Overview

The BA (Hons) International is a four-year full-time programme which enables students to study for one year in an approved overseas university, offering them the experience of cultural immersion in another country.

To be eligible for the award of the BA (Hons) International degree a student will be required to have achieved 240 credits by obtaining 60 credits in each of First, Second, Third and Fourth Arts. A student may not register for more than 60 credits in one academic year.

First Year - Arts (International)

Students choose four subjects (taking 15 credits in each) in First Arts (International). See CK101 - The BA (Hons) programme for more details.

Chinese Studies

Students taking Chinese Studies take Chinese Studies plus three other subjects permitted by the timetable. See CK101 - The BA (Hons) programme for more details.

European Studies

Students taking European Studies take four subjects: European Studies plus three subjects permitted by the timetable. See CK101 - The BA (Hons) programme for more details.

Transfer from CK101 Arts to CK108 Arts International

Transfers at the end of First Year from CK101 Arts to CK108 Arts International may be allowed provided that:

1. the student has successfully completed First Year;
2. appropriate subjects were taken in First Year to meet any Second Year prerequisites;
3. subject entry requirements (if any) were met, e.g. Entrance Tests/Interviews etc.;
4. there is a place available in the Second Year programme.

As well as the conditions outlined above, students who wish to transfer from the BA CK101 (Arts) to BA CK108 (Arts International) will need to have attained in their first year summer examinations a mark of 60% in one of the two subjects in which they wish to continue their studies in Year 2, with at least 58% in the other subject. Students must submit their transfer applications by the end of August of their first year, before registering for second year. Applications can be made online using the 'BA International transfer form'.

Subject to places being available, students who do not meet these criteria may be considered for transfer based on the merits of their academic statement, which addresses the potential for academic benefit during the year abroad in Year 3 (e.g. opportunity to continue to study a language which they had taken as a beginner in Year 1, or other, significant, benefits to their academic development). Students will be assessed by the Course Director(s) and the Vice Head of College Teaching and Learning on the submission of an application form, accompanied with a strong letter of support from the relevant academic unit which outlines the academic benefits of the Year Abroad to the student in question.

Note: As the transfer details outlined above apply only in the case of admission to Year 2 Arts programmes, students are also advised to apply for, and secure a place in the first year of the programme through the CAO. The Admissions Office should be contacted for the relevant closing date.

Note: Students taking the BA (Hons) (International) and who take Chinese Studies, French, German, Italian, Portuguese or Spanish as a Single, Major or Joint subject in second year, should note that they cannot also register for Béaloideas in second year.

See Programme Requirements for First Arts CK101 - The BA (Hons) detailed here.

Second Year - Arts (International)

No student may register for Second Arts (International) until they have passed the First University Examination in Arts. The selection of any module is conditional on the Professor or Lecturer concerned and the College being satisfied that they are capable of profiting by attendance thereat. A student may not select modules which involve a timetable clash.

In Second Arts (International) students continue with two of their four subjects. Students register for either a Single Subject (50 credits of one subject and 10 credits of their second subject) or a Major Subject (40 credits of one subject and 20 credits of their second subject) or a Joint Subject (30 credits in each of their subjects).

See CK101 - The BA (Hons) programme for more details (except Programme Requirements section for specific curriculum for students taking German and Italian). In addition all students taking the BA (Hons) (International) take the core module LL2108 Crossing Borders: Cultures and Societies (5 credits) in place of another 5 credit elective module. (Only where no elective modules are offered in both subjects which the student is taking, can LL2108 Crossing Borders: Cultures and Societies be substituted for a core module, with the agreement of the Head of Department concerned). Major and Single Honours students should replace LL2108 Crossing Borders: Cultures and Societies with a 5 credit elective module in their 40 or 50 credit subject). LL2108 Crossing Borders: Cultures and Societies can only be taken once, in second year.

Chinese Studies

Students wishing to take Chinese Studies in Second Year must have passed four subjects in First Year, one of which must be Chinese Studies. Students who take Chinese Studies as a Major Subject (40 credits) or a Joint Subject (30 credits) spend their Third Year studying at a Chinese University.

