Course summary

Develop an interdisciplinary understanding of today’s complex world and its challenges from subjects including English, history, philosophy, and global politics. Shape your own degree in humanities and social sciences to prepare for a career making real-world change. On our BA (Hons) Liberal Arts in Cambridge, you’ll explore contemporary global issues and challenges from different fields within humanities and the social sciences, such as inequality and social justice, violence, the essence of humanity and the future of AI. You’ll gain a thorough introduction to the study of liberal arts, as well as history, literature, and language and communication, and the ways in which each of these subjects reflect and address issues within societies across the globe. Our optional modules will give you a wide variety of choice, allowing you to follow your own particular areas of interest and develop expertise for whichever career you hope to follow, with particular focus on affecting change within the modern world. Throughout the course, you’ll develop critical and transferable skills that will prepare you to tackle real-world problems in a systematic and flexible manner, and deliver arguments to a wide range of audiences through different communication channels. Studying on modules across the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at ARU, you’ll come into contact with other students from many different disciplines and backgrounds, broadening your own perspective and insights. You’ll have many opportunities to attend co-curricular events across all our humanities and social science subjects, allowing you to meet professionals related to each field, and expanding your network as well as your knowledge base. You can also attend events organised by our Cambridge Writing Centre, including guest talks and live lit jams, where you can showcase your own creative writing and make new contacts in the industry. We’ll support you to find placements and work experience throughout the course, with live briefs embedded into some modules. You could further improve your CV by applying for the work placement year option, studying abroad for a trimester, or taking up voluntary positions in local schools. You also have the opportunity to study a modern foreign language, which will give you a real advantage in the global job market. Your studies will be supported by our team of expert lecturers, including published authors such as Dr Richard Carr (March of the Moderates: Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, and the Rebirth of Progressive Politics), Dr Bettina Beinhoff (Perceiving Identity through Accent – Attitudes towards Non-Native Speakers and their Accents in English); and Dr Tory Young (Studying English Literature, a text used on many other university courses as well as our own). Careers Our BA (Hons) Liberal Arts will equip you with skills and knowledge that transfer to a wide range of graduate occupations, including teaching, journalism, law, business, consultancy, administration, librarianship, NGOs, the military and the civil service, amongst many others. It will also help you develop a greater understanding of national and international issues in the modern world, and the knowledge and skills to reflect on some of the most important ethical and moral issues of our time. This will allow you to develop the values and practices required for ethical and effective leadership, such as conflict resolution and the analysis of strategic and tactical uses of different forms of communication – shaped by, among other things, power, culture and identity. You could also learn more, develop a specialism or start an exciting career in research with our Masters degree in English Literature. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.