The emphasis in this course is on the modern language and culture. A range of modules will provide you with a broad understanding of diverse aspects of Irish culture and society and include the short story, the novel, and modern poetry. The growth of Gaelic identity is also explored and insight into the country’s wider heritage is developed through the study of mythology and Scottish Gaelic.

Tá an bhéim sa chúrsa seo ar an teanga agus ar an chultúr. Cuirfear réimse modúl ar fáil duit a thabharfaidh tuiscint leathan ar ghnéithe éagsúla de chultúr na hÉireann agus den tsochaí. Pléitear fás na féiniúlachta Gaelaí chomh maith agus tugtar léargas ar oidhreacht leathan na tíre trí staidéar a dhéanamh ar an mhiotaseolaíocht agus ar Ghaeilge na hAlban.

Celtic Studies students are the happiest graduates in UK (The Times, 2023)

Course highlights

Global Opportunities

Queen's University Belfast is committed to providing a range of international opportunities to its students during their degree programme. Current and past students have studied and taught in the USA as part of the Study USA and Fulbright Programmes.

Professional Exemptions

The BA Irish will exempt you from examinations for An Teastas Gaeilge do Mhúinteoirí Iarbhunscoile for teaching in the Republic of Ireland.

Industry Links

We have former students in senior positions in various Irish language sectors and we maintain strong links with media production companies, the translation sector and language promotion agencies.

Our work placement module gives students the opportunity to gain experience in a wide range of careers in the Irish language sector.

World Class Facilities

Queen’s has an excellent library for Irish materials and an outstanding collection of resources relating to Ireland.

Internationally Renowned Experts

Queen’s has world-leading experts in the history of the Irish language and literature, Irish linguistics and Gaelic names. Irish and Celtic Studies at QUB ranks 3rd in the UK for Research [Source: Complete University Guide 2025]

Student Experience

Students have a unique opportunity to engage with native speakers through attendance at an annual Gaeltacht residential in Rannafast, Donegal. The course lasts 3 weeks at takes place at the end of Stage 1 and Stage 2.

Irish has a bespoke online platform for language learning called Learning Branch (this contains a range of subject-specific langauge tasks and mirrors content in language modules)

Strong emphasis on Irish language and culture. Students complete 3-4 hours of language per week (interactive classes based on the national syllabus for Irish). Teaching on all core and most optional modules is conducted through the medium of Irish .

The Irish student society, An Cumann Gaelach, is one of the biggest in QUB. The society is extremely active and holds a range of events and activities each year (annual festival, Irish classes, concerts, annual dinner-dance, etc.).

Further Study Opportunities

Graduates can continue to a Master of Research (MRes) programme as well as courses such as MA Translation and PGCE.

This programme is carefully curated to develop students' skills across the 3 years. Students progress from introductory modules that embed the key skills, to a wide range of specialist modules that allow them to deepen their interests and gain experience. Periods of residence in the Gaeltacht area of Donegal also provide an immersive language experience.

Stage 1

In their first year students must take a core double module on Gaelic language, plus at least two further Gaelic / Celtic modules. Students can also choose two further modules from a wide range available from across the Faculty, allowing them to follow their interests as well as developing the skills needed to succeed at University level study. Students are normally required to spend a total of 3 weeks in the Gaeltacht in Ireland at an approved place of residence between Level 1 and Level 2

Stage 2

In their second year, students must take one core double module in the Irish language, which builds on the skills and knowledge gained in year 1. They also take four further optional modules, examining Irish literature and culture in further detail. Students are also normally required to spend a total of 3 weeks in the Gaeltacht in Ireland between stages 2 and 3.

Stage 3

In year 3, students will take one core double module, plus a range of optional modules which are rooted in staff research expertise. They may also opt to undertake a dissertation in Irish language or literature.

• People Teaching You
  Professor Greg Toner

  Professor of Irish, Subject Lead

  Arts, English and Languages
  

• Contact Teaching Hours

  Large Group Teaching

  4 (hours maximum)
  hours of lectures (25-50 students) per week

  Personal Study

  24 (hours maximum)
  22–24 hours studying and revising in your own time each week, including independent reading, language practice, vocabulary development, guided study, online activities, coursework preparation etc

  Small Group Teaching/Personal Tutorial

  6 (hours maximum)
  6 hours of tutorials or small group teaching per week; for your dissertation you will have a mixture of small group teaching and personal tutorials

• Learning and Teaching

  At Queen’s, we aim to deliver a high quality learning environment that embeds intellectual curiosity, innovation and best practice in learning, teaching and student support to enable our students to achieve their full academic potential.
  
  On the BA in Irish we do this by providing a range of learning experiences which enable our students to engage with subject experts, develop attributes and perspectives that will equip them for life and work in society and make use of innovative technologies and a world class library that enhances their development as independent, lifelong learners.
  
  Examples of the opportunities provided for learning on this course are:

  E-Learning technologies

  A wide range of information associated with modules is communicated via a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) called Canvas. Typically, lecture notes are provided through Canvas for each module along with other support material. Much of the recommended reading is available through the same environment. Almost all coursework is submitted and returned, with marks and feedback, electronically.

  Gaeltacht Course

  Students taking a BA in Irish spend a total of six weeks on a dedicated summer course in Rinn na Feirste in Donegal. Here, students engage with native speakers while staying in accommodation with a host family. Intensive, structured tuition is provided by qualified native Irish speakers during the course involving approximately 60 hours of placement learning during each course. In addition to the benefits for oral competence in Irish, the residence course provides a unique opportunity for immersion in Gaeltacht culture and establishes a tremendous camaraderie among students.

