Develop an interdisciplinary understanding of today’s complex world and its challenges from subjects including English, history, philosophy, and global politics.
Shape your own degree in humanities and social sciences.
Study at ARU in Cambridge, and explore global issues and challenges such as inequality, social justice, violence, the essence of humanity and the future of AI.
This course includes a range of optional modules, so you can focus on your areas of interest. You'll also build your research skills, and learn how to deliver arguments through different communication channels.
Throughout the course, you’ll develop transferable skills that will prepare you to tackle real-world problems in a systematic and flexible manner.
Why ARU?
Tailor your degree to your own interests, with a range of optional modules.
Build your knowledge as you study alongside students from across the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Make contacts through a range of events including guest talks and live lit jams.
Showcase your writing at events organised by our Cambridge Writing Centre.
Graduate with skills and knowledge that are valued in the 21st-century workplace.
These include independent thought, and the ability to communicate your research findings to diverse audiences.
While you're studying here, you'll enhance your skills through live briefs, with external businesses giving you real-world challenges to solve. You’ll also have opportunities to gain work experience through our contacts with local organisations and employers, and to volunteer in local schools.
You can choose to study a modern foreign language, which will give you a real advantage in the global job market, or study abroad for a trimester.
You’ll acquire skills and knowledge that transfer to a wide range of graduate occupations, including:
teaching
journalism
law
business
consultancy
administration
librarianship
NGOs
the military and the civil service.
Studying Liberal Arts will also help you develop a greater understanding of global issues, and reflect on important ethical and moral issues of our time. This will allow you to develop the values and practices required for ethical and effective leadership, such as conflict resolution and the analysis of strategic and tactical uses of different forms of communication – shaped by, among other things, power, culture and identity.
Graduation doesn't have to be the end of your time with us. You might decide to stay at ARU and study for a Masters, such as our MA English Literature. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.
We want you to be a step ahead when you graduate, so we offer:
We’re here to help you develop your CV and find that all-important role after graduation. Our Employability Service offers tailored career appointments, advice on writing your CV, help to complete job applications, and much more. You’ll have 24/7 access to an online Careers Centre too, which is packed with useful resources.
The support continues after you graduate, with lifelong access to our Alumni Career Centre.
Study history, literature, language and communication and philosophy and the ways in which each of these subjects reflect and address societal issues such as migration and global peace or “wokeness”.
Choose from a range of optional modules that cover sociology and criminology, too. Explore how contemporary global issues and challenges, such as inequality and social justice, violence, the essence of humanity and the future of AI, shape our perception of the world.
Consider the social usefulness and relevance of contemporary art, and co-curate your own online art gallery.
You'll also learn to communicate your ideas through a variety of creative and digital formats – and develop your research skills by completing a Major Project.
Modules are subject to change and availability, and may vary by location. If you have the choice of optional modules, these are indicated with a *.
Year 1
Introduction to the Study of Literature and Writing
A History of Now
Language, Communication and Society
Introduction to Philosophy: The Big Questions
Into ARU
Year 2
Ruskin Module (15 credits)
Give Peace a Chance: Fundamental Issues and Perspectives on Contemporary International Relations
Woke Wars
Mobilities and Migration
Bridging Cultures
Critical Social Thought: Knowledge, Power and Division
Key Paradigms 2: Sociology and Politics *
Sociology of Health Inequalities *
Violence and Confrontation *
The United States in the 20th Century *
Professional Placement *
Digital Media Theory: Social Media, AI and the Cultures of the Internet *
Science Fiction *
Leisure and Popular Culture in Britain, 1800 to the Present *
Violence, Gender and Victimisation *
Spirituality, Religion and the Secular *
From Welfare State to European State? British politics and society, 1906-1975 *
Hanging, Prisons and Community Service: Crime and Punishment in Britain throughout the Ages *
Online Journalism *
Cult Media *
Researching Society and Culture *
Anglia Language Programme (15 credits) *
Year 3
Major Project
Research Communication
The Making of Modern Media
Global Feminisms *
From Workhouses to Universal Credit: The Past, Present and Future of the British Welfare State *
The Cultural Politics of Celebrity *
Key Paradigms 3: International and Global Perspectives in Education *
Literature and Exile: Displacement, Identity, Self *
Gender and Sexuality in Britain: 1880-2000 *
Concepts of Good and Evil *
Environment, Nature and Society *
A Global History of Government and Society, 1945-1999 *
You can choose to take an optional placement year as part of this course. Placements typically happen in Year 3, and your course will take four years overall. Find out more about placement years.
