| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2023-09-18 | - |
| 2024-09-16 | - |
Program Overview
Students on the BA Irish and History will receive intensive tuition in the Irish language with four hours of language instruction each week. Students on this pathway choose from a wide range of modules relating to Irish culture and society such as film-making, the short story, poetry, Gaelic identity, mythology and Scottish Gaelic. In History, there is a wide choice of relevant modules spanning a long chronological period from Ancient History through to the Contemporary History of the late twentieth century.
Irish and History Degree highlights
Queen’s is the top ranked Irish programme in the Sunday Times Good University 2016.
Global Opportunities
Industry Links
World Class Facilities
Internationally Renowned Experts
Student Experience
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Course content
Program Outline
Course Structure
| Stage 1 Compulsory courses |
Gaeilge 1
Exploring History 1 Exploring History 2 |
|---|---|
| Stage 1 Optional Courses |
Irish optional modules:
Celtic Mythology Irish Folklore Introduction to Modern Irish Literature
History optional modules: History and Historians: Contested Pasts A World on the Move What is to be done? Sustainability, climate change and just energy transitions in the Anthropocene History and Society |
| Stage 2 Compulsory course | Gaeilge 2 |
| Stage 2 Optional Courses |
Irish:
Kings and Warriors Dúchas na Gaeilge:Skills in Irish Translation Scannánaíocht na Gaeilge: Studies in Irish Irish Writing and the Short Story Scottish Gaelic
History: Radical Musics The Northern Ireland Conflict and paths to Peace Apocalypse! The End of the World The making of Contemporary Britain The American South 1619-1865 The Roman Origins of East & West, c.300-800 Europe between the Wars, 1919-1939 Life, Love and Death Uniting Kingdoms Politics and Society in 20th Century Ireland The American South, 1865-1980 Expansion of Medieval Europe Revolutionary Europe, 1500-1789 Nationalism and Liberation in Africa Recording History Visualising China’s encounter with the West Cabinets of Curiosity: Museums of Past and Present |
| Stage 3 Compulsory course | Gaeilge 3 |
| Stage 3 Optional Courses |
Irish:
Modern Irish Poetry Language, Identity and the Emergence of Modern Irish Literature
History: Working-class Communities Popular Culture in England 1500-1700 Soviet Union Evangelical Protestantism in Ulster Society The Rise of Christianity The Irish Revolution Kings, Courts and Culture in Carolingian Europe Thatcher’s Britain Sin Cities? Everyday life in the Modern Metropolis Pop Culture and Protest in US History From Slavery to “Say Her Name Twentieth Century China Cultures of Knowledge in Eighteenth-Century Britain and Ireland The Second World War in Europe Peasants Revolt The Origins of Protestantism ‘That Vast Catastrophe’: The Great Famine of the 1840’s After Slavery Religion and Empire War of Ideas Paths to Independence & Decolonisation in India & E Africa |
People teaching you
Dr Marcas Mac Coinnigh
Senior Lecturer in Irish
Arts, English and Languages
Professor Greg Toner
Professor of Irish
Arts, English and Languages
Professor Mícheál Ó Mainnin
Professor of Irish
Arts, English and Langauges
Contact Teaching Times
| Large Group Teaching |
4 (hours maximum)
4 hours of lectures per week |
|---|---|
| Personal Study |
24 (hours maximum)
22–24 hours studying and revising in your own time each week, including independent reading, language practice, vocabulary development, guided study, online activities, coursework preparation etc |
| Medium Group Teaching |
6 (hours maximum)
6 hours of tutorials each week |
Learning and Teaching
At Queen’s, we aim to deliver a high quality learning environment that embeds intellectual curiosity, innovation and best practice in learning, teaching and student support to enable our students to achieve their full academic potential.
We do this by providing a range of learning experiences which enable our students to engage with subject experts, develop attributes and perspectives that will equip them for life and work in a global society and make use of innovative technologies and a world class library that enhances their development as independent, lifelong learners.
Examples of the opportunities provided for learning on this course are:
E-Learning technologies
A wide range of information associated with modules is often communicated via a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Typically, lecture notes are provided through QOL for each module along with other support material. Much of the recommended reading is available through the same environment.
Gaeltacht Course
Students taking a BA in Irish spend a total of six weeks on a dedicated summer course in Rinn na Feirste in Donegal. Here students engage with native speakers while staying in accommodation with a host family. Intensive, structured tuition is provided by qualified native Irish speakers during the course involving approximately 60 hours of placement learning during each course. In addition to the benefits for oral competence in Irish, the residence course provides a unique opportunity for immersion in Gaeltacht culture and establishes a tremendous camaraderie among students.
Language enrichment classes
Intensive 2-hour language enrichment classes provide students with opportunities to develop oral skills and develop their knowledge of grammar and vocabulary in real-life, practical contexts. These classes are taught in very small groups (typically 12-15 students). Students will also be expected to attend one class per week on language accuracy.
Lectures
These introduce you to basic information about new topics as a starting point for your own further private study/reading. Lectures also provide opportunities to ask questions, gain some feedback and advice on assessments.
Personal Tutor
Students are allocated a Personal Tutor who meets with them on several occasions during the year to support their academic development. This gives students one identified contact with whom to discuss any difficulties they might encounter and who can answer any queries they might have.
Self-directed study
This is an essential part of life as a Queen’s student when important private reading, engagement with e-learning resources, reflection on feedback and assignment research and preparation work is carried out
Seminars/tutorials
Almost all of the teaching in Irish is carried out in small groups (typically 15 students). These provide significant opportunity for you to engage with academic staff who have specialist knowledge of the topic, to ask questions and to assess your own progress and understanding with the support of your classmates.
