Applied Humanities

The humanities encompass the disciplines that study what it means to be human: literature, history, philosophy, cultural studies, theology, ethics and the arts. Together they address the questions that neither science nor commerce alone can answer, examining how societies make meaning, how individuals navigate identity and change, how power is exercised and challenged, and what our inherited cultural traditions ask of us. In a world where the pace of change is relentless and the need for leaders who can think broadly and communicate with clarity is growing, the humanities offer a distinctive and durable intellectual foundation.

At Birmingham Newman University, the Applied Humanities accelerated degree delivers an honours qualification in two years of full-time study, rather than the conventional three. This compressed structure is designed for motivated students who want to enter the graduate labour market or progress to further study sooner, without sacrificing the depth and breadth of a humanities education. You will engage across the disciplines that make up the humanities, developing the critical reading, analytical writing, ethical reasoning and cross-disciplinary thinking that define the field at its best.

The accelerated format demands self-discipline and commitment, but it also produces graduates who have demonstrated the ability to work at pace and to a high standard.

The typical entry tariff of 72 points reflects the programme's commitment to widening access, recognising that motivation and potential are not always captured by A-level grades alone.

Graduates of applied humanities programmes move into careers in the civil service, management, education, the creative industries, journalism, policy, the charity sector, and many other fields where the ability to think critically about complex social and cultural questions is valued. The accelerated format means you can begin those careers a year earlier than most graduates. Many also go on to postgraduate study in humanities disciplines, education, law, or public policy.