Overview
Engage fully with key aspects of language, literature, history and politics in a contemporary Irish setting.
Summary
Established in 2009 this unique range of programs in the field of Irish Studies is for international students only and, as such, affords students from all corners of the world the opportunity to engage fully with key aspects of language, literature, history and politics in a contemporary Irish setting. The City of Derry is alive with music, song, heritage and culture, and was the inaugural UK City of Culture in 2013.
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About this course
About
The certificate and diploma programs encompass a complete Irish cultural experience. The holistic nature of the provision provides freedom of choice for participating students and offers a real insight into contemporary Irish culture and society. Field-trips and excursions are arranged to bring the learning experience beyond the classroom and lecture theatre and students sample caint, craic agus ceol (‘conversation, fun and music’) in both traditional and modern contexts.
Attendance
Full-time (Two semesters).
Start dates
Teaching, Learning and Assessment
Teaching and Learning Methods
The learning outcomes involving the knowledge and understanding of the subject are achieved, in the process of teaching and learning, through a combination of lectures (some of them dealing, in a synthetic way, with broad issues of language, literature, history, music and/or drama, and others focusing on the analysis of a selection (AdvCert: a sample) of texts, aural recordings, concepts, ideas and artefacts (K1, K3, K5), seminars and workshops, as well as through independent study (under varying levels of direction and
supervision), involving reading and analysis of a selection of primary texts, recordings and/or documents, study of secondary sources, preparation of assignments, and revision for examinations.
Assessment Methods
The achievement by students of the learning outcomes involving the knowledge and understanding of the subject is measured using a diversity of forms of assessment, including coursework essays, class tests, formal examinations, workbooks, projects, oral and/or aural assessment. The forms of assessment used on specific modules vary depending on the nature, contents, and level of the module; however, all students will be required to write a substantial number of essays, both in their own time and under controlled conditions, to sit formal examinations where required. In principle, all forms of assessment used on the programme measure the achievement of all the subject-related learning outcomes, but the relative weighting of the learning outcomes focused on may vary
across and indeed within modules.
Content
The content for each course is summarised on the relevant course page, along with an overview of the modules that make up the course.
Each course is approved by the University and meets the expectations of:
Attendance and Independent Study
As part of your course induction, you will be provided with details of the organisation and management of the course, including attendance and assessment requirements - usually in the form of a timetable. For full-time courses, the precise timetable for each semester is not confirmed until close to the start date and may be subject to some change in the early weeks as all courses settle into their planned patterns. For part-time courses which require attendance on particular days and times, an expectation of the days and periods of attendance will be included in the letter of offer. A course handbook is also made available.
Courses comprise modules for which the notional effort involved is indicated by its credit rating. Each credit point represents 10 hours of student effort. Undergraduate courses typically contain 10- or 20-credit modules (more usually 20) and postgraduate course typically 15- or 30-credit modules.
The normal study load expectation for an undergraduate full-time course of study in the standard academic year is 120 credit points. This amounts to around 36-42 hours of expected teaching and learning per week, inclusive of attendance requirements for lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical work, fieldwork or other scheduled classes, private study, and assessment. Part-time study load is the same as full-time pro-rata, with each credit point representing 10 hours of student effort.
Postgraduate Master’s courses typically comprise 180 credits, taken in three semesters when studied full-time. A Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) comprises 60 credits and can usually be completed on a part-time basis in one year. A 120-credit Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) can usually be completed on a part-time basis in two years.
Class contact times vary by course and type of module. Typically, for a module predominantly delivered through lectures you can expect at least 3 contact hours per week (lectures/seminars/tutorials). Laboratory classes often require a greater intensity of attendance in blocks. Some modules may combine lecture and laboratory. The precise model will depend on the course you apply for and may be subject to change from year to year for quality or enhancement reasons. Prospective students will be consulted about any significant changes.
Assessment
Assessment methods vary and are defined explicitly in each module. Assessment can be a combination of examination and coursework but may also be only one of these methods. Assessment is designed to assess your achievement of the module’s stated learning outcomes. You can expect to receive timely feedback on all coursework assessment. The precise assessment will depend on the module and may be subject to change from year to year for quality or enhancement reasons. You will be consulted about any significant changes.