Assessment
Details of assessments associated with this course are outlined below:
Feedback
As students progress through this course they will receive general and specific feedback about their work from a variety of sources including lecturers, module convenors, personal tutors, advisers of study and your peers. University students are expected to engage with reflective practice and to use this approach to improve the quality of their work. Feedback may be provided in a variety of forms including:
Facilities
Queen’s has a world class library and its Special Collections in the library has a targeted policy for collecting resources relating to Ireland. The Language Centre has state-of-the-art facilities for language learning.
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Overview
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Modules
Modules
The information below is intended as an example only, featuring module details for the current year of study (2022/23). Modules are reviewed on an annual basis and may be subject to future changes – revised details will be published through Programme Specifications ahead of each academic year.
Core Modules
Gaeilge 1
(40 credits)Exploring History 2
(20 credits)Exploring History 1
(20 credits)Optional Modules
An Introduction to Modern Irish Literature
(20 credits)Language Politics and Conflict
(20 credits)The Long Road to Black Lives Matter
(20 credits)History and Historians: Contested Pasts
(20 credits)A World on the Move:Historical and Anthropological Approaches to Globalization
(20 credits)Celtic Mythology
(20 credits)Revolutions
(20 credits)Core Modules
Gaeilge 2
(40 credits)Optional Modules
Apocalypse! End of the World.
(20 credits)Alexander The Great and the Creation of the Hellenistic World
(20 credits)Uniting Kingdoms
(20 credits)An Gearrscéal sa Ghaeilge
(20 credits)Cabinets of Curiosity: Museums Past and Present
(20 credits)Cearta an Duine agus Nualitríocht na Gaeilge
(20 credits)Adaptation as Interdisciplinary Practice
(20 credits)Gender, Culture, and Representation – Backwards & in Heels
(20 credits)The Northern Ireland Conflict and paths to peace
(20 credits)Recording History
(20 credits)Nationalism and Liberation in 20th Century Africa
(20 credits)Scottish Gaelic Language 1
(20 credits)The American South, 1865-1980
(20 credits)Politics and Society in 20th Century Ireland
(20 credits)The American South 1619-1865
(20 credits)Kings and Warriors
(20 credits)The Roman Origins of the East and West; From Augustus to Charlemagne
(20 credits)Revolutionary Europe, 1500-1789
(20 credits)The making of contemporary Britain: 1914 to the present
(20 credits)Europe between the Wars, 1919-1939
(20 credits)The Expansion of Medieval Europe, 1000-1300
(20 credits)Politics and Society in 19th Century Ireland
(20 credits)Core Modules
Gaeilge 3
(40 credits)Optional Modules
Paths to Independence and Decolonisation in India and East Africa
(20 credits)Twentieth-Century China
(20 credits)The Ancient City
(20 credits)Sin Cities? Everyday Life in the Modern Metropolis
(20 credits)The Long Sexual Revolution: Family Life in Western Europe, 1945-1970s
(20 credits)Extermination: History and Memory of the Murdered Jews of Europe
(20 credits)An Béal Beo
(20 credits)Gairmeacha le Gaeilge
(20 credits)The Exceptional Origins of the American Republic
(20 credits)Surviving the Victorian city: poverty, welfare and public health in nineteenth-century Belfast
(20 credits)Diaspora: Irish 19th-century migration
(20 credits)The Rise of Christianity 2: The Conversion of the Roman Empire
(20 credits)Language and Literature in the Gaelic World
(20 credits)The Irish Revolution, 1917-1921
(20 credits)The Soviet Union 1921-1991
(20 credits)The Origins of Protestantism
(20 credits)Popular Culture in England 1500-1700
(20 credits)Dissertation
(40 credits)Modern Irish Poetry
(20 credits)Religion and Empire: Christian Missions ro Africa, Asia and Middle East
(20 credits)Kings, courts and culture in Carolingian Europe
(20 credits)Evangelical Protestantism in Ulster: From the United Irishmen to Ian Paisley
(20 credits)The American Civil War and Reconstruction, 1860-1877
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Course content
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Entry Requirements
Career Prospects
Introduction
Studying on this pathway will assist students in developing the core skills and employment-related experiences that are valued by employers, particularly in a world where critical thinking, cross-cultural awareness and communication skills are at a premium.
Typical careers include teacher, language development officer, translator, manager, TV presenter, producer, writer and researcher. Graduates may also enter careers in business, management consultancy, museums, archives and libraries, and software development
88% of graduates in Irish are in employment or further study within 6 months of graduation. Starting salaries may be in the region of £21,800.
Employment after the Course
Former graduates in Irish have gone on to work as teachers, translators, language officers, and researchers. Many have taken up employment in the media as presenters and producers. Graduates may also enter careers in business, management consultancy and software development.
Employment Links
Queen’s has strong links with a number of employers including the Department for Communities, the BBC, Irish Language Broadcast Fund and other media companies, and employers are routinely invited to address the Irish students. Many of our students work in primary and secondary schools as classroom assistants and language assistants while studying for their degree. Other opportunities to gain employment experience are provided by media companies located in the area and theatre and community groups in Belfast.
Additional Awards Gained(QSIS ELEMENT IS EMPTY)
Prizes and Awards
John Devlin Fund: Awarded annually to the Final Year student with the highest overall mark in the Irish Language module at Stage 3.
Students receive a certificate of distinction for first class performance in the Stage 3 oral.
The Donohoe prize is awarded for the highest mark in the Irish oral examination in Stage Two.
The Emrys Evans Book prize is awarded at Stages One and Two for the best performance in the written language examination.
There are a number of undergraduate prizes available to top-performing students in Irish. In addition to Foundation Scholarships recognizing outstanding achievement in Level One, we have a range of endowed prizes.
Degree plus award for extra-curricular skills
In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Degree Plus. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.
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Entry requirements
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Fees and Funding
