See full list of Arts & Humanities courses below
This four-year, innovative, multi-subject degree offers 14 distinct courses. Students applying through the CAO pick DN530 and choose one course. Students learn within a carefully structured framework of related subjects. The BA Humanities has the added benefit of offering different ways to diversify your skills and broaden your horizons.
In third year, students can apply for an internship, study abroad or continue deepening their knowledge by taking UCD modules or undertaking a research project. Overall, there are 280 places in DN530. The average number of students taking each option is shown on the relevant course page.
This long established, three-year course gives students the freedom to choose from an unrivalled range of 27 subjects and build their own bespoke degree. Students applying through the CAO select DN520 and choose two subjects. Overall, there are 420 + places in DN520.
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Students can add a third subject or choose from a wide range of elective modules at the start of first year during registration. At the end of first year, students commit to their two Joint Honours subjects and study these subjects to BA degree level. Popular combinations include: Film Studies and French, Music and Irish, Art History and History, and History and Greek & Roman Civilisation.
This four-year degree is designed for students who wish to study at least two languages: French, German, Italian, Spanish or Portuguese. Students applying through the CAO select DN541 and choose two languages. A third language may be added on registration. Students will develop an advanced linguistic ability and a sophisticated level of cultural competence, enabling them to communicate fluently in a broad range of professional and social contexts. In third year, all BA Modern Languages students spend a full year abroad studying at one of our partner universities. This course is ideal for students who enjoy modern languages and want to live and work effectively in a multilingual environment.
Why UCD Arts & Humanities?
UCD Arts & Humanities is Ireland’s leading centre for research, creative practice and innovation and is home to more than 200 world-class teachers and scholars. Our academic excellence is reflected in our world rankings: we are 41st in the world for English Literature & Language, and in the top 100 for History, for Performing Arts, and 92 for Arts and Humanities (QS World Rankings 2025). We offer the widest range of arts and humanities subjects and combinations in Ireland. In addition, our courses provide opportunities to study abroad, do internships, and take part in hands-on academic research and creative project work.
International Study Opportunities
With 400+ global university partners, UCD is your passport to international study in Europe, the US, Latin America, Asia and beyond. International study takes place in the third year, and enables students grow academically, personally, and culturally.
Internship Programme
Students undertaking the BA Humanities can apply for the internship programme in their third year, in fields like the media, arts and business. Over the course of one semester, successful candidates get to turn classroom learning into career-building real-world experiences.
Skills, Employability & Careers
UCD arts and humanities graduates stand out. Why? Because they leave UCD with more than knowledge—they master key skills that every employer wants: critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving, communication, research and analysis, writing and presentation, teamwork and adaptability, through career-focused modules, industry workshops, and alumni mentoring activities. Our aim is to help our students figure out their future and how to get there. Our graduates shape Ireland’s cultural, intellectual, and business life through their work in journalism, communications, education, creative industries, the public sector, and more.
Creative Futures Academy
To support our commitment to the creative and cultural sectors, where many of our graduates work, UCD Arts and Humanities joined forces with the National College of Art & Design, the Institute of Art, Design and Technology and other industry partners to set up the Creative Futures Academy (CFA). This is a €10m initiative for dynamic students who wish to make their mark in the rapidly-evolving creative sector, bringing together leading academics, practising artists, and creative industry professionals. A brand-new €2.5m state of-the-art black box theatre, Trapdoor, and a fully-equipped media lab is the home of CFA. From performance and production to digital storytelling and cultural entrepreneurship, these dedicated teaching spaces are where teachers and students collaborate to produce exciting new work. CFA can be accessed through a range of industry-focused modules in the Creative & Cultural Industries course (BA Humanities).
Your degree, your way.
UCD Arts and Humanities offers three distinct BA degrees:
- BA Humanities (4 years)
- BA Modern Languages (4 years)
- BA Joint Honours (3 years)
BA Humanities (DN530)
This four-year, innovative, multi-subject degree offers 15 different course options. Students applying through the CAO select DN530 and choose one option. BA Humanities students learn within a carefullystructured framework of subjects offering different ways to diversify your skills and broaden your horizons. In your third year, you can apply for an internship or study abroad and in your final year you can undertake a dissertation research project. There are 290 places in DN530.
BA Modern Languages (DN541)
This four-year degree is designed for students who wish to study at least two languages from French, German, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese. Students applying through the CAO select DN541 and choose two languages. A third language may be added on registration. Students develop an advanced linguistic abilities and a sophisticated level of cultural competence, enabling them to communicate fluently in a broad range of professional and social contexts. In third year, all BA Modern Languages students spend a full year abroad studying at either one or two of our partner universities. This course is for students who excel at modern languages and want to live and work in a multilingual environment. There are 40 places offered on this course.
BA Joint Honours (DN520)
This interdisciplinary, three-year course gives students the freedom to choose from an unrivalled range of 26 subjects and build their own joint honours degree. Students applying through the CAO select DN520 and choose two subjects. Students can add a third subject or choose from a wide range of elective modules at the start of first year during registration. At the end of first year, students commit to their two Joint Honours subjects and study these subjects to BA degree level. Popular combinations include English and History, English and Film, Geography and History. BA Joint Honours students can apply to study abroad in their third year. In doing so, they extend their degree to a 4-year degree and graduate with a BA International. There are 380 places on the Joint Honours.