Coursework can take many forms, for example: essay, report, seminar paper, test, presentation, dissertation, design, artefacts, portfolio, journal, group work. The precise form and combination of assessment will depend on the course you apply for and the module. Details will be made available in advance through induction, the course handbook, the module specification and the assessment timetable. The details are subject to change from year to year for quality or enhancement reasons. You will be consulted about any significant changes.
Normally, a module will have 4 learning outcomes, and no more than 2 items of assessment. An item of assessment can comprise more than one task. The notional workload and the equivalence across types of assessment is standardised.
Calculation of the Final Award
The class of Honours awarded in Bachelor’s degrees is usually determined by calculation of an aggregate mark based on performance across the modules at Levels 5 and 6, (which correspond to the second and third year of full-time attendance).
Level 6 modules contribute 70% of the aggregate mark and Level 5 contributes 30% to the calculation of the class of the award. Classification of integrated Master’s degrees with Honours include a Level 7 component. The calculation in this case is: 50% Level 7, 30% Level 6, 20% Level 5. At least half the Level 5 modules must be studied at the University for Level 5 to be included in the calculation of the class.
All other qualifications have an overall grade determined by results in modules from the final level of study. In Master’s degrees of more than 200 credit points the final 120 points usually determine the overall grading.
Academic profile
The University employs over 1,000 suitably qualified and experienced academic staff - 59% have PhDs in their subject field and many have professional body recognition.
Courses are taught by staff who are Professors (25%), Readers, Senior Lecturers (18%) or Lecturers (57%).
We require most academic staff to be qualified to teach in higher education: 82% hold either Postgraduate Certificates in Higher Education Practice or higher. Most academic staff (81%) are accredited fellows of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) - the university sector professional body for teaching and learning. Many academic and technical staff hold other professional body designations related to their subject or scholarly practice.
The profiles of many academic staff can be found on the University’s departmental websites and give a detailed insight into the range of staffing and expertise. The precise staffing for a course will depend on the department(s) involved and the availability and management of staff. This is subject to change annually and is confirmed in the timetable issued at the start of the course.
Occasionally, teaching may be supplemented by suitably qualified part-time staff (usually qualified researchers) and specialist guest lecturers. In these cases, all staff are inducted, mostly through our staff development programme ‘First Steps to Teaching’. In some cases, usually for provision in one of our out-centres, Recognised University Teachers are involved, supported by the University in suitable professional development for teaching.
Figures correct for academic year 2019-2020.
Modules
Here is a guide to the subjects studied on this course.
Courses are continually reviewed to take advantage of new teaching approaches and developments in research, industry and the professions. Please be aware that modules may change for your year of entry. The exact modules available and their order may vary depending on course updates, staff availability, timetabling and student demand. Please contact the course team for the most up to date module list.
Year one
Irish for Beginners
Year: 1
Status: C
This module encompasses the sound system of the Irish language and drills in oral practice (basic tenses, patterns and vocabulary) for conversation ab initio.
Irish Folklore
Status: O
Year: 1
This module is optional
The module provides an elucidation of important aspects of Irish folklore and legends.
Northern Ireland: Culture and Identity
Status: O
Year: 1
This module is optional
This module will provide an analysis of culture and identity politics in Northern Ireland in both historical and contemporary contexts. It will draw attention to other comparable situations.
Social Structures of Ireland
Status: O
Year: 1
This module is optional
This module is intended to provide an introduction to the study of Irish society North and South since the early 20th century. It aims to increase awareness and provide the means for better analysis of the socioeconomic system of contemporary Ireland.
The Irish Outlaw: The Making of a Nationalist
Status: O
Year: 1
This module is optional
A study of the Irish outlaw in his various political, socio-economic, historical, historiographical and cultural contexts
The Fighting Irish: The Irishman at War since 1534
Status: O
Year: 1
This module is optional
This course will examine the emergence and the evolution of the `Fighting Irishman' in history, literature, art, iconography, film and media. Lectures and readings will deal primarily with the period between the Reformation (1534) and the Good Friday Agreement (1998). Especial emphasis will be placed on Irish involvement in 17th and 18th century Europe and the Americas; Irish participation in the American War of Independence, the war of 1812, the Civil War and the subjugation of native American peoples. The course will also focus on the historical and military contexts of this tradition, and the ideologies (royalist or republican, nationalist, unionist), which often prompted military service.
