Degree title

The degree title is normally determined from the subjects studied just in the second and final years of study. Suitable periods abroad or in industrial placement are also reflected in the title (see below). 

First year studies do not normally count towards the degree title. They may, however, sometimes influence the degree title, e.g. if a large amount of a single subject was taken in year one, and this subject was continued in further years, it could be appropriate for this to affect the relative order of named subjects. The study of a language in the first year and one or more subsequent years, to result in at least 60 credits of a language within the degree, can also be refected in the degree title in an appropriate way (see below).

Level Requirements for '... and ...' or '... with ...'

A minimum of 30 credits of Level 6 (formerly known as level 3) must be studied in both subjects of two-subject FCH degrees for an '... and ...' degree title to be used.

For FCH two-subject programmes that lack 30 credits of Level 6 (3) in one of the subjects, '... with ...' is used between the two subjects, with the 'Level 6 subject' being stated before the 'with' subject.

Credit Requirements for '... and ...' or '... with ... 

'... and ...'

• The second and final years comprise 240 credits in total.
• Subjects studied in equal or near-equal proportion in the second and final years, i.e. between the ratios of 120:120 and 135:105 credits, are separated by 'and', e.g. BA (Hons) French and Theology
• If the subjects are 120:120, the two subjects are usually placed in alphabetical order, e.g. BSc (Hons) in Economics and Geography
• If the two subjects are 135:105, they are placed with the larger one first, irrespective of alphabetical ordering, e.g. BSc (Hons) Mathematics (135) and Archaeology (105) (numbers are for illustrative purposes only)

‘… with …’

• Subjects studied in unequal proportion, i.e. one subject is more than 135 credits, are placed with the larger subject first and separated by 'with', e.g. BA (Hons) in History with BioSciences

For degrees containing three or more aspects that require naming, the regulations are similar to those for two-subject degrees, though some flexibility is likely to be required as such multiple-discipline degree programmes often have a complex composition and variability across the student body. Consequently the precise codification of regulations for more than two disciplines is difficult. But general regulations are:

• If all subjects have an element of Level 6 (3), and have been studied in near-equal amount of credits, the subjects are separated by commas and a final 'and', e.g. BA (Hons) in A, B and C
• If one of the subjects lacks Level 6 (3), it will be placed at the end of the sequence of subject names and preceded by ‘with’, e.g. BA (Hons) in A and B with C
• If more than one subject lacks Level 6 (3) there will be one ‘with’ at the beginning of these (and thus applies to all that follows). This will avoid the clumsy situation of titles having both ‘with’ and ‘and with’, e.g. BA (Hons) in A with B and C
• Some multi-subject degrees, and, for example, those that have ‘with study abroad’ or ‘with industrial placement’ etc., may require commas and a final ‘and’ (but again observing the principle of avoiding multiple occurrences of ‘with’), e.g. BA (Hons) in A with B, C and D

Some subjects require core elements to be studied or a certain level to be reached, and if they are not, then that subject may include the word 'studies' to indicate it is a reduced form of the subject, e.g.

• BSc (Hons) in Mathematics and Political Studies
• BA (Hons) in English with Management Studies

A notable exception to this practice of indicating a level of 'reduction' is Classical Studies. This terminology is the very long-standing, accepted correct term for the study of the classical ancient world where either Latin or Greek have been studied.

A subject is mentioned in the degree title if at least 60 credits of the subject are passed in the second and/or final year (e.g. 30 credits in each year or 60 credits on one year), or if the subject is a Language and 60 core language credits are passed across any years of study. Such 60 credit subjects are placed at the end of a degree title after the word 'with', e.g. BA (Hons) in History and Geography with Archaeology or, in the case of a Language, after ‘with proficiency in…’ (see below for language degree title rules).

BSc is used for degree titles when a science forms at least half of the credits over the second and final years; the first-year modules can be taken into consideration if the presence of science modules over years two and three is just under half. Sciences include: Biosciences, Chemistry, Mathematics, Medical Sciences, Psychology, Sport Science.

BSc is used for the subject pathways of Accounting, Economics and Physical Geography, following the same rules as regards relative proportion as for sciences (see previous paragraph).

BSc may also be relevant for Criminology, Forensics and other subject pathways where a significant numerical, quantitative or scientific element is present. 

Otherwise BA is used.

The way a language can be mentioned in your degree title varies according to how the language has been taken (French is used as an example below):

• "... with French" - minimum of 60 credits, comprising:
  • 30 credits of language modules at level 2 and
  • 30 credits of language at level 3, or relevant option modules at level 2 or higher

with the language modules taken within the appropriate Modern Language department or Institute of Arabic and Islamic Studies (IAIS)

• "... and French" - minimum of 105 credits, which include:
  • 30 credits of language modules at level 2 and
  • 30 credits of language at level 3, or 30 credits of relevant option modules at level 3

with the language modules taken within the appropriate Modern Language department or Institute of Arabic and Islamic Studies (IAIS)

• "... with proficiency in French" - 60 credits of Language modules taken through the Language Centre, the Department of Languages, Cultures and Visual Studies (LCVS) or the Institute of Arabic and Islamic Studies (IAIS)
• "... with French Studies" - minimum of 60 credits of relevant option modules at NQF level 5 or higher, which do not include language modules
• "... and French Studies" - minimum of 105 credits of relevant option modules at NQF level 5 or higher, with at least 30 credits of NQF level 6, with no language modules being included at NQF levels 5 or 6
• "... with proficiency in advanced French" - 60 credits of Language modules taken at an advanced (equivalent to post-A-level) level through the LC, LCVS or the IAIS

If 60 or more credits of the degree are spent studying abroad, then the phrase "with Study Abroad" is placed at the end of the degree title.

It does not matter in which academic year the study abroad occurs.

If the study abroad credits are failed, then "with Study Abroad" does not appear in the degree title.

If 120 credits of the degree are spent working abroad, then the phrase "with Work Experience Abroad" is placed at the end of the degree title.

If the study abroad credits are failed, then "with Work Experience Abroad" does not appear in the degree title.

If 120 credits of the degree are spent in a UK-based work placement, then the phrase "with UK Work Experience" is placed at the end of the degree title.

If the work experience credits are failed, then "with UK Work Experience" does not appear in the degree title.

If 120 credits of the degree are spent as a combination of study and work abroad, then the phrase "with Study and Work Experience Abroad" is placed at the end of the degree title.

If the study and work experience credits are failed, then "with Study and Work Experience Abroad" does not appear in the degree title.

During the Spring term of your final year, the FCH Director proposes a title to you. If you are unhappy with the proposal you can talk through desired changes and if these are academically appropriate and acceptable to the Director, such changes can be made. Students cannot, however, insist on changes or on a specific title. 

Once the title is agreed between you and the Director, the appropriate teaching departments are consulted. The departments have the right to change titles.

The departmentally approved titles are presented to the FCH Board of Studies for comment, further revision if required, and approval.

The FCH Board of Examiners may alter degree titles where significant modules have been failed.

Graduation ceremonies are allotted according to the first-named subject of the FCH degree title. For example, a FCH BA Geography and History student would graduate in the Geography ceremony.

Within the ceremony, FCH students are simply placed alphabetically by title within the body of students graduating. For example, a FCH French and Economics student is likely to graduate after French and Chinese, but before French and Italian.