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The making of Welsh history

This module explores themes that have shaped the British Isles, from medieval lordship and conflict, through the spread of Protestantism and the industrial revolution, to political protest and the rise of nationalism in an era of globalisation. By studying this module, you'll gain the skills you need to write a final 7,000-word dissertation, in which you will carry out an in-depth investigation of a topic that you select. Throughout this module, you'll work with other students to form a tight-knit ‘learning community’, sharing ideas and sources and helping to improve one another’s work.
Knowledge of the Welsh language is not required.

Modules count towards OU qualifications

OU qualifications are modular in structure; the credits from this undergraduate module could count towards a certificate of higher education, diploma of higher education, foundation degree or honours degree.

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Module

Module code

A329

Credits

Credits

  • Credits measure the student workload required for the successful completion of a module or qualification.
  • One credit represents about 10 hours of study over the duration of the course.
  • You are awarded credits after you have successfully completed a module.
  • For example, if you study a 60-credit module and successfully pass it, you will be awarded 60 credits.
60

Study level

Across the UK, there are two parallel frameworks for higher education qualifications, the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Northern Ireland and Wales (FHEQ) and the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF). These define a hierarchy of levels and describe the achievement expected at each level. The information provided shows how OU module levels correspond to these frameworks.
Level of Study
OU SCQF FHEQ
3 10 6

Study method

Module cost

Entry requirements

Student Reviews

I would heartily recommend this module to any student contemplating taking it. The tuition, guidance and support from the tutors,...
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Fascinating course, I had a lovely, very helpful teacher. I enjoyed just studying about Wales and England. The final paper...
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What you will study

The first half of this module provides an introduction to Welsh history from the twelfth to the twenty-first century. The second part then gives you the chance to research and write a dissertation on a Welsh history topic of your own choosing.

Throughout this module, the issue of national identity will be a major theme (and a topical one in the wake of devolution and Brexit). Some of the key questions it seeks to address include:

  • What factors led to the formation of a distinct group of people who thought of themselves as Welsh?
  • By what stages and to what degree in different periods did that formation of a Welsh identity occur?

In order to explore these issues and lay the groundwork for the dissertation, the first part of the module consists of the following five study blocks:

  • Block 1: Conflict and coexistence in medieval Wales
  • Block 2: Religion and society in early modern Wales
  • Block 3: Wales in flux: industrialisation and migration
  • Block 4: Class, protest and new identities
  • Block 5: Making identities in modern Wales

National identity is the theme that ties the module together, but it also acts as a jumping-off point for a much broader engagement with the past. You will be looking at some of the events, trends and movements that have shaped the history, not just of Wales but of Britain and, in some cases of Western Europe as a whole. Indeed a central question that this module asks is the extent to which Wales constitutes a microcosm for those wider issues. So while this module is focused on Welsh history, it also serves as a case study for examining bigger issues.

The five topics listed above do not represent a full coverage of Welsh history. Instead, they are intended to provide opportunities to explore how Welsh identity has changed over time whilst simultaneously giving you a springboard for your own research. This is a really important point because in the second half of the module, you will be researching and writing a dissertation on a question of your own choosing.

Examples of dissertations written by previous students can be seen on Open Research Online. 

You will learn

By studying this module, you will gain:

  • a broad knowledge of selected aspects of Welsh history between the thirteenth and the twenty-first centuries supported by the use of relevant sources, concepts and theories
  • an informed understanding of historical research methods and approaches, and from that an appreciation of history as a systematic and reflective discipline producing bodies of knowledge which are constantly subject to debate and refinement.

You will develop the ability to:

  • critically evaluate a range of historical sources (whether textual, visual, or audio-visual) as well as the work of other historians
  • summarise, analyse and synthesise historical knowledge and arguments obtained from a wide variety of primary and secondary sources, and from that, develop lines of extended argument
  • study and learn independently, including planning, structuring and executing an extended piece of historical writing
  • discuss a complex subject in an appropriate manner, articulating your knowledge in clear prose using the language and concepts associated with the discipline
  • improve your work by building on feedback from tutors, tutorials and fellow students, both by reflecting on your performance and by acting appropriately on advice
  • identify, access, use and critically assess a range of relevant sources, including those accessed from internal and external online resources, and to reference them appropriately in writing
  • work effectively with others in order to improve your own work and that of others through peer support mechanisms and constructive commentaries on other students’ work.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

You will have a tutor to help you with the study materials, mark and comment on your written work, offer guidance on the dissertation-writing process, and to ask for advice at any point in the module. There will also be structured tuition in the form of online tutorials held in a web-conferencing room as well as numerous opportunities for discussion in online forums between you, your tutor and your fellow students.

Contact us if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.

Assessment

The assessment details for this module can be found in the facts box.

Future availability

The making of Welsh history starts once a year – in October. This page describes the module that will start in October 2024. We expect it to start for the last time in October 2027.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.

Course work includes:

4 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs)
End-of-module assessment


Entry requirements

This is an OU level 3 module, which builds on study skills and subject knowledge acquired from previous modules at OU levels 1 and 2. This module is intended for students who have already studied history or classics at OU levels 2 or 3, and who wish to conduct an extended piece of independent research. 

Knowledge of the Welsh language is not required.

If you have any doubt about the suitability of the module, please speak to an adviser.

