Bachelor of Arts in Applied Languages

Semesters 1, 2 and 3: You will spend the first three semesters in UL, building a foundation in your two (or three) chosen languages and the societies in which these languages are spoken, as well as in Linguistics, which is the science of language, and in your elective subjects.

Semesters 4 and 5: You will spend semesters 4 and 5 away from UL. You will be on a work placement for the first semester (cooperative education) and you will be studying in a university for the second semester (external academic placement). Working and studying abroad gives you a fantastic opportunity to deepen your linguistic skills and cultural knowledge. Students generally divide their time between their two main languages; so if German and Spanish are your main languages, you could spend your cooperative education in Spain or Argentina for example and spend your external academic placement in a German-speaking country. If you are studying Irish, you may be working in the Gaeltacht or in Irish-medium schools and media organisations. Whatever your language combination, you will get plenty of advice and guidance about these choices and you will start planning them well in advance.

Semesters 6, 7 and 8: During semesters 6, 7 and 8, you will acquire a deeper understanding of the historical, political, economic and cultural factors that have shaped the societies in which your two languages are spoken, while also continuing the study of these languages to a high level of proficiency. You will also acquire specialised, advanced skills such as interpreting and translating. In addition, you have the opportunity in your last 3 semesters to continue the study of your third language/ politics and international relations/marketing, or you can choose to specialise in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages or Technical Communication. You can also choose to study literature modules in your second language. In addition, you can choose from a variety of interesting electives in the areas of linguistics, media, sociology, literature and film.

A full year by year breakdown of modules is below:

Year 1 | Semester 1    
 

• Language, Culture and Society A: French OR German OR Irish OR Japanese OR Spanish    
• Language, Culture and Society B: French OR German OR Irish OR Japanese OR Spanish    
• Linguistics 1    
• Elective 1: French OR German OR Irish OR Spanish OR Japanese OR Marketing OR Politics and International Relations    
• Elective 2: Literature in Language A OR B OR Cultural Studies and New Media    

Year 1 | Semester 2
 

• Language, Culture and Society A: French OR German OR Irish OR Japanese OR Spanish
• Language, Culture and Society B: French OR German OR Irish OR Japanese OR Spanish
• Linguistics 2
• Elective: French OR German OR Irish OR Spanish OR Japanese OR Marketing OR Politics and International Relations
• Elective 2: Literature in Language A OR B OR Language and Culture

Year 2

Year 2 | Semester 1    
 

• Language, Culture and Society A: French OR German OR Irish OR Japanese OR Spanish    
• Language, Culture and Society B: French OR German OR Irish OR Japanese OR Spanish    
• Language and Technology    
• Elective 1 : French OR German OR Irish OR Spanish OR Japanese OR Marketing OR Politics and International Relations    
• Elective 2: Literature in Language A OR B OR Cultural Studies    

Year 2 | Semester 2
 

• Cooperative Education

Year 3

Year 3 | Semester 1    
 

• External Academic Placement    

Year 3 | Semester 2
 

• Language, Culture and Society A: French OR German OR Irish OR Japanese OR Spanish
• Language, Culture and Society B: French OR German OR Irish OR Japanese OR Spanish
• Elective 1 : French OR German OR Irish OR Spanish OR Japanese OR Marketing OR Politics and International Relations OR Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages OR Technical Writing

Year 4 | Semester 1    
 

• Language, Culture and Society A: French OR German OR Irish OR Japanese OR Spanish    
• Language, Culture and Society B: French OR German OR Irish OR Japanese OR Spanish    
• Applied Languages Project    
• Elective 1:French OR German OR Irish OR Spanish OR Japanese OR Marketing OR Politics and International Relations OR Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages OR Technical Writing    
• Elective 2: Literature in Language A OR B OR Cultural Studies OR European Cinema OR New Media    

Year 4 | Semester 2
 

• Language, Culture and Society A: French OR German OR Irish OR Japanese OR Spanish
• Language, Culture and Society B: French OR German OR Irish OR Japanese OR Spanish
• Applied Languages Project
• Spanish OR Japanese OR Marketing OR Politics and International Relations OR Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages OR Technical Writing
• Elective 2: Literature in Language A OR B OR Cultural Theory OR European Cinema OR Travel Literature

Applicants are required to hold at the time of enrolment the established Leaving Certificate (or an approved equivalent) with a minimum of six subjects which must include: Two H5 (Higher level) grades and Four O6 (Ordinary level) grades or four H7 (Higher Level) grades. Subjects must include Mathematics, Irish or another language, and English.

Note: Grade F6 in Foundation Mathematics also satisfies the minimum entry requirements. Foundation Maths is not reckonable for scoring purposes

Tuition Fees

These are based on Residency, Citizenship, Course requirements.

Review the three groups of criteria to determine your fee status as follows

1. Residency
    
   • You must have been living in an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland for at least 3 of the 5 years before starting your course
      
2. Citizenship
    
   • You must be a citizen of an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland or have official refugee status
      
3. Course Requirements (all must be met)
    
   • You must be a first time full-time undergraduate (Exceptions are provided for students who hold a Level 6 or Level 7 qualification and are progressing to a Level 8 course in the same general area of study).
   • You must be undertaking a full-time undergraduate course of at least 2 year’s duration
   • You cannot be undertaking a repeat year of study at the same level unless evidence of exceptional circumstances eg serious illness is provided (in which case this condition may be waived)

Job titles for graduates with this degree
 

• Communications, Media and Public Relations
• Department Administrator
• Events Coordinator
• Professional Interpreter and/or Translator
• Public Service, Including the Irish Foreign Service
• Sales and Marketing
• Software, IT and internet sector
• Teacher
• Technical Writer