History explores the complex processes of social and economic change, the choice of one set of political or ethical values over another, the context in which new ideas arise, and much more. We provide a solid grounding in the practice of history and boast expertise in a wide range of specialist topics such as life in medieval Ireland, the intersection of American and world history, the First World War, gender and sexual politics.

The historians at UL are acknowledged scholars in their fields of research, and are committed to student-centred learning; they offer exciting and innovative modules throughout the four years of study. The history programme at UL will enable you to develop critical and analytical skills through an appreciation of primary sources, historiography and key events and changes, as well as through the study of the social, cultural and historical contexts in which change was produced. You will learn about source analysis, the processes informing history writing from the fifteenth century to the contemporary world. You can choose electives to suit your own interests, in Irish, European, American, and international history; you can focus on political, social, cultural, urban, and gendered approaches to history. 

The course will provide you with a firm foundation on which to build an understanding of the visual culture and physical environment of modern-day Ireland, set within both its European and wider global contexts.

Students are introduced to the basics of IT and computer methods. The course teaches useful skills in computer programming and application in the first year.

As part of an Arts degree, this subject is one of three subjects you choose in first year. In second and third year you continue with two of the subjects taken in First Arts. It may be possible to take an extra year studying abroad.

As a student of International Development in the Bachelor of Arts degree you will explore issues such as globalisation, climate change, food security, poverty, conflict, disasters and other humanitarian emergencies, human rights, health, education, gender, inequality and empowerment, from an international development perspective.

Céard faoi staidéar a dhéanamh ar an nGaeilge in OÉ Gaillimh, áit a bhfuil seasamh ar leith agus traidisiún fada léinn ag an nGaeilge? Is cinnte go bhfuil neart Gaeilge agat cheana féin ó do laethanta scoile, ón mbaile más de bhunadh na Gaeltachta thú nó má tógadh thú i dteaghlach a labhraíonn Gaeilge nó má d’fhreastail tú ar scoil a fheidhmíonn trí mheán na Gaeilge. Nó b’fhéidir gur chaith tú tréimhsí sa Ghaeltacht. Má chinneann tú BA sa Ghaeilge a dhéanamh foghlaimeoidh tú faoi oidhreacht liteartha, chultúrtha agus teanga na Gaeilge ó thús aimsire go dtí an lá atá inniu ann. Chomh maith leis sin, gheobhaidh tú deis líofacht a bhaint amach sa Ghaeilge, idir labhairt agus scríobh.

As part of an Arts degree, this subject is one of three subjects you choose in first year. In second and third year you continue with two of the subjects taken in First Arts. It may be possible to take an extra year studying abroad.

The Bachelor of Arts (Honours) makes available to you a wide range of Humanities and Social Science subjects in a course that is comparable to Arts degrees nationally and worldwide.

Students of the course are encouraged to see the world anew through the study of subjects such as English Literature, Sociology, Irish and other Modern European Languages, Religious Studies, Psychology and others and, over a three year period, not only to develop expertise in two subjects areas but to develop a questioning and creative approach to the modern world.

NB The individual subject option is not required on CAO application - it is chosen at college registration

Students of the Modern Irish course will study the language (spoken and written) and aspects of literature and culture. There is a wide range of courses, some of which are compulsory and others which are optional. Amongst the courses we offer are Modern Poetry, Prose, Drama, Early Modern Irish, the Fenian Cycle, Early Irish Storytelling, Dialectology, Phonetics, Scottish Gaelic, Folklore, Placenames and Personal Names.

A degree in Italian provides access to a rich and influential culture and to the language and society of a country that offers opportunities for exciting careers and further study. Most of our students have no Italian before joining us. You can choose from a range of modules on literature and art, film and music, politics and the media.

If new to Italian, students follow an intensive foundation course in grammar, translation, conversation, language laboratory and video work during their first year, with an emphasis on the communicative use of Italian. The course then expands to develop an awareness of the culture surrounding the language.

As part of an Arts degree, this subject is one of three subjects you choose in first year. In second and third year you continue with two of the subjects taken in First Arts.

This course teaches Latin to those with no previous experience of the language until the point where they can read texts in classical Latin, with the assistance of a dictionary.

In this programme you will study core subjects such as contract, criminal, and constitutional law. Many modules on the programmes are run in partnership with leading law firms and civil society organisations and the Department has a strong career focus.

The Bachelor of Arts (Joint-Honours) Entry has subject groupings. Students of GY101, Bachelor of Arts (Joint-Honours), study 3 subjects in their first year, from a selection of 24 subjects. A subject belongs to one of 7 groups, and you cannot select more than one subject from a group. On progression to second year, you continue to study two of the subjects to degree level.

The Bachelor of Arts (Honours) makes available to you a wide range of Humanities and Social Science subjects in a course that is comparable to any Arts degree nationally and worldwide.

