Bachelor of Arts in Applied Languages Careers
Key information
Employability skills from this degree
- Communicating effectively verbally and in writing in different languages
- Gathering, assessing and interpreting information
- Leading and participating in discussions and groups
- Adapting to new and changing surroundings
- Working in teams and independently
- Organising and working to deadlines
- Developing opinions and proposing ideas
- Reading text to pick out essential points
Further study options
- Masters/PhD in Languages, Literature, Culture and Communications
- Structured PhD in Applied Languages
- MA in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
- MSc in Marketing, Consumption and Society
Job titles for graduates with this degree
- Communications, Media and Public Relations
- Department Administrator
- Events Coordinator
- Professional Interpreter and/or Translator
- Public Service, Including the Irish Foreign Service
- Sales and Marketing
- Software, IT and internet sector
- Teacher
- Technical Writer
Student profiles
Aisling Fee
Aisling Fee is a communications professional and graduate of the Bachelor of Arts in Applied Languages, currently working as Head of Communications and Events at Groupe Alpha Holding in France.
Originally from Co. Leitrim, and passionate about learning languages, Aisling was drawn to her course due to the wide variety of career paths available upon graduation. While the BA Applied Languages gave her the chance to develop her language skills, she also embraced the opportunity to study linguistics, literature, cinema, economics, politics, and more.
Aisling spent her Erasmus in Montpellier, France and went on to do her co-op placement in Madrid, Spain. Upon graduation, she returned to France to complete an MBA in the EFAP Communication School, Bordeaux while working in marketing and communications for medical supply company, Netraco & Santé, before stepping into her current role.
Reflecting on her UL journey, Aisling says: “My applied languages course has got me places I could never have dreamed of. I look at my fellow classmates and everyone is doing such cool and different things – teachers, journalists, sales positions, Foróige workers, Jameson brand ambassadors, support services for Apple.”
Kieron Ryan
Kieron Ryan is a graduate of Business with Japanese at UL and currently works as a Senior Manager QA (Quality Assurance) in the pharma industry in Kobe, Japan.
A Limerick native, Kieron was drawn to UL's “beautiful campus and amazing facilities”, and he enjoyed all aspects of campus life, from language exchange meetings and the Softball Club to presenting his own radio show with friends on ULFM.
The highlight of Kieron’s academic experience was the Japanese portion of his undergraduate degree. He explains: “Unlike secondary education, the language programmes at UL are tied to real-life practical usage; and the international community in UL, along with coordinated language exchange events provided by the School of Modern Languages and Applied Linguistics, really encouraged me to speak and become engaged. These events were the foundation of the language ability I have and use daily now.”
Rían Murphy
I am a graduate of the BA in Applied Languages, currently working as a conference interpreter for the interpreting services of the European Commission in Brussels. My working languages are Irish, French and German, all of which I interpret into English.
I chose UL because I was interested in Erasmus and international work placement and liked that students learn through their target language. I thoroughly enjoyed my four years in UL, including one year spent abroad split between France and Germany.
The quality of teaching and the language skills of my classmates constantly impressed me. The course itself was very enjoyable while being challenging. While there is a focus on language learning and enhancement, equal emphasis is placed on the countries where the languages are spoken including their histories, politics, cultures, economics and art. I was supported in my learning by lectures, tutorials, language-buddy programmes, and by the opportunity to spend two semesters abroad. This element was essential for me in terms of my career path. As an interpreter I do not just need to have linguist knowledge, I also need to have a good understanding of culture, politics, economics and more. I was also first introduced to translation and interpreting at UL, two fields that I instantly took a shine to. I eventually settled on interpreting and I haven’t looked back since.
I would absolutely recommend the course to any prospective students who are interested in learning languages and immersing themselves in other cultures.
Grace Conneally
My name is Grace Conneally, a first-class-honours graduate of ‘Applied Languages’ 2021. I studied Gaeilge and French with Marketing. I chose this course because of my love of languages throughout my school years and my desire to maintain and develop them further. My year off campus was one of the best years of my life to date. It composed of my semester on cooperative education (work placement) and my semester on Erasmus (I went to Bordeaux). Whilst on work placement, I met my now best friend, who also studied in UL, though we had never met on campus prior!
Academically speaking, the most valuable experience this course presented me with was the learning opportunity I gained as a student of Dr. Sorcha de Brún, my Irish lecturer – ó thaobh na Gaeilge, mholfainn an rannóg seo in Ollscoil Luimnigh, mar gheall uirthi! I was very fortunate to have completed my Final Year Project (thesis) under her supervision.
I fell in love with the Irish language all over again, in the same way I did with my Leaving Cert teacher. As a result of these aforementioned prominent Irish figures in my academic life, I am now very proud to be graduated and working in a full-time Irish job, as a ‘researcher and script coordinator’ for TG4’s TV Soap Opera, “Ros na Rún” – post ina bhfuilim go huile is go hiomlán tógtha is i ngrá leis!
I would recommend this course to anyone who is self-motivated enough to want to learn. They say that great things aren’t achieved in your comfort zone, something I can see stand true. It has led me to Ros na Rún!
