BA (Hons) Liberal Arts

Study Liberal Arts at Stirling and join a vibrant academic community and explore key questions about society, identity, power, and culture.

Key facts

Study mode: Full-time
Duration: 2 years
Location: University of Stirling campus
Start date: September
UCAS Code: Y002

Fees and funding

Course fee: TBC

Apply now

Our BA (Hons) Liberal Arts – International Advanced Entry is designed for students who have already completed an associate degree, higher diploma, or equivalent qualification. This two-year course allows you to transfer credits and complete your undergraduate degree at the University of Stirling.

You’ll join a vibrant academic community and explore key questions about society, identity, power, and culture. Through a flexible and interdisciplinary curriculum, you’ll develop the critical thinking, research and communication skills that employers value – and that help you make sense of a complex world.

Why Stirling?

  • Direct entry into year three of our BA course
  • Designed for international students with prior undergraduate study
  • Flexible pathways in English Studies, Film and Media, History or Politics
  • Interdisciplinary research project in your final semester
  • Supportive learning environment with expert academic staff 

What you'll study

Each semester, you’ll take:

  • One 20-credit compulsory module in your chosen subject area
  • Two 20-credit option modules from across the four pathways

In your final semester, you’ll complete:

  • A 40-credit interdisciplinary research project
  • One 20-credit option module

This structure gives you the freedom to tailor your degree to your interests, while building depth in your chosen concentration.

Pathways and modules

Choose one of four subject areas to focus your studies and find out more about the modules in each pathway.

Pathway - History

Compulsory full time modules

Semester 5 Between memory and myth: oral history as a disruptive method (HISU9O5) 20 credits
Semester 6 From Glasgow to New York: The Modern History of the Worlds Greatest Cities (HISU9B6) 20 credits
Semester 7 Research Project Preparation (LANU9C7) 20 credits
Semester 8 Liberal Arts Research Project (LIAU9RP) 40 credits

Pathway - Politics

Compulsory full time modules

Semester 5 International Politics (POLU9IP) 20 credits
Semester 6 Comparative Politics - States, People, Power (POLU9CP) 20 credits
Semester 7 Research Project Preparation (LANU9C7) 20 credits
Semester 8 Liberal Arts Research Project (LIAU9RP) 40 credits

Pathway - English Studies

Compulsory full time modules

Semester 5 Pen, Print and Press: Documenting the Eighteenth Century (ARTU9EC) 20 credits
Semester 6 Language and Linguistics I (ENGU9L1) 20 credits
Semester 7 Research Project Preparation (LANU9C7) 20 credits
Semester 8 Liberal Arts Research Project (LIAU9RP) 40 credits

Pathway - Film and Media

Compulsory full time modules

Semester 5 Media Audiences & Reception Studies (FMSU9MA) 20 credits
Semester 6 Global Film as/and Philosophy (FMSU9GP) 20 credits
Semester 7 Research Project Preparation (LANU9C7) 20 credits
Semester 8 Liberal Arts Research Project (LIAU9RP) 40 credits

Year 3 options

Semester 5 options

Heritage Protection: Theory & Practice (ARTUHT5) 20 credits
The Museum: History, Theory, Practice (ARTUMU5) 20 credits
Digital Creativity (CMCU9CD) 20 credits
Introduction to Audio and Video Production (FMSU9A5) 20 credits
Media Futures: Navigating the Media of Tomorrow (FMSU9MF) 20 credits
Screening Science Fiction (FMSU9SF) 20 credits
Terrorism in the Media (FMSU9TM) 20 credits
Gender in Britain 1750-1930 (HISU9F5) 20 credits
Medieval Castles: Fortress, Home and Symbol (HISU9I5) 20 credits
Nationalism and the End of the Great Continental Empires, c.1830-1922 (HISU9K5) 20 credits
Stewart Scotland 1406-88: Kingship or Tyranny? (HISU9P5) 20 credits
Contemporary Journalism Practice (JOUU9A5) 20 credits
Nations and Nationalism (POLU9NT) 20 credits
Urban Politics and Policy (POLU9UP) 20 credits

Semester 6 options

Fact-checking and Fake News (ARTU9B4) 20 credits
Video Games and Philosophy (CMCU9VG) 20 credits
Creative Writing I (ENGU9C1) 20 credits
Dragons, Death and Heroes: Medieval Literature and its Legacy (ENGU9EL) 20 credits
Nations and Traditions 2: Return of the Pagan Gods (ENGU9N2) 20 credits
Gender and Representation (FMSU9AS) 20 credits
Editing and Workflow (FMSU9EW) 20 credits
Everyday Life in Victorian Britain - Hands on History (HISU9G4) 20 credits
Rebellion and Enlightenment: Scotland 1713 to 1815 (HISU9S4) 20 credits
Broadcast Journalism (JOUU9BJ) 20 credits
Critical Security Studies (POLU9CS) 20 credits
Environmental Politics in an International Context (POLU9EZ) 20 credits
International Negotiation (POLU9IN) 20 credits
Problems in International Politics (POLU9X1) 20 credits

Year 4 options

Semester 7 options

Heritage Protection: Theory & Practice (ARTUHT5) 20 credits
The Museum: History, Theory, Practice (ARTUMU5) 20 credits
Creative Writing II (ENGU9C2) 20 credits
Media Futures: Navigating the Media of Tomorrow (FMSU9MF) 20 credits
Screening Science Fiction (FMSU9SF) 20 credits
Terrorism in the Media (FMSU9TM) 20 credits
Gender in Britain 1750-1930 (HISU9F5) 20 credits
Medieval Castles: Fortress, Home and Symbol (HISU9I5) 20 credits
Nationalism and the End of the Great Continental Empires, c.1830-1922 (HISU9K5) 20 credits
Stewart Scotland 1406-88: Kingship or Tyranny? (HISU9P5) 20 credits
Magazine Journalism (JOUU9MJ) 20 credits
Nations and Nationalism (POLU9NT) 20 credits
Urban Politics and Policy (POLU9UP) 20 credits

Semester 8 options

Video Games and Philosophy (CMCU9VG) 20 credits
Creative Writing I (ENGU9C1) 20 credits
Dragons, Death and Heroes: Medieval Literature and its Legacy (ENGU9EL) 20 credits
Nations and Traditions 2: Return of the Pagan Gods (ENGU9N2) 20 credits
Gender and Representation (FMSU9AS) 20 credits
Everyday Life in Victorian Britain - Hands on History (HISU9G4) 20 credits
Rebellion and Enlightenment: Scotland 1713 to 1815 (HISU9S4) 20 credits
Critical Security Studies (POLU9CS) 20 credits
Environmental Politics in an International Context (POLU9EZ) 20 credits
International Negotiation (POLU9IN) 20 credits
Problems in International Politics (POLU9X1) 20 credits

Questions we explore

  • How does literature and media shape political discourse?
  • What does history teach us about peace and conflict?
  • Who holds power – and how are they held accountable?
  • What is identity, and why does it matter?
  • How can we understand the world through creative and critical practice? 

Where this degree can take you

Graduates from our Liberal Arts course go on to careers in:

  • media and communications
  • public policy and government
  • education and research
  • cultural and heritage sectors
  • International organisations
  • creative industries

You’ll leave Stirling with a globally recognised degree and the skills to thrive in a wide range of professional environments.

Contact us

Full information on this course is coming soon. In the meantime, please contact the Faculty of Arts and Humanities if you have any queries.