Higher Education
BA (Hons) Sustainable Futures:
Arts, Ecology, and Systems Change
Our degree, BA (Hons) Sustainable Futures: Arts, Ecology and Systems Change, is offered in partnership with Cardiff Metropolitan University.
Created as a response to the climate and ecological emergency, our degree is designed to foster confidence, creativity, critical thinking and emotional intelligence.
The foundation of the BA is learning how to learn about the natural world and human societies in order to become an agent of change. You will gain the ability to communicate and collaborate with peers in order to imagine – and deliver – fundamental changes to current systems.
Course Overview
BA (Hons) Sustainable Futures: Arts, Ecology and Systems Change is an interdisciplinary programme combining a grounding in theories of change, creative practice based on artistic methods, ecological thinking, political economy and sociotechnical systems.
Our programme invites you to develop the ‘futures-making skills’ necessary for making sense of a rapidly changing world: critical thinking, creativity, communication, collaboration, and compassion. We help you find your talents and then apply them in service of a more equitable world within planetary limits. This involves practical skills and arts-based training in creativity and design thinking alongside traditional activities such as critical reading and academic writing, scientific experiments, and theory.
Location
Talgarth
Tuition Time
3 days per week, from September to May
Course Length
3 years
Minimum Age
18 years (no maximum age)
Entry Requirements
We have an open admissions policy designed to encourage the widest possible access and participation for those who would like to enter higher education
Cost
£9250 per year, funded via Student Finance
Kit Requirements
Warm waterproof clothing and shoes for working outdoors.
Core Team
Guest Lecturers
Dr. Hanna Poikonen
Prof. David Helfand
Kirstie Simson
Owen Griffiths
Dr. Vandana Shiva
Prof. Ambreena Manji
Jojo Mehta
Chris Smaje
Laurie Laybourn
Thomas Duggan
Emma Cardwell
Keri Facer
Owen Sheers
Dr. Rachel Hasler
Morag Colquhoun
James Dyke
Downloads
teaching model
Classes are three days a week in intensive ‘blocks’ in year one, meaning you study one topic at a time. This gives you the chance to really delve deeply into an area. We focus on teaching excellence above all else.
Teaching is research-informed and led by experts in the topics you are studying. All our teaching staff are passionate about their subjects and the radical approach of Black Mountains College.
Because we know that students learn best in small groups, our seminars are capped at 20 students
You will connect with nature through learning outdoors in the spectacular Bannau Brycheiniog.
how to apply
We have designed and will continue to refine our admissions process to welcome expression and ambition in a range of formats. We want to focus on potential and passion for creating sustainable futures, not just past achievements. Admission is based on portfolios and interviews, not grades alone. We look for potential to contribute to change, not prior achievement.
Apply on UCAS
Find us on UCAS: Cardiff Metropolitan University/Black Mountains College – BA (Hons) Sustainable Futures: Arts, Ecology, and Systems Change
Full instructions are detailed online with application support available:
Apply Direct
We can support you in completing your application form directly, or if you’re ready and know that BMC is for you please fill in a direct application form below:
You will need to submit a reference alongside your application – your reference should be provided by someone who knows you academically or professionally (not a friend or relative) and can comment on relevant skills, experiences, and attributes. Click here to download a reference form
Interested to learn more? Speak to one of our dedicated Student Support team.
Useful Links
The BMC Prospectus
Download the Black Mountains College prospectus for an overview of our courses, campuses, and vibrant student life
Visit us
Come along to one of our Discovery Days or Campus Tours to explore our campuses and meet your tutors