Arts - Gaeilge / Irish
Our BA degree programme at University College Cork is the gateway to the immense and exciting possibilities of education. We offer a wide variety of subjects across diverse fields – this allows you the flexibility and opportunity to choose your career pathway or postgraduate route.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | National University of Ireland |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | National University of Ireland | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
3 years, full-time.
Specific Subjects or course requirements
Leaving Certificate Entry Requirements
At least six subjects must be presented. Minimum grade H5 in two subjects and minimum grade O6/H7 in four other subjects. English and Irish are requirements for all programmes unless the applicant is exempt from Irish. Applicants will need to meet the following minimum entry requirements:
English O6/H7
Irish O6/H7
Other Language O6/H7
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme LCVP
Distinction 66 points
Merit 46 points
Pass 28 points
QQI FET Applicants General Information
Further information
September 2026
CK101 Arts: Approximate Available Places 50
Find out about the mature entry requirements at https://www.ucc.ie/en/study/undergrad/entryreqs/matureapplicants/
CK101 Arts: Approximate Available Places Overall 500
Entry 2026
Early online application (discounted): Fee €35 Closing Date: 20 January 2026 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €50 Closing Date: 1 February 2026 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2026 CAO Handbook): Fee: €65 Closing Date: 1 May 2026 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2026 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2026 at 5pm
Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid making an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all application fees are non-refundable.
LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5pm on 1 February 2026. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2026, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2026 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2026 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €65 applies.
Restrictions
As a CAO applicant you may experience one or more of the following restrictions based on your course choices, your category of application, or restrictions imposed by the HEIs that you wish to apply to. Please read the section on 'Restrictions' on page 3 of the 2026 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:
General Restrictions
1. Making a late application
2. Making changes to your course choices
Restricted Courses
3. Applying for a restricted course
Mature Applicants
4. Mature applicants
Supplementary Admissions Routes
5. Applying for DARE and/or HEAR
This programme gives you the space to explore your options. Ultimately you will not only excel in specific subject knowledge you will develop those intellectual, social and management skills essential for today’s working environment.
Our Arts CK101 programme is a full-time three-year honours programme, based at the College of Arts, Celtic Studies & Social Sciences (CACSSS). If you wish to spend a year abroad at one of our partner institutions in Europe and beyond, you can apply to our four-year Arts (International) CK108 programme which is open to language and non-language students.
Subject options on registration: Students choose four subjects from the list below in Year 1, with not more than one subject from any group.
Students continue with 2 of these subjects in Years 2 & 3:
Group 1: Asian Studies, Computer Science***, History, Portuguese
Group 2(a)*: History of Art
Group 2(b)*: European Studies, Folklore, Gaeilge/Irish, Greek and Roman Civilisation, Studies in Psychology****
Group 3: Archaeology, Chinese Studies, German, Latin***, Mathematical Studies, Politics
Group 4: French, Sociology, Studies in Music
Group 5: Béaloideas, Economics, English, Greek***, Religions and Global Diversity
Group 6(a)**: Geography, Italian
Group 6(b)**: Celtic Civilisation, Philosophy, Spanish
*Groups 2(a) and 2(b): Students can combine History of Art with any subject from Group 2(a) in Year 1 only.Students can only study one subject from Groups 2(a) and 2(b) in Years 2 & 3.
**Groups 6(a) and 6(b): From Year 2, students may combine Italian with Spanish, but students may not combine Italian with Celtic Civilisation or Philosophy; or Geography with Celtic Civilisation, Philosophy or Spanish.
***These subjects are available in First Arts and thereafter only as a 10-credit subject in the Single Subject Programme
****This subject is available in Year 1 only
This course will enable you to develop your oral and written skills so that you will be able to use Irish with confidence both socially and professionally. We place an emphasis on the living language and students are encouraged to avail of the opportunities offered by the university to spend time in the Gaeltacht regions where they can experience Irish as a community language. Students develop their skills in the language by attending lectures and by active participation in weekly tutorials designed to support them on their language-learning journey.
Students who choose Gaeilge/Irish as part of their Arts programme will enjoy unique cultural enrichment, developing informed opinions on Irish life and civilisation through critical engagement with the various sources of information on our heritage, including key texts of Irish literature from early times to the present. Staff members in the Departments of Irish are at the forefront of research in the field and are uniquely positioned to provide an insight into the ancestral language, literature and culture of Ireland.
All students take a core language module each year. Topics covered in the elective modules include poetry and prose from all stages of the language, Old Irish, Early Modern Irish, the study of manuscripts, modern literature, the literature of the Gaeltacht, phonetics and other aspects of linguistics, the study of placenames, Irish-language journalism and an introduction to translation.
Cúrsai Staidéir
Tá idir theanga agus litríocht i gceist i gcúrsaí na Gaeilge. Is í an Ghaeilge féin an meán teagaisc. Bíonn ranganna beaga ar siúl ina ndírítear ar scríobh agus ar labhairt na teanga. Leagtar béim ar an dteanga bheo agus bíonn deiseanna ag na mic léinn tréimhsí a chaitheamh sa Ghaeltacht. Cothaítear scileanna léitheoireachta agus léirmheasóireachta sna cúrsaí litríochta. Scrúdaítear gnéithe éagsúla de stair chultúrtha na hÉireann. Déantar staidéar ar theanga agus ar litríocht na Gaeilge ó thosach aimsire anuas go dtí an lá inniu. Cuireann an dá Roinn na cúrsaí céime ar fáil i bpáirt lena chéile: Roinn na Nua-Ghaeilge agus Roinn na Sean- agus na Meán-Ghaeilge.
Modules
Year 1
Core modules:
GA1003 Bunstaidéar ar Theanga agus ar Chultúr na Gaeilge (15 credits)
Year 2
Core modules:
Úsáid agus Cruinneas na Gaeilge
Elective modules:
Filíocht na hOchtú hAoise Déag
Léann agus Lámhscríbhinní na Gaeilge
Logainmníocht na Gaeilge
Dialanna na Gaeilge
Cineálacha Scéalaíochta: An Litríocht Bhéil agus an Gearrscéal Liteartha
Foghraíocht na Gaeilge
An Ghaeltacht
Teanga na Nua-Ghaeilge Luaithe
Iriseoireacht na Gaeilge
Stair na Teanga agus na Litríochta
Litríocht na Sean-Ghaeilge
Seán Ó Ríordáin: Filíocht agus Prós
Na Laoithe Fiannaíochta
Year 3
Core modules:
Usáid agus Cruinneas naGaeilge
Elective modules:
Filíocht na Seachtú hAoise Déag
Nua-Fhilíocht na Gaeilge
An tÚrscéal sa Ghaeilge
Filíocht na Nua-Ghaeilge Luaithe
Léamh agus Litriú na Gaeilge
Litreacha na Gaeilge
Struchtúr na Gaeilge
Próstéacsanna na Nua-Ghaeilge Luaithe
Bunscileanna Aistriúcháin
Filíocht na Sean- agus na Meán-Ghaeilge
Staidéar Bunúsach ar an tSean-Ghaeilge
Na Dánta Grá
Litríocht an Bhlascaoid Mhóir
Filíocht an 21ú hAois
Síle Ní Mhurchú
s.nimhurchu@ucc.ie
+353 (0)21 490 2340
https://www.ucc.ie/en/modern-irish/