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German

BA/BSc (NFQ Level 8)
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This course is available through the following application route(s)

Duration:
3 Years
Attendance:
Full Time
Delivery:
On Campus
NFQ Level:
8 (180 credits)
Level:
Undergraduate
Award:
Bachelor of Arts
Next Intake:
September
General Entry Requirements (A-Level)

DDD

General Entry Requirements (IB)

24

Subject Requirements (Mathematics)

A Level C for Maths/Stats

IB HL5 for Maths/Stats

CAO Points 2025

420

Leaving Cert Subject Entry Requirements

O6/H7 in English, Irish, a third Language, and three other recognised subjects

Country Specific Entry Requirements:
Visit the UCD Global Undergraduate Entry Requirements webpage.
Other School Leaving Requirements:
See www.ucd.ie/admissions
Read more about Joint Honours
Curricular information is subject to change.

Duration:
4 Years
Attendance:
Full Time
Delivery:
On Campus
NFQ Level:
8 (240 credits)
Level:
Undergraduate
Award:
Bachelor of Science
Next Intake:
September
General Entry Requirements (A-Level)

BBC / BCCC / BCC

+ C AS Level

General Entry Requirements (IB)

29

Subject Requirements (Mathematics)

GCSE C / A Level E

(or AS Level D)

IB SL 4 / HL 3

CAO Points 2025

490

Leaving Cert Subject Entry Requirements

O6/H7 in English, Irish, Mathematics and three other recognised subjects

Country Specific Entry Requirements:
Visit the UCD Global Undergraduate Entry Requirements webpage.
Other School Leaving Requirements:
See www.ucd.ie/admissions
Read more about Social Sciences
Curricular information is subject to change.

Apply Now
German is the most widely spoken first language in Europe, and, in economic terms, Germany's strength is undisputed. Studying German therefore offers an array of cultural and business opportunities. Our teaching involves not only the language, but also the arts and culture of the German-speaking countries, equipping graduates with valuable intercultural understanding and key transferable skills.

About This Course

German is one of the most widely spoken first languages in Europe. The combined significance of Germany, Austria and Switzerland are undisputed. Studying German, therefore, offers an array of cultural and career opportunities. Our teaching involves not only the language, but also the arts and culture of German-speaking countries, equipping graduates with valuable intercultural understanding and key transferable skills.

Our students are strongly encouraged to spend an Erasmus year abroad at a host university in Austria or Germany as part of their degree. A year abroad is a valuable experience, which allows you to perfect your language skills and to broaden your horizons. This is recognised in the degree title itself: BA Arts students who successfully complete a year abroad graduate with a BA Arts International. If you wish to study more than one language with a built-in year abroad, consider the BA Modern Languages degree.

You will study core language modules alongside a range of options in culture, history, literature and translation. Examples of modules include:

First Year

German Language for Beginners • German Language for Non-Beginners • Reading German Literature • German History on Screen • Spoken German for Beginners

Second & Final Year

German Language (including Intensive German for Ex-Beginners) • Transcultural Encounters I & II • Modernist German Literature • Translation English-German & German-English • Youth Culture in the German Democratic Republic • Contemporary German Prose • Radical Thinkers

German is taught in lectures, classes and through independent study and recommended reading. Project work and group work will also feature.

Most modules have one major assessment component, such as an essay or an examination paper, plus one or more smaller continuous assessment components.

Study German

Art History History
Celtic Civilisation Irish/Gaeilge
Drama Studies Irish Folklore
English Italian
French Linguistics
Film Studies Music
Greek Statistics
Greek & Roman Civilisation Portuguese
Study German (BSc Social Sciences) as a minor with one of the following:
Political & International Relations Economics
Sociology

The additional Erasmus year abroad for the BA Joint Honours can be spent at one of our partner institutions: Berlin (FU), Erfurt, Erlangen, Graz, Konstanz, Leipzig, Münster, Munich, Potsdam, Vienna, Würzburg.

German is a passport to global careers. Our graduates have found lucrative employment in many different areas, including: Advertising, Business, Finance, Civil/ Diplomatic Service, International Relations, Journalism, Politics, Teaching, Translation, Academia and Research, Careers in the EU.

