Welsh (for first or second language Welsh Speakers) BA (Hons)

Aberystwyth University

By choosing to study Welsh at Aberystwyth University, you will be joining a vibrant Welsh community, both within the university and outside. The Department of Welsh and Celtic Studies is home to a vibrant community of students and researchers, from Wales and beyond, within a bilingual town and area full of history, and where the Welsh language is an integral part of the fabric social.

You will learn about Welsh literature, culture, politics, history and sociology. All this will broaden your horizons and your knowledge of Wales will be valuable when you apply for jobs in Wales today.

This degree scheme is suitable for second language Welsh students, and for first language speakers. Whatever your situation, come and join us at Aberystwyth University. A degree in Welsh will prove that you can express yourself in Welsh effectively and purposefully, in writing and orally.

• A vibrant Welsh language community in the heart of Wales - You will be joining one of the strongholds of the Welsh language.
• Good reputation - The standard of research and teaching in this department in Aberystwyth is the highest possible.
• Leadership - The Department leads the sector in areas such as creative writing, the Welsh language in the professional workplace and translation studies, and everyone in the Department shares the aim of promoting a wider understanding of the Welsh language, its history , its literature, and its place in the modern world.
• History - This is the first Welsh Department to be established in Wales (1875).
• Experts - You will be taught by lecturers who are experts in their fields.
• A wide choice of modules - You will study fascinating subjects that reflect the latest research interests of our lecturers, from the history of our literature to contemporary literature, and from the sociology of the Welsh language to the tones and dialects of the Welsh language, and creative writing and screenwriting.
• The National Library of Wales - In addition to the extensive resources that the University has, the Department is on the doorstep of the National Library of Wales and its collection of fantastic literary, audio and visual resources.
• Vibrant Welsh Social Life - You can join Aberystwyth's Welsh Students' Union (UMCA), live in Pantycelyn hall, and take part in a host of fun activities organized by the union.
• Student Satisfaction - In the recent national survey of student satisfaction, there was 100% overall satisfaction in the field of Welsh Studies (NSS 2020).

We offer a fascinating range of individual modules that reflect the latest research interests of our lecturers: the history of our literature and contemporary literature, literary theory, children's literature, folklore, women's and gender studies, creative writing and scriptwriting, registers and dialects of the Welsh, the language in professional contexts, translation and adaptation, the Welsh language and the media, the sociology of the Welsh language.

What will I learn?

Here is a summary:

First Language - In the first year you will have the opportunity to see which aspect of the Welsh language interests you the most. You will learn about a variety of literary periods and other aspects of the subject in order to be able to choose your unique combination of modules in the second and third year.

Second Language - In the first year you will be taught separately from the first language students. This will give you the opportunity to gain confidence and improve your language skills with the support of staff and your fellow students. In the second year you will follow other language modules in order to further develop your confidence and you will also be able to choose from the wide variety of modules available from the Department.

How will I be taught?

In the Welsh Language Department you will learn through a combination of traditional lectures, seminars and other innovative learning methods. There is a more informal atmosphere in the seminars, in order to foster a more open discussion.

How will I be assessed?

Your work will be assessed through exams, through regular assessment, and through setting and marking essays and exercises.