Certificate / Diploma / BA Combined Studies

Information for Prospective Students

Opportunities, flexibility and support have never been so good!

This degree is designed primarily for those looking to improve their employment opportunities or those that have reached a point in their current job where more qualifications are needed to gain promotion; the BA Combined Studies degree offers a range of subjects which are relevant to employment and which will stretch and stimulate your mind.

Who is it for?

This degree is ideal if you have an HND, Foundation Degree or similar qualification as it offers the opportunity for those with prior Higher Education qualifications and/or experiential learning to build upon these and gain a full degree. If you already have some qualifications and would like to put these towards a degree come and talk to us about the possibilities.

This degree will also appeal to those who would like to study across a broad range of subjects, developing a personalised programme to meet their particular interests and needs.

What will I study?

This degree will enable you to develop a range of transferable skills e.g. the ability to study independently, to carry out research, to understand and use theoretical concepts, to present information and argument, both orally and in writing, and to work with a range of individuals. These are all skills heavily sought and valued by employers.

In order to ensure that the degree has a proper structure to it, and to guide you in your studying, we offer a number of broad subject pathways which you can follow. It is possible to create a different structure through consultation with an Academic Co-ordinator.

All students who enter at level 4 are usually required to take a module ‘Learning to Learn’, which provides and introduction to study skills. In addition you will be required to follow either ‘Identities’, which is an introduction to the social sciences, or ‘Reading Texts, Writing Texts’ which is an introduction to literature and creative writing. These are all designed to help new students adjust to the requirements of studying and to build skills and confidence.

At level 5 there is a Research Methods module which helps you to develop the skills needed in undertaking research in a wide variety of areas. We require all students to take this module not least because it helps you to develop skills which will be of considerable value both in the later stages of your degree and in practical research in a work based environment. It also provides a section on dissertation writing and most students also write a dissertation on a subject of their choice, with the help and support of a supervisor.

Both Research Methods and the Dissertation help develop valuable skills which are valued highly by many employers.

At level 6 there is a second dissertation, which all students are required to do.

In order to gain the degree you will normally select most of your modules from one or two of the following pathways:

Health & Rehabilitation

This pathway could be relevant to those working in a variety of sectors ranging from health and social care, personnel, management settings, the voluntary sector and police and probation services and for those whose roles require knowledge and skills competencies in this area. Many of these modules are mapped to the relevant National Occupational Standards and include:

Counselling skills in the Workplace
Introduction to Drug and Alcohol Counselling
Mental Health First Aid
Motivational Interviewing
Groupwork
Suicide & Self Harm Awareness
Dyslexia Awareness
Health & Wellbeing
Mentoring Skills
Substances & Working with Young People
Personal Development in Practice

IT / Business Studies / Law

Examples of modules include:

Law for Non Lawyers
Digital Imaging & Webpage Design

plus a range of IT modules such as:

MS Office Skills
Social Networking
Society & the Information Age
Statistics

Community Development

Examples of modules include:

Understanding Community
Introductory Business
Women's Issues
Children, Youth & Community

You may wish to consider our Foundation Degrees which cover the first two years of an honours degree. Students graduating with either of these Foundation degrees are eligible to enter the BA Combined Studies degree at level 6.

Childhood Studies & Education

This pathway will be of particular interest to people working in education including teaching support staff. Examples of modules at include:

Fundamentals of Psychology
The Child’s World
the World of School*
Current Issues in Education*
Community, Children and Young People*
Special Educational Needs*
Gender and Ethnicity*
Bilingualism*

The dissertation at levels 5 and 6 can also be based on topics in these areas.

* These modules are currently only taught during the day.

For those wishing to study full-time there are both a full time Foundation Degree (taught over 2 years) and an Honours Degree in Childhood Studies (taught over 3 years), offered at the University. For more information on these visit the website at www.bangor.ac.uk/addysg.

There is also an opportunity for students studying on this degree to opt for a range of modules offered through the Bangor Management Centre within their ILM Level 5/6 programmes and gain dual accreditation.

It is possible to combine elements of two or more pathways.

Lifelong Learning also offers undergraduate degrees in Social Studies and Fine Art.

Where will I study?

Modules are taught in Bangor in the evenings, by distance learning and occasional Saturdays during semesters. Attendance varies depending on the number of modules studied at any one time.

When and how will I study?

Most modules, with the exception of most of those offered in the Childhood/Early Years/Education pathway, are taught in the evening between 6.00 and 9.00 pm.

Entry Requirements

Many students choose to begin the course at level 4 with no formal academic qualifications. All applicants are interviewed and we look for evidence of practical experience, which may be through paid employment (for example, as a teaching assistant for those interested in the childhood studies/education pathway) or voluntary work or reading in the subjects you are interested in studying.

How long will it take?

This depends on the number of modules you complete each semester. Because the degree programme is flexible you can opt to study at a pace that suits your own personal circumstances. Most students who enter at level 4 take about 5 years to complete their degree.

Progression Routes

The career prospects are as varied as the course itself! You could enter a wide range of employment such as management or administration, commerce or finance, teaching, social and community services, local government, journalism or the media. You may also be interested in our part-time postgraduate courses.

In order to ensure that your individual programme of study is designed to meet your own personal aims and aspirations whilst maintaining a coherent and logical learning path it is important that you discuss your proposed programme with an Academic Co-ordinator. Contact us to make an appointment.

How much does it cost?

If you enter at level 4 without any previous credits, the degree requires 360 credits. Please contact us or see our Fees & Finance pages for current fees and information about funding opportunities.

How do I apply?

Please download our application form or contact us for one and then return the completed form to us as soon as possible.

Download our application form (pdf).