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Planning Your Degree

The BA Arts Joint Hons degree programme is a four-year course that allows students to study two subjects as a joint major combination.

Stage 1

In Stage 1, students will be pre-registered to the two subjects they chose on their CAO Application. This means that they are already registered to the core modules for these two subjects and should now choose option modules in both subjects to ensure they are prepared for Stage 2. Students will then choose a third and possibly a fourth subject if they want, although it is advised not to spread themselves too thinly across too many subjects.

To complete Stage 1, students need to obtain 60 credits. However, they may progress to Stage 2 with 50 credits if they meet their Stage 2 subject requirements. If students do not have enough credit to progress, they should talk to the School and College Office for advice and support.

Stage 2

In Stage 2, students will decide which two subjects from Stage 1 they wish to continue studying as a Joint Major combination, with both subjects having equal weight.

• Not all subjects are available in Joint Major combinations.
  • It is essential that students read and understand the section below "Subject Combinations" which sets out the restrictions (i.e., the combinations not available because of timetable or programme restrictions).
• Students cannot take up a subject in Stage 2 without first having the required credits from Stage 1.
  • If students wish to take up a new subject, there will be progression, time, and fee implications. For example, normally, students will need to add at least one extra trimester to their degree if they decide to take up a new subject at the end of Stage 1.
  • Students should contact the College Office for further information if they make the decision to change a subject at the end of Stage 1.

Stage 3

In Stage 3, students will continue with the subject combination they chose in Stage 2, along with elective modules.

As a student on the BA Arts Joint Hons degree programme, students may consider the option of completing a year studying abroad in a partner university. If they are successful, they will then graduate with a BA Arts (International) Joint Hons degree (240 credits over 4 stages). The Year Abroad is usually taken during the third year, and students then return to UCD for a fourth year to complete the programme. If students choose to go abroad, they must complete all that their host university and UCD require of them, and UCD Global and their School will advise them on this.

Completing Your Degree

To complete their degree, students must have achieved the required amount of credits, which includes all core modules and the specific combination of modules that have been set out by the subjects they are taking. Students must also have the correct combination of modules from different levels. At least 40 programme credits must be taken at Level 3 or above. This requirement is an overall one, and students are not required to have the same mix in each subject.

For the BA Arts (International) programme, students must meet all the requirements set out by UCD and the host University – UCD International Office and their School will provide them with this information.

Students' degree GPA will be based on their performance in the modules they take at Stages 2 and 3. Their Grade Points for Stage 2 will be weighted by a factor of 3, and their Grade Points for Stage 3 will be weighted by a factor of 7. So, Stage 2 is worth 30% of their overall degree result, and Stage 3 is worth 70% of their overall BA Arts Joint Hons degree result.

The modules students take in Stage 1 form the foundation of their degree and are critical to their smooth progression through their degree. While they do not contribute to their final GPA, they require the same level of commitment and effort as modules that students will take later on.