Liberal Arts BA (Hons)

Key information

Duration:
3 years full time
Typical A-level offer:
AAB-ABB
View full entry requirements
UCAS code:
V0L0
Start date:
September 2026

I chose the Liberal Arts degree at Sussex because when I enquired about the different modules, the staff seemed flexible and open to student suggestions.”

Chloe Redman Liberal Arts BA
Read Chloe’s story

Liberal Arts at Sussex is an evolution of the arts, humanities and social sciences into a new kind of degree. If you want a hands-on degree that will help you make a difference in the world, this course is for you.

You'll engage with real-life challenges, gain valuable life skills and experience with industrial partners and within the community.

On this course you'll look for solutions to complex questions and global challenges, thinking across disciplinary boundaries. How can we spot fake news? What is the future of democracy? How do we tackle climate change? Our goal is to empower the next generation of communicators, creators and culture-shapers.

This courses has been devised in partnership with our Advisory Board of activist organisations, think-tanks, NGOs, broadcasters, museums, galleries and communications companies. You'll be taught by experts from a wide range of subject areas.

You’ll develop academic skills, including essay writing and research, alongside gaining valuable practical experience. This could include:

  • staging media campaigns
  • creating popular assemblies
  • pitching policies to think tanks
  • community organising
  • working with museums or staging an exhibition.

You'll also have the opportunity to take a term abroad with a Liberal Arts college in Japan, the US, Thailand, or the Netherlands, a Year Abroad, or do an industrial placement for a year.

You’ll graduate with a multitude of passions, experiences, interests, and skills.

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities described in this prospectus. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to government or regulatory requirements, or unanticipated staff changes, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.

I feel very fortunate to have had such a diverse range of experiences and communities throughout my time at Sussex.Jack Cooper
Liberal Arts BA
Read Jack’s story
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Entry requirements

A-level

Typical offer

AAB-ABB

Contextual offerView contextual offer

Not everyone has the same support to get to higher education – we help you reach your potential. When we receive applications through UCAS, we consider all factors and will sometimes make contextual offers as part of our Access and Participation Plan

GCSEs

You should have a broad range of GCSEs 9-4 (A*-C), including good grades in relevant subjects.

Extended Project Qualification

We take the EPQ into account when considering your application and it can be useful in the summer when your results are released if you have narrowly missed the conditions of your offer.  We do not routinely include the EPQ in the conditions of your offer but we sometimes offer alternative conditions that include the EPQ. If you wish to discuss this further please contact us

Other UK qualifications

International Baccalaureate

Typical offer

34 points overall from the full IB Diploma.

European Baccalaureate

Typical offer

Overall result of at least 80%.

Other international qualifications

English language requirements

IELTS (Academic)

6.0 overall, including at least 5.5 in each component

Check your IELTS qualification meets all of our language requirements

Find out more about IELTS

IELTS scores are valid for two years from the test date. You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test. Your score must be valid when you begin your Sussex course.

We accept IELTS One Skills Retake.

 

Other English language requirements

Proficiency tests

English language qualifications

Country exceptions

Admissions information for applicants

Transfers into Year 2

Yes. Find out more about transferring into Year 2 of this course. We don’t accept transfers into the third or final year.

If your qualifications aren’t listed or you have a question about entry requirements, contact us

For details on any additional costs, check out the Fees and scholarships section.

Don’t meet our entry requirements?

If you don't meet our entry requirements, we recommend our in-house Foundation Year course to prepare you for Year 1 of your chosen degree:

Modules

This is a single-honours course, allowing you to focus in depth on your core subject.

Find out about our types of undergraduate degrees, their structure, modules and credits

Core modules

Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

Options

Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.

While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.

Explore modules from other subjects as part of your course

At Sussex, you can choose to customise your course to build the sort of degree that will give you the knowledge, skills and experience that could take you in any direction you choose.

As part of this degree, you explore subjects that are different to your course through electives that complement your main subject. Exploring different disciplines in three electives – two in Year 1 and one in Year 2 – helps enrich your learning experience.

Discover our electives

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2025/26. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.

We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.

Check back in January 2026 for more details of the modules running in the academic year 2026/27.

Core modules

Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

Options

Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.

While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.

Explore modules from other subjects as part of your course

At Sussex, you can choose to customise your course to build the sort of degree that will give you the knowledge, skills and experience that could take you in any direction you choose.

As part of this degree, you explore subjects that are different to your course through electives that complement your main subject. Exploring different disciplines in three electives – two in Year 1 and one in Year 2 – helps enrich your learning experience.

Discover our electives

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2025/26. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.

We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.

Check back in January 2026 for more details of the modules running in the academic year 2026/27.

