English

Kieran Fitzpatrick

I chose to study here at UL as it seemed to have the widest range of positive attributes over some of the other third level institutions in the country: a beautiful campus, great sports facilities and a good standard of academic teaching.

I’ve had an interest in English and History from an early age and I wasn’t prepared to give up one for the other. The course is very reading intensive, which for me, is great; prospective students should bear this in mind.

In studying this course, I enjoy the fact that I’ve been given the opportunities to think critically about the world in which we live. It has allowed me to become a much more analytical person and, I believe, a more well-rounded member of society.

For me, UL has a very personable atmosphere about it. There’s a real sense of community here and I know that I’ve forged some friendships that will last long after we’ve all left the campus boundaries.

 For my Co-Op placement, I worked under the guidance of a member of the History Department as a Research Assistant. As part of my placement, I got the opportunity to travel all over the country and, as a result, decided to pursue a career in academia.

Chloe Dunne

I’ve always been a big reader, ever since I was little. I joined my local library when I was six, and I think that’s what set me down the path to studying English today. Now I’m a third year, specialising in History and English, and I absolutely love it. UL offers modules like Medieval Literature and Irish Gothic Lit, which really allow me to combine my two subjects; by studying the works of the past, I’m looking through a window to see people just like me, who read or heard the same, unchanging, words that I’m looking at now, centuries later.

I think that English in UL works really well in conjunction with History, Irish, or any of the other languages offered here. Don’t let the idea of core readings and recommended readings scare you away- the workload is usually quite manageable as long as you don’t leave everything to pile up until it’s deadline time. However, English here isn’t all about just reading literature either. UL also offers modules on literary theories and criticism (which are more interesting than they sound, I promise!) as well as creative writing and opportunities to focus solely on a major author, if that’s your cup of tea.

English in UL offers more than just academic opportunities. As part of my degree, I went on Erasmus to Germany, where I also studied English. The opportunity to improve my German (which sadly had been untouched since my Leaving Cert days) as well as live in a new country and with new people was an invaluable experience and helped me grow as a person in numerous ways. My co-op placement (think work experience!) was just as beneficial- I got to work with the Centre for Early Modern Studies here in UL and it really drove home for me just how interconnected the humanities are. CEMS wasn’t just made up of members of the Department of History- here Geography, Languages, Irish, and English academics can also be found. And that’s when it really clicked for me, just how much the arts can bleed into one another; and how English can be the perfect medium to connect them.