Master of Liberal Arts with Study Abroad

at University of Bristol - Clifton Campus United Kingdom

This course provides a thorough grounding in physics with astrophysics as a key component. It is led by an internationally renowned astrophysics research group and covers a broad range of contemporary astrophysics.

In years one and two the course introduces all of the key concepts in astrophysics and then focuses on cosmology. In year three you will progress to more advanced topics such as galaxies and high-energy astrophysics.

Your final-year project will be with a member of the astrophysics research group. The group currently specialises in cosmology, galaxy cluster astrophysics, galaxy evolution, black holes and active galaxies, and the formation of extrasolar planets.

The course gives you the opportunity to develop a physicist's broad range of skills, including problem-solving, numeracy, teamwork and the ability to communicate complicated concepts. You will also gain the skills needed for astronomical observations and analysis of data from international ground- and space-based observatories.

You will join a friendly department with a very active, award-winning student society. Our physics graduates have an excellent record of employment, a testament to the value that employers place on the transferable skills that you gain on this course.

If you are curious about our planet and interested in finding solutions to global problems, this course is for you. Learn about the physics, chemistry and history of the Earth through examining earth materials such as rocks, minerals and fossils, and use remote sensing techniques to explore the structure and chemistry of its inaccessible areas.

Learn with experts whose research feeds directly into your studies at the cutting edge of scientific developments. Recent options have included Volcanic Hazards, Global Tectonics, Mineral Resources and Hydrogeology. By your final year you’ll be conducting your own independent research and exploring the questions that matter most to you.

We have a large geology collection and the ability to measure unique geochemical reactions, giving you a real feel for geology in practice.

Field trips are a huge part of why our community is so tight knit, giving you the chance to get to know your course mates while honing your practical skills. 

This four-year course has the same basic structure as BSc Geography but you will spend your third year studying geography and other subjects at an English-speaking university abroad.

In year one you receive an overview of human and physical geography, and develop a range of geographical and scientific skills. The remaining years are organised around specialist units from human and/or physical geography.

Physical geography units cover three broad areas: glaciology, hydrology and environmental change. Human geography units provide in-depth study of cultural, economic and social geography, emphasising the importance of theory and methods for analysing contemporary geographical problems and policies. Topics range from economic development and global politics to inequalities of health and contemporary social theory.

You will also develop skills in the use of specialised computer software, statistics and data collection in the field. Field trips and practical work are key components of the course. There are UK residential trips in year one and in year two there is an overseas field trip.

Your third-year studies abroad will be arranged on an individual basis. We currently have exchange agreements with universities in the US, Canada, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong. Visit Global Opportunities to find out more about where you can study abroad.

The skills that you acquire throughout your studies will be applied in a self-directed dissertation project in your final year.

Examine the interactions between the geology, biology, chemistry and physics of Earth’s surface, oceans and atmosphere and gain a deep understanding of Earth’s environment and how it can be influenced by human activities.

Learn with experts whose research feeds directly into your studies at the cutting edge of scientific developments. Recent options have included Soils and the Critical Zone, Environmental Impact Assessments, Oceans and Climates, and Environmental Radioactivity.

By your final year you’ll be conducting your own independent research and exploring the questions that matter most to you.

We have a friendly community and a program of student-run projects, informal seminars and social events. Field trips are a huge part of why our school community is so tight knit, giving you the chance to get to know your course mates and key staff, while honing your practical skills. You will gain plenty of hands-on experience, with over 40 days of fieldwork both in the UK and overseas, the cost of which is included in your tuition fee.

The skills developed throughout your studies are highly valued by employers – from scientific and technical skills including coding, modelling, lab skills, and data analysis – to transferable skills such as communication, creativity and resilience.

Our LLM in Human Rights Law reflects an area of law that is critical in providing the frameworks necessary to protect the dignity of human beings around the world. It offers you an opportunity to graduate and meet a growing demand for specialist lawyers that have human rights experience and knowledge – and a determination to tackle human rights violations.

The LLM in Human Rights Law offers in-depth, intensive study of institutions and mechanisms at the international and regional levels, as well as more specialist areas such as employment law, mental health law and law around migrant workers, with a variety of related optional units to choose from.

This course allows you to combine subjects from the School of Economics and the School of Accounting and Finance with the benefit of one year abroad. 

The School of Accounting and Finance prepares you for a career in the accountancy profession or financial markets through access to subjects accredited by several professional accountancy bodies, including the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).

Additionally, you will be prepared for a career as an economist, studying in a School of Economics run by world-leading experts. 

Places on the course are allocated on merit depending on first-year examination results and availability of spaces at destination universities.

This course provides rewarding opportunities to participate in summer internships and the Bristol PLUS Award. You will also benefit from the faculty's Professional Liaison Network, which runs a professional mentoring scheme with alumni, insight talks and internships. 

This course recognises the importance of statistical analysis in these two core disciplines, as well as the benefit of studying econometrics: the application of statistical methods to data to estimate economic models.

The first two years of the degree are focused on building your mathematical and analytical abilities, with mandatory units in micro- and macro-economics, mathematics, statistics and econometrics, and the fundamentals of accounting and finance. These allow you to develop the necessary skills to complete the applied economics dissertation in your final year, when you can also choose from a wide range of optional units.

Previously, economics units have included Economics of Developing Countries, Behavioural Economics, and International Economics.

Previous finance units have included Financial Crises, International Finance, and Portfolio Management.

We offer you the opportunity to extend your degree to four years and spend your third year studying economics in English at a top-ranking university in Europe or farther afield before returning to Bristol for your final year.

This programme allows you to combine the challenging, broad academic content of a Bristol economics degree with an overseas dimension that reflects the international nature of the economy. For further details of year abroad opportunities visit Global Opportunities.

This applied psychology degree uses psychological research methods to understand and interpret social and human behaviour in the context of education, wherever and whenever it happens throughout people’s lives.

As with our BSc Psychology in Education, education is conceptualised as lifelong and in many different contexts.

The British Psychological Society accreditation means that successful students are eligible to apply for professional training as a psychologist.

If you achieve the required grades at the end of the first year, you will spend your third year at a partner institution overseas. See Global Opportunities for more information.

The course currently includes an optional placement unit, Education in Practice, where you will have the opportunity to connect your academic learning with the practice of education on a placement within a school, community organisation, charity, museum or other relevant organisation.

Students acquire valuable skills spanning two, rapidly changing disciplines that inform each other. You will apply psychological theory and research to real-life educational settings involving children, adolescents and adults.

Lectures, workshops, seminars, discussions, guided independent study and tutorials offer an evidence-based and flexible basis for professional development. Seminars and workshop activities encourage you to collaborate with others, while individual and group presentations help you develop confidence in conveying your arguments and ideas.