Bachelor of Arts in European Studies

About You

There is no ‘typical’ European Studies student. The main qualities that you need for success in the field are;

• A healthy curiosity about how modern societies function
• An interest in the European Union, and the issues facing the Union and its member states
• a taste for languages other than your own
• an interest in other cultures and
• an ability to think independently and argue coherently for your ideas.

Neither do you have to know what you want to ‘be’ when you leave college in order to choose European Studies. The degree offers a very broad entrance into the worlds of Humanities, Languages and Social Sciences.

Why Study European Studies at UL?

Brexit will mean more direct interaction with the EU and with individual member states on the continent. A better knowledge of the European Union, and Ireland’s place within it, is more needed than ever before. An understanding of Europe requires knowledge of its historical origins, of its economic, legal and societal aspects, and of its political institutions. The BA in European Studies develops knowledge and understanding of all of these areas linking them with knowledge of the cultures and languages of key member states. The University of Limerick has long led the way in Ireland in this field, with the result that this degree is one of the longest established European Studies degree programmes in Europe.

Jean Monnet European Studies Entrance Bursary

Students of the BA European Studies are eligible for the Jean Monnet European Studies Entrance Bursary. The Bursary to the value of €2,000 is awarded annually to an incoming student on this programme who achieves the highest CAO points.

Electives and Pathways in European Studies

It is mandatory for all students to take a general European Studies module.

Students must also study one of the below European languages. Click on each language to learn more:

• French
• German
• Spanish

Along with the mandatory modules, there are a number of electives available, as you will have the freedom to select 3 of the below subjects. Click on each subject for more information:

• Language 2 - French, German, Spanish, or Irish 
• History
• Economics
• Law
• Politics/ Public Administration
• Marketing
• Sociology
• European Literature and Film - (choose 1) French, German, Spanish, Irish

What you will study

The BA in European Studies offers you a core European Studies programme and a wide degree of choice between options in European History, Sociology, Politics, Economics, Marketing, Law and European Literature & Film, as well as the opportunity to develop an in-depth knowledge of French, German, Irish / Gaeilge and Spanish languages and cultures. Language teaching takes place in small groups and many of the teachers are native speakers of the languages concerned. Language skills are further developed during the period of study abroad at one of our partner universities on the continent, completion of which is mandatory for students of the BA in European Studies.

The BA in European Studies is a four-year programme. Six semesters, including all of the first and final years, are spent in UL. A further two semesters, in the spring of Year 2 and autumn of Year 3, are spent off-campus on the Study Abroad programme and on the Cooperative Education programme, which provides work experience.

From the beginning of your degree programme, you will follow a core European Studies module stream, a stream of language study in at least one continental European language (French, German or Spanish), and may either take three disciplinary subjects chosen from European History, Sociology, Law, Politics, Economics, Marketing and European Literature & Film. Spanish and German are offered at Advanced and at Beginners’ Level, with these streams being integrated in Year 3. The European Literature & Film stream allows students to acquire the necessary prerequisite ECTS points to enter the Professional Masters in Education (PME) in order to train as a language teacher in Irish secondary schools.

* NB: Students choosing Irish / Gaeilge must also study a continental language.

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.

Additional language requirements

Applicants must hold a H3 grade in a language other than English.

Students wishing to take the two language options with Irish/Gaeilge must hold a minimum H3 grade in Irish/Gaeilge.

We welcome applications from Mature Students. Mature applicants must apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO) by 1 February.

Certain QQI awards are acceptable in fulfilling admission requirements for this programme. Go to www.ul.ie/admissions for more information and a full list of modules.

Employers in all areas of business, professional and public life are increasingly looking for graduates who can combine language skills with knowledge of European affairs. Our graduates work in areas such as:

• Public service either in Ireland or within the European Union (eg. European Parliament, Enterprise Ireland, Houses of the Oireachtas)
• Business management with Irish and European companies (eg. Jones Recruiting)
• Banking and financial sectors (eg. AIB)
• Tourism and leisure industries (eg. Berlin Tourism Marketing, Clare Tourism)
• Language Teaching (incl. secondary schools if the European Literature & Film stream is chosen)

All of these career opportunities are expanding rapidly and new possibilities will continue to open as the ‘new’ Europe develops over the coming years.

Follow-On Study

Many graduates of the BA in European Studies go on to do postgraduate work of one kind or another. For some this means university-based or other professional education – good examples being a postgraduate teaching qualification or a diploma/degree in journalism.

For others, the European element predominates and this can lead naturally to one of the many related Masters degrees such as UL’s MA in European Politics and Governance. The range of postgraduate study possibilities for European Studies graduates also includes a wide variety of research opportunities.

Want to find out more about possible careers with this degree? Click Here