Liberal Arts & Sciences

The UCD Liberal Arts & Sciences Programme offers students the time and space to explore different areas of study and interest before progressing into their degree pathway of choice in year two or three. The opportunity to study in different subject areas gives students a broad intellectual perspective on their undergraduate education and challenges them to understand that there are many ways to research and ultimately understand the world around them. This breadth of study in the natural and social sciences, arts, and business is intended to enrich the undergraduate experience and complement intensive study in the selected degree major. Through this process, students have the opportunity to discover subjects and ideas that may become lifetime interests, or that offer the creative stimulus to view their chosen degree from different perspectives.

The UCD College of Social Sciences and Law is a broad and diverse, but connected community of students and faculty who are committed to creating a more sustainable and equitable future for all. We work together in a culture of collaboration to support each other to thrive and achieve our full potential, in service of broader societal goals. Through our undergraduate and graduate education, research and external engagement, we aim to ensure that our students, faculty and staff thrive and contribute to sustainable well-being on our campus, in Ireland and across the wider world. Our faculty are globally recognized experts in their fields, advancing knowledge through research, engaging with government, business and civil society to enhance our world, and using their knowledge to design and offer cutting-edge education within their disciplines and across the disciplines of Archaeology, Economics, Geography, Information & Communication Studies, Philosophy, Politics & International Relations, Psychology, Social Policy Social Work & Social Justice, and Sociology. Our ambition is that our students will debate and engage with the greatest societal challenges of our time by becoming informed citizens who will play a leading role in shaping societies around the globe toward more sustainable futures.  

The Social Sciences degrees at UCD incorporate a diverse range of formal and informal learning opportunities for students, delivered by excellent researchers who are leading their fields globally, and embedding the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDG’s) in their educational activities where appropriate.

Liberal Arts & Sciences

The opportunity to study in different subject areas gives students a broad intellectual perspective on their undergraduate education and challenges them to understand that there are many ways to research and ultimately understand the world around them in pursuit of affecting change across the global goals.

• Quality Education (SDG 4)
• Decent work and economic growth (SDG 8)
• Industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9)
• Reduce Inequalities (SDG 10)
• Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11)
• Climate Action (SDG 13)

I can honestly say this was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I had the opportunity to explore so many of the subjects I love like Biology, Linguistics and Music. I ended up pursuing History and Folklore, two subjects that had not even been on my radar! Now I can’t see myself studying anything else. Some people go to University knowing exactly what they want to study – and it’s really OK not to be one of those people!

Mackenzie Sawyer, New Mexico,

Liberal Arts and Sciences

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.