Spanish

Spanish can be taken as part of the UL Arts Degree as a joint honours combination. Review the subjects you can study with Spanish by looking at the table at the end of this section.

About You

You are someone who enjoys learning about other cultures, who is interested in languages and who would either like to continue with Spanish because you liked it in school. Or you may want to pick it up as a beginner who is happy at last to get a chance to start learning Spanish. Perhaps you are someone who wants to benefit from the excellent job prospects for anyone with a good knowledge of other EU languages and of Spanish in particular. And you know that Spanish is now one of the 4 most used languages in the world.

Why study Spanish?

• There are over 570 million speakers of Spanish (out of which 480m are native speakers)
• Spanish is one of the three most widely used languages in the world (alongside English and Mandarin).
• Spanish is the official language of Spain and most countries in Latin America.
• Spanish is the second language in the USA (by 2027 there will be more Spanish speakers in the US than in Spain).
• Spanish is one of the official languages of the United Nations, the European Union and many other international bodies. It plays a vital role in international business, international relations, audio-visual media, and other areas.
• Spanish is the key to the fascinating cultural heritage of Latin America and Spain.
• The University of Limerick offers Spanish at both beginner and advanced levels.

What you will study

You will learn about Spanish and Latin American societies, cultures, and literatures, as well as improve your language skills at all levels and develop your intercultural awareness.

Note: Spanish is available at beginners and post leaving certificate level. Students require a minimum H4 grade in Spanish to study post leaving certificate level Spanish. Students require a minimum H4 grade in a language other than English to study beginners Spanish.

Spanish Joint Honours Pathway

Modules are subject to change. 

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 mathematics is not reckonable for scoring purposes.

In addition, students wishing to study a Language must hold a minimum H4 grade in that language, with the exception of beginners German or beginners Spanish where a H4 grade in a language other than English is required. Specialist requirement in Mathematics also for those studying Economics or Mathematics.

For certain subjects, additional special qualifications specific to individual subjects or disciplines may be determined by the respective departments in accordance with Academic Council regulations.

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

QQI Entry

Certain QQI Awards are acceptable in fulfilling admission requirements for this programme. go to the UL Admissions QQI page for a full list of modules.

Language graduates have the potential to get good jobs as, by studying Spanish, you acquire a whole range of skills that can be applied to a great variety of professions. In particular, you will have very good communication skills, which are highly valued by employers. Learning a language gives you another way of looking at, analysing and interpreting the world, so you are automatically more attractive to potential employers. As a result, language graduates can explore a variety of careers and professions, for example:

• Teaching (Professional Masters of Education required)
• Public Service (because you have shown language learning potential you may be recruited to learn another language)
• Media
• International Business (Marketing, Finance, Personnel)
• Translating
• Localising and Interpreting
• Tourism

Follow-On Study:

• MA Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies
• MA International Studies
• MA Applied Linguistics International
• MA Modern Language Studies
• MA TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)
• Professional Master of Education (Modern Languages)