Contemporary Irish Theatre
Status: O
Year: 1
This module is optional
This module looks in detail at contemporary Irish theatre practice and in doing so enables students to focus their understanding of contemporary Irish theatre by placing it in a range of relevant discursive and theoretical contexts. Students will read a range of contemporary playtexts and see a range of performances. This module is taught by seminar and assessed by 100% coursework.
Irish Traditional Music
Status: O
Year: 1
This module is optional
The module will provide students with an overview of the sounds, conversations, communities and contexts of traditional musics in Ireland with a view to developing critical thinking and commentary skills in relation to issues raised.
Standard entry conditions
We recognise a range of qualifications for admission to our courses. In addition to the specific entry conditions for this course you must also meet the University’s General Entrance Requirements.
A level
N/A
Applied General Qualifications
N/A
Irish Leaving Certificate
N/A
Irish Leaving Certificate UCAS Equivalency
Tariff point chart
Scottish Highers
N/A
Scottish Advanced Highers
N/A
International Baccalaureate
N/A
Access to Higher Education (HE)
N/A
GCSE
N/A
English Language Requirements
English language requirements for international applicants
The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement for Tier 4 visa purposes.
Ulster recognises a number of other English language tests and comparable IELTS equivalent scores.
Additional Entry Requirements
This course is open to those international students who are undertaking a period of study abroad at Ulster.
Exemptions and transferability
Credit points earned at Ulster can be transferred to the home institution of visiting international students.
Careers & opportunities
Career options
Employment opportunities exist in a wide range of areas including education, the media, publishing, government, librarianship and various areas of business.
Work placement / study abroad
N/A
Fees and funding
Scholarships, awards and prizes
None.
Additional mandatory costs
Tuition fees and costs associated with accommodation, travel (including car parking charges), and normal living are a part of university life.
Where a course has additional mandatory expenses we make every effort to highlight them. These may include residential visits, field trips, materials (e.g. art, design, engineering) inoculations, security checks, computer equipment, uniforms, professional memberships etc.
We aim to provide students with the learning materials needed to support their studies. Our libraries are a valuable resource with an extensive collection of books and journals as well as first-class facilities and IT equipment. Computer suites and free wifi is also available on each of the campuses.
There will be some additional costs to being a student which cannot be itemised and these will be different for each student. You may choose to purchase your own textbooks and course materials or prefer your own computer and software. Printing and binding may also be required. There are additional fees for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines. Additional costs vary from course to course.
Students choosing a period of paid work placement or study abroad as part of their course should be aware that there may be additional travel and living costs as well as tuition fees.
Please contact the course team for more information.
Disclaimer
- The University endeavours to deliver courses and programmes of study in accordance with the description set out in this prospectus. The University’s prospectus is produced at the earliest possible date in order to provide maximum assistance to individuals considering applying for a course of study offered by the University. The University makes every effort to ensure that the information contained in the prospectus is accurate but it is possible that some changes will occur between the date of printing and the start of the academic year to which it relates. Please note that the University’s website is the most up-to-date source of information regarding courses and facilities and we strongly recommend that you always visit the website before making any commitments.
- Although reasonable steps are taken to provide the programmes and services described, the University cannot guarantee the provision of any course or facility and the University may make variations to the contents or methods of delivery of courses, discontinue, merge or combine courses and introduce new courses if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Such circumstances include (but are not limited to) industrial action, lack of demand, departure of key staff, changes in legislation or government policy including changes, if any, resulting from the UK departing the European Union, withdrawal or reduction of funding or other circumstances beyond the University’s reasonable control.
- If the University discontinues any courses, it will use its best endeavours to provide a suitable alternative course. In addition, courses may change during the course of study and in such circumstances the University will normally undertake a consultation process prior to any such changes being introduced and seek to ensure that no student is unreasonably prejudiced as a consequence of any such change.
- The University does not accept responsibility (other than through the negligence of the University, its staff or agents), for the consequences of any modification or cancellation of any course, or part of a course, offered by the University but will take into consideration the effects on individual students and seek to minimise the impact of such effects where reasonably practicable.
- The University cannot accept any liability for disruption to its provision of educational or other services caused by circumstances beyond its control, but the University will take all reasonable steps to minimise the resultant disruption to such services.
