UCAS code: Y001 
Full time 
3 years

Combine two or three of more than 20 subjects and create a unique degree that develops your independence, adaptability, confidence and self-assurance.

Fees (per year)

Home: Not Set
International: £23,800

Entry requirements and offers

A-Level: AAB
IB: 34 points

View contextual offers

UCAS Institution name and code:

NEWC / N21

Work placement opportunity - Yes

Study abroad option - Yes

Course overview

This intellectually demanding multidisciplinary degree programme allows you to explore new subjects or develop your existing interests.

Study complementary disciplines or choose unusual subject combinations to reflect your individual interests and career aspirations.

Specialist career and graduate development modules will prepare you for your future.

Features of this degree include:

more than 20 subjects to choose from
try new subjects without prior experience
language learning from beginners' and advanced level
specialist career and graduate development modules
independent projects to combine your subject interests

Your degree certificate will reference the subjects you studied in Stages 2 and 3, allowing employers to identify your areas of expertise, for example, BA Combined Honours in English Literature and French.

https://pdf.ncl.ac.uk/ug/2025/y001.pdf

Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions  
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

Quality and ranking

Global Top 130 University - QS World University Rankings 2025

65% increase in research power since 2014 – Research Excellence Framework 2021

42% of our research is classified as 4* world-leading research – Research Excellence Framework 2021

Top 25 in the UK and Top 100 in the world for sustainable development – Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024 

Global Top 170 University - Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024

Modules and learningModules

The information below is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Most degrees are divided into stages. Each stage lasts for one academic year, and you'll complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each stage. 

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content may change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Optional module availability
Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions

Our flexible degree structure gives you the freedom to try new subjects.

In Stage 1, you divide your time equally between the two or three subjects you have chosen.

Subjects currently available

You can choose to combine two or three subjects at Stage 1, totalling 120 credits (with a minimum of 40 credits in each subject) and must continue with at least two of them throughout the remainder of the degree.

Archaeology

Business

Chinese

Classics

Education

English Literature

Film (Film Studies or Documentary Practice)

French

Geography

German

History

History of Art

Japanese

Law

Linguistics

Media and Communication

Music

Philosophy

Politics

Portuguese

Sociology

Spanish and Latin American Studies

Please note:

you may not take more than two Modern Language subjects, and only one of those may be studied at beginners’ level
most students are able to follow their first choice of subjects. However, subject choice may be constrained by the teaching timetable and capacity on modules
it is not possible to study Chinese and Japanese, or Film Studies and Documentary Practice, together

How you'll learn

Teaching Time - 19
Independent Study - 81

Learning methods used over the year (estimated % of time)

How you'll be assessed

Written Exams - 37
Coursework - 63

Assessment methods used over the year (estimated % of time)

From Stage 2 onwards, you can choose how to combine your subjects and how many you wish to study:

study three subjects in equal proportion
study two subjects in equal proportion (the joint route)
spend two-thirds of your time on one subject and one third on the other (the major/minor route)

Your degree certificate will reference the subjects you studied in Stages 2 and 3, allowing employers to identify your areas of expertise, for example, BA Combined Honours in English Literature and French.

In addition to subject modules, we also offer Combined Honours modules unique to you. These include experiential learning and research-based project modules.

How you'll learn

Teaching Time - 18
Independent Study - 82

Learning methods used over the year (estimated % of time)

How you'll be assessed

Written Exams - 17
Coursework - 83

Assessment methods used over the year (estimated % of time)

In your final year, you have the option of undertaking a dissertation or project that spans more than one of your chosen subjects or focuses on just one.

Year abroad

If you are taking a language beyond Stage 1, you spend a year abroad between Stage 2 and 3 in a country where your chosen language is spoken. You take the following modules:

SML3004 Year Abroad ePortfolio

And either

SML3007 Year Abroad Work Placement Report 1 OR

SML3008 Year Abroad Work Placement Report 2 OR

SML3006 Study Abroad

 

In addition to subject modules, we also offer Combined Honours modules unique to you. These include experiential learning and research-based project modules.