  Language enrichment classes

  Intensive 2-hour language enrichment classes provide students with opportunities to develop oral skills and develop their knowledge of grammar and vocabulary in real-life, practical contexts. These classes are taught in very small groups (typically 12-15 students). Students will also be expected to attend one class per week on language accuracy

  Lectures

  These introduce you to basic information about new topics as a starting point for your own further private study/reading. Lectures also provide opportunities to ask questions, gain some feedback and advice on assessments (normally delivered in larger groups of approximately 25-50 students). Only a small number of our modules are delivered in this way.

  Personal Tutor

  Students are allocated a Personal Tutor who meets with them on several occasions during the year to support their academic development. This gives students one identified contact with whom to discuss any difficulties they might encounter and who can answer any queries they might have.

  Self-directed study

  This is an essential part of life as a Queen’s student when important private reading, engagement with e-learning resources, reflection on feedback and assignment research and preparation work is carried out.

  Seminars/tutorials

  Almost all of the teaching in Irish is carried out in small groups (typically 15 students). These provide significant opportunities for you to engage with academic staff who have specialist knowledge of the topic, to ask questions and to assess your own progress and understanding with the support of your classmates. You will also be expected to make presentations and other contributions to these groups. All of our language teaching and the vast majority of our other modules are delivered through the medium of Irish in small-group situations.

• Assessment

  Details of assessments associated with this course are outlined below:

  • The way in which you will be assessed will vary according to the learning objectives of each module. Language modules are assessed through a variety of written tasks, class tests, a formal written examination and an oral exam at the end of the year. All other modules are assessed through a variety of forms of coursework which may include book reviews, projects, creative writing, presentations, essays and language tasks. Details of how each module is assessed are shown in the Module description which is provided to all students at the beginning of the semester. All assessment, apart from oral exams and the dissertation, is marked and returned anonymously.

A level requirements

ABB including A-level Irish

A maximum of one BTEC/OCR Single Award or AQA Extended Certificate will be accepted as part of an applicant's portfolio of qualifications with a Distinction* being equated to a grade A at A-level and a Distinction being equated to a grade B at A-level.

Irish leaving certificate requirements

H3H3H3H3H3H3/H2H3H3H3H3 including Higher Level grade H3 in Irish

Graduate

A minimum of a 2:2 Honours Degree, provided any subject requirement is also met

Note

All applicants must have GCSE English Language grade C/4 or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University.

• How we choose our students

  Applications are dealt with centrally by the Admissions and Access Service rather than by individual University Schools. Once your on-line form has been processed by UCAS and forwarded to Queen's, an acknowledgement is normally sent within two weeks of its receipt at the University.
  
  Selection is on the basis of the information provided on your UCAS form. Decisions are made on an ongoing basis and will be notified to you via UCAS.
  
  For last year's intake, applicants for this BA programme offering A-level/BTEC Level 3 qualifications must have had, or been able to achieve, a minimum of five GCSE passes at grade C/4 or better (to include English Language). Performance in any AS or A-level examinations already completed would also have been taken into account and the Selector checks that any specific entry requirements in terms of GCSE and/or A-level subjects can be fulfilled.
  
  For applicants offering Irish Leaving Certificate, please note that performance at Irish Junior Certificate (IJC) is taken into account. For last year’s entry applicants for this degree must have had, a minimum of 5 IJC grades C/Merit. The Selector also checks that any specific entry requirements in terms of Leaving Certificate subjects can be satisfied.
  
  Offers are normally made on the basis of three A-levels. Two subjects at A-level plus two at AS would also be considered. The offer for repeat candidates is set in terms of three A-levels and may be one grade higher than that asked from first time applicants. Grades may be held from the previous year.
  
  Applicants offering two A-levels and one BTEC Subsidiary Diploma/National Extended Certificate (or equivalent qualification), or one A-level and a BTEC Diploma/National Diploma (or equivalent qualification) will also be considered. Offers will be made in terms of the overall BTEC grade(s) awarded. Please note that a maximum of one BTEC Subsidiary Diploma/National Extended Certificate (or equivalent) will be counted as part of an applicant’s portfolio of qualifications. The normal GCSE profile will be expected.
  
  Access courses, BTEC Extended Diplomas, Higher National Certificates, and Higher National Diplomas can be considered, provided the subject requirements for entry to Irish are also fulfilled.
  
  The information provided in the personal statement section and the academic reference together with predicted grades are noted but, in the case of BA degrees, these are not the final deciding factors in whether or not a conditional offer can be made. However, they may be reconsidered in a tie break situation in August.
  
  A-level General Studies and A-level Critical Thinking would not normally be considered as part of a three A-level offer and, although they may be excluded where an applicant is taking four A-level subjects, the grade achieved could be taken into account if necessary in August/September.
  
  Candidates are not normally asked to attend for interview.
  
  If you are made an offer then you may be invited to a Faculty/School Visit Day, which is usually held in the second semester. This will allow you the opportunity to visit the University and to find out more about the degree programme of your choice and the facilities on offer. It also gives you a flavour of the academic and social life at Queen's.
  
  If you cannot find the information you need here, please contact the University Admissions and Access Service (admissions@qub.ac.uk), giving full details of your qualifications and educational background.

• International Students

  Our country/region pages include information on entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, student profiles, upcoming events and contacts for your country/region. Use the dropdown list below for specific information for your country/region.

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  International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

  For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.

  If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, Queen's University Belfast International Study Centre offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.

  • Academic English: an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level
  • Pre-sessional English: a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English.