Study abroad (optional)

Apply to study abroad – you’ll develop an international perspective and gain an edge when it comes to your career. Find out where your course could take you

If your application to study abroad is successful, you’ll have to meet the academic requirements at Sussex and also at the partner university. Find out more about studying abroad as a Sussex student

Placement (optional)

To help you gain experience and increase your employability, you can apply for an optional placement as part of your course. You’ll be responsible for applying for and securing your placement. Our dedicated careers team can provide you with information and advice. If you’re successful in obtaining a placement, this will form part of your course.

Find out more about placements and internships

Please note that if you’re receiving – or applying for – USA federal Direct Loan funds, you can’t transfer to the version of your course with an optional study abroad period in any country or optional placement in the USA if the number of credits for the placement/internship exceeds 25% of the total credits for your course. Find out more about American Student Loans and Federal Student Aid

Core modules

Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

Options

Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.

While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2025/26. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.

We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.

Check back in January 2026 for more details of the modules running in the academic year 2026/27.

Critical practice

Devised in partnership with our advisory board of activist organisations, think-tanks, NGOs, broadcasters, museums, galleries and communications companies, this degree expands your learning by teaching critical practice:

  • you’ll develop academic skills such as essay writing and research
  • your practical work could include staging media campaigns, recording nature, creating popular assemblies, making short films, pitching policies to think-tanks, and much more.
  • your independent project could involve community organising, working with museums, staging an exhibition, or many other kinds of project.

Language options in Years 1 and 2

Liberal Arts at Sussex is about engaging with the world in smart and meaningful ways. Learning a language is a great way to achieve this goal – it’ll help you connect with ideas and cultures different to your own. In Years 1 and 2, you’ll have the opportunity to take language options in:

  • Arabic
  • French
  • German
  • Italian
  • Japanese
  • Mandarin Chinese
  • Spanish.

Sussex Liberal Arts – change the world

TEF 2023 silver

Silver

The student experience and student outcomes are typically very high quality.
This rating was awarded in 2023, for four years.
(Teaching Excellence Framework 2023)

Find out more about our approach to teaching and supporting you to thrive

Our staff

This is a really exciting new type of course that’s ideal for you if you want to make a difference in the world.”Dr Doug Haynes
Reader in American Literature and Visual Culture

Fees

Fees are not yet set for the academic year 2026/27 – please check back in September 2025. Note that your fees, once they’re set, may be subject to an increase on an annual basis.

Find out about typical living costs for studying at Sussex

Find out about our terms and conditions

Scholarships

Details of our scholarships are not yet set for entry in the academic year 2026/27.

Careers

86%

of Sussex undergraduates have completed work experience by the end of their course (University of Sussex Career Readiness data at point of graduation 2023/24)

The BA has been designed with input from sector-leading experts across a range of professions. Devised in partnership with our Advisory Board of activist organisations, think-tanks, NGOs, broadcasters, museums, galleries, and communications companies, this degree will make you a real asset to employers and society. You’ll develop:

  • critical thinking skills. You’ll gain imaginative problem-solving skills, learn to forge creative connections, and assess and understand multiple – and sometimes conflicting – points of view
  • self-management skills. Throughout your studies, you’ll work on supervised but independent practical projects, working with partners outside the University. This will help you become confident at handling projects, taking risks and thinking differently
  • the ability to work with different groups of people on complex problems.

As a Sussex Liberal Arts graduate you’ll have the skills and knowledge needed to make a positive and rewarding contribution to the world. You’ll be well prepared for leading and transformative roles across fields including:

  • the media
  • politics
  • law
  • the charitable sector
  • cultural industries
  • advertising
  • think-tanks
  • the arts.

Working while you study

Our Careers and Entrepreneurship team can help you find part-time work while you study. Find out more about career development and part-time work

Design your future at Sussex

Taking the next step in your career can feel daunting, but we’ll help you to explore, connect and flourish throughout your studies and beyond.

As a Sussex student, you’ll learn how to tackle real-world challenges and have access to tailored programmes of careers support:

  • our Career Lab helps you to explore your options, build key skills and connect with employers. Take part in internships, community consultancy projects and insight visits, where you can learn about life at organisations including Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club, Gatwick Airport and the Knepp Rewilding Project
  • one-to-one coaching with your Faculty Careers Consultant can enable you to identify your career goals, write an effective CV and prepare for future interviews
  • entrepreneurship initiatives like StartUp Sussex and Ideas Lab can empower you to turn your concepts into reality.

Explore how our Careers and Entrepreneurship team can support you

National Enterprise Educator Awards logo

Winner
Entrepreneurship Catalyst Award
National Enterprise Educator Awards 2024

The Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services logo

Winner
Supporting Student and Graduate Employability Award
AGCAS Awards for Excellence 2024

Rate My Placement Awards - Celebrating the Best Student Employers and Universities for Work Experience

Top 50
Best Universities for Work Experience in the UK
2025 RateMyPlacement Awards

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