How you'll learn

Teaching Time - 14
Independent Study - 86

Learning methods used over the year (estimated % of time)

How you'll be assessed

Coursework - 100

Assessment methods used over the year (estimated % of time)

Information about these graphs

We base these figures and graphs on the most up-to-date information available to us. They are based on the modules chosen by our students in 2023-24.

Teaching time is made up of:

scheduled learning and teaching activities. These are timetabled activities with a member of staff present.
structured guided learning. These are activities developed by staff to support engagement with module learning. Students or groups of students undertake these activities without direct staff participation or supervision

Teaching and assessmentTeaching methods

As a guide, you'll normally attend three or four lectures and a similar number of seminars a week.

You'll be taught by staff from within the different subject areas that you choose to study, which means you'll learn from specialists in each field.

Assessment methods

You'll be assessed through a combination of:

Assessments

 

Coursework

 

Projects

Skills and experience

The professional, practical and research skills you'll develop through your degree depend on the subjects you choose.

Combined Honours students are heavily involved with shaping the programme. This student engagement and partnership benefit you as a student and encourage you to grow in confidence.

OpportunitiesStudy abroad

Experience life in another country with study abroad. You’ll be encouraged to embrace fun and challenging experiences, make connections with new communities and graduate as a globally aware professional, ready for your future.

Students studying a language

If you study a language beyond Stage 1 you'll have the option to spend a year abroad after Stage 2, extending your degree to four years.

Find out more about study abroad when studying a language

https://www.ncl.ac.uk/school-x/study/combined-honours/study-abroad/#d.en.177971

Students not studying a language

Students who are not studying a language may also have the opportunity to study abroad. You can substitute one semester or add an extra year to study abroad after Stage 2 (depending on subject choice).

Find out more about spending a semester abroad

https://www.ncl.ac.uk/school-x/study/combined-honours/study-abroad/#d.en.177972

Find out more about spending a year abroad

https://www.ncl.ac.uk/school-x/study/combined-honours/study-abroad/#d.en.177994

Work placement 

Alternatively, you have the opportunity to take a 9 to 12 month work placement in the UK or abroad between Stages 2 and 3, regardless of subject combination.

You can apply to spend your placement year with any organisation and will receive University support to do so.

You’ll gain first-hand experience of working in your chosen sector, putting your learning into practice and developing your professional expertise.

It will extend your degree by a year and is subject to availability, however it isn't available if you're spending a year studying abroad.

Find out more about work placements

https://www.ncl.ac.uk/study/your-future/work-placement/

Facilities and environmentFacilities

As a Combined Honours student, you will be based at the Henry Daysh Building. Here and across campus you'll have access to a whole range of facilities

Newcastle University has achieved five QS Stars for facilities from QS Quacquarelli Symonds. You'll benefit from top facilities that not only support you and help you get the best out of your studies but give you an outstanding experience, such as:

an award-winning library service
excellent IT facilities
a range of study support and wellbeing services to help you reach your full potential
a wide range of sporting facilities

Support

You'll have the support of an academic member of staff as a personal tutor throughout your degree to help with academic and personal issues.

Peer mentors will help you in your first year. They are fellow students who can help you settle in and answer any questions you have, when starting university.

Your future

Combined Honours graduates are well placed to enter a wide range of careers, being adaptable, efficient and self-motivated, with a variety of skills and qualities that employers are keen to use.

Combined Honours graduates can be found in all roles and areas of a contemporary internationally facing economy. They take positions in government and civil service, media, journalism, financial services, marketing and project management. Their disciplinary knowledge, combined with their flexibility, and self-motivation make them especially attractive to employers in a rapidly changing environment.

Careers support

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

https://www.ncl.ac.uk/careers/

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Check the government’s website for more information.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/providing-services-to-any-country-in-the-eu-iceland-liechtenstein-norway-or-switzerland-after-eu-exit#recognition-of-professional-qualifications