Welsh (for Beginners) BA (Hons)

Aberystwyth University

There has never been a more exciting time to study Welsh at university level. The establishment of the Welsh Parliament (Y Senedd) and the extension of powers to it in recent years has added to the need for high-calibre graduates who can join a professional, bilingual workforce and work confidently through the medium of both Welsh and English.

By choosing to study for a degree in Welsh, you will have the opportunity to gain a unique insight into the language and culture of Wales, and by choosing Aberystwyth University, you will be joining a vibrant community in the heart of Wales.

Aberystwyth, situated on the west coast of Wales between Cardigan Bay and the Cambrian Mountains, is a friendly, outward-looking community located in the heart of Welsh-speaking Wales. Aberystwyth is steeped in history - an environment where the medieval and modern sit, with ease, side by side. It is the ideal place to study one of Europe's oldest languages.

Why study Welsh in Aberystwyth?

• World-renowned - Located in the heart of Welsh-speaking Wales, the Department of Welsh and Celtic Studies at Aberystwyth University is a world-renowned centre for research, and home to an international, lively and welcoming cohort of students and staff.
• History - You will be studying in one of the oldest Welsh departments in Wales and the UK.
• Student Satisfaction - In the recent national student satisfaction survey, 100% of our students were satisfied in the subject of Welsh Studies (NSS 2020).
• A place to flourish - Join our vibrant, exciting Welsh community here at Aberystwyth and you will flourish. Not only do we have a Students Union, but UMCA (Undeb Myfyrwyr Cymraeg Aberystwyth) host many events and societies for those who wish to be part of the wider welsh community.
• Exciting modules - You will have many stimulating modules to choose from such as creative writing, professional welsh, translation, Welsh in the media, Welsh Literature, Folk Welsh and many more.
• A shared vision - You will be joining an active community of students and researchers who are committed to promoting a wider understanding of the Welsh language and other Celtic languages, their history, their literature and their place in the modern world.
• Small groups - You will be taught in small friendly groups by teaching staff who are experts in their field.
• The National Library of Wales is a stone's throw away from our Penglais Campus. It is one of only five copyright libraries in the Uk - one of a kind in Wales, allowing students unlimited access to its rare collection of literature.
• Students can explore studying in another country under the International Exchange programme.

On this four-year BA Welsh degree, you will learn Welsh from scratch and you can look forward to becoming fluent as a speaker, reader and writer of Welsh over the course of your studies.

What will I learn?

Below is an example of what you may learn during your four-year degree programme.

In your first year, you will:

• commence our intense language modules which will include speaking, reading and writing
• be introduced to Welsh Literature (with some works read in translation).

In your second and third year:

• you will concentrate on improving your written Welsh
• you will join other students in the department for a thorough grounding in literature
• you will discover Welsh Culture, social history and its institutions.

By your third year, you will be studying alongside first language students and will be equipped to follow the full Honours course.

How will I be taught?

Teaching in the Welsh Department happens through a combination of lectures, seminars and individual tutorials. The atmosphere in seminars is more informal, in order to foster open discussion.