Degree completion in the Humanities

Degree Completion in the Humanities

www.uwtsd.ac.uk

Degree Completion at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David: If you are interested in travel and in experiencing the rich cultural heritage that is Wales and the United Kingdom, why not complete your Degree at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David.

This is a well-established, cost effective and successful transfer pathway that students from partner community colleges have undertaken for a number of years. By transferring to UWTSD to complete your BA, you will have the opportunity to: • study at a traditional and highly respected institution.

• gain a British Bachelor of Arts degree with just one additional year of study.

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work with leading authorities in their chosen field of study and be taught by widely published and internationally renowned scholars.

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acquire an invaluable set of experiences that comes from international travel through encountering different people, languages and cultures.

• spend a year in an area of outstanding natural beauty, on the cusp of the Cambrian Mountains and rich in cultural heritage and history.

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Study at a University steeped in tradition but preparing its students for the 21st Century The University of Wales Trinity Saint David has its roots in the foundation of St David’s College, Lampeter in 1822.

The foundation date makes it the third oldest degree awarding institution in England and Wales outside of Oxford and Cambridge, and has left an indelible mark in the form of the beautiful St David’s building, Quad and cloisters of the Lampeter campus. The Old Hall, with its wood panelling and large pictures of past ViceChancellors, bears an uncanny resemblance to the Hall in Hogwarts. Today it is used for lectures, meetings and academic workshops. Taken together this historic environment helps create an atmosphere that is collegial and supportive, a community, and one that is ideally suited to someone with a love of the Humanities.

Today the University has four main campuses, in Lampeter, Carmarthen, Swansea and London. Each campus specialises in a different area of study, with Lampeter having a focus upon the Humanities.

This means that although you will be based on the Lampeter campus, you will have access to a wide variety of resources and experiences. And the experience of studying at Lampeter is what it is all about. The hope for us is that you will have a wonderful adventure, an adventure that is both academic and personal. But we also want to do something else. We want to provide you with the type of skills appropriate for the C21st. During your time at Lampeter you will be encouraged to critically appraise sources, interrogate arguments, think through problems, question orthodoxy, and to argue your own views. The aim is to create independent thinkers, confident in themselves and able to succeed in whatever career path they choose to take.

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You will gain a Degree from an established British University which carries wide International credibility.

The University of Wales TSD has been awarding Degrees since its foundation back in 1822.

It has wide experience in the field of International education and receives every year students from across the world. Moreover its postgraduate students – Masters and Doctoral –come from all parts of the world, thus giving the University a unique international flavour.

Our Humanities tutors and lecturers are all research active and their published work has received widespread recognition. In a recent national audit of Research activity across the UK (REF, 2014) 47% of our submitted published works were judged at World leading or of international standing. This provides the University and Humanities in particular with a world class reputation. Our research expertise 6 | www.uwtsd.ac.uk

embraces a wide range of areas but includes: the Bronze Age Mediterranean, Roman Power and State formation, Medieval Monasticism, AfroCaribbean religion and Spirit possession, Islam in Cyberspace, Medieval Nautical Archaeology, relationship between text and image in the Bible, Early Human Landscapes, Food heritage and food industries, Islamic Archaeology in Qatar, Memorials and memorialisation of the Great War, Sacred Ways and the links between ancient religion and the ancient economy, Visualisation of ancient Egyptian artefacts, Cosmology in medieval and early modern culture, ancient gardens and healing practices, coastal erosion, dedrochronolgy and climate change, and Medieval Celtic saints and legends of Wales. So come and be taught by leading experts in their chosen field.

You will complete your BA (Bachelor of Arts) in three rather than four years.

BA programmes in England and Wales are traditionally three years of study. Within the degree completion scheme, the two years of your Associate Degree translate into the first and second year of our BA degree, in certain subject areas. This is the same as when you transfer your Associate Arts Degree into a full Baccalaureate at a Research University except in Canada it is two additional years and not one.