Major Subject, Chinese Studies

Students take 60 credits by combining 40 credits of Chinese Studies with 20 credits from one of the following subjects continued from first year: Asian Studies, Celtic Civilisation, Economics, English, French, Gaeilge/Irish, Geography, Greek and Roman Civilisation, History, History of Art, Italian, Portuguese, Religions and Global Diversity, Sociology, Spanish (for notes regarding specific subjects see Table 2).

Joint Subject, Chinese Studies

Students take 60 credits by combining 30 credits of Chinese Studies with 30 credits from one of the following subjects continued from first year: Applied Mathematics, Asian Studies, Celtic Civilisation, Economics, English, French, Gaeilge/Irish, Geography, Greek and Roman Civilisation, History, History of Art, Italian, Philosophy, Religions and Global Diversity, Sociology, Spanish (for notes regarding specific subjects see Table 2).

European Studies

Students wishing to take European Studies in Second Year must have passed European Studies in First Year. Students must also have passed the languages/subjects in First Year which they wish to continue to Second Year. Students can select 30 credits of European Studies and 30 credits of one other subject continued from First Year. In the case of students selecting the following language subject(s): French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish or English, students can select EITHER 30 credits of European Studies and 30 credits of the permitted language subject continued from first year, OR 30 credits of European Studies, 20 credits of one permitted language subject (French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish or English) and 10 credits of a second permitted language subject (French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish or English) continued from first year, to total 60 credits. 

Third Year - Arts (International)

Third Year (International) is spent in an approved foreign university where students study courses/modules to the equivalent value of 60 credits approved by the Programme Board of Studies. All courses are assessed by the approved Host University.

Students are reminded that if they wish to transfer from the BA (International) - CK108 to the BA - CK101, they may do so at the start of Semester 1 by submitting a student request form to the Office of the College of Arts, Celtic Studies, and Social Sciences. Transfers are not available for students in European Studies.

All students of a foreign language (Chinese, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese) who successfully passed their second year examinations spend third year in an approved foreign university in the country of the student's chosen foreign language where students take courses to the equivalent of 60 credits. Single-Subject students (NB only French and Italian and Spanish are offered as Single Subjects) may take a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 10 credits in the second subject or a cognate subject, with the balance of credits to be taken in the foreign language. Major-Subject and Joint-Subject take a minimum of 10 credits and a maximum of 30 credits in the second subject or in a cognate subject, with the balance of credits to be taken in the foreign language. All courses are assessed by the approved Host University.
Asian Studies
This year is spent pursuing approved courses of study to the value of 60 credits (or ECTS Equivalent) at a University in Japan or Korea.
Chinese Studies
This year is spent pursuing approved courses of study to the value of 60 credits (or ECTS Equivalent) at a University in China or Taiwan. 
European Studies
This year is spent pursuing approved courses of study to the value of 60 credits at an approved university. Students take 30 credits in approved courses in European Studies and 30 credits in their second subject. Alternatively, students can take 30 credits in European Studies with 20 credits in their major language subject and 10 credits in their minor language subject continued from Second Year (this is only in the case of students selecting the following language subject(s): French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish or English).
 

Fourth Year - Arts (International)

No student may register for the Fourth Arts (International) programme until they have passed the Third University Examination in Arts (International). The selection of any module is conditional on the Professor or Lecturer concerned and the College being satisfied that a student is capable of profiting by attendance thereat. Students may not select modules which involve a timetable clash.

In Fourth Arts (International) students continue with their two chosen subjects from Second Arts (International), taking the same credit weightings for each subject as in Second Arts (International).

Chinese Studies

Students taking Chinese Studies take modules to the value of 60 credits combining 40 credits of Chinese Studies with 20 credits of their other subject or 30 credits of Chinese Studies with 30 credits of their other subject.

