The B.A. and B.A.(Hons) are the Faculty’s staple undergraduate degrees. They differ from each other mainly in that the B.A. is spread equally over two areas of study, whereas the B.A.(Hons) focuses on a single area, with a secondary area as subsidiary. All undergraduate students follow two areas of study during the first year, but those who wish and qualify to proceed to the honours track continue with one area of study, in addition to a limited number of credits in the subsidiary area to be taken during the second year. Undergraduates may choose a combination of any two areas of study, with some restriction imposed only by practical time-table requirements. The duration of the degree courses is three years. Honours students write research-based dissertations or long essays in the final stages of their studies. The weighting of the course components in establishing the final grade is biased in favour of the later parts of the course, on the principle that the fairest evaluation of a student is at the point of exit.
Click here to access the Programme of Study for International Relations (Joint Area) applicable from 2022/3.
Click here to access the Programme of Study for Sociology (Joint Area) applicable from 2022/3.
Programme of Study A
At the end of the first year of the Course, students shall be required to choose between the B.A. (Hons) and the B.A. degrees. Students shall be allowed to proceed to the B.A. (Hons) degree (except in the areas of study listed under paragraph (2) of bye-law 3 of the bye-laws for the course) if at the end of the first year of study they obtain a minimum average mark of 65% in the chosen area of study.
Students who obtain the 65% minimum average mark in the area of study chosen for the Honours Course but lack up to 12 credits for any compulsory study-units in this area of study may be allowed to proceed conditionally to Year II of the B.A. (Hons) Course, provided that they successfully complete the failed compulsory unit/s during the following year.
Students who wish to proceed to the B.A. (Hons) course in a successfully completed area of study, but do not possess the necessary average mark of 65% in that area of study (as required by paragraph (1) of bye-law 8 of the bye-laws for the course) may be allowed by the Board to follow the first year programme (without exemptions) in that area in an additional year of study in order to try and obtain the required average mark. This provision may be availed of once only during the Course.
Programme of Study B
At the end of the first year of the Course, students shall be required to choose between the B.A. (Hons) and the B.A. degrees. Students shall be allowed to proceed to the B.A. (Hons) degree (except in the areas of study listed under paragraph (2) of bye-law 3 of the bye-laws for the course) if at the end of the first year of study they obtain a minimum average mark of 65% in the chosen area of study.
Students who obtain the 65% minimum average mark in the area of study chosen for the Honours Course but lack up to 12 credits for any compulsory study-units in this area of study may be allowed to proceed conditionally to Year II of the B.A. (Hons) Course, provided that they successfully complete the failed compulsory unit/s during the following year.
Students who wish to proceed to the B.A. (Hons) course in a successfully completed area of study, but do not possess the necessary average mark of 65% in that area of study (as required by paragraph (1) of bye-law 8 of the bye-laws for the course) may be allowed by the Board to follow the first year programme (without exemptions) in that area in an additional year of study in order to try and obtain the required average mark. This provision may be availed of once only during the Course.
Programme of Study C
At the end of the first year of the Course, students shall be required to choose between the B.A. (Hons) and the B.A. degrees. Students shall be allowed to proceed to the B.A. (Hons) degree (except in the areas of study listed under paragraph (2) of bye-law 3 of the bye-laws for the course) if at the end of the first year of study they obtain a minimum average mark of 65% in the chosen area of study.
Students who obtain the 65% minimum average mark in the area of study chosen for the Honours Course but lack up to 12 credits for any compulsory study-units in this area of study may be allowed to proceed conditionally to Year II of the B.A. (Hons) Course, provided that they successfully complete the failed compulsory unit/s during the following year.
Students who wish to proceed to the B.A. (Hons) course in a successfully completed area of study, but do not possess the necessary average mark of 65% in that area of study (as required by paragraph (1) of bye-law 8 of the bye-laws for the course) may be allowed by the Board to follow the first year programme (without exemptions) in that area in an additional year of study in order to try and obtain the required average mark. This provision may be availed of once only during the Course.
