Welsh (a Pathway for Second Language Students)
Swansea University
UCAS Code: Q560 | Bachelor of Arts - BA
Swansea University
UCAS Code: Q560 | Bachelor of Arts - BA
Entry requirements
A level
Access to HE Diploma
Access to Humanities Course
We recognise the EPQ as an excellent indicator of success. If you are predicted a grade B or above in the EPQ, you will receive an offer with a one grade reduction, to include your EPQ with a grade B.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
GCSEs: English/Welsh Language Grade C
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
International students will also require a score of 4 at Higher Level English Language or Literature, or 5 at Standard Level English Language or Literature.
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
UCAS Tariff
Swansea University accepts the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales as fully equivalent to x1 A-Level.
Swansea University will accept the Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate as fully equivalent to one A-Level.
About this course
What influence does the Welsh language have on international matters? How is culture communicated through the language? How important is it that content is created through the medium of a minority language today? Here are only a few big questions that form the part of our BA Welsh (Second Language) course at Swansea University.
Immerse yourself in the literature, and poetry of Wales while learning about the social, cultural, and political history of the language. You will study a wide range of literature including plays, short stories, and novels, as well as poetry from the medieval bardic tradition to modern protest songs.
You will develop a keen understanding of Welsh language and grammar, sociolinguistics, language planning policy, and learn valuable translation skills.
Throughout your studies, you will develop excellent research and analytical skills and learn to present your ideas effectively both verbally and in writing, which can all lead to various career opportunities.
**Why Welsh (a Pathway for Second Language Students) at Swansea?**
- A BA Welsh degree from Swansea University explores the Welsh language in an international context, discussing language policy, world literature and translation.
- All modules have been designed by expert researchers, with a focus on ensuring our student community learns the necessary skills to succeed in the world of work.
Celtic Studies at Swansea is ranked:
- 2nd in the UK Overall (Times Good University Guide 2025)
**Your Welsh (a Pathway for Second Language Students) Experience**
Every step of our BA Welsh (First Language) degree has been designed to ensure you can learn to communicate confidently and are equipped with thorough research skills.
Tailoring our modules and assessment to ensure you can gain the professional skills employers value is very important to us, and we work alongside institutions in Wales and beyond to ensure that our Welsh degree responds to the demands of a global job market.
We offer a wide variety of assessment methods that have been carefully designed to ensure you gain skills that will help you achieve your career goals or post-graduate ambitions.
As part of our community of students, you’ll receive the best support for your educational needs.
Modules
Your first year will include a mixture of compulsory and optional modules, with examples of compulsory modules from recent years including:
• Defnyddio'r Laith
• Trawsieithu
Your second and third years will comprise entirely optional modules from an expansive range of subject areas. Examples of optional modules in recent years have included:
• Hawliau Laith yn y Cyd-destun Rhyngwladol
• Amlddiwylliannedd a'r Gymraeg
• Cyfraith Hywel
• Blas ar Ymchwil
• Y Gymraeg, Datganoli a'r Gyfraith
Your final year will include an optional independent dissertation project.
For the full programme structure and module breakdown, please visit our webpage at: https://www.swansea.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/culture-communication/welsh/ba-welsh-second-language
Assessment methods
We are proud to provide an outstanding educational experience, using the most effective learning and teaching approaches, carefully tailored to suit the specific needs of your course. Apart from a small number of online-only courses, most of our courses consist of in-person, on-campus teaching, enabling full engagement with your lecturers and fellow students.
Practical skills sessions, lab work seminars, and workshops predominantly take place in person, allowing for group working and demonstrations. We also operate virtual labs and Simulated Learning Environments which will facilitate greater access to training opportunities in the future. However, our approach also includes the use of some online learning to support and enhance traditional face-to-face teaching.
Online learning may take place ‘live’ using software such as Zoom, allowing you to interact with the lecturer and other students and to ask questions. Lecture recordings also allow for more flexibility to revisit material, to revise for assessments and to enhance learning outside of the classroom. Some modules have extra resources in Canvas, such as videos, slides and quizzes enabling further flexible study.
This course may offer some modules taught through the medium of Welsh or bilingually for students who consider themselves to be fluent Welsh speakers. For more details on the provision available see the Welsh Provision expander below.
Extra funding
You may be eligible for funding to help support your study.
To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page https://www.swansea.ac.uk/undergraduate/scholarships/
Academi Hywel Teifi at Swansea University and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol offer a number of generous scholarships and bursaries for students who wish to study through the medium of Welsh or bilingually. For further information about the opportunities available to you, visit the Academi Hywel Teifi Scholarships and Bursaries page https://www.swansea.ac.uk/academi-hywel-teifi/learn/scholarships/
The Uni
Singleton Park Campus
Academi Hywel Teifi
What students say
How do students rate their degree experience?
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Welsh studies
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Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
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Welsh studies
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Welsh language
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£27k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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