European Studies

Students taking European Studies combine 30 credits of European Studies with 30 credits of their second subject to complete a Joint Subject degree. Alternatively, students take 30 credits of European Studies with 20 credits in their major language subject and 10 credits in their minor language subject continued from Second Year (this is only in the case of students taking the following language subject(s): French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish or English).

In Fourth Arts (International) students continue with their two chosen subjects from Second Arts (International), taking the same credit weightings for each subject as in Second Arts (International). See Programme Requirements for Third Arts CK101 - The BA (Hons) detailed here.

See Programme Requirements for Third Arts CK101 - The BA (Hons) detailed here for details of the languages.

Programme Requirements

For information about modules, module choice, options and credit weightings, please go to Programme Requirements. 

Programme Requirements

Module List

Code	Title	Credits
Year 1
Asian Studies
AS1001	Introduction to Modern Asia	15
Plus three other First Arts subjects (15 credits each) permitted by the timetable		45
Chinese Studies 1
CH1000	An Introduction to Chinese Culture and Society	5
CH1001	Chinese Language (Mandarin) I (Beginners)	10
CH2107	Chinese Language (Mandarin) Level 2 (Non-beginners must have achieved a minimum HSK Level II or equivalent)	10
plus three other First Arts subjects (15 credits each) permitted by the timetable		45
European Studies
ES1002	Introduction to Europe and the European Union	5
ES1003	The Nature and Political Evolution of the EC/EU	5
ES1004	Europe: Rural Societies, Economies & Policies	5
Plus three subjects permitted by the timetable		45
Year 2
Asian Studies
40-credit Subject
Students take 40 credits with at least 10 credits from one of the following Asian Languages:		10
Japanese
Students will be assessed on entry and directed to the appropriate class 3
AS1501	Japanese Language Level 1 (10)
AS1502	Japanese Language Level 2 (10)
AS1503	Japanese Language Level 3 (10)
AS1504	Japanese Language Level 4 (10)
Korean
Students will be assessed on entry and directed to the appropriate class 3
AS1601	Korean Language Level 1 (10)
AS1602	Korean Language Level 2 (10)
AS1603	Korean Language Level 3 (10)
AS1604	Korean Language Level 4 (10)
Plus 30 credits from the following:		20
Asian Studies
AS2000	What is East Asia?: Past, Present and Future (10)
AS2002	Korea’s Modern History (10)
or AS2010	History of Japanese Culture (10)
Chinese Studies
CH2000	An Introduction to Business in China (10)
CH2010	Wars and Revolutions - China in the 19th and 20th Century (10)
GV3212	Global Political Economy - Trade (5)
Languages and Literatures
LL2108	Crossing Borders: Cultures and Societies (5)
30-credit Subject
Students take 30 credits with at least 10 credits from one of the following Asian Languages:		10
Japanese
Students will be assessed on entry and directed to the appropriate class 3
AS1501	Japanese Language Level 1 (10)
AS1502	Japanese Language Level 2 (10)
AS1503	Japanese Language Level 3 (10)
AS1504	Japanese Language Level 4 (10)
Korean
Students will be assessed on entry and directed to the appropriate class 3
AS1601	Korean Language Level 1 (10)
AS1602	Korean Language Level 2 (10)
AS1603	Korean Language Level 3 (10)
AS1604	Korean Language Level 4 (10)
Plus 20 credits from the following:		20
Asian Studies
AS2000	What is East Asia?: Past, Present and Future (10)
AS2002	Korea’s Modern History (10)
or AS2010	History of Japanese Culture (10)
Chinese Studies
CH2000	An Introduction to Business in China (10)
CH2010	Wars and Revolutions - China in the 19th and 20th Century (10)
GV3212	Global Political Economy - Trade (5)
Languages and Literatures
LL2108	Crossing Borders: Cultures and Societies (5)
Chinese Studies
40-credit Subject
CH2107	Chinese Language (Mandarin) Level 2 4	10
