History

History is the pursuit of how we got here and the stories that we tell ourselves to explain the past. We explore histories of race, class, gender, migration, capital, medicine, violence, religion and environment within the dynamics of an ever-changing world. Working from ordinary to extraordinary, local to global, fact to fiction, you will develop critical thinking, argument and analysis skills that lie at the heart of careers in media, government, culture and education.

You will study Irish, European, and Global History from the Middle Ages to the present. You will engage with different aspects of History – political, cultural, social, and economic. You will explore questions and problems, and develop your critical thinking skills and your ability to express your ideas and arguments.

Click here to Download Course Pathways document.

Joint Honours (DN520)

Students who take History as a Joint-Honours, three-year degree will study History in combination with one other major subject, selected from the range listed in the grid on page 85. Explore the past, examine a wide range of periods and topics from around the globe and study the different ways that the past can be understood.

Humanities (DN530)

If you take History as a single subject, you will study the modules listed by year. You will also undertake intensive training on research methods, and historiography across the four years. Single Major History students also have the opportunity to apply for an internship in third year and study abroad. In fourth year, you write a dissertation and design your own research programme, under supervision. In addition, you will participate in a dedicated research skills workshop and organise an end of year conference showcase.

First Year

Students can choose from a broad range of modules including: Rome to Renaissance • The United States from 1776 • Radicals & Revolutionaries in Global History • Ireland’s English Centuries • Modern Ireland 1800- 2000 • Modern Europe 1500-2000 In first year, students on the Joint-Honours degree also take the Creating History module, where you study in a small group with a historian to develop essential critical research and analytical skills.

Second Year

In second year, you begin to specialise in the areas of History that you are most interested in, focusing on particular countries, themes, and periods. Modules include: History Today • Islam & Christianity • Nazi Germany • A History of Anti-Immigration • The Irish at War, 1914-1998 • Global Asia

Third Year

You deepen your historical interests through our small-group, specialised research-based courses. In weekly two-hour seminars, you will engage in primary source research, deliver class presentations and write your own research project. You also have the option of studying abroad. Modules include: Genocide & Mass Violence • Central Asia, Tsars to Stalin • Modern Japan · Slavery & the New World • The Irish Revolution • Manufacturing Truth • Biography & History • Madness & Civilisation • Sexuality and society in the Middle Ages.

Students can study at partner institutions across Europe, North America, and Australia. We recommend that students take the opportunity when studying abroad to develop their language skills.

History prepares students for a wide range of careers including journalism, business, law, the civil service, diplomacy, NGOs, social media, and teaching.

You can continue to study History at Postgraduate or PhD level, or use your History degree to progress to a wide range of prestigious postgraduate conversion courses.

• Level 5/6 QQI-FET
• Open Learning Entry Route
• Mature Entry Route
• DARE Entry Route
• HEAR Entry Route
• University Access

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.

“I was fortunate enough to study in the UCD School of History throughout the course of my undergraduate and graduate degrees. As someone from a small town that lacked a world history course, studying overseas was the opportunity of a lifetime. Academically, it’s like tiptoeing from a shallow puddle to a plunge into the sea. There is an extraordinary number of resources with which to challenge yourself and UCD’s School of History gives you the tools to effectively analyse and critique all sources. Better yet, you are never alone in your pursuits, as the faculty”

Samantha Haywood, Student

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.