The subject areas are listed further on in the brochure and relate to the name of the BA degree you can exit with. Such a transfer is only possible in certain named areas and is made feasible through a series of curriculum mapping exercises that we have undertaken. What this mapping involves is an alignment of courses offered at your current institution and at UWTSD to see if there is a clear and transparent subject match which

enables an Associate Arts degree to qualify as two years of a BA with UWTSD. To achieve this match certain choices need to be taken through your first and second year of study. On graduating with a BA from UWTSD there is also the possibility of extending your studies a further year by undertaking one of our MA programmes. In other words, after two years of full time study with us, you could exit with a Masters Degree award in your chosen field of study.

If you have any questions relating to the transfer process or which subjects qualify please ask your course tutor or k.griffths@uwtsd.ac.uk in the International Office.

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An international experience without the financial burden

Since a BA Degree is only an additional year on Once you have been accepted as a student at the top of your Associate Arts degree (or three years University of Wales Trinity Saint David you will in all) you will save on a full years tuition fees want to prepare yourself for your time with us. and the accompanying accommodation and living costs.

The cost of living in South West Wales is lower than in many parts of the UK. Assessing your costs and managing your finances during your study in the UK is an important aspect of your academic experience. The Student Services Department at the university can offer advice and help should you encounter problems during your studies. You should ensure you have enough money to pay for your fees and your living expenses throughout the duration of your studies.

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You will be more attractive to employers by having an international experience on your resume

In today’s jobs market having a University degree is no longer the exception but the rule.

Competition for places across a range of careers and professions is intense. It is vital therefore to give yourself and your résumé an ‘edge’, an additional element and component that makes you stand out from the crowd. An ‘edge’ that will say to a potential employer, ‘this person has that extra something that I’m looking for’. An ‘edge’ that will help in interviews and presentations in showing your general sense of ‘get up and go’.

A year abroad study, with all the experiences, life skills and confidence you’ll gain, alongside a prestigious a Degree from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, will give you that extra something.

Additional courses or opportunities you might like to take in addition to your chosen courses of study: • • • • • • • •

Humanities and Web design Learn Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Latin A School placement A museum placement Volunteer on our archaeological dig Working with Archives and Manuscripts LifeDesign workshops Heritage, museums and representation

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You will study in one of the most picturesque and unique Campuses in the UK.

The Lampeter campus itself is modelled on an Oxford College and with its Cloisters, Chapel, Old Hall, Founders Library and Quadrangle make it every inch the traditional academic setting for international students to spend their year abroad. Moreover, you can request that your student accommodation is in the Old Quad. The Lampeter Campus is a perfect setting and environment for those with a love of the Humanities, looking for a perfect place to indulge their passion for subject.

Lampeter itself is set up in the Cambrian hills surrounded by some of the most spectacular scenery in the UK. It is 20 minutes from the coast and the fishing village of Aberaeron. For those who love hill walking, horse-riding and trekking, surfing, coasteering or outward bounds, this is a wonderful place to spend time. The region is also 10 | www.uwtsd.ac.uk

culturally rich in terms of history, heritage and language. Castles ‘litter’ the surrounding region.

For example, within a fifty miles radius, there are castles in Carmarthen Llandeilo, Dryslyn, Dynevor, Haverfordwest, Cardigan, Nevern, Kidwelly, and Pembroke Castle, the latter being the birthplace and home of Henry VII, founding Monarch of the Tudor royal line and father of Henry VIII. Finally just 10 miles to the north of Lampeter lie the ruins of the Abbey of Strata Florida, a huge medieval precinct that our archaeologists have spent 10 years excavating’ (indeed there are the earth remains of a Pre-historic hill fort on the Campus itself ), and twenty five miles to the North West is the quarry from where the Bluestone pillars of Stonehenge came from.

You will be able to travel widely in Wales, the UK and Europe.

Most international students make use of their time abroad to travel widely. We have a wellestablished cultural programme.

There is a well-connected bus routes to link you to a variety of places (by car Bath is 2 ½ hours away, Oxford 3 ½ hours and London 4 hours).