or CH3021	Chinese Language (Mandarin) Level 2.5
plus 30 credits to be taken from the following:		30
AS2000	What is East Asia?: Past, Present and Future (10)
AS2002	Korea’s Modern History (10)
AS2010	History of Japanese Culture (10)
CH2000	An Introduction to Business in China (10)
CH2010	Wars and Revolutions - China in the 19th and 20th Century (10)
plus one other 20-credit subject from those available continued from First Year
30-credit Subject
CH2107	Chinese Language (Mandarin) Level 2 4	10
or CH3021	Chinese Language (Mandarin) Level 2.5
plus 20 credits from the following:		20
AS2000	What is East Asia?: Past, Present and Future (10)
AS2002	Korea’s Modern History (10)
AS2010	History of Japanese Culture (10)
CH2000	An Introduction to Business in China (10)
CH2010	Wars and Revolutions - China in the 19th and 20th Century (10)
plus one other 30-credit subject from those available continued from First Year		30
Students taking Italian as part of the BA (International) please follow the curriculum below:
50-credit Subject
IT2101	Intermediate Italian Language 5	10
IT2105	Vivere l'Italia/Living Italian Culture and Society	5
Plus 35 credits from the following:		35
IT2306	Italo Calvino and the Interpretation of Reality (5)
IT2309	Italian Crime Narratives (5)
IT2310	Issues in Contemporary Italian Society through Film and Documentaries (5)
IT2401	Minor Dissertation (5)
LL2003	Aspects of the Classical Tradition (5) 6
40-credit Subject
IT2101	Intermediate Italian Language 5	10
IT2105	Vivere l'Italia/Living Italian Culture and Society	5
Plus 25 credits from the following:		25
IT2306	Italo Calvino and the Interpretation of Reality (5)
IT2309	Italian Crime Narratives (5)
IT2310	Issues in Contemporary Italian Society through Film and Documentaries (5)
IT2401	Minor Dissertation (5)
LL2003	Aspects of the Classical Tradition (5) 6
30-credit Subject
IT2101	Intermediate Italian Language 5	10
Plus 20 credits from the following:		20
IT2105	Vivere l'Italia/Living Italian Culture and Society (5)
IT2306	Italo Calvino and the Interpretation of Reality (5)
IT2309	Italian Crime Narratives (5)
IT2310	Issues in Contemporary Italian Society through Film and Documentaries (5)
LL2003	Aspects of the Classical Tradition (5)
20-credit Subject
IT2101	Intermediate Italian Language 5	10
Plus 10 credits from the following:		10
IT2105	Vivere l'Italia/Living Italian Culture and Society (5)
IT2306	Italo Calvino and the Interpretation of Reality (5)
IT2309	Italian Crime Narratives (5)
IT2310	Issues in Contemporary Italian Society through Film and Documentaries (5)
10-credit Subject
IT2101	Intermediate Italian Language 5	10
European Studies
ES2031	Methodologies, Data Analysis & Research	5
ES2033	Model European Union	5
And 20 credits from the following:		20
ES2022	The European Union and the International System (5)
ES2027	Comparative European Politics (5)
ES2032	Mediterranean Politics (5)
ES2036	Institutions of the European Union (5)
GG2010	Cities of Diversity (5)
GG2014	Geography of Tourism (5)
GG2023	Rural Geography (5)
GG2024	Social Geographies of Sustainable Development (5)
GG2048	Political Geography (5)
HI2047	Hitler, Nazism and the Holocaust (5)
HI2048	1989 Revolutions: Poland and East Central Europe - Transition to Democracy (5)
HI2051	The First World War, 1914-1918; International Relations, Politics and Society (5)
Students can select 30 credits of European Studies and 30 credits of one other subject continued from Year 1. In the case of students selecting the following language subject(s): French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish or English, students can select EITHER 30 credits of European Studies and 30 credits of the permitted language subject continued from Year 1, OR 30 credits of European Studies, 20 credits of one permitted language subject (French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish or English) and 10 credits of a second permitted language subject (French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish or English) continued from first year, to total 60 credits
