Combined Honours BA Honours
UCAS Code: Y001 (3 or 4 Years)

Studying Combined Honours at Newcastle is an opportunity to create a course that matches your expertise and interests. We have over 20 different subjects to choose from, many of which you can take without any previous experience.

You will attend the same lectures and classes as a student specialising in each subject, so your studies will be at the same academic level. However, you will only take a proportion of the options in each subject so your workload will be the same as that of any other student.

Below is a list of the subjects currently available. You can choose to combine two or three subjects at Stage 1 and must continue with at least two of them throughout the remainder of the degree:

Archaeology: Spans prehistoric, Roman and early medieval archaeology, with the opportunity to undertake practical fieldwork.

Business: Covers modules in accounting, economics, marketing and management delivered by Newcastle University Business School. Grade B in Mathematics and English at GCSE (or equivalent) normally required.

Chinese: Concentrates on the practical study of modern standard Chinese (Mandarin), including study at a university in China between either Stages 1 and 2 or Stages 2 and 3 depending on your entry level. The emphasis is on communication skills and no prior knowledge of Chinese is assumed.

Classics: Covers modules in ancient history, classical world culture, Greek and Latin delivered by the School of History, Classics and Archaeology. No prior knowledge is required and all sources of Greek and Latin are studied in translation.

English Linguistic Studies: Provides an introduction to language study with particular reference to the structure and history of the English language.

English Literature: Offers a choice across a wide range of periods, genres and authors from post-Renaissance English literature. Grade A in English Literature at A level (or equivalent) normally required.

Film Studies: Offers an introduction to a wide variety of international film involving some consideration of the history and theory of the medium. No practical film-making is involved in this course.

French: Involves the practical study of the French language plus a selection of modules from one or more of the following areas: French literature; modern history; film and linguistics. Available at two levels – Level A for beginners (no previous experience required) or Level B for those with grade B in A level French (or equivalent).

Geography: Provides a broad training in human and physical geography. Grade B in Geography at A level and grade B in Mathematics at GCSE (or equivalent) normally required.

German: Combines all forms of language work with the study of literature from 1770 to the present day, in addition to options in: medieval and modern literature; politics; history; and film. Available at two levels – Level A for beginners (no previous experience required) or Level B for those with grade B in A level German (or equivalent).

History: Covers a wide range of options in British, European, Russian, Japanese and American history, ranging from the early medieval period to the present day. A Level History (or equivalent) is normally required.

History of Art: Covers painting and sculpture from the Renaissance to the twentieth century and the study of art-historical theory. An A level in one of the following is desirable: Art, Art History, History, English or a language. 

Japanese: Concentrates on the practical study of Japanese language, including study at a university in Japan between Stages 2 and 3 (or between Stages 1 and 2 for those with previous study). The emphasis is on communication skills and no prior knowledge of Japanese is required.

Mathematics and Statistics: Spans a wide range of modules including mathematical modelling; logic; statistics; and combinatorial geometry. A good grade in A level Mathematics (or equivalent) is required.

Media and Communication: A rich and diverse area exploring mass media, communication theory and practice, and culture. You study how information is created, managed, promoted, circulated and consumed across contemporary society in a range of cultural industries.

Music: Covers a wide range of modules including the history of music; compositional techniques; analysis; acoustics, and electro-acoustic music. A level Music (or equivalent) preferred. Students are also strongly advised to gain competence in music theory to at least Associated Board Grade V level before starting Music within Combined Honours.

Philosophical Studies: Provides a choice of modules in knowledge and cosmology, and cultural manifestations of rationality, designed to bridge the gap between the sciences and humanities.

Politics: Offers a wide range of options spanning the major regions of the world, covering all forms of government and analysing fundamental political ideas.

Portuguese: Combines all forms of language work with the study of literature and/or history of Portuguese-speaking countries (including Brazil). No prior knowledge of Portuguese is assumed. Available as a minor subject only.

Psychology: Covers options in general and experimental psychology. Grade A or B in a science (which may include Psychology) A level (or equivalent) is required. Grade B Mathematics at GCSE (or equivalent) is also required. Not available as a major subject.

Sociology: Covers a range of aspects of sociology, anthropology, social policy and social welfare. No previous study in the subject is required.

Spanish and Latin American Studies: Combines all forms of language work with the study of film, literature and history of Spanish-speaking countries, including South America. Available at two levels – Level A for beginners (no previous experience required) or Level B for those with grade B in A level Spanish (or equivalent).

Please note: Most students are able to follow their first choice of subjects. However, subject choice may be limited by timetabling, staff availability or student numbers.