Often students find that they have nothing timetabled on a Friday, so take a long weekend away visiting slightly further afield. In the Christmas Term there is a reading week in mid November and during the Spring Term there is a reading week at the end of February. A reading week has no scheduled teaching sessions or lectures, thus providing students with the time to catch up on their private study and reading, and thus also gives students a slightly longer period to go travelling around the UK or even in Europe (flights from Cardiff airport go to most

destinations around Europe). There are also longer vacation periods when Students travel: the Christmas and Easter vacations are both three weeks in length, and following graduation in early June you then have several months to explore.

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You can work up close with priceless manuscripts and rare books in our unique archives We have on campus The Roderic Bowen Library & Archives, which houses a very special collection of unique and rare documentary, manuscript and archive materials. Students are able to study and research these rare manuscripts and books; indeed many write their Dissertation on a particular source, book or tract. Within the RB Library and Archives the University’s holds some of the oldest printed books within the UK. The Collections include over 35,000 printed works, 8 medieval manuscripts, around 100 post medieval manuscripts (15001800), and 69 incunabula (extracts from broken up medieval and early Modern texts). The earliest document we have is a Latin fragment from 1170. The collection was acquired over the last 200 years, largely by bequest and donation.

Of these donations three in particular deserve mention: •

volumes to the library in fifty- nine consignments. Although it seems likely that some of these books had belonged to his own personal collection, The Thomas Phillips (1760- most had been acquired in 1851) collection made up of London and Paris sale-rooms pamphlets and rare books. and book shops for despatch Born in London, Phillips was a surgeon employed by the East to Lampeter, and many contain provenance evidence and India Company, accumulating a substantial fortune after many annotations of former owners, including some notable years’ service in India. Retiring to London in 1817, he devoted collectors of the eighteenth the rest of his life to furthering century. education in Wales. Phillips had already begun to establish • The Bowdler Tract Collection small libraries in India with the of over 9,000 pamphlets which came to Lampeter soon after aim of enhancing the minds the death of Dr Thomas Bowdler and moral character of (1754-1825), better known as serving soldiers and, after the expurgator or ‘bowdleriser’ retiring to Brunswick of Shakespeare (1818).

Square, London, he started Dr Thomas Bowdler was not to make substantial gifts of money, books and curiosities to himself the collector of the “Bowdler” pamphlets. But he St David’s College, Lampeter, was the last owner of a and during the years 1834

family collection which to 1851 he dispatched 22,500 stretched back through three

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earlier generations of Bowdler collectors to the eve of the Civil War (about 1638) and about 150 years of further accumulations which ended in 1785 with the death of Thomas Bowdler III (1706-85), of Ashley, near Bath.

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The Burgess Collection: Bishop Thomas Burgess (1756- 1837) bequeathed to St David’s College, Lampeter his personal library of some 9,000 volumes.

Primarily a working collection gathered during a lifetime devoted to the study of Classics, literature, history, antiquities, and theology. The collection includes, for example, two volumes printed at Venice in the fifteenth century, Aristotle’s Rhetorica, printed in 1481, and Theodore Beza’s Introductivae grammaticis, printed some fourteen years later. Also a 1536 Aldine edition of De Poetica.

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Travelling to Europe is quite easy Here are some resources and tips to make your travels relatively easy to plan: Planes: For flights, don’t be afraid of travelling from Bristol, Cardiff, or London airports. Each is relatively easy to get to. Make sure you think about high and low seasons as well because they can affect the price of tickets: www.skyscanner.net; www.thomson.co.uk; www.vueling.com: www.easyjet.com: www.ryanair.com Trains: Trains tickets can be purchased on the platform but are more expensive on the day of. If you are here for more than three months and are planning on taking the train often then it is a good idea to look at getting a railcard. With this card you get a 30% discount on all of your train tickets. Here are some resources for train tickets: www.thetrainline.com: www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk: www.raileasy.co.uk: www.mytrainticket.co.uk Buses: Getting around South West Wales can be made easier by taking the Carmarthenshire bus services. Tickets can be purchased at the bus station on the day of travel. However, if you are going outside of Carmarthenshire, it is a good idea to book your tickets online as they will be cheaper. London, Bristol, Cardiff and Rosslare (in Ireland) are easiest to get to by Megabus. Megabus also has services to Continental Europe which includes Amsterdam, Brussels, Cologne, and Paris. www.uk.megabus.com, www.nationalexpress.com, www.eurolines.co.uk Hostels: Hostels are a great alternative to hotels and a great way of meeting people. That being said booking hostels can be frustrating. The only tips we can really provide is to book early and read reviews. Finding out the location of the hostel in question can also save you stress, time and money. Below are the best websites to book hostels through: www.hostelworld.com: www. hostelbookers.com