Specific curriculum requirements for Italian and German as follows:
Italian (for students taking Italian as part of European Studies only)
30-credit Language
IT2101	Intermediate Italian Language 5	10
IT2105	Vivere l'Italia/Living Italian Culture and Society	5
Plus 15 credits from:		15
IT2306	Italo Calvino and the Interpretation of Reality (5)
IT2309	Italian Crime Narratives (5)
IT2310	Issues in Contemporary Italian Society through Film and Documentaries (5)
LL2003	Aspects of the Classical Tradition (5)
20-credit Language
IT2101	Intermediate Italian Language 5	10
IT2105	Vivere l'Italia/Living Italian Culture and Society	5
Plus 5 credits from:		5
IT2306	Italo Calvino and the Interpretation of Reality (5)
IT2309	Italian Crime Narratives (5)
IT2310	Issues in Contemporary Italian Society through Film and Documentaries (5)
10-credit Language
IT2101	Intermediate Italian Language 5	10
GERMAN (for students taking German as part of the BA (International), (including European Studies))
40-credit Subject
GE2101	Integrated German Language Course 8	10
GE2126	German Literature from 18th to 21st Century	5
Plus 25 credits from:		25
GE2002	Core Elements of German Culture (5)
GE2100	German Love Poetry (5)
GE2102	Linguistics 1 (5)
GE2130	Constructing and Deconstructing German National Identity: Key Texts (5)
GE2150	Memory in Contemporary German Fiction (5)
GE2805	Gender and Power in German Literature and Film (5)
GE2902	Political and Social Culture in Germany since 1945 (5)
LL2003	Aspects of the Classical Tradition (5)
30-credit Subject
GE2101	Integrated German Language Course 8	10
GE2126	German Literature from 18th to 21st Century	5
Plus 15 credits from:		15
GE2002	Core Elements of German Culture (5)
GE2100	German Love Poetry (5)
GE2102	Linguistics 1 (5)
GE2130	Constructing and Deconstructing German National Identity: Key Texts (5)
GE2150	Memory in Contemporary German Fiction (5)
GE2805	Gender and Power in German Literature and Film (5)
GE2902	Political and Social Culture in Germany since 1945 (5)
LL2003	Aspects of the Classical Tradition (5)
20-credit Language
GE2101	Integrated German Language Course 8	10
Plus 10 credits chosen from:		10
GE2002	Core Elements of German Culture (5)
GE2100	German Love Poetry (5)
GE2102	Linguistics 1 (5)
GE2126	German Literature from 18th to 21st Century (5)
GE2130	Constructing and Deconstructing German National Identity: Key Texts (5)
GE2150	Memory in Contemporary German Fiction (5)
GE2805	Gender and Power in German Literature and Film (5)
GE2902	Political and Social Culture in Germany since 1945 (5)
10-credit Language
GE2101	Integrated German Language Course 9	10
Year 3
Select one of the following:
Students spend the Third Year Abroad
Students of Chinese Studies for whom Covid-19 travel restrictions are in place in China may spend the Third Year at UCC
Students of Chinese Studies for whom Covid-19 travel restrictions are in place in China may spend One Semester Abroad and One Semester at UCC.
Year 4
Asian Studies
40-credit Subject
AS3015	Japanese Cinema and Culture	10
or AS3009	Religious and Philosophical Traditions of Korea
plus at least 10 credits from one of the following Asian Languages:		10
Japanese
Students will be assessed on entry and directed to the appropriate class 3
AS1501	Japanese Language Level 1 (10)
AS1502	Japanese Language Level 2 (10)
AS1503	Japanese Language Level 3 (10)
AS1504	Japanese Language Level 4 (10)
Korean
Students will be assessed on entry and directed to the appropriate class 3
AS1601	Korean Language Level 1 (10)
AS1602	Korean Language Level 2 (10)
AS1603	Korean Language Level 3 (10)
AS1604	Korean Language Level 4 (10)
plus 20 credits from the following:		20
Asian Studies
AS3006	Translations in Contemporary Korean Culture and Current Affairs (10)
AS3008	Advanced Readings in Contemporary Japanese Culture and Current Affairs (10)
