Welsh and Politics (BA)

at Cardiff University

Course structure

 

This is a three-year full-time degree, consisting of 120 credits a year.

The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum and will be reviewed prior to the 2023/2024 academic year. The final modules will be published by September 2023.

 

Year one

You will take 120 credits in total, equally split between 60 credits in Welsh and 60 credits in Politics.

 

The emphasis in year one is on developing key skills (linguistic, analytical, creative and employability) in the fields of language and literature, and all students follow a set number of modules with an appropriate number of contact hours. The School will also provide additional arrangements for second language students to develop and practise their language skills.

 

For the first-language route the core modules are:

• Iaith ac Ystyr [Language and Meaning]
• Awdur, Testun a Darllenydd [Author, Text and Reader]
• Y Gymraeg yn y Gymru Gyfoes [The Welsh Language in Contemporary Wales]

 

For the second-language route the core modules are:

• Sgiliau Iaith [Language Skills]
• Sgiliau Astudio Llenyddiaeth [Studying Literature Skills]
• Y Gymraeg Heddiw [The Welsh Language Today]

 

Year one Politics is a foundation year to give you the skills for advanced study and an overview of the subject to inform your later choices. You will take our foundation core modules to lay the groundwork for your study in years two and three.

 

 Optional modules for year one

 

Module title	Module code	Credits
Sgiliau Astudio Llenyddiaeth	CY1513	20 credits
Sgiliau Iaith	CY1515	20 credits
Y Gymraeg Heddiw	CY1516	20 credits
Iaith ac Ystyr	CY1600	20 credits
Awdur, Testun a Darllenydd	CY1601	20 credits
Y Gymraeg yn y Gymru Gyfoes	CY1602	20 credits
Y Da, Drwg a'r Gwleidyddol: The Good, the Bad and the Political	PL9193	20 credits
Introduction to Political Science	PL9194	20 credits
Introduction to International Relations	PL9195	20 credits
Introduction to Political Thought	PL9196	20 credits
Introduction to Globalisation	PL9197	20 credits
Introduction to European Integration	PL9198	20 credits
Introduction to Government	PL9199	20 credits

 

Year two

You will take 60 credits in Welsh and 60 credits in Politics.

 

In year two Welsh, you will build on the skills and knowledge acquired in year one. The core linguistic elements of the course focus on language skills within both an academic and a vocational context, and include a period of work experience in a workplace in which Welsh is used on a daily basis.

 

Alongside these core elements, the Welsh course offers optional modules in years two and three in Welsh language, literature and culture, including several with direct relevance to specific fields of employment, such as language planning, scriptwriting and translation.

 

You will also take optional modules from our range of politics and international relations options.

 

 Core modules for year two

 

Module title	Module code	Credits
Yr Iaith ar Waith	CY2205	20 credits

 

 Optional modules for year two

 

Module title	Module code	Credits
Dafydd ap Gwilym	CY2105	20 credits
Sgiliau Academaidd Uwch	CY2210	20 credits
Rhyddiaith Ddiweddar	CY2410	20 credits
Cynllunio Ieithyddol a Pholisi Iaith	CY2610	20 credits
Sgriptio	CY2700	20 credits
Canu'r Gymru Newydd: Barddoniaeth er 1990	CY2810	20 credits
Caffael Iaith	CY2910	20 credits
Gender, Sex and Death	PL9220	20 credits
International Relations of the Cold War	PL9221	20 credits
Colonialism, GPE and Development	PL9222	20 credits
Digital Technologies and Global Politics	PL9223	20 credits
Global Governance	PL9224	20 credits
EU Politics	PL9225	20 credits
From Espionage to Counter-Terrorism: Intelligence in Contemporary Politics	PL9229	20 credits
The Power and Politics of Research Methods	PL9230	20 credits
Critical War and Military Studies: an Introduction	PL9231	20 credits
Comparative European Politics	PL9232	20 credits
Modern Welsh Politics	PL9233	20 credits
Modern Political Thought: Machiavelli to Mill	PL9234	20 credits
Local to Global Sustainable Development	PL9236	20 credits
Damcaniaethu a Dadfeilio'r Gymdeithas Gyfalafol	PL9238	20 credits
Introduction to Data Science for Politics and International Relations	PL9239	20 credits
The Barbarians are Coming!: Cross-cultural Political Theories	PL9240	20 credits
Ideas and Ideology in British Politics	PL9241	20 credits
Animals, Air, and Areas beyond national jurisdiction - The Politics of Global Environmental Regimes	PL9242	20 credits
Governing Modern Britain	PL9243	20 credits
Credoau'r Cymry	PL9286	20 credits
British Politics since 1945	PL9287	20 credits
International Security: Concepts and Issues	PL9288	20 credits
Justice and Politics: Contemporary Political Theory	PL9291	20 credits
International Law in a Changing World	PL9299	20 credits

 

Year three

You will take 60 credits in Welsh and 60 credits in Politics.

 

In Welsh it is compulsory to choose one of the following modules:

• Blas ar Ymchwil [Research Taster]
• Ymchwilio Estynedig [Extended Research]

 

You have a choice of an essay or project of 5,000 words (20 credits) or 9,000 words (40 credits), to be completed under the direction of a member of staff who is an expert in the relevant field. This may lead to further research or provide an effective showcase for potential employers. You will also choose more optional modules.

