Joint Honours

UCD Arts & Humanities is Ireland’s leading centre for research, creative practice and innovation. We offer a first-class education in a broad spectrum of disciplines as well as the chance to pursue your interests and develop your profile in a wide range of co- and extra-curricular activities. We are ranked 40 for English Literature & Language and in the top 100 for History and Performing Arts (QS World Subject Rankings by subject 2024).

Our courses provide opportunities for study abroad, internships, research and project work and our unrivalled choice of subjects can be studied in three distinct BA degrees: BA Humanities, BA Modern Languages and BA Joint Honours (two subjects).

BA Humanities

This four-year, innovative, multi-subject degree offers 14 distinct degree options. Students learn within a carefully structured framework of related subjects. The BA Humanities has the added benefit of offering different ways to diversify your skills and broaden your horizons. In third year, students can apply for an internship, study abroad or continue deepening their knowledge by taking UCD modules or undertaking a research project.

BA Modern Languages

This four-year degree is designed for students who wish to study at least two languages: French, German, Italian, Spanish or Portuguese. A third language may be added on registration. Students will develop an advanced linguistic ability and a sophisticated level of cultural competence, enabling them to communicate fluently in a broad range of professional and social contexts. In third year, all BA Modern Languages students spend a full year abroad studying at one of our partner universities. This course is ideal for students who enjoy modern languages and want to live and work effectively in a multilingual environment. 

BA Joint Honours

This long established, three-year course gives students the freedom to choose from an unrivalled range of 26 subjects and build their own bespoke degree. Overall, there are 380 places on the Joint Honours. See all available subject combinations here. Students can add a third subject or choose from a wide range of elective modules at the start of first year during registration. At the end of first year, students commit to their two Joint Honours subjects and study these subjects to BA degree level. Popular combinations include: Film Studies and French, Music and Irish, Art History and History, and History and Greek & Roman Civilisation.

In your third year, you may apply to study abroad through the Erasmus programme or on a non-EU exchange. UCD has over 200 Erasmus partners in Europe and an increasing number of non-EU exchange agreements with universities in the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan and elsewhere. The year abroad takes place when you have accumulated at least 110 credits and satisfied any subject prerequisites, adding a fourth year to the BA programme and turning it into a BA International.

Our students gain in-depth subject knowledge in their chosen areas. In addition, they acquire a wealth of transferable skills that are highly valued by employers, including: research, critical thinking, analysis, synthesis, creativity, communication and writing. We offer students the opportunity to develop their career ambitions through a range of focused employability modules, alumni mentoring, career events and other initiatives.

UCD is ranked number one for graduate employability in Ireland. We are committed to helping our students navigate the rapidly evolving job market and empowering them to find their future. Our graduates play a vital role in intellectual, cultural and business life in Ireland, and work in senior roles across a broad spectrum of industries including: journalism, culture, public sector, law, communications and innovation.

The quality of the BA degree is recognised by employers who want well-educated and versatile employees. The flexibility it provides allows graduates to enter a host of professions including , journalism, politics, human resources management, public service, teaching, non-profit sector roles, tourism, arts and creative industries, advertising, public relations, banking and business to name a few.

UCD Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences Programme Office,
Newman Building,
Belfield,
Dublin 4
Tel: +353 1 716 8102/8259
Web: www.ucd.ie/ahss

By joining the UCD College of Arts and Humanities you will be part of a vibrant community of students and faculty who are committed to creating a more sustainable, just and equitable future. Our courses are designed to equip students with the best education in their chosen arts and humanities subjects. Our research and teaching and learning connect with many of the SDGs, most notably:

• SDG 4: Quality Education -Promotes inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality - Advances gender equality by addressing social norms, histories, and cultural practices that contribute to gender disparities.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities - Encourages understanding and action against social, economic, and political inequalities.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities - Enhances cultural understanding and heritage preservation, fostering sustainable communities.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions - Promotes peace, justice, and strong institutions through critical inquiry into human rights, ethics, and governance.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals - Encourages global partnerships and collaboration by fostering international understanding and dialogue.

Our programmes equip students with critical thinking, empathy, and cultural awareness, essential for addressing complex global challenges.

Non-EU Undergraduate Fee information can be found here.

UCD offers a number of competitive undergraduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD undergraduate degree programme. For information on Undergraduate Scholarships, please see the UCD International Scholarships webpage.

• *Special Requirements - Language Options Recommendation:

If choosing a language at Beginners Level, GCSE C or IB SL4 in Other Language is required. If at Advanced Level, a A Level C or IB HL5 in that language is required. French is only available at Advanced Level.

• *Special Recommendations - Music:

In order to study Music, we strongly recommend that you have A Level C / IB HL 5 or the equivalent of Grade 5 ABRSM Music Theory

• *Special Recommendation - Maths:

In order to study Mathematics, we strongly recommend that you also have at least A Level C / IB HL 5 or equivalent in Mathematics.