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Degree completion options

Single Honours Degree completion The following BA Degree programmes are ones in which you can transfer into on completion of your Associate Arts Degree. These are single honours Degrees (and relate to your chosen subject area(s of study.): BA in History BA in Modern Historical Studies BA in English BA in Creative Writing BA in Philosophy BA in Anthropology BA in Archaeology and Anthropology BA in Anthropology with Psychology BA in Religious Studies with psychology BA in Philosophy with psychology BA in Humanities BA in Environmental Studies

Associate Arts Degree Year 1: • 6 credits (2 courses) first-year English electives • 6 credits (2 courses) first-year Humanities electives – you must do a minimum of 2 courses in your chosen subject area • 6 credits (2 courses) first-year Social Sciences electives • 6 credits (2 courses) first-year Arts electives – you must do a minimum of 1 courses in your chosen subject area • Total = a minimum of 3 courses are in your chosen subject area or 9 credits Year 2: •

18 credits (6 courses) second-year Arts electives in 2 or more subject areas (18 credits) – you must do a minimum of 3 courses in your chosen subject area

What do I need to do at my college to transfer into • 3 science (9 credits) Lab Science, Math, Statistics one of these Single honours Degree programmes? or Computing Science , Science elective To complete in any of these subjects you’ll need to adhere to the following UWTSD requirements through your Associate Arts Degree. This will ensure you have sufficient subject knowledge to progress through University transfer:

• 3 other University Transfer electives (9 credits) - you must do a minimum of 2 courses in your chosen subject area • Total = a minimum of 5 courses in your chosen subject area or 15 credits In other words during your two year Associate Arts degree you will have completed a minimum of 8 courses or 24 credits in the subject area you want to progress onto at UWTSD.

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Degree completion options

Joint Honours Degree completion

Associate Arts Degree: Year 1:

Alternatively you may complete your degree in one of the following joint honours BA programmes (these are BA degrees that combine two subject areas):

• 6 credits (2 courses) first-year English electives

BA in History and English BA in History and Creative Writing BA in History and Philosophy BA in History and Religious Studies BA in History and Anthropology BA in English and Creative Writing BA in English and Philosophy BA in English and Religious Studies BA in English and Anthropology BA in Philosophy and Anthropology BA in Philosophy and Religious Studies BA in Philosophy and Creative Writing BA in Religious Studies and Creative Writing BA in Religious Studies and Anthropology BA in Anthropology and Creative Writing

• 6 credits (2 courses) first-year Social Sciences electives

What do I need to do at College to transfer into one of these Joint honours Degree programmes?

• 3 other University Transfer electives (9 credits) - you must do a minimum of 1 courses in EACH of your chosen subject areas

To complete in any of these subjects you’ll need to adhere to the following UWTSD requirements through your Associate Arts Degree. This will ensure you have sufficient subject knowledge to progress through University transfer:

• Total = of 6 courses or 18 credits

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• 6 credits (2 courses) first-year Humanities electives – you must do a minimum of 1 course in EACH of your chosen subject areas

• 6 credits (2 courses) first-year Arts electives – you must do a minimum of 1 courses in EACH of your chosen subject areas • Total = of 4 courses are in your chosen subject area or 12 credits Year 2: •

18 credits (6 courses) second-year Arts electives in 2 or more subject areas (18 credits) – you must do a minimum of 2 courses in EACH your chosen subject areas

• 3 science (9 credits) Lab Science, Math, Statistics or Computing Science , Science elective

So during your two year Associate Arts degree you will have completed a minimum of 10 courses or 30 credits across two subject areas in which you want to progress onto at UWTSD.

