Welsh and Philosophy Cardiff University

Overview

On the Welsh and Philosophy programme at Cardiff University , you will achieve a high level of skill in written and spoken Welsh, key skills in collaboration and critical thinking, and well-developed employability and creative skills relevant to modern Wales. We’ll support you to engage critically and creatively with difficult problems in an open-minded and collaborative way, including on sensitive and controversial topics.

Key facts

The program welcomes those who’ve studied Welsh either as a first or second language. If Welsh is a second language to you, you’ll be provided with specific modules in the first and second years to practice and enhance your communication and language skills. After this, first and second language students come together for the majority of second year, and all final year, modules. Module options allow you to explore topics such as historic and contemporary Welsh writing, language policy, and professional translation.

In Philosophy, you’ll develop a solid grounding in moral philosophy, will also study epistemology, philosophy of mind, and political philosophy, and have the opportunity to study areas such as aesthetics, feminist philosophy, and phenomenology. In the final year of the programme, you can specialise in your preferred areas of study.

Many of our modules directly examine different uses of language. You’ll come to a deeper appreciation of the implications of philosophical thought, providing you with a clear link between theories and their application. This is emphasised in the final year of the programme, where in a core module you will take part in a project to apply philosophical research to develop policies or strategies aimed at solving a real-world ethical or social problem.

During the degree, you’ll  have the opportunity to undertake a work placement in a workplace where Welsh is used daily, to develop your confidence and professional skills. You’ll also undertake a dissertation, in which you’ll design and carry out a research project on a topic of your choice related to Welsh language, culture or literature.

Career

Graduates from this programme possess a range of transferable skills and areas of knowledge that are sought after by many employers.

These include the ability to independently analyse complex problems and identify workable and innovative solutions, to work effectively with others on large projects, to communicate effectively to different audiences, and to use reflection and feedback to further develop your skills. The demand for Welsh speakers means that a degree in Welsh can be highly valuable for jobs and roles that require bilingual speakers. 

You’ll also acquire a broad knowledge base enabling you to understand and respond to a range of contemporary ethical or social problems. During your degree, you’ll gain experience of professional research, policy, and strategy roles by working on a large collaborative policy project. This project showcases to employers how not only your skills but also your knowledge can be of huge value in the workplace.