Liberal Arts

On our BA (Hons) Liberal Arts in Cambridge, you’ll explore contemporary global issues and challenges from different fields within humanities and the social sciences, such as inequality and social justice, violence, the essence of humanity and the future of AI.

You’ll gain a thorough introduction to the study of liberal arts, as well as history, literature, and language and communication, and the ways in which each of these subjects reflect and address issues within societies across the globe.

Our optional modules will give you a wide variety of choice, allowing you to follow your own particular areas of interest and develop expertise for whichever career you hope to follow, with particular focus on affecting change within the modern world.

Throughout the course, you’ll develop critical and transferable skills that will prepare you to tackle real-world problems in a systematic and flexible manner, and deliver arguments to a wide range of audiences through different communication channels.

Our BA (Hons) Liberal Arts will equip you with 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, amongst many others.

It will also help you develop a greater understanding of national and international issues in the modern world, and the knowledge and skills to reflect on some of the most 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.

You could also learn more, develop a specialism or start an exciting career in research with our Masters degree in English Literature. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.

We place employability at the heart of the degree by embedding a range of intellectual, research and practical skills across each level of study that will give you a combination of independent thought and transferable expertise required in the 21st-century workplace.

Your skills and knowledge will be further enhanced by live briefs, with external businesses giving you real-world challenges that you’ll solve to benefit their organisation, while the final year module Research Communication module will allow you to practice communicating your research findings to larger diverse audiences. You’ll also have opportunities to gain work experience through our contacts with local organisations and employers, and to volunteer in local schools.

You’ll receive reflexive peer and tutor support throughout the course with our Personal Development Tutoring, helping you transition to university in your first year and continuing to support you as you explore your interests and career options in more detail.

Employability and personal career development

Informed by employers, our courses support an integrated approach to employability. You’ll have opportunities to develop the skills and abilities they are looking for and gain a deeper understanding of how your academic learning relates to the world of work through Live Briefs and Ruskin Modules.

To amplify your career ambition, you will need to actively dedicate time outside of your studies, whether you choose to explore placements, internships or volunteering. Or you could make a social impact by collaborating with our partner organisations through our volunteer scheme Students at the Heart of Knowledge Exchange (SHoKE). These all give you an edge, providing you with experience that you will be able to evidence on your CV and talk about in interviews.

Our Employability and Careers Service offers a range of expert advice and support to build your unique professional profile, including tailored career appointments, advice on writing your CV, and help to complete job applications. You’ll have 24/7 access to the Careers Centre, our comprehensive online digital resource, which empowers you to start building a Personal Career Development Plan from the very start. Design your future at ARU.