Welsh (a Pathway for Second Language Students)

Discover a fresh and exciting approach to studying Welsh with Swansea University’s BA Cymraeg (Ail Iaith). This innovative degree explores the language, literature, and culture of Wales while looking outward to global connections and multiculturalism. You will examine what it means to speak, write, and live through the medium of Welsh in the twenty-first century, gaining a rich understanding of its role in society today.

The programme is designed around three key themes – Creativity, Employability, and Welsh in Society – ensuring a varied and stimulating academic experience. You will explore the Welsh language in an international context, considering linguistic diversity and the challenges and opportunities facing minority languages worldwide. This outward- looking perspective makes your learning relevant and globally informed.

Employability is embedded throughout the degree. You will develop transferable skills in communication, research, translation, and bilingual working, preparing you for careers in education, publishing, broadcasting, public services, and the creative industries. Practical assessments and real-world projects help you graduate with confidence and experience to thrive in a bilingual workplace.

Whether you are fluent or still building confidence, you will be supported in a welcoming, inclusive environment. You will also be encouraged to take ownership of your learning, developing independent research skills that prepare you for postgraduate study or professional roles.

From literature to sociolinguistics, this degree offers a dynamic, outward-looking curriculum that celebrates the richness of Welsh while equipping you for the future.

Enhance your experience with a Year Abroad or Year in Industry. Spend time studying overseas or gain paid workplace experience (average salary over £20,000), boosting your skills and employability.

Why Welsh (a Pathway for Second Language Students) at Swansea?
You will be based on our stunning Singleton Park Campus, overlooking Swansea Bay on the edge of the Gower Peninsula.

You will benefit from the skills and experience of prominent authors and poets on our academic team.

Cultural Studies at Swansea is ranked:

4th in the UK for student experience (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026)
We pride ourselves in preparing you for life beyond university. We are able to do this by using our connections to industry, and our emphasis on the particular interpersonal skills that our industry panel identify as key within their recruitment processes.

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

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.