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Undergraduate Programmes

Our Undergraduate Degree Programmes

We offer a number of programmes in the areas of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics that can be combined with other disciplines from Humanities, Social Sciences, Law and Business.

If you are interested in our Postgraduate Programmes please visit our Postgraduate page.


BA Arts, BA Modern Languages, BA Humanities and BEd with Modern Languages

The BA Modern Languages (DN541) is a 4-year degree designed for students who wish to study at least two and up to three languages, choosing from French, German, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese. Students will spend their third year abroad at a university where one of their main target languages is spoken.

BA Joint Honours (DN520) is taught by our world-class academics and allows you to specialize in your two chosen subjects so that you can embark on a wide range of future careers, postgraduate opportunities and professional work.

The BA Humanities’ (DN530) is a 4-year interdisciplinary, multisubject programme providing coherence and depth to student learning within a carefully structured framework. In addition, this degree gives you the option to apply for internship opportunities in Year 3 in different areas of employment from industry to the charitable sector, or to embark on a semester or year-long study abroad trip. In Year 4, you may also complete an extended research project/dissertation in your chosen subject area.

Education with Gaeilge & Modern Languages (DN760) is a 4-year degree blending language learning and initial teacher education to prepare you to work as a language teacher in post-primary schools in the Irish education system. You can choose to study two languages from modern languages (French, Spanish, German, Italian or Portuguese) and/or an Ghaeilge. The Spring trimester of Stage 3 is spent abroad on an Erasmus exchange at a university in the country where your modern language/one of your two modern languages is spoken – depending on whether you are taking the strand comprising Gaeilge and one modern language, or the strand comprising two modern languages. In the case of the latter strand, you will also undertake a four-week work placement in the country of your second modern language.

Please see the pathways that will allow you to study languages below: 

(opens in a new window)BA International Modern Languages (DN541)

The 4-year International Modern Languages programme is shared by all language subjects in the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics. The programme offers students an opportunity to focus their Arts degree on languages, and the cultures and literatures in which they are embedded, and to explore the connections, interactions and common ground between them. Students choose two main languages as part of their joint major degree but also have the opportunity to study a third language.

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Languages, Linguistics & Cultures (DN530)

This programme is designed for students who are seeking a high level of language and intercultural competency by developing effective communication and analytical skills. The programme takes a holistic approach to language by fostering linguistics, alongside literary and cultural approaches. Students can chose between French, German, Greek, Italian, Irish, Latin, and Spanish, with Portuguese and Welsh also available as minors. Irish modules are directed towards its status as a modern working language in the European Union and towards broadening its scope nationally and internationally.

In third year students will choose from a range of options that will enable them to broaden their horizons and enrich their academic experience.

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BA European Studies (DN530)

The 4-year transnational and interdisciplinary programme is designed to inspire in-depth exploration of the rich and varied cultures and histories of Europe. This course will equip students with valued skills in research, communication and language.

Students will spend part of their third year abroad with opportunities available in universities across Europe.

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BA Global Studies

The 4-year degree asks how a boundless and connected world came to be divided by boundaries into disconnected nation states in modernity. How did artificially imposed borders come to appear so natural to us? How do these borders shape our response to global challenges? And, how might we, as global citizens, imagine alternatives to this order, which we too easily take for granted? 

Students will spend part of their third year abroad with opportunities available in universities across Europe. 

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Education with Gaeilge & Modern Languages

Are you interested in studying to be a teacher of modern languages and/or an Ghaeilge at post-primary level? Are you passionate about teaching young people and making a positive impact on their lives? This innovative teacher education course prepares high quality language teachers to teach, inspire and lead across the Irish education system. As Brazilian education philosopher Paulo Freire states: “Education does not change the world. Education changes people. People change the world.”

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Each of our subjects can be studied in a variety of programmes:

DN541 BA Modern Languages:

DN530 BA Humanities

DN520 BA Joint Honours (two subjects)

DN760 Education with Gaeilge & Modern Languages


As a minor subject:


As a Structured Elective:

Find out more about French and Francophone Studies in UCD.

- - Download French Flyer - -

DN541 BA Modern Languages:

DN530 BA Humanities

DN520 BA Joint Honours (two subjects)

DN760 Education with Gaeilge & Modern Languages


As a minor subject:


As a Structured Elective:

Find out more about German Studies in UCD.

- - Download German Flyer - -

DN541 BA Modern Languages:

DN530 BA Humanities

DN520 BA Joint Honours (two subjects)

DN760 Education with Gaeilge & Modern Languages


As a minor subject:


As a Structured Elective:

Find out more about Italian Studies in UCD.

- - Italian Subject Flyer - -

Students studying Linguistics will explore the structure and functioning of the languages of the world both from a social and from a cognitive perspective. The programme introduces students to a range of theoretical orientations, frameworks and methods for systematically examining language. The programme puts a lot of emphasis on developing critical thinking and interpretation skills and pattern recognition skills through a hands teaching and learning approach.

DN530 BA Humanities

DN520 BA Joint Honours (two subjects)


As a minor subject + Sociology, Politics, Philosophy or Geography as major:


As a Structured Elective:

Find out more about Linguistics in UCD.

- - Download Linguistics Flyer - -

As a major:

DN541 BA Modern Languages:

DN530 BA Humanities

DN520 BA Joint Honours (two subjects)

DN760 Education with Gaeilge & Modern Languages

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The School offers Portuguese elective modules.

Find out more about Portuguese in UCD.

- - Download Portuguese Flyer - -

DN541 BA Modern Languages:

DN530 BA Humanities

DN520 BA Joint Honours (two subjects)

DN760 Education with Gaeilge & Modern Languages


As a minor subject:


As a Structured Elective:

Find out more about Spanish Studies in UCD.

- - Download Spanish Flyer - -

School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics

University College Dublin Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
T: +353 1 716 8302