A foundation year prepares you for the rest of your course, and focuses on general skills such as researching and referencing, numeracy and ICT, and communication. We'll also start to look at some more subject-specific topics.
Your placement year is a chance to put everything you’ve learnt in Years 1 and 2 into practice. Spend typically 9-12 months working for an organisation, developing your skills and gaining valuable work experience. Our Placements Team is here to help you secure a placement.
Read profiles of teaching and research staff on this course.
Join our student community and make full use of facilities including extensive library and IT resources.
Take part in events organised by our Cambridge Writing Centre. Our Creative Showcase shines a spotlight on what makes ARU creative and cultural – our spaces, places and people.
You’ll benefit from a Personal Development Tutor from day one, who's there to support you throughout your time at university.
You can also access support with careers and employability, study skills, health and wellbeing, and more.
Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.
Other equivalent qualifications may be accepted for entry to this course; please email [email protected] for further information. Applicants to undergraduate courses can also check our information about undergraduate entry qualifications.
You'll need a computer and reliable internet access to successfully engage with your course.
We don't accept AS level qualifications on their own for entry to our undergraduate degree courses. However for some degree courses a small number of tariff points from AS levels are accepted as long as they're combined with tariff points from A levels or other equivalent level 3 qualifications in other subjects.
Main
5 GCSEs at grade D, or grade 3, or above and evidence of two years post-GCSE study at Level 3.
If you have achieved at least grade E in one A level, or equivalent, you are exempt from the two years post-GCSE study requirement, but you still must meet the GCSE requirements.
Applicants who do not meet the two years post GCSE study at level 3 may be considered based on their satisfactory employment history, which must be a minimum of two years full time employment supported by employer evidence and deemed appropriate by the University for meeting the course of study applied for.
If English is not your first language you will be expected to demonstrate a certificated level of proficiency of at least IELTS 5.5 (Academic level) or equivalent English Language qualification, as recognised by Anglia Ruskin University.
Important additional notes
Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.
Other equivalent qualifications may be accepted for entry to this course; please email [email protected] for further information. Applicants to undergraduate courses can also check our information about undergraduate entry qualifications.
You'll need a computer and reliable internet access to successfully engage with your course.
We don't accept AS level qualifications on their own for entry to our undergraduate degree courses. However for some degree courses a small number of tariff points from AS levels are accepted as long as they're combined with tariff points from A levels or other equivalent level 3 qualifications in other subjects.
Important additional notes
Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.
Other equivalent qualifications may be accepted for entry to this course; please email [email protected] for further information. Applicants to undergraduate courses can also check our information about undergraduate entry qualifications.
You'll need a computer and reliable internet access to successfully engage with your course.
We don't accept AS level qualifications on their own for entry to our undergraduate degree courses. However for some degree courses a small number of tariff points from AS levels are accepted as long as they're combined with tariff points from A levels or other equivalent level 3 qualifications in other subjects.
International students
We welcome applications from international and EU students, and accept a range of international qualifications.
This course includes an optional placement year. The placement year fee is:
£1,500 (2025-26)
£1,700 (2026-27)
You will be responsible for covering the cost of travelling to your placement during your placement year. This cost could vary significantly depending on where your placement is located, where you live during your course and how you travel.
Living at university
We understand that affordability is an important issue when you’re thinking about studying at university.
The overall cost of university can vary depending on where you’re studying and which course you’re taking.
Costs may also be lower if you're living at home. However, some of the main costs you’ll want to think about include:
accommodation
bills
internet, mobile phone and calls
travel
food and drink
socialising and going out
study materials.
Most full-time UK students can apply for a Maintenance Loan to help cover living costs. More about maintenance loans.
Our Money Advice Service is on hand if you’d like to chat about living costs, budgets and managing your money. You can also find out more about student finance at one of our Open Days.
We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries, which provide extra financial support while you’re at university.
If you're eligible for a scholarship, you'll generally receive it automatically – there's no need to apply.
Our campus employment bureau, ARU Temps, can help you find part-time work that fits around your studies. It's a great chance to enhance your CV and boost your income while you study.
Dr Richard Carr
Dr Bettina Beinhoff
Dr Tory Young