 

You will take 60 credits in optional year three politics modules, including the option of writing a dissertation.  Our final year dissertation module gives you the option to write a dissertation and engage more deeply with a chosen topic area, as well as extending your research and analytical skills.

 

 Optional modules for year three

 

Module title	Module code	Credits
Dafydd ap Gwilym	CY3105	20 credits
Rhyddiaith Ddiweddar	CY3410	20 credits
Cynllunio Ieithyddol a Pholisi Iaith	CY3610	20 credits
Yr Ystafell Ddosbarth	CY3660	20 credits
Sgriptio	CY3700	20 credits
Cyfieithu Proffesiynol	CY3705	20 credits
Canu'r Gymru Newydd: Barddoniaeth er 1990	CY3810	20 credits
Blas ar Ymchwil	CY3900	20 credits
Ymchwilio Estynedig	CY3905	40 credits
Caffael Iaith	CY3910	20 credits
The History of Thought in International Relations	PL9311	20 credits
International Politics in the Nuclear Age	PL9320	20 credits
Africa in International Thought and Practice: Colonialism, Anticolonialism, Postcolonialism	PL9321	20 credits
Bombs, Bullets and Ballot-boxes: the Northern Ireland Conflict, 1969 to 1998	PL9324	20 credits
Political Economy: Rationality in an Irrational World?	PL9325	20 credits
Popular Culture and World Politics	PL9328	20 credits
War and Society	PL9331	20 credits
Cybersecurity: Diplomacy and Digital Rights in Global Politics	PL9332	20 credits
A History of British Intelligence	PL9333	20 credits
The Politics of Violence and Killing	PL9335	20 credits
Justice, Legitimacy and International Law	PL9336	20 credits
Latin American Politics	PL9337	20 credits
Sex, Drugs and Public Policy	PL9338	20 credits
Visual Global Politics	PL9339	20 credits
Politics in Practice: Work Placement Module	PL9340	20 credits
The Soul and the City: Plato's Political Philosophy	PL9341	20 credits
Crisis and Commitment in 20th Century Political Thought	PL9343	20 credits
Be the Change: Governing without the State	PL9346	20 credits
The Politics and Governance of Brexit	PL9347	20 credits
Representing Development	PL9348	20 credits
The Politics of Populism in Europe	PL9350	20 credits
Terrorism and (In)security	PL9351	20 credits
Radical Political Theory	PL9352	20 credits
Governing Global Public Health: Viral Pandemics, and the Global Drugs ‘Epidemic’	PL9353	20 credits
US Government and Politics	PL9374	20 credits
Cyfiawnder Byd-eang	PL9377	20 credits
Cenedlaetholdeb, Crefydd a Chyfiawnder: Hanes Athroniaeth yr 20fed Ganrif yng Nghymru	PL9378	20 credits
Parliamentary Studies Module	PL9380	20 credits
International Relations Dissertation	PL9385	20 credits
Politics Dissertation	PL9386	20 credits
Elections in the UK	PL9387	20 credits
Global International Organisation in World Politics	PL9391	20 credits
Personality and Power	PL9392	20 credits

A level

BBB-BBC. Must include grade B in Welsh First Language.

Extended/International Project Qualification: Applicants with grade A in the EPQ/IPQ will typically receive an offer one grade lower than the standard A level offer. Please note that any subject specific requirements must still be met.

 

International Baccalaureate

31-30 overall or 665-655 in 3 HL subjects. You must also have a Welsh First Language qualification equivalent to grade B at A-level.

 

GCSE
Grade B or grade 6 in GCSE English Language.

 

IELTS (academic)
At least 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in writing and a minimum of 6.0 in all other subskills.

 

TOEFL iBT
At least 90 overall with a minimum of 22 for writing and 20 in all other subskills.

 

PTE Academic
At least 62 overall with a minimum of 69 in writing and a minimum of 62 in all other communicative skills.

 

Trinity ISE II/III
II: a Distinction in Writing and at least one Distinction and two Merits in other components.
III: at least a Pass in all components.

 

Other accepted qualifications
Please visit our English Language requirements page for more information on our other accepted language qualifications.

Tuition fees for 2023 entry

Your tuition fees and how you pay them will depend on your fee status. Your fee status could be home, island or overseas.

Career prospects

School of Welsh
The demand for Welsh speakers means that a degree in Welsh can be highly valuable for jobs and roles that require bilingual speakers. Many of our graduates are now following careers in areas such as law, politics, media, performing arts, administration and education, or engaged in postgraduate study.

 

In 2015/16, 100% of the School of Welsh’s graduates who were available for work reported they were in employment and/or further study within six months of graduating.

 

School of Law and Politics
In 2015/16, 97% of the School’s graduates who were available for work reported they were in employment and/or further study within six months of graduating.

 

Politics at Cardiff is a respected recruitment pool for a variety of employers within this sector with the Public Service Ombudsman for Wales, the Department for Education, Oxford City Council, the UK Border Agency and a range of political parties all recruiting from the last graduating year.

 

The degree is also of interest to employers in both the public and private sectors, with graduates taking up management training opportunities within Ernst & Young, Enterprise Rent A Car, Zurich Insurance and King Worldwide.