Bachelor of Arts in European Studies

Program Overview

The BA in European Studies from UL offers a comprehensive program combining core studies with options in various disciplines, extensive language instruction, and opportunities for study abroad and work experience. Graduates develop a deep understanding of Europe's history, politics, economics, culture, and languages, preparing them for diverse careers in public and private sectors. This program is one of the longest-established European Studies degrees in Europe, renowned for its focus on developing critical thinking, research skills, and cultural awareness.

Program Outline

Outline:

The BA in European Studies offers a core European Studies programme and a wide degree of choice between options in European History, Sociology, Politics, Economics or Marketing, Law and European Literature & Film, as well as the opportunity to develop an in-depth knowledge of French, German, Irish / Gaeilge and Spanish languages and cultures. Language teaching takes place in small groups and many of the teachers are native speakers of the languages concerned. The BA in European Studies is a four-year programme. Six semesters, including all of the first and final years, are spent in UL. A further two semesters, in the spring of Year 2 and autumn of Year 3, are spent off-campus on the Study Abroad programme and on the Cooperative Education programme, which provides work experience. In year 4, students continue with Language 1 and the Final Year Project. They are otherwise free to choose from a range of modules available in the participating subjects.

Careers:

Graduates progressing directly into employment take up a wide variety of roles. The following provides a sample of initial roles listed on the Graduate Outcomes Survey by graduates approximately one year after graduation: Collections Agent Commercial Clerk Customer Service European Commercial Assistant Language Assistant Secondary School Teacher Marketing Assistant Public Relations Officer Recruitment Agent Sales Representative Secretarial Assistant Trade Development Executive Public Servant Civil Servant

Other:

• The University of Limerick has long led the way in Ireland in this field, with the result that this degree is one of the longest established European Studies degree programmes in Europe.
The main qualities that you need for success in the field are;
• A healthy curiosity about how modern societies function
• An interest in the European Union, and the issues facing the Union and its member states
• a taste for languages other than your own
• An interest in developing digital and research skills
• An interest in working in teams and working independently
• an interest in other cultures and
• Neither do you have to know what you want to ‘be’ when you leave college in order to choose European Studies.
The degree offers a very broad entrance into the worlds of Humanities, Languages and Social Sciences.
• Jean Monnet European Studies Entrance Bursary
• Students of the BA European Studies are eligible for the Jean Monnet European Studies Entrance Bursary.