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. The courses 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.
On the Welsh History part of this course, you will gain an understanding of the development of Wales over the centuries, of the changing nature of society and settlement, and of the historical context of contemporary Wales.
Why choose Bangor University for this course?
- Situated at the centre of an imposing University campus, Philosophy and Religion at Bangor has developed out of a long and distinguished tradition of teaching philosophy and religion for over a century.
- 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.
- We have experts in all fields of History from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century, who work principally on Britain, Europe and the United States of America. Our research influences, and is integrated into, our teaching.
- Our degrees are rigorous and will thus develop your skills of analysis, argument, and criticism, but you will be learning in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. Staff are approachable, and enthusiastic.
- We aim to provide you with as wide a range of modules as possible.
- We recognize the importance of transferable skills to you and your future employers, including the ability to write well and to present clearly and your ability to use a number of different IT packages. These are an integral part of the degree programmes we offer.
- The local area is steeped in history and provides a resource for field work as well as a superb location for study. If you have a particular interest in Welsh History we are a natural place to study the subject.
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 History 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 History, Welsh History and Archaeology.
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 History, Welsh History and Archaeology.
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 History, Welsh History and Archaeology. 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 History 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.
History:
Mandatory Costs:
There are no mandatory costs, but if a student spends £50 on books per module then it would cost £300 pa.
Necessarily Incurred Costs:
Travel to placements: Some basic travel costs might be incurred depending on the location of the placement. An average example would be 2 weeks, public transport, £40.
Optional Costs:
Extra costs might be incurred if students decide to purchase more books, but this optional and entirely down to the individual.
General University Costs
Home (UK) students
- The cost of a full-time undergraduate course is £9,000 per year (2021/22 entry).
- 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 requirements for Philosophy and Religion. Please also check with the School for any additional requirements for Welsh History.
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.
With a good degree in History combining sound historical knowledge and a range of analytical and presentational skills, you will be able to tackle a variety of career options centring on administration and public leadership, for example, in personnel departments in privately owned industry, the civil service and local government as well as in a range of directly transferable vocations. Bangor History graduates have in recent years gained careers in commerce, law, teaching and the armed forces.
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.
