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  6. Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students), BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students), BA (Hons)

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Course Overview

Discover a fresh and exciting approach to studying Welsh with Swansea University’s BA Cymraeg. This innovative degree explores the language, literature, and culture of Wales while looking outward to global connections and multiculturalism. You will examine what it means to speak, write, and live through the medium of Welsh in the twenty-first century, gaining a rich understanding of its role in society today.  

The programme is designed around three key themes – Creativity, Employability, and Welsh in Society – ensuring a varied and stimulating academic experience. You will explore the Welsh language in an international context, considering linguistic diversity and the challenges and opportunities facing minority languages worldwide. This outward-looking perspective makes your learning relevant and globally informed.

Employability is embedded throughout the degree. You will develop transferable skills in communication, research, translation, and bilingual working, preparing you for careers in education, publishing, broadcasting, public services, and the creative industries. Practical assessments and real-world projects help you graduate with confidence and experience to thrive in a bilingual workplace.

You will be supported in a welcoming, inclusive environment. Small-group teaching, personalised guidance, and a strong sense of community are central to the student experience. You will also be encouraged to take ownership of your learning, developing independent research skills that prepare you for postgraduate study or professional roles.

From literature to sociolinguistics, this degree offers a dynamic, outward-looking curriculum that celebrates the richness of Welsh while equipping you for the future.

Enhance your experience with a Year Abroad or Year in Industry. Spend time studying overseas or gain paid workplace experience (average salary over £20,000), boosting your skills and employability. 

Why Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) at Swansea?

You will be based on our stunning Singleton Park Campus, overlooking Swansea Bay on the edge of the Gower Peninsula. 

You will benefit from the skills and experience of prominent authors and poets on our academic team. 

 Cultural Studies at Swansea is ranked:

  • 4th in the UK for student experience (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026) 

We pride ourselves in preparing you for life beyond university. We are able to do this by using our connections to industry, and our emphasis on the particular interpersonal skills that our industry panel identify as key within their recruitment processes 

Your Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) Experience

You can tailor your studies to reflect your interests and career ambitions, with opportunities to study abroad or gain hands-on experience through a Year in Industry. These options allow you to broaden your horizons, develop new skills, and stand out in a competitive job market.

The Year in Industry provides valuable workplace experience. The University advocates for paid placements, with an average salary of £20,000+. Unpaid placements are considered on a case-by-case basis. Although securing a placement is the responsibility of the student, we work with several organisations who provide a range of opportunities. If you choose to pursue a Year in Industry, you will be supported throughout the application journey with advice, guidance, and resources. If you are unable to secure a placement by the end of the second year of study, you will be able to transfer onto the equivalent 3-year degree programme.

Our programmes are designed to deepen your understanding of grammar, and you are encouraged to make the most of additional resources and extracurricular activities to strengthen your skills. Our close-knit community of students and staff is passionate about the Welsh language and committed to helping everyone succeed. Small-group teaching, personalised support, and a strong sense of belonging are central to your student experience.

You will also benefit from a curriculum that encourages creativity and critical thinking, alongside respectful discussions about language diversity, representation, and inclusivity. From literature to sociolinguistics and digital publishing, you will engage with a rich and varied academic experience. Real-world projects and opportunities to connect classroom learning with the wider community help you develop practical skills and confidence for your future career.

Modules

We've enhanced our modules to deliver an engaging learning experience, designed to help you develop the skills employers are looking for. Discover what's on offer and feel inspired by the modules you can study.

Entry Requirements

We consider all applicants on their own merits and welcome applications from students with a wide range of qualifications.

Careers and Employability

Employability is at the heart of the BA Welsh degree at Swansea University. The programme is designed to prepare you for success in a bilingual and dynamic job market, with professional skills embedded throughout. You’ll develop expertise in communication, translation, digital media, and strategic thinking, supported by real-world assessments and creative projects that encourage original content creation, pitching ideas, and exploring freelance or self-employed pathways.

Our Department’s close links with media and communications organisations mean we can offer a wide range of work experience opportunities and internships at all levels of study. We regularly receive requests from local employers for short-term communications roles, giving you the chance to apply your skills in real-world settings through both paid and voluntary placements.

Students also benefit from access to SPIN internships, with many securing Welsh-medium roles such as supporting events at the Urdd Eisteddfod with Academi Hywel Teifi. Welsh-language skills are highly valued across departments, opening doors to internships throughout the university and helping you build networks and hands-on experience. Volunteering opportunities with Swansea University’s charity, Discovery, also allow you to organise and host events within the university and wider community.

Entrepreneurial thinking is encouraged throughout the programme. Guest speakers - including authors, translators, media professionals, journalists, and policy makers—regularly contribute, offering insights into career routes and inspiring students to see Welsh as a tool for innovation and leadership. Whether you aim for a career in the public sector, creative industries, or community development, you’ll graduate with the confidence, experience, and bilingual skillset to make a meaningful impact.

The programme has been shaped with input from external stakeholders such as Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru, Cwlwm Cyhoeddwyr Cymru, and y Ganolfan Dysgu Cymraeg, ensuring it reflects the needs of employers across Wales. We also work closely with the Media Department to enhance opportunities in the creative industries, and students can showcase their work at COPA, an event celebrating student achievement and connecting you with industry professionals.

Our graduates go on to careers in business, HR and finance, education, arts, design, media, marketing, PR, sales, politics, language planning, youth work, translation, and administration. Many also progress to postgraduate study, including PGCE, Taught and Research Masters, and PhD programmes.

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Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students), BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)

Welsh (a Pathway for First Language Students) with a year in Industry, BA (Hons)