A degree in German is an ideal pathway to graduate study. Our graduate programmes include the MA in Modern Languages, MA in Linguistics & Applied Linguistics, Graduate Diploma in Localisation, and MLitt in German. We also offer supervision for doctoral research in a range of specialised areas.

Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.

Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.

Module Type Module   Trimester Credits
Stage 1 Core Modules
 GER10100 German Beginners A Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 GER10020 German Language I b Spring  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 GER10110 German Beginners B Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 1 of:
Option Modules:
Students must choose one option module from the list below.
Students may also take a module from the list below in place of an elective in Spring.

Students who have not reached at least level B1 on the CEFR or have a good grade in honours leaving Cert German (ideally H3 or above) are strongly advised to take GER 10010 German Language 1a as one of their option modules.
 GER10010 German Language I a Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 1 of:
Option Modules:
Students must choose one option module from the list below.
Students may also take a module from the list below in place of an elective in Spring.

Students who have not reached at least level B1 on the CEFR or have a good grade in honours leaving Cert German (ideally H3 or above) are strongly advised to take GER 10010 German Language 1a as one of their option modules.
 GER10140 Reading German Literature Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 1 of:
Option Modules:
Students must choose one option module from the list below.
Students may also take a module from the list below in place of an elective in Spring.

Students who have not reached at least level B1 on the CEFR or have a good grade in honours leaving Cert German (ideally H3 or above) are strongly advised to take GER 10010 German Language 1a as one of their option modules.
 GER10150 German History on Screen Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - A)2 of:
Level 2 Language Modules:
Students who have completed GER10020 at Stage 1 must select GER20060 and GER20070. Students who have completed GER10110 and GER10100 (Beginners) must select GER20240 and GER20070. Students must pass both level 2 language modules before registering for level 3 core language modules.
GER20060 German Language II a Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - A)2 of:
Level 2 Language Modules:
Students who have completed GER10020 at Stage 1 must select GER20060 and GER20070. Students who have completed GER10110 and GER10100 (Beginners) must select GER20240 and GER20070. Students must pass both level 2 language modules before registering for level 3 core language modules.
GER20240 German for Ex-Beginners A Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - A)2 of:
Level 2 Language Modules:
Students who have completed GER10020 at Stage 1 must select GER20060 and GER20070. Students who have completed GER10110 and GER10100 (Beginners) must select GER20240 and GER20070. Students must pass both level 2 language modules before registering for level 3 core language modules.
GER20070 German Language II b Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - C) Min 3 of:
Level 2 Option Modules:
Students should select at least 3 level 2 option modules.
 GER20190 Grimms' Tales and Adaptations Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - C) Min 3 of:
Level 2 Option Modules:
Students should select at least 3 level 2 option modules.
 GER20280 Große Reden Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - C) Min 3 of:
Level 2 Option Modules:
Students should select at least 3 level 2 option modules.
 GER20200 Auf Deutsch Handeln Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - C) Min 3 of:
Level 2 Option Modules:
Students should select at least 3 level 2 option modules.
 GER20270 Introduction to translation German/English-English/German Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - D) Min 0 of:
Additional Option:
This module is the equivalent of an elective. You can take it instead of one of your Stage 2 electives. Please make sure that you have selected the correct number of programme options.
 HUM20010 Career Readiness for Arts Autumn  5
Stage 3 Core Modules
 GER30080 German Language III a Autumn  5
Stage 3 Core Modules
 GER30090 German Language III b Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - B) Min 3 of:
Option Modules:
Students must select three options from the following list. In accordance with UCD academic policy, students must complete a minimum of 40 credits at level 3 or above (across both degree subjects).
Additional modules can be chosen from the list below in place of electives.
 GER30130 Translating Contemporary Texts German-English (Advanced) Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - B) Min 3 of:
Option Modules:
Students must select three options from the following list. In accordance with UCD academic policy, students must complete a minimum of 40 credits at level 3 or above (across both degree subjects).
Additional modules can be chosen from the list below in place of electives.
 GER30260 German Romanticism Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - B) Min 3 of:
Option Modules:
Students must select three options from the following list. In accordance with UCD academic policy, students must complete a minimum of 40 credits at level 3 or above (across both degree subjects).
Additional modules can be chosen from the list below in place of electives.
 GER30210 Transcultural Encounters 2 Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - B) Min 3 of:
Option Modules:
Students must select three options from the following list. In accordance with UCD academic policy, students must complete a minimum of 40 credits at level 3 or above (across both degree subjects).
Additional modules can be chosen from the list below in place of electives.
 GER30250 Born in the GDR Spring  5
Stage 4 Core Modules
 GER30080 German Language III a Autumn  5
Stage 4 Core Modules
 GER30090 German Language III b Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - B) Min 3 of:
Option Modules:
Students must select three options from the following list. In accordance with UCD academic policy, students must complete a minimum of 40 credits at level 3 or above (across both degree subjects).
Additional modules can be chosen from the list below in place of electives.
 GER30130 Translating Contemporary Texts German-English (Advanced) Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - B) Min 3 of:
Option Modules:
Students must select three options from the following list. In accordance with UCD academic policy, students must complete a minimum of 40 credits at level 3 or above (across both degree subjects).
Additional modules can be chosen from the list below in place of electives.
 GER30260 German Romanticism Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - B) Min 3 of:
Option Modules:
Students must select three options from the following list. In accordance with UCD academic policy, students must complete a minimum of 40 credits at level 3 or above (across both degree subjects).
Additional modules can be chosen from the list below in place of electives.
 GER30210 Transcultural Encounters 2 Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - B) Min 3 of:
Option Modules:
Students must select three options from the following list. In accordance with UCD academic policy, students must complete a minimum of 40 credits at level 3 or above (across both degree subjects).
Additional modules can be chosen from the list below in place of electives.
 GER30250 Born in the GDR Spring  5

