Arts - German
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
German (Group 3)
Students wishing to select German Non Beginners should have a minimum grade H4 in German in the Leaving Certificate Examination (or equivalent). Students wishing to take German (Beginners) are recommended to have a minimum of grade H3 in another modern continental language.
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme LCVP
Distinction 66 points
Merit 46 points
Pass 28 points
QQI FET Applicants General Information
Careers / Further progression
Skills and Careers Information
Students develop a set of linguistic, intercultural, analytical and critical skills which equip them for professional fields, including:
education/teaching
translation/interpreting
journalism
film
theatre
media
IT Sector
international business/export industry
public sector
European institutions
Postgraduate Opportunities at UCC
One-year taught MA in German Studies, MPhil (Research), PhD (Research); HDip in Arts (German). German Department Staff also contribute to UCC’s Master’s courses in Translation Studies, Comparative Literature, Applied Linguistics, Drama and Theatre Studies, Film Studies. For further information visit the German Graduate studies page https://www.ucc.ie/en/german/students/postgraduate/
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
The BA (Hons) in German is a three-year degree course focusing on aspects of German literature, history, business, philosophy, theatre and film. German as a joint honours subject can also be combined with Music and with Drama and Theatre Studies. More detailed information about individual module content can be found in the Department on our department page., and in the University Book of Modules.
German can also be taken as a four-year BA International and BA World Languages course in which you will spend Year 3 at one of UCC’s partner universities in Germany or Austria. This degree also offers you the opportunity to study your second subject through German. More information can be found on the German Department website.
A BA International or BA World Languages qualifies you as a mediator between different cultures. Equipped with key analytic and communicative skills, a wide range of job prospects will be open to you in the various fields of cultural and commercial contact in international institutions and companies.
Year 1
Intensive language work in small groups will give you an opportunity to consolidate and deepen your knowledge of German grammar and vocabulary and to become more confident in speaking German.
The literature and culture course is designed to acquaint students with a series of literary, artistic and filmic examples of modern German culture, representing and fuelling cultural developments in Europe and worldwide.
Modules include:
Integrated Language Course
Introduction to Literature. Theatre and Film.
Modules
All modules 5 credits unless otherwise stated.
Beginner Level:
GE1103 Integrated Written and Oral German Language Course for Beginners (10 credits)
GE1104 Introduction to German Culture and Literature for Beginners
Non-Beginner Level:
GE1101 Integrated Written and Oral Language Course for German (10 credits)
GE1102 Introduction to Literature
Years 2 and 3
Practical language work continues to play a major part in the form of translation, grammar, discussion and essay writing on topics that will focus your attention on life and society in German-speaking countries and on contrasts and similarities between your environment and the German, Austrian or German-Swiss environment.
Modules in Year 2 include:
Integrated Language Course
German Literature from the 18th to 21st centuries
Optional modules include:
Political and Social Culture since 1945.
German-Irish relations
Preparation for the year abroad
German Love Poetry
German national identity
Linguistics
Modules in Year 3 include:
Advanced Integrated Language Course
German Film
Holocaust representations
Teaching German as a Foreign Language
Literature, Migration, and Multilingualism
Literature and Topography
Nietzsche
Heinrich von Kleist
You will also develop advanced language skills, intercultural awareness, analytical and critical skills in the areas of literature, culture and society.
German Department
german@ucc.ie
+353 (0)21 490 2689
http://www.ucc.ie/en/german