Professional Welsh (for Beginners) Undergraduate

This course has been developed in response to the growing demand from employers for graduates with a high standard of Welsh language skills that can be easily utilised in the workplace. You will study a variety of areas related to Welsh language and literature with emphasis placed on both the practical and the vocational. This course provides the opportunity to complete work experience with employers and professional companies.

We see Welsh as a subject for students from all walks of life. This four year course allows complete beginners to study with us.

This course works closely with Canolfan Bedwyr, named after the former head of Bangor’s Welsh Department, the late Bedwyr Lewis Jones. You will benefit from the national and international expertise that Canolfan Bedwyr has developed over the years.

The 4-year beginners’ pathway, includes a foundation year, which focuses on practical skills and has been designed for Welsh learners and beginners. This route gives the opportunity for language learning and also the chance to build confidence in readiness, in the following year, to join the first year of the BA Professional Welsh.

Why choose Bangor University for this course?

• Bangor is an ideal location to study Welsh. You will get to fully develop your skills by learning in small groups and by following special modules.
• Bangor University is located in the county of Gwynedd, where the majority of the population speaks Welsh. No other university offers such a remarkable linguistic environment to study a living Celtic language.
• You will have the opportunity to go on work experience as an integrated part of the course.
• At Bangor, you can experience all aspects of student life through the medium of Welsh, in a natural and friendly environment.
• Lecturers at the School of Welsh have won important national prizes: we have two crowned poets and two prose medal winners at the National Eisteddfod, and our lecturers have won the Book of the Year prize several times.
• You will be taught by academic staff who are leading international experts in their respective fields of study.

The four-year programme includes a Foundation Year, which leads to the regular three-year BA degree (see also Professional Welsh BA).

There will be a variety of assessment methods depending on the requirements of individual modules. You will learn through a combination of lectures and seminars, and will also be able to go on a work placement. Our aim is to give students the opportunity to study the Welsh language in a practical way that will strengthen their written and oral skills and also allow them to study Welsh literature. This course places particular emphasis on developing awareness, and promoting understanding, of Welsh in the workplace.

What will you study on this course?

Foundation Year

The foundation year focuses mainly on developing speaking skills. Students will also develop writing skills and have the opportunity to learn about the history, literature and culture of Wales.

During this year, you will be learning under the guidance of specialists at the north-west Wales Welsh for Adults Centre as well as the School of Welsh.

Compulsory Modules:

• Cymraeg Llafar Dwys 1 (Intensive Spoken Welsh 1)
• Cymraeg Llafar Dwys 2 (Intensive Spoken Welsh 2)
• Cyflwyno Llenyddiaeth Gymraeg (Introduction to Welsh Literature)

Year 1

You will join 1st year students on the Welsh BA degree (second-language route).

Compulsory Modules:

• Defnyddio’r Gymraeg
• O’r Senedd i’r Swyddfa
• Llên Gyfoes
• Llên y Cyfnod Modern Cynnar
• Cyflwyniad i Bolisi a Chynllunio Ieithyddol a ddysgir gan Dr Rhian Hodges o’r Ysgol Gwyddorau Cymdeithas 

Optional Modules:

You may choose up to 40 further credits from modules in the School of Welsh from a list that may include:

• Golwg ar Lenyddiaeth II (Looking at Literature II)
• Defnyddio’r Gymraeg (Using Welsh)
• Sgriptio Teledu (Scriptwriting for Television)
• Gweithdy Creadigol (Creative Workshop)
• Theatr Fodern Ewrop (Modern European Theatre)
• Gwyddeleg Modern (Modern Irish)
• O’r Senedd i’r Swyddfa (From the Senedd to the Office) 

Year 2

In Year 2 you will follow two core modules. The Iaith Gwaith (Working Welsh) core module will build further on from the O’r Senedd i’r Swyddfa module and include additional work experience. The second core module, Ymarfer Ysgrifennu (Practical Writing) will apply what was learned during Defnyddio’r Gymraeg to specific contexts, e.g. summaries, news bulletins, reviews, short translation. You will also have the opportunity to choose any other 40-60 credits from the School of Welsh modules or other schools. Many of our modules are taught every second year (to the Second and Third Years together). For that reason students will follow the mandatory Datblygiad yr Iaith (a module which maps the history of Welsh from its earliest period to the present) when available to them.

Year 3

During the final year you will follow two core modules. Medrau Cyfieithu (Translation Skills) will build on the linguistic skills developed in Defnyddio’r Gymraeg and Ymarfer Ysgrifennu. The focus of the Portffolio Proffesiynol (Professional Portfolio) module will be on independent research skills. Here there will be an opportunity to: link your project to your work experience, to focus on an individual case study, or to present a portfolio of relevant materials. You will also select another 60 credits from those offered by the School of Welsh modules (with the exception of the Dissertation module).

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 Professional Welsh (for Beginners) Modules page.

Course content is for guidance purposes only and may be subject to change.

General University Costs

Home/EU Student Tuition Fees (starting in 2019–20 & 2020–21)

• Full time: £9,000 per year
• Part time: £750 per 10 credits

International Student Tuition Fees*
* Please note: the international tuition fees displayed are for the current academic year (2020-21). The fees for the next academic year (2021-22) will be confirmed soon.

When coming to University, you will have two main costs, Tuition Fees and Living 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 guest tickets (£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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

USA Requirements

International Year Zero:  HSD GPA 2.0 OR SAT 1500+ 
International Year 1:  HSD GPA 3.0 OR SAT 500+ each section OR ACTs 26+  
Undergraduate Courses:  HSD GPA 3.0 OR SAT 550+ each section OR ACTs 26+  
Postgraduate Courses:  Bachelor Degree GPA of 3.0. GRE not required 
PhD/Research Course:  Masters Degree 

Note: Some courses may require higher entry requirements. Refer Individual Course page for details. 