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How do I study?

The year operates on a two semester basis running from September to January, and from February to June. Each semester comprises of 12 weeks of teaching plus a 2 week assessment period.

To gain a degree you will need to successfully complete 6 courses or modules through the year, three modules in each semester. Depending on the programme you will have a balance of compulsory and option modules in your subject area to choose from (if you do a joint honours then your choices will be from two subject areas). These you decide at the start of the year. As a rule of thumb their will be 3 compulsory modules and 3 options. One of your compulsory modules will be a Dissertation. This is a long project or academic study on a topic of your choice and is assessed through the submission of a 7,500 word extended essay.

One of the biggest differences in studying between the North American and British University system is the element of independent study. The British system tends to have less direct contact with students and more emphasis on the autonomous learning of the student. For example, at levels 6 there are 33 hours of lecture time for every module, though students are free to drop in to chat with tutors (we call these tutorials) and discuss with them ideas about a forthcoming assignment or presentation.

Assessments can be a range of things but typically are made up of essays (of varying length oral presentations, project reports, portfolios, book reviews, document analysis and self-reflective analyses.

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How am I graded?

The grading scale is very different to the one used in North America. Instead of being on a 100-point scale, the scale used here tops out at 70. Though this is the case, you are able to achieve marks higher than 70. Each numerical value you receive is equivalent to an honours classification. Below is a breakdown of how the marking scale and classifications work for an essay (the standard form of assessment though there are also some oral presentations, book reviews and document analysis which will follow a similar pattern):

First Class Honours Classification (1st) Numerical Value: 70+ First class work is of an excellent standard. It will display some, but not necessarily all, of the following attributes: • a clear and sharp focus upon the question • a sophisticated awareness of the dimensions of archaeological and theoretical debate • a broad and deep knowledge of the relevant topic • a highly cogent and structured argument • a subtle and highly perceptive analysis, perhaps with glimpses of originality • based upon a wide and thorough reading of secondary source materials • written with fluency, clarity and accuracy • presentation to a high scholarly standard, including a full bibliography and clear referencing

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Upper Second Class Honours Classification (2:1 or 2i) Numerical Value: 60 – 69 Upper Second Class work is of a very good standard.

It may show some of the qualities of First Class work, but not in a sustained way. Work of the Upper Second Class is characterised by some, but not necessarily all, of the following attributes: • a clear focus upon the question • an awareness of the theoretical dimensions of the debate • a broad knowledge of the relevant topic, though with some gaps • a well developed and solidly structured argument • a good and thoughtful analysis • based upon a wide reading of secondary source materials • written with clarity and accuracy.

• presented to a scholarly standard, with bibliography and referencing.

Lower Second Class Honours Classification (2:2 or 2ii) Numerical Value: 50 - 59 Lower Second Class work is of a good standard. It is work that may show some of the qualities of work in a higher class, but not in a sustained way. Lower Second Class work displays some, but not necessarily all, of the following features: • some focus on the question, though not sustained or always clearly focused • some grasp of the archaeological and theoretical dimensions of the debate • a sound knowledge of the relevant topic, with some limitations • a reasonable level of argument • some analysis but not sustained and mixed with description/ narrative • some reading of the secondary source materials but significant gaps in the bibliography • written in a satisfactory style, with some accuracy.

• presented to a reasonable scholarly standard, but with problems in the bibliography and/ or referencing.