AS3009	Religious and Philosophical Traditions of Korea (10)
AS3015	Japanese Cinema and Culture (10)
Chinese Studies
CH3107	The Sinosphere: China and “Chineseness” in Transnational Asian Politics, Culture (10)
CH3108	Business and Globalisation in China (10)
CH3304	Ethnicity, Class and Gender in China (10)
30-credit Subject
AS3015	Japanese Cinema and Culture	10
or AS3009	Religious and Philosophical Traditions of Korea
Plus at least 10 credits from one of the following Asian languages:		10
Japanese
Students will be assessed on entry and directed to the appropriate class 3
AS1501	Japanese Language Level 1 (10)
AS1502	Japanese Language Level 2 (10)
AS1503	Japanese Language Level 3 (10)
AS1504	Japanese Language Level 4 (10)
Korean
Students will be assessed on entry and directed to the appropriate class 3
AS1601	Korean Language Level 1 (10)
AS1602	Korean Language Level 2 (10)
AS1603	Korean Language Level 3 (10)
AS1604	Korean Language Level 4 (10)
Plus 10 credits from the following:		10
Asian Studies
AS3006	Translations in Contemporary Korean Culture and Current Affairs (10)
AS3008	Advanced Readings in Contemporary Japanese Culture and Current Affairs (10)
AS3009	Religious and Philosophical Traditions of Korea (10)
AS3015	Japanese Cinema and Culture (10)
Chinese Studies
CH3107	The Sinosphere: China and “Chineseness” in Transnational Asian Politics, Culture (10)
CH3108	Business and Globalisation in China (10)
CH3304	Ethnicity, Class and Gender in China (10)
Chinese Studies
40 credit subject
CH3019	Chinese Language (Mandarin) Level 3	10
CH3022	Premodern Chinese: Reading and Translation	10
or CH3006	Readings in Chinese Culture, Politics and Economics
Plus 20 credits from:		20
AS3009	Religious and Philosophical Traditions of Korea (10)
AS3015	Japanese Cinema and Culture (10)
CH3101	Dissertation (10)
CH3107	The Sinosphere: China and “Chineseness” in Transnational Asian Politics, Culture (10)
CH3108	Business and Globalisation in China (10)
CH3304	Ethnicity, Class and Gender in China (10)
Plus 20 credits from the chosen Arts subject continued from Second Arts (International)		20
30 credit subject
CH3019	Chinese Language (Mandarin) Level 3	10
CH3022	Premodern Chinese: Reading and Translation	10
or CH3006	Readings in Chinese Culture, Politics and Economics
Plus 10 credits from:		10
AS3009	Religious and Philosophical Traditions of Korea (10)
AS3015	Japanese Cinema and Culture (10)
CH3101	Dissertation (10)
CH3107	The Sinosphere: China and “Chineseness” in Transnational Asian Politics, Culture (10)
CH3108	Business and Globalisation in China (10)
CH3304	Ethnicity, Class and Gender in China (10)
plus 30 credits from the chosen Arts subject continued from Second Arts (International)
European Studies
ES4022	Research Dissertation	10
And 20 credits from the following:		20
ES4025	Ireland & International Relations (5)
ES4027	Capitalism, Communism and the Cold War: East and West Germany, 1945-1990 (5)
ES4029	The EU Periphery: Minority Issues, Nationalism and Identity Politics (5)
GG3027	Regional and Local Planning Issues and Policies (5)
GG3037	Geography of Heritage (5)
GG3046	Geopolitics and Geostrategies (5)
GG3049	Historical Geographies of Ireland: Social, Economic and Cultural Transformations	5
HI3024	Northern Ireland (5)
HI3125	Nuclear Politics and Proliferation (5)
HI3129	US Military Intervention and Memory after the Vietnam War (1975-2017)	5
HI3142	Culture and ideology in nineteenth-century Europe (10)
LW2100	Constitutional and Institutional Law of the European Union (5)
LW2102	Economic Law of the European Union (5)
Students take a further 30 credits of their chosen second subject to complete a Joint Subject degree. Alternatively, students take a further 20 credits in their major language subject and 10 credits in their minor language subject continued from Second Year (this is only in the case of students taking the following language subject(s): French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish or English).

