BA Hons European Studies

at University College Cork

Modules

Year 1 Modules

• ES1002 Introduction to Europe and the European Union (5 credits)
• ES1003 The Nature and Political Evolution of the EC/EU (5 credits)
• ES1004 Europe: Rural Societies, Economies & Policies (5 credits)
   

In both the BA and BA International you will explore the processes and consequences of political, diplomatic, administrative, socio-economic and environmental decision-making in Europe. If you choose BA International, you will continue to Year 2 as outlined below.
 

Year 2 Modules

Core

• Methodologies, Data Analysis & Research; Model European Union
   

Electives
Europe, Ireland and the Wider World II; The European Union and the International System; Comparative European Politics I; Institutions of the European Union; Mediterranean Politics; 1989 Revolutions: Poland and East Central Europe; Geography of Tourism; Contemporary Human Migration & European Settlement and Society; Cities of Diversity; Economic and Rural Geography.
 

Year 3 Modules
As part of the BA (International), you will spend this year studying at a university in a country appropriate to your studies and/or your major language subject, for example:
 

• Spain (Barcelona, Seville, Santiago, Salamanca and Cadiz)
• Germany (Munich, Bonn and Konstanz)
• Austria (Innsbruck)
• Sweden (Lund)
• Italy (Bologna, Siena, Florence and Perugia)
• France (Aix-en-Provence (IEP), Paris III and Sciences Po, Lyon 3 and Rennes I and II)
   

UCC also enjoys partnerships with English language speaking institutions in Europe, Asia, the USA, Canada and South America.
 

Year 4 Modules

Core

• Research Dissertation
   

Electives
Ireland & International Relations: From Independence to Globalisation; Capitalism, Communism and the Cold War: East and West Germany (1945-1990); The EU Periphery: Minority Issues, Nationalism and Identity Politics; Geography of Heritage; Historical Geographies of the City; Geopolitics and Geostrategies; Regional and Local Planning; Northern Ireland; International Relations; State and Economy in Independent Ireland 1922-2000; US Collective Memory, Intervention and the Impact of Vietnam since 1968; Constitutional & Institutional Law of the EU; Economic Law of the EU.
 

See the College Calendar for additional information on Programmes and the Book of Modules for European Studies for additional information on modules. 
 

Course Practicalities

Teaching takes place through lectures and tutorials, through small group work and by use of project and dissertation research. European Studies also employs the valuable online Blackboard at UCC.
 

The contact hours, lectures, small group work and research required will vary, depending on the modules for which you register.
 

Expected lecture hours: European Studies lectures take place Monday to Friday.
 

• In Year 1, lectures take place three times per week. Tutorials are also offered.  
• In Year 2, core modules involve research techniques, as well as a Model European Union. You will also be offered an extensive range of optional modules.
• Year 3 is spent abroad and you also begin research for your final year dissertation.
• In Year 4, you continue to design your degree in line with your interests.  You will also produce a research dissertation, in consultation with an assigned supervisor.
   

Non-EU Candidates

Non-EU candidates are expected to have educational qualifications of a standard equivalent to the Irish Leaving Certificate. In addition, where such candidates are non-native speakers of the English language they must satisfy the university of their competency in the English language.
 

Minimum Requirements and Accepted English Language Tests & ExaminationsThe minimum English language entry requirements for admission onto a postgraduate programme at UCC are outlined below. These requirements are for postgraduate applicants whose first language is not English. If Gaeilge (Irish) is your first language these requirements do not apply to you.There are a small number of programmes with a higher minimum English language entry requirement and we list these below under Programmes with a Higher Minimum English Language Requirement.IELTS*  
 

• 6.5 Overall
• 6.0 Individual Skills (academic version)
   

TOEFL iBT  

• 90 Overall
• Listening 20
• Reading 19
• Speaking 21
• Writing 20

The fees for BA Hons European Studies may vary from €20,000 to €35,000 anually for tuition fees. The fee's prices may get higher for international students.

European Studies graduates have pursued careers in a variety of areas including:
 

• European public and private sectors
• Foreign Affairs
• EU Institutions and Agencies
• Government Departments
• Communications
• Administration
• Marketing and Management
• Research
• NGOs and Charities
• Policy Analysis
• Consultancy
• Academia
• Media, PR and Journalism  
   

Possible career paths are as varied as your individual interests.