About This Course
We offer the opportunity to study some of the most important and challenging philosophical ideas that have shaped Western culture, and to consider how they interrelate with Western religious thought. Philosophy and Religion at Bangor has developed out of a longstanding tradition in these subject areas within the University since the 19th century, and you will find here a friendly and informal atmosphere that will help you to cultivate the skills of debate and independent thinking.
As Wales evolves into a vibrant bilingual country, there has never been a more exciting time to study Welsh at university level. In fields as varied as education, media and journalism, the civil service, the heritage industry, public relations and marketing there is a great demand for graduates who have competence in Welsh and an ability to work in a bilingual environment. The School of Welsh and Celtic Studies at Bangor has responded energetically to this demand by designing courses which are both academically rigorous and relevant to the needs of modern Wales. At Bangor you will have the opportunity to study rich and diverse literary texts extending from the tales of the Mabinogion to the dynamic literature of contemporary Wales. You will also follow practical language modules which will greatly enhance your career prospects.
Why choose Bangor University for this course?
- You will benefit from our staff’s expertise and commitment to teaching, student care and welfare.
- Our staff are research active and incorporate current research into their teaching
- Bangor University is located in the county of Gwynedd, where 69% of the population is able to speak Welsh. No other university offers such a remarkable linguistic environment to study a living Celtic language.
- We offer a wide choice of modules.
- You will be able to study aspects of Wales’s great medieval literature under expert supervision. You will also learn how Welsh literature and the Welsh language have adapted and responded to the challenges of the modern world.
- In the first year we have modules which have been specifically designed for our second language students.
- You will be offered work placements where your academic transferable skills will be put to practical effect.
- We have a firm commitment to teaching small groups of students.
- You will be taught by academic staff who are leading international experts in their respective fields of study. Their publications encompass both the medieval period and the literature of Wales in more recent times.
Course Content
Teaching is mainly by lectures, seminars, and individual tutorials. Many modules also make use of Blackboard, the University’s online learning environment. During each semester you will study modules equivalent to 60 credits, making a total of 120 credits per year. We use a wide range of methods for assessment, including essays, book reviews, case studies, reports, presentations, and written examinations. In the second year you have the option of taking an ‘independent study’ module, wherein you can choose a topic in which you have a special interest and undertake independent study under the guidance of a supervisor, leading to a 5,000-word essay. In the final year, you will be encouraged to develop this topic further, or choose a different one of your choice, to undertake independent research under the guidance of a dissertation supervisor, leading to a 10,000-word dissertation.
What will you study on this course?
In your first year of this joint honours degree in Philosophy and Religion and Welsh you will take modules equivalent to 60 credits in the School of Philosophy and Religion. The other 60 credits will be taken in the School of Welsh.
In your second year, you will take modules equivalent to 60 credits in the School of Philosophy and Religion and 60 credits in the School of Welsh.
In your third year you will take modules equivalent to 60 credits in the School of Philosophy and Religion and 60 credits in the School of Welsh. You may be eligible to choose the Dissertation module (40 credits), which involves independent study with supervised support, leading to the submission of a 10,000-word dissertation.
Please see below for a list of modules current students are studying.
Modules for the current academic year
Module listings are for guide purposes only and are subject to change. Find out what our students are currently studying on the Philosophy & Religion and Welsh Modules page.
Course content is for guidance purposes only and may be subject to change.
Course Costs
Philosophy and Religion:
Optional Costs:
Purchase of books for required reading for some modules at a discounted price (though copies of required reading are available in the University Library): Approx. £0-25 per module, £0-35 per year, and £0-45 per course.
School Graduation Lunch – free for student and 2 guests, additional guest £10 per head.
Cymraeg (Welsh):
Optional Costs:
Students may choose to buy books, but this is not compulsory as all books will be available in the library. The exact cost depends entirely on the individual student, but it could be estimated that students choose to spend around £20 per module.
If the student attends the graduation ceremony, c.£12 will be paid for student ticket and two guest tickets, and c.£40 to hire a gown (prices may change).
General University Costs
Home (UK) students
- The cost of a full-time undergraduate course is £9,000 per year (2021/22 entry and 2022/23 entry).
- The fee for all placement, international and sandwich years is £1,350 (2021/22 and 2022/23).
- More information on fees and finance for Home (UK) students.
International (including EU) students
Additional Costs
There are also some common additional costs that are likely to arise for students on all courses, for example:
- If you choose to study abroad or take the International Experience Year as part of your course.
