BA (Hons) (International) - CK108

Overview

NFQ Level 8, Major Award

The BA (Hons) International is a four-year full-time programme which enables students to study for one year in an approved overseas university. Its aim is to offer students the experience of living and studying for a year at a University 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 I, 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 Second 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 s/he is 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)

Option 1 below relates to students of all subjects. Options 2 and 3 below are only available to students of Chinese Studies in specific circumstances where travel restrictions may be in place which prevent travel to China in the academic year 2023/24 only due to the exceptional circumstances relating to Covid-19.

Students complete the Third Year of BA (International) by choosing one of the following options:

  1. Students spend the Third Year Abroad
  2. Students of Chinese Studies for whom Covid-19 travel restrictions are in place in China may spend the Third Year at UCC
  3. 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.

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.

  1. Students spending Third Year Abroad

    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.

    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).
     
  2. Students of Chinese Studies spending Third Year in UCC where Covid-19 travel restrictions are in place in China

    In Third 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). Students must take a total of 60 credits for the Year in agreement with their Departments and Programme Director.

    No electives may be repeated from Second Year modules (i.e. if these modules have already been taken), or if modules are chosen from Final Year, they may not be taken again in the future.

    This option is available to students of Chinese Studies (1) for whom travel restrictions are in place in China as a result of Covid-19 or (2) whose host university is no longer able to accept international students as a result of Covid-19.
     
  3. Students of Chinese Studies spending One Semester Abroad and One Semester in UCC where Covid-19 travel restrictions are in place in China

    In some instances, students may complete one semester in UCC and one semester abroad taking a total of 60 credits for the year, in agreement with the Programme Director.

    This option is available to students of Chinese Studies (1) for whom travel restrictions are in place in China as a result of Covid-19 or (2) whose host university is no longer able to accept international students as a result of Covid-19.

    Where students spend one semester in UCC they will be required to take modules to the value of 30 credits. These must be agreed with the relevant Department(s) and the Programme Director.

    Students studying in UCC in Semester 2 may not select modules for which they do not have the relevant pre- and co-requisites.

    No electives may be repeated from Second Year modules (i.e. if these modules have already been taken), or if modules are chosen from Final Year, they may not be taken again in the future.

Fourth Year - Arts (International)

No student may register for the Fourth Arts (International) programme until s/he has 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.