Third Class & Pass Classification (Numerical Value: 40 – 49) Third Class work is of an adequate/fair standard for an honours degree. It may show some of the qualities of work in a higher class, but not in a sustained way. Work in this class is marked by some, but not necessarily all, of the following qualities: • limited understanding of and focus upon

• •

•

•

•

•

the question lacks structure and a sustained argument some knowledge of the relevant topic but with significant limitations tends towards description, with glimpses perhaps of analysis limited range of reading or familiarity with the secondary literature some attempt at following scholarly standards of presentation, though problems with referencing and/ or bibliography limited attention to writing style, clarity or accuracy

Failing Classification (Numerical Value: 39 and below) Fail class work is unsatisfactory. It is work that may display some of the characteristics of the Third Class standard but not in a sustained or significant amount.

• Very limited understanding of the question or focus upon it • Lacks structure and argument • Limited knowledge of the relevant topic • Descriptive and narrative in structure • Little evidence of sustained reading or familiarity with the secondary literature • Fails to meet accepted norms of scholarly standards of presentation, including both referencing and bibliography.

• Weak writing style.

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You aboard: will I be supported?

Arriving and orientation We run an airport pick up at designated times from Heathrow and Gatwick airports – details will be posted on this website.

You can also travel to the University campuses quite easily from Bristol or Cardiff airports.

Once you have arrived in the UK, we ensure our international students receive a warm welcome and prepare a programme of activities designed to help you during your first few days with us.

Most students are able to take advantage of our airport pick up services and full details of this and our comprehensive welcome, arrival and orientation programme will be available on our website once the details for this academic year have been confirmed.

In your first few days you will be introduced to the University, the local area and to staff and students. There is important information that you need to listen to, forms to fill in and choices to be made, and the programme is designed to guide you through this process and introduce you to the services and support you will need during your time at the University. We also organise trips so we hope it will be a fun week! It is highly recommended that you plan to attend as many orientation events as possible. Studies show that international students that participate in induction settle better into their new lifestyle in the UK.

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The International Office The pastoral care of students is central to the work of the International Office. The team of staff are responsible for providing support and guidance for students on a number of issues including practical advice on issues such as Finance, accommodation and dealing with homesickness. However, we also offer professional counselling and welfare services, located within the Student Services Department, that are available to all students, and are founded on the principle that no problem is too big or too small to share.

When you enrol as a student at our university you are provided with your own account that gives you access to the internet, student email and university e-learning environment and resources. The international office and other university support departments will communicate to you through your student email account from time to time. IT and Wi-Fi facilities are available at various locations across all our campuses.

I thought moving to UWTSD Lampeter was going to be harder than it was, but it wasn’t. In fact, the awesome staff, students and townspeople of Lampeter have made settling into my life in Wales incredibly easy. Everyone is so incredibly friendly and always willing to stop for a chat. Most days that I’ve gone to explore town, I’ve often wound up walking around and exploring the shops with one or two or more people. I’m happy to say that even though I’m only here for a year, Lampeter is my home and I couldn’t imagine studying or living anywhere else.

Rachael Bowser, Douglas College Vancouver, English & Creative Writing

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The Cultural Programme for International Students

For all our international students there is a cultural Programme available. This will be in addition to your School fieldtrips and any travelling you wish to do with friends. The Programme provides a variety of excursions to various locations in Wales and England throughout the academic year. Excursions take place on weekends and you are accompanied by members of the International Office who provide historical and cultural information.

This is a great way to get to know Wales and England in a safe and friendly environment.

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Student Union and student societies.

The Student Union advocates for students on campus as well as organizes student social events. Yes, they are home to the Campus Pub and the Campus Night Club but they do more than that. The Student Union organizes Faculty Representatives and Student Representatives, who are elected by their peers to sit on boards in order to be a student voice within the proceedings. The idea behind this is to work in partnership with students in order for them to take ownership of their learning. Moreover, if you are having any difficulty on campus they can point you in the right direction.

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Further information Kath Griffiths k.griffiths@uwtsd.ac.uk Telephone: + 44 (1267 676601) twitter.com/studyinwales

The information contained in this booklet is correct at the time of publication, but is subject to change as part of the University’s policy of continuous improvement and development.

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