Applicants from USA need NOT provide additional evidence of English Language ability, if previous education was with English medium of instruction. Otherwise, an IELTS overall 6.0 with 5.5 in each component or equivalent is normally required (some courses may require a higher score).

For 2020 entry:

Typical offer is based on a minimum 112 tariff points from a Level 3 qualification* e.g.:

• A Levels (including grade B in Welsh)
• International Baccalaureate Diploma (including grade H6 in Welsh)
• BTEC National/Extended Diploma and Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma: DMM**
• City & Guilds Advanced Technical/ Extended Diploma: considered on a case by case basis**
• Access course with Welsh elemen
• 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

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.

To study a degree, diploma or certificate course 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 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 help and advice about being a mature student at Bangor, please visit the Study at Bangor site.

Specific entry requirements can be seen on the individual course pages.

EU and International students' entry requirements

For information and further detailed guidance on 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.

More information

Home/EU students and International UCAS applicants

E-mail for General Admissions: admissions@bangor.ac.uk or write to:

Admissions Office
Bangor University
Gwynedd
LL57 2TF

Telephone: +44 (0)1248 383717 

International students (non-UCAS applicants)

Email to International Admissions: internationaladmissions@bangor.ac.uk or write to

Admissions Office
Bangor University
Gwynedd
LL57 2TF

Telephone: +44 (0) 1248 382028

A degree in Professional Welsh can lead to a wide range of careers. There is tremendous demand for graduates from the School of Welsh and the skills that you learn in pursuing more practical modules are great preparation for a career and the jobs market. Many graduates go on to work in a variety of areas such as teaching (primary, secondary, further education, higher education), translation, journalism, media, editing and publishing, marketing and public relations, press officers , language planning, administration and the Civil Service.

Opportunities at Bangor

The University’s Skills and Employability Service provides a wide range of resources to help you achieve your graduate ambitions. Developing your personal skills and enhancing your employability while at university is becoming increasingly important in today’s job market.

The Bangor Employability Award (BEA) and Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR)

The Bangor Employability Award enables students to build on their transferable skills through the recognition of activities they become involved in during their university life. Students can gain points towards the award through extra-curricular activities such as volunteering, attending workshops or actively participating in the Students’ Union’s clubs and societies.

The HEAR is a final graduation report that all undergraduates receive. The report itemises all academic achievements and additional extra and co-curricular achievements. Academic achievements appear on the report automatically and students are able to note their eligible activities by using the online platform ‘My Employability Hub’. This ensures that future employers are made aware of the additional skills the student has gained outside of the curriculum.

The Award is open to everyone and taking part in the scheme can make a major difference to your performance in the graduate job market.

Internships

Bangor University runs undergraduate and postgraduate internship schemes twice a year, which allow students to work in a professional environment while learning relevant skills and earning money.

Internships offer valuable experience in a professional workplace and there are a range of internships you can get involved in.

Student Volunteering

Not only is volunteering worthwhile – it also improves your employability and widens your experience.

The Students’ Union has a dedicated Student Volunteering Office (SVB) which currently contributes a total of 600 hours each week, promoting a close relationship between the university and the local community. Find out more on the Student Volunteering pages of the Bangor Student’s Union website.

TARGETconnect - Working while you Study

The Skills and Employability Service offers support to students searching for employment during and after their studies.

TARGETconnect advertises the following opportunities:

• Graduate jobs – Local, National and International
• Full-time, part time, permanent and temporary jobs
• Work experience / internships
• Voluntary opportunities

General University Application

How to apply through UCAS

Apply online via UCAS

UCAS stands for Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. All university applications are processed through UCAS and then passed on to the universities listed.

Students may apply for a maximum of five courses. For Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary courses students are only allowed to apply for four courses.

The application form is found on the UCAS website, under ‘Apply’.

When to apply?

We advise you to apply as early as you can as we will start considering applications and making offers straight away. The initial UCAS deadline for UK and EU students is 15 January, however we welcome applications after this date. Those received between 15 January and 30 June will continue to be forwarded to universities by UCAS and will receive consideration where places are still available.

Your Personal Statement

Writing your Personal Statement is the part of the application form that requires most work. You are only allowed 47 lines or 500–550 words to explain why you wish to study the course and the skills you have that are essential for university study.

To write a successful personal statement for your UCAS application you must have a good understanding about the course and its content. Remember that you write only one personal statement for your five choices. Make sure that the courses are similar, if not the same, and make sure that you do not mention a specific course or university.

Read our advice on how to draft a winning personal statement or watch our video guide.

After you’ve applied

You should keep an eye on your application on UCAS ‘Track’. Offers from universities will appear on track and you will be able to accept or decline offers.

You can only reply when you have received all your decisions. The types of reply you can make are firm acceptance and insurance acceptance. Usually students reply in early May.

International Student?

If you are an international student, our International Student pages offer further information on applying.

As an international student applying to study one of our undergraduate programmes you can:

• apply via UCAS,
• or apply direct to Bangor through our online direct application system
• or apply with the help of one of our recruitment agents

Erasmus student?

We receive around 350 exchange students every year from all over the world. 45% of these students come from Europe and the remainder from as far as Singapore, South Korea and Australia.

The University’s International Exchanges Office is responsible for welcoming these students.

Confused about your next steps?

Take a look at our Going to University website for information and advice on getting ready for university.