Studying for a degree in Arts

An Honours degree at Glasgow offers you the flexibility to study a range of subjects in your first two years.  This will give you a taste of subjects before you decide what to specialise in for your Honours degree. You may choose to specialise in one subject and take a Single Honours degree.  Or take a Joint Honours degree and specialise in two subjects.

First year

In first year you normally choose three subjects to study at Level-1, two of which could form the basis of an Honours degree (no matter what your initial choice was on your UCAS application). You may also choose to pursue Honours in a subject which did not form part of your original UCAS application.

Second year

In second year you normally go on with at least two of your Level-1 subjects at Level-2, and continue to broaden your horizons by taking another subject at Level-1. As an Arts student, you will be required to take 120 credits in subjects taught by the College of Arts & Humanities over your first two years. The remaining credits can be taken in Arts, Social Science or Science courses.

In second year you continue with at least two of your Level-1 subjects at Level-2. These Level 2 subjects are the ones which you will have the opportunity to study at Honours level. You will also take another subject at Level-1, to increase your breadth of experience. As an Arts student, you will be required to take 120 credits in subjects taught by the College of Arts  & Humanities over your first two years. The remaining credits can be taken in Arts, Social Sciences or Science courses.

At the end of the second year you’ll normally progress to an MA Honours degree, provided you have met both the conditions of entry to Honours in your chosen subject(s) and the College of Arts  & Humanities Honours entry requirements. However, you can finish your studies at the end of third year with an MA (non-Honours) designated degree.

MA Honours degree

The MA Honours degree is a four-year degree. If you are studying a modern foreign language you’ll spend your third year abroad before returning to Glasgow for your final two years of study, so a degree including a modern language at Honours level will take five years to complete.

If you are interested in studying abroad for a year while studying subjects other than Modern Languages, you may apply to complete your Junior Honours year at a partner institution.