Bachelor of Education in Languages

About You

If you are considering a career in teaching and have a strong interest in languages, this may be the course for you. This four-year programme attracts students who have excellent communication skills, and are strongly motivated and passionate about languages teaching.

Why study Bachelor of Education in Languages at UL?        

UL's School of Education is the largest post-primary teacher education provider in the state and is ranked in the top 150 universities in the world for Education programmes. University of Limerick is also ranked within the top 75 universities in Europe for excellence in teaching and learning.

The aim of the programme is to educate teachers and equip them with the skills and aptitudes for a successful career as a languages teacher. Graduates from the programme will be qualified to teach their chosen languages at both Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate level.

What you will study       

This programme will provide opportunities for school-leavers with proven ability and interest in languages to acquire a high level of cultural and communicative competence in two languages. The languages students can choose from are French, German, Japanese, Spanish and Irish. You will choose two of these. As part of teacher preparation, students will go on two practicum placements for teaching practice. The first school placement is for 8 weeks in the 2nd year of your studies and for 10 weeks in 4th year.

By the end of this course, graduates will:        

• Demonstrate the required skills to competently and confidently teach through the target languages
• Apply your professional knowledge base to planning and implementing appropriate teaching, learning and assessment strategies and integrate this knowledge with qualities of inquiry and reflective practice
• Observe, reflect and critique practice in a variety of educational settings as well as engaging in non-teaching activities.
• Demonstrate the professional competencies identified in the Teaching Council’s Codes of Professional Conduct for Teachers
• Exercise sound judgement based on well-considered educational principles in their planning, design and delivery of relevant disciplinary based teaching and learning experiences in second-level schools
• Develop the personal and interpersonal skills necessary to promote the academic, social and personal development of students in their care

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 (including Mathematics; Irish or another language; and English).

In addition, applicants are required to hold at least the following in the Leaving Certificate, or an approved equivalent: H3) in Higher Level French or German or Irish or Spanish or Japanese.

Note: Grade F6 in Foundation Mathematics also satisfies the minimum entry requirements. Foundation Maths is not reckonable for scoring purposes.

Garda vetting required.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of this programme are qualified for appointment to all second-level schools (vocational, secondary, community and comprehensive schools).  Graduates achieving an adequate standard may also proceed to obtain a higher degree by research.

Follow-on Study

Graduates have the opportunity to pursue further study in the disciplines of Languages or Education. In addition, graduates can register for higher degrees by research in either Languages or Education that lead to Masters or PhD qualifications.