¹

Students will be assessed by a language tutor and directed to the class most appropriate to their level of proficiency

²

Preferably, students may choose one or two of the following languages/subjects: French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish or English and one or two other subjects permitted by the timetable.

³

Asian Studies Joint and Major students may take a maximum of 20 credits of language per year in year 2 of the programme. Note: Students must take 10 credits of language. At UCC, students will be assessed by a language tutor and directed to the class most appropriate to their level of proficiency.

⁴

CH2107 Chinese Language (Mandarin) Level 2 (Beginner students must have passed CH1001 Chinese Language (Mandarin) I in first year) or CH3021 Chinese Language (Mandarin) Level 2.5 (non-beginner students must have passed CH2107 Chinese Language (Mandarin) Level 2 in first year)

⁵

In addition to the general regulations for passing the year, students must pass IT2101 Intermediate Italian Language (10 credits)

⁶

Students taking a module in the LL2000 series may not include the same module in the 10 credits taken in the other subject.

⁸

In addition to the general regulations for passing the year, students must pass GE2101 Integrated German Language Course.

Examinations

Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards Book and for each module in the Book of Modules.

*** Only for Incoming First Years and Repeat First Years 2024/2025 ***
*** Click here for Marks and Standards for all other years ***

Marks and Standards

These Marks and Standards should be read in conjunction with the Programme Requirements and the Book of Modules.

Fitness to Practise

All students on programmes subject to Fitness to Practise in UCC will be required to comply with the Fitness to Practise Policy and meet the relevant Fitness to Practise standards, in order to progress to the next year of his/her/their programme. Click here for a list of programmes subject to the Fitness to Practise Policy.

Marks and Credits

Students are required to take modules to the value of 60 credits.
Total Marks for year: 1200.

First Year - Pass and Progression Criteria

To pass first year and progress to second year, students must achieve:

1. An aggregate mark of 40% across all modules,
2. A pass mark in at least three subjects (45 credits) with a mark of not less than 40% in each module and in each subject, and
3. A mark of not less than 30% in the remaining subject (15 credits).

Pass by Compensation: Students who satisfy each of the above criteria are allowed to compensate in a subject with modules to the value of 15 credits and pass the year overall.

Note: only subjects which are passed with at least 40% in each module in that subject may be continued in second and third year.

Students who pass a subject by compensation, can opt to resit this subject at the Autumn Supplemental Examination or in a repeat year if they wish to register for the subject in second year and third year. Students who do not reach the pass standard (at least 40% in the subject and at least 40% in each module in the subject) in Autumn, can use the result achieved in Summer to progress to Second Year but will not be allowed to register for this subject.

Award of Honours in the Degree Award

An honours classification is awarded for the final degree using the final year examination results and marks carried forward from the second year. The aggregate of 33.33% of the second year marks plus 66.67% of the final year marks will be used to calculate the final degree award.

Honours will be awarded as follows:

1. First Class Honours: ≥ 70%
2. Second Class Honours, Grade I: ≥ 60% and <70%
3. Second Class Honours, Grade II: ≥ 50% and <60%
4. Pass: ≥ 40% and <50%

Award of Honours when a student undertakes Study Abroad
When students study abroad as part of his/her/their degree programme, the calculation of the final degree award is based on modules in the Book of Modules only.

Examination Boards

• Provisional marks for Semester 1 examinations are released in January/February of each year. These marks are subject to approval at the University Examination Board.
• Marks for all modules taken in Semester 1 and 2, including those wholly assessed by Continuous Assessment, will be presented to the University Examination Board at the end of Semester 2.