- If you attend your Graduation Ceremony, there will be a cost for gown hire (£25-£75) and cost for additional guest tickets (c.£12 each).
Course-specific additional costs
Depending on the course you are studying, there may be additional course-specific costs that you will be required to meet. These fall into three categories:
- Mandatory Costs: these are related to a particular core or compulsory module that you’ll be required to complete to achieve your qualification e.g. compulsory field trips, uniforms for students on placement, DBS Check.
- Necessarily Incurred Costs: these may not be experienced by all students, and will vary depending on the course e.g. professional body membership, travel to placements, specialist software, personal safety equipment.
- Optional Costs: these depend on your choice of modules or activity and they are shown to give you an indication of the optional costs that may arise to make sure your choice is as informed as possible. These can include graduation events for your course, optional field trips, Welcome Week trips.
Entry Requirements
The entry requirements below are the School of History, Philosophy and Social Sciences requirements. Please also check with the School of Welsh & Celtic Studies for any additional requirements.
For 2021 entry:
Typical offer is based on a minimum 104 tariff points from a Level 3 qualification* e.g.:
- A Levels (no specific subjects required)
- International Baccalaureate Diploma
- BTEC National/Extended Diploma and Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma: MMM
- City & Guilds Advanced Technical/Extended Diploma: considered on a case by case basis
- Access: Pass
- • Welsh Baccalaureate is accepted.
International Candidates: school leaving qualifications and college diplomas are accepted from countries worldwide (subject to minimum English Language requirements). More information here.
We also welcome applications from mature applicants.
*For a full list of accepted Level 3 qualifications, go to www.ucas.com.
For 2020 entry:
Typical offer is based on a minimum 104 tariff points from a Level 3 qualification* e.g.:
- A Levels (no specific subjects required)
- International Baccalaureate Diploma
- BTEC National/Extended Diploma and Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma: MMM
- City & Guilds Advanced Technical/Extended Diploma: considered on a case by case basis
- Access: Pass
- • Welsh Baccalaureate is accepted.
International Candidates: school leaving qualifications and college diplomas are accepted from countries worldwide (subject to minimum English Language requirements). More information here.
We also welcome applications from mature applicants.
*For a full list of accepted Level 3 qualifications, go to www.ucas.com.
General University Requirements
To study for a degree, you’ll be asked for a minimum of UCAS Tariff points. For a fuller explanation of the UCAS Tariff Points, please see www.ucas.com.
We accept students with a wide range of qualifications and backgrounds and consider each application individually.
All students need to have good basic skills and the University also values IT and communication skills.
As part of the University’s policy we consider applications from prospective disabled students on the same grounds as all other students.
We also consider applications from mature students who can demonstrate the motivation and commitment to study a university programme. Each year we enrol a significant number of mature students. For more information about studying as a mature student, see our Studying at Bangor section of the website.
EU and International Students' Entry Requirements
For detailed guidance on the entry requirements for EU and International Students, including the minimum English Language entry requirement, please visit the Entry Requirements by Country pages. International applicants can also visit the International Education Centre section of our website for further details.
Bangor University offers International Incorporated Bachelor Degrees for International students whose High School qualification is not equivalent to the UK school leaving qualification. The first year (or Year 0) is studied at Bangor University International College, an embedded College on our University campus and delivered by Oxford International Education Group.
Careers
A Philosophy and Religion course will open up opportunities in a broad range of areas, including teaching, communication, publishing, social work, librarianship, the media etc. Many students will go on to pursue postgraduate degrees leading to an MA, MRes or PhD.
Graduates of Welsh go on to careers in education,media/journalism, creative writing, the civil service, PR, marketing, the translation industry, language planning, the heritage industry and IT. Furthermore, this course will provide you with a range of rigorous analytical and presentational skills which will be vitally important in numerous other careers. Bangor also offers excellent opportunities at postgraduate level.
Opportunities at Bangor
The University’s Skills and Employability Service provides a wide range of resources to help you achieve your graduate ambitions.
The Bangor Employability Award (BEA)
With the BEA, you can gain recognition for your extra-curricular activities (e.g. volunteering, clubs and societies, part-time work, etc.)
Internships
Bangor University runs a paid internship scheme within the university’s academic and service departments.
Student Volunteering
Volunteering widens your experience and improves your employability. Find out more about the volunteering on the Students’ Union’s website.
