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Liberal Arts with a Language Year Abroad

  • BA (Hons)
  • 4 Years
  • Full-time with time abroad
  • 21/09/2026
  • Undergraduate
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More about Royal Holloway, University of London

Course options

2026-2027
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Course summary

A Liberal Arts degree is ideal for creative and inquisitive individuals who have a wide range of interests. Choosing to take this highly-prized yet rarely available degree at Royal Holloway will provide you with the opportunity to create a bespoke programme that is perfectly aligned to your individual interests and passions. Liberal Arts involves an internationally-recognised approach to study that will prepare you for life in our rapidly changing world. Multifaceted, diverse and adaptable graduates are increasingly sought by employers looking for people able to respond quickly and effectively to shifting needs and opportunities.

This degree is truly interdisciplinary and will allow you to have adopt either a concentrated or a broad focus in your studies, as you choose from a vast range of subjects available across the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. The core courses will enable you to connect with your fellow Liberal Arts students and provide you with a strong foundation upon which to base your chosen studies, and you will prompted to think about how to bring different disciplines into conversation with each other.

You will study a Modern European language (French, German, Italian or Spanish) throughout your degree, starting either as a beginner or at an advanced level, ensuring that you learn to speak and write fluently. This will prepare you for an exciting year abroad working, studying or both. This will enable you to immerse yourself in the language and culture and develop a global perspective, taking advantage of the partnerships we have with many prestigious universities or in an approved work placement overseas.

You will be taught by internationally renowned experts in their fields and be fully supported by a Personal Tutor. This programme has a strong emphasis on teamwork alongside individual development and will equip you with skills of critical thinking, creativity and adaptability.

  • A globally recognised degree; Liberal Arts degrees are well-established in the USA and Canada and are becoming increasingly popular in the UK

  • Careers support; you will have the opportunity to boost your skills by applying for work placements and take advantage of the careers support that we offer to graduates.

  • Inspiring international community; you will be part of our close-knit international community, the 8,500 students at Royal Holloway are from 130 countries.

Modules

Please refer to our website for information: https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/studying-here/undergraduate/liberal-arts/liberal-arts-with-a-language-year-abroad/

Assessment method

Your course will be assessed by a combination of examinations and in-course assignments in the form of essays or presentations.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • BA (Hons) • Full-time with time abroad • 4 Years

Start dates

  • 21/09/2026

Apply by
14 January

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
Y002
Institution code:
R72
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Year 1

Royal Holloway, University of London has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
Y002
Institution code:
R72
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Open days

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - Not accepted

A level - BBB - BBC

Where an applicant is taking the EPQ alongside A-levels, the EPQ will be taken into consideration and result in lower A-level grades being required. Socio-economic factors which may have impacted an applicant’s education will be taken into consideration and alternative offers may be made to these applicants.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DDM

BTEC must be in a relevant subject area.

Access to HE Diploma - D: 24 credits M: 18 credits

Scottish Higher - BBBBB

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DM

BTEC must be in a relevant subject plus an A Level Grade B.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016) - D

Plus two A Levels Grades B,B

Pearson BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF) - DDD

Pearson BTEC Diploma (QCF) - D*D

BTEC must be in a relevant subject plus an A Level Grade B.

Scottish Advanced Higher - BBB - BBC

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 30 points

6,5,5 at Higher Level OR a minimum of 32 points overall.

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)

Requirements are as for A-levels where one non-subject-specified A-level can be replaced by the same grade in the Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017) - H3, H3, H3, H3, H3

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal

Applicants with the Cambridge Pre-U are strongly encouraged to apply to Royal Holloway. Offers will be made on the basis of equivalent A-Level grades as can be found on the Royal Holloway website.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

We require English and Mathematics at grade 4/C.

Combinations of qualifications will be considered on an individual basis, please contact us at admissions.enquiries@rhul.ac.uk to discuss your situation.

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

At Royal Holloway, we know every student approaches university with different experiences and backgrounds. We look at each application individually, and different factors can affect the exact offer a student receives. For instance, our contextual offer scheme means students from disadvantaged socio-economic background can receive a different offer. For full details please see our website.

Learn more on the Royal Holloway, University of London website

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
EU£26800Year 1
Republic of Ireland£9535*Year 1
England£9535*Year 1
Northern Ireland£9535*Year 1
Scotland£9535*Year 1
Wales£9535*Year 1
Channel Islands£9535*Year 1
International£26800Year 1

* This is a provisional fee and subject to change.

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Home (UK) students tuition fee per year*: £9,535

EU and international students tuition fee per year**: £26,800

Other essential costs***: There are no single associated costs greater than £50 per item on this course.

*The tuition fee for Home (UK) undergraduates is controlled by Government regulations. This figure is the fee for the academic year 2025/26 and is shown as a guide. The fee for the academic year 2026/27 has not yet been announced.

**This figure is the fee for EU and international students on this course in the academic year 2026/27.

Royal Holloway reserves the right to increase tuition fees annually for all students. For further information see: https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/studying-here/fees-and-funding/

*** These estimated costs relate to studying this particular degree at Royal Holloway during the 2026/27 academic year. Costs, such as accommodation, food, books and other learning materials and printing, have not been included.

Sponsorship information

https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/studyhere/undergraduate/feesandfunding/bursariesandscholarships/home.aspx

Related courses

At Royal Holloway, University of London

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