Supplemental Examinations and Assessment

• Students who fail to achieve the progression standard for the year at the Summer Examination Board must complete Supplemental Examinations and/or Continuous Assessment for those specific module(s), where there is provision to do so.
• Please refer to the Book of Modules for requirements governing the Supplemental Examination and Assessment for individual modules. Note: For some modules there is no Supplemental Examination and Assessment.
• The marks achieved in the Supplemental Examinations and/or Continuous Assessment of a repeat module are considered at the Autumn Examination Board.
• The actual mark achieved by the candidate in the Supplemental or Repeat Year Examination will be recorded on the student record (Academic Transcript).
• The maximum mark that will be taken into account for aggregation and progression purposes is a pass level, unless the student has been granted a cap waiver or deferral by the University Mitigation Committee, or a University Examination Board, or has been approved to defer the previous attempt by the University Mitigation Committee.
• At the Autumn Examination Board, marks from all passed modules approved at the Summer Examination Board are carried forward and are combined with the marks achieved in Supplemental Examinations and/or Assessments. The pass and progression criteria are applied to the aggregate mark achieved.

Note: The mark achieved at the last examination/assessment attempt is the mark that is included in the calculation of the aggregate mark for pass and progression purposes.

Study Abroad

• When students study abroad as part of his/her/their degree programme, they will be assessed by his/her/their host university.
• To pass the study abroad period and progress to the subsequent year, a student must achieve a pass standard as applied by the host institution.
• A Pass/Fail judgement will be presented to the UCC Examination Boards:
  • At the Summer Examination Board for students spending Semester 1 abroad.
  • At the Autumn/Winter Examination Board for students spending the full academic year abroad or Semester 2 only.
• For students failing to achieve a pass mark, Supplemental Assessment will be prescribed by the School in UCC, and these results will be presented at a Winter Examination Board.

Exemptions

All passed modules carry an exemption, which is limited to a period of five academic years (or two in the case of Computer Science modules) subsequent to the award of the exemption.

Repeat Year Examinations

Students repeating the year may do so choosing one of the following mechanisms:

1. Students retain module exemptions, if any, and must repeat all failed/absent modules, including those modules where the failing mark previously achieved was greater than the level of compensation (≥ 30%) but who failed to achieve the progression standard for the year (see above). The pass and progression criteria are then applied to the combination of full marks achieved in modules passed at the first attempt, plus capped marks achieved in modules in the Repeat Year Examinations.​

Note: For students selecting different modules not previously taken, there are no restrictions on the marks awarded for those modules at the first attempt in a repeat year. The selection of different modules by the student means that the student foregoes any previous marks achieved in the original modules (including previously passed modules).

2. Students may forego all module exemptions achieved and repeat the year choosing modules to the value of the full 60 credits. In determining pass and progression, there is no restriction on the marks awarded for modules taken at the first attempt of the Repeat Year. Modules taken at the subsequent Supplemental Examination and Assessment are capped at the pass mark.

Subject to capacity, all students - whether they have failed or passed - are allowed to choose this second option, in an attempt to improve his/her/their grade.

Students repeating the final year are eligible for the award of Honours in the first Repeat Year only. Final year students wishing to repeat the year with a view to improving his/her/their degree result may do so only if they have not been conferred.

Three Year Rule

Students must pass/progress within three academic years of the date of first registration for a year, otherwise they cannot continue in the programme.

Terms and Definitions

Programme Description

• The programme description is outlined in the Programme Requirements tab.

Module Descriptions/Assessment

• Module descriptions, including the pass standard for a module, special requirements to pass a module, and assessment elements and their weightings, are contained in the Book of Modules.

Marks and Credits

• A maximum of 100 marks may be awarded for every five credits of a programme.
• Some modules are assessed on a Pass/Fail basis only, i.e. marks are not awarded.

Pass and Progression

• Progression is defined as the permission granted to a student to register in the subsequent academic year for the next set of modules within his/her/their programme of study.
• Compensation is defined as the process by which a student, who fails to satisfy some of the regulations for credit in a specific module, is nevertheless recommended for credit to be awarded on the grounds that the failure is offset by his/her/their performance in the other modules on his/her/their programme of study.