SDG4 SDG 5 SDG 10 SDG 11 SDG 16 SDG 17

 

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.

Studying German at UCD has been so much more that I expected. I chose this degree because I wanted to continue learning and refining my German language skills. This course however proved to be much more than just learning to speak a language. I have also explored German culture, art, literature, history, cinema and even philosophy. The faculty are knowledgeable, approachable and passionate about their subjects. My classmates come from all different courses in UCD, all sharing enthusiasm for German. The smaller classes allow for closer learning, as well as being great for meeting new people and making friends. This degree has granted me the confidence to live and work abroad, and also offers me excellent global career opportunities.

Katie Clissmann, Graduate

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General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to German:

ROWCLASS Apply to
showAudience-audienceInt
BAU5
Joint Honours
Bachelor of Arts

Full-Time
Commencing September 2026
Undergraduate Degree (Non EU)
Non EU Undergraduates
Apply
showAudience-audienceInt
SBU3
Social Sciences
Bachelor of Science

Full-Time
Commencing September 2026
Undergraduate Degree (Non EU)
Non EU Undergraduates
Apply
showAudience-audienceEU
DN520
Joint Honours
Bachelor of Arts

Full-Time
Commencing September 2026
Application through CAO
Apply via CAO
showAudience-audienceEU
DN700
Social Sciences
Bachelor of Science

Full-Time
Commencing September 2026
Application through CAO
Apply via CAO
* you can change options at the top of the page

Additional special entry route(s) to German:

These options have additional eligibility requirements to cater for specific applicant cohorts. You should not apply via these routes before consulting the requirements or contacting the responsible UCD office.

ROWCLASS Apply to
showAudience-audienceInt
BAU5
Joint Honours
Bachelor of Arts

Full-Time
Commencing September 2026
Access Progression Pathway
Access Progression Pathway
Apply
Application to this Non-EU Access Progression Pathway is by invitation only. If you are not currently enrolled on an Access programme at UCD, your application will be marked as invalid.
If you are not a current Access student, but you are a non-EU applicant seeking admission to an undergraduate degree, please submit an application via the "Undergraduate Degree (Non-EU)" course type.
showAudience-audienceInt
SBU3
Social Sciences
Bachelor of Science

Full-Time
Commencing September 2026
Access Progression Pathway
Access Progression Pathway
Apply
Application to this Non-EU Access Progression Pathway is by invitation only. If you are not currently enrolled on an Access programme at UCD, your application will be marked as invalid.
If you are not a current Access student, but you are a non-EU applicant seeking admission to an undergraduate degree, please submit an application via the "Undergraduate Degree (Non-EU)" course type.
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