Arts - French
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
French (Group 4)
A Student will not normally be allowed to select French unless they have attained a pass standard in French in the Leaving Certificate Examination (or equivalent).
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
Language skills are vital in a globalised economy, and with so many multinationals coming to Ireland the demand is high for French, the most widely spoken language in Europe.
Language and cultural knowledge provide career mobility, and many of our graduates are now working in France, Belgium and Switzerland.
Studying French at UCC will equip you with language skills and transferable skills in writing and cultural awareness so you can make connections with your peers in other countries.
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
French (Group 4)
A Student will not normally be allowed to select French unless they have attained a pass standard in French in the Leaving Certificate Examination (or equivalent).
French at UCC will not only expand your knowledge and use of the language, it will introduce you to modern French culture and the cultures of French-speaking countries worldwide.
Along with translation, philosophy, visual culture and linguistics, you will study a wide range of topics, including history, literature, music, theatre, politics and the connections France has to other countries.
The course brings together a sense of French culture, its role in the world, and the value of the language – one of the two working languages of many institutions, such as the European Union.
French at UCC opens the door to a vast amount of opportunities on a global scale.
Modules
Year 1
FR1101 Foundation Course in Written and Oral French (10 credits)
FR1201 Introduction to French Studies (5 credits)
You will study one language course, covering grammar, comprehension, oral and auditory work, and one culture course, which is lecture-based. The language classes are small, so participation is a vital part of the learning process.
Years 2 and 3
You will take a language class and a literature seminar. Most students take a lecture course on the 17th century (covering politics, architecture, literature, the role of women, art). Options are then available on art, linguistics, writings from North Africa and beyond, politics, theatre, fiction, philosophy.
Up to now you will probably have read-only short texts in French, and as your study and skills develop in French, you will be reading books, articles, websites, and watching media in the original language – gradually increasing as you progress through the course and your language improves.
As well as learning about these areas of French culture, the idea is that such work will be absolutely necessary to help you get a feel for the language so that you can use it creatively, as well as for answering or asking questions.
Some classes take place in the French language (including all language classes), but we will ease you into this, with more in the final year.
BA International
You may take French as a four-year BA International and spend the third year in a French-speaking country. In your year abroad, you will study the same subject you follow at UCC, along with French.
Dr Marin Howard
M.Howard@ucc.ie
+353 (0)21 490 2520
https://www.ucc.ie/en/french/