Students on this programme are encouraged to see the world through the study of subjects such as English Literature, Sociology, Irish, French, Spanish, Law, Religious Studies, Psychology and Theatre Studies over a three year period; not only to develop expertise in two subjects areas, but to develop a questioning and creative approach to the modern world.

NB The individual subject option is not required on CAO application - it is chosen at college registration

San ábhar Léann an Aistriúcháin déantar staidéar ar theoiric agus ar ghnéithe praiticiúla an aistriúcháin. Is ábhar ildisciplíneach é Léann an Aistriúcháin agus déantar staidéar ar réimse leathan topaicí lena n-áirítear gramadach, litríocht, teicneolaíocht faisnéise agus téarmeolaíocht. Pléitear le coincheapa leithne an aistriúcháin ar fud an domhain ón tseanaimsir go dtí an lá inniu agus breathnaítear freisin ar na saincheisteanna praiticiúla a bhaineann leis an aistriúchán ó Bhéarla go Gaeilge.

This subject is taught fully though Irish.

As part of an Arts degree, this subject is one of three subjects you choose in first year. In second and third year you continue with two of the subjects taken in First Arts. It may be possible to take an extra year studying abroad.

Léann na Cumarsáide is a new subject option offered over three years on the main campus in Galway city. The study of media and communications entirely through Irish will help you develop as a critical and creative thinker capable of analysing a broad range of issues. In addition to that, if you choose Léann na Cumarsáide you will enjoy its balanced mix of academic study and practical, hands-on learning in journalism, television and radio production, broadcasting and multimedia.

A key element of this robust programme is to develop the critical and analytic skills needed to become a ’reflective practitioner’ in the media, able to parse and examine from an objective standpoint the conflicting voices and demands journalists face in their everyday work, and sift the spin from the substance. Graduates will be skilled storytellers who will be equally at home telling stories with pictures, in soundscapes or with words. They will also have strong television presentation skills, and an ability to express themselves with confidence and persuasion.

Linguistics is the study of language, and language is how we get things done in the world. The focus in UL is on sociolinguistics, which is concerned with the role of language in society. Studying linguistics with TESOL involves becoming a language expert. This means not just improving your language and communication skills but also learning about languages in the world. 

The study of mathematical physics covers the entire physical world, from the microscopic quantum realm to the astrophysics of the universe. You will learn how to analyse and explain complex issues, to identify problems, work out solutions and to enter into the unknown with an open, critical inquiring mind. As well as being introduced to the major ideas and developments in theoretical physics.

In this degree you will develop the theoretical underpinning of the mathematics you studied at school, while also developing applications of Mathematics to problems in the wider world. Throughout the degree you will learn written and oral presentation skills, for example, how to present a logic argument, perhaps backed up by numerical data. 

In this course you will gain a firm grounding in the key areas of mathematics, while developing the ability to invent, criticise and perfect mathematics for yourself. You will learn to think rigorously about questions and to solve problems – invaluable skills that can be transferred to any area of life and any job you hold in future.

Mathematics is the language for the logical study of the structure of our world. It has developed from counting, calculating and measurement through the use of abstraction and logical reasoning.

As part of an Arts degree, this subject is one of three subjects you choose in first year. In second and third year you continue with two of the subjects taken in First Arts. It may be possible to take an extra year studying abroad.

Mathematics is an extensive and diverse subject and is a powerful tool with many applications, which are much sought after by a wide range of employers.  Studying Mathematics will equip you with the ability to think logically, to construct coherent arguments, to understand abstract ideas and concepts and to solve practical problems. The Mathematics programme on the Bachelor of Arts in UL has been designed with the aim of programme graduates satisfying the Teaching Council requirements. It includes modules in Algebra, Linear Algebra, Probability and Statistics, Geometry and Differential Equations. The modules are taught through lectures, tutorials (small group teaching) and labs.

You will gain a firm grounding in the key areas of mathematics, while developing the ability to invent, criticise and perfect mathematics for yourself. You will learn to think rigorously about questions and to solve problems – invaluable skills that can be transferred to any area of life and any job you hold in future

Media & Cultural Studies provides you with a critical lens through which to examine the roles of film, TV, audio, social media platforms and interactive media in shaping your lived experiences as well as developing your understanding of these important industries. You will learn how to research and analyse media cultures, genres and technologies, to critique the role of media in popular culture, society and politics and how media and cultural businesses work.

This degree explores history, archaeology, languages, literature as well as all aspects of Medieval Celtic Studies. The diverse range of topics encompasses heroic literature and pre-historic archaeology, Otherworld tales and mythology, and gender and sexuality in medieval Celtic societies. The links between Ireland and the wider Celtic world are explored through literature and archaeology.