credits) + Subject C (40 credits) = 120 credits
Joint route option
Students who study two subjects equally receive the 'Degree of BA Combined Honours in Subject A and Subject B'. Your certificate lists the subjects alphabetically.
- Subject A (60 credits) + Subject B (60 credits) = 120 credits
Major and minor route option
Students could study two subjects, majoring in one and minoring in the other.
If they complete the course, they will receive the 'Degree of BA Combined Honours in Subject A with Subject B'. The major subject is always mentioned first.
- Subject A (80 credits) + Subject B (40 credits) = 120 credits
All Combined Honours language students will go abroad between Stages 2 and 3 to a country where the studied language is spoken.