Preparatory work

Students are not required to do any formal preparatory work before the module starts. However, we recommend reading Geraint Jenkins’ A Concise History of Wales (2007), which offers a scholarly yet highly readable introduction to the history of Wales from before the Romans to the present day. If you have the time, you could also read John Davies’ A History of Wales (1994 or 2007), which traces the political, social and cultural history of Wales from prehistoric times to the modern era.

Both are available from most booksellers, and Geraint Jenkins’ A Concise History of Wales can also be accessed as an ebook via The Open University library.

In addition, you may already have some ideas about which areas of Welsh history you would like to focus on in your dissertation. Please feel free to start reading up on them (remembering that your dissertation needs to relate in some way to one of the five module blocks).

Register

Start End England fee Register
05 Oct 2024 Jun 2025 £3636.00

Registration closes 05/09/24 (places subject to availability)

Register
This module is expected to start for the last time in October 2027.

Additional Costs

Study costs

There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.

If your income is not more than £25,000 or you receive a qualifying benefit, you might be eligible for help with some of these costs after your module has started.

Ways to pay for this module

Open University Student Budget Account

The Open University Student Budget Accounts Ltd (OUSBA) offers a convenient 'pay as you go' option to pay your OU fees, which is a secure, quick and easy way to pay. Please note that The Open University works exclusively with OUSBA and is not able to offer you credit facilities from any other provider. All credit is subject to status and proof that you can afford the repayments.

You pay the OU through OUSBA in one of the following ways:

  • Register now, pay later – OUSBA pays your module fee direct to the OU. You then repay OUSBA interest-free and in full just before your module starts. 0% APR representative. This option could give you the extra time you may need to secure the funding to repay OUSBA.
  • Pay by instalments – OUSBA calculates your monthly fee and number of instalments based on the cost of the module you are studying. APR 5.1% representative.

Joint loan applications

If you feel you would be unable to obtain an OUSBA loan on your own due to credit history or affordability issues, OUSBA offers the option to apply for a joint loan application with a third party. For example, your husband, wife, partner, parent, sibling or friend. In such cases, OUSBA will be required to carry out additional affordability checks separately and/or collectively for both joint applicants who will be jointly and severally liable for loan repayments.

As additional affordability checks are required when processing joint loan applications, unfortunately, an instant decision cannot be given. On average the processing time for a joint loan application is five working days from receipt of the required documentation.

Read more about Open University Student Budget Accounts (OUSBA).

Employer sponsorship

Studying with The Open University can boost your employability. OU courses are recognised and respected by employers for their excellence and the commitment they take to complete. They also value the skills that students learn and can apply in the workplace.

More than one in ten OU students are sponsored by their employer, and over 30,000 employers have used the OU to develop staff so far. If the module you’ve chosen is geared towards your job or developing your career, you could approach your employer to see if they will sponsor you by paying some or all of the fees. 

  • Your employer just needs to complete a simple form to confirm how much they will be paying and we will invoice them.
  • You won’t need to get your employer to complete the form until after you’ve chosen your module.  

Credit/debit card

You can pay part or all of your tuition fees upfront with a debit or credit card when you register for each module. 

We accept American Express, Mastercard, Visa and Visa Electron. 

Mixed payments

We know that sometimes you may want to combine payment options. For example, you may wish to pay part of your tuition fee with a debit card and pay the remainder in instalments through an Open University Student Budget Account (OUSBA).


Please note: your permanent address/domicile will affect your fee status and, therefore, the fees you are charged and any financial support available to you. The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2025. Fees typically increase annually. For further information about the University's fee policy, visit our Fee Rules

This information was provided on 29/03/2024.

Can you study an Access module for free?

In order to qualify, you must:

  1. be resident in England
  2. have a personal income of less than £25,000 (or receive qualifying benefits)
  3. have not completed one year or more on any full-time undergraduate programme at FHEQ level 4 or above, or completed 30 credits or more of OU study

How to apply to study an Access module for free

Once you've started the registration process, either online or over the phone, we'll contact you about your payment options. This will include instructions on how you can apply to study for free if you are eligible.

If you're unsure if you meet the criteria to study for free, you can check with one of our friendly advisers on +44 (0)300 303 0069 or you can request a call back.

Not eligible to study for free?

Don't worry! We offer a choice of flexible ways to help spread the cost of your Access module. The most popular options include:

  • monthly payments through OUSBA
  • part-time tuition fee loan (you'll need to be registered on a qualification for this option)

To explore all the options available to you, visit Fees and Funding.

What's included

This module is entirely online. It centres on a module website which will take you step-by-step through the module, give you access to a large number of online resources, and enable you to work closely with your fellow students. The website includes:

  • a week-by-week study planner
  • module materials and resources
  • audio and visual content
  • assessment and dissertation guides
  • online tutorials and forums

Computing requirements

You’ll need broadband internet access and a desktop or laptop computer with an up-to-date version of Windows (10 or 11) or macOS Ventura or higher.

Any additional software will be provided or is generally freely available.

To join in spoken conversations in tutorials, we recommend a wired headset (headphones/earphones with a built-in microphone).

Our module websites comply with web standards, and any modern browser is suitable for most activities.

Our OU Study mobile app will operate on all current, supported versions of Android and iOS. It’s not available on Kindle.

It’s also possible to access some module materials on a mobile phone, tablet device or Chromebook. However, as you may be asked to install additional software or use certain applications, you’ll also require a desktop or laptop, as described above.

If you have a disability

The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone and this Accessibility Statement outlines what studying A329 involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.

To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our disability support pages.