Key Info
Spanish can be taken as part of the UL Arts Degree as a joint honours combination. Review the subjects you can study with Spanish by looking on the BA Arts course page.
About you
You are someone who enjoys learning about other cultures, who is interested in languages and who would like to continue with Spanish because you liked it in school or you may want to pick it up as a beginner who is happy to get a chance to start learning Spanish. Perhaps you are someone who wants to benefit from the excellent job prospects for anyone with a good knowledge of other EU languages and of Spanish in particular. Spanish is now one of the four most-used languages in the world.
Why study Spanish?
- There are over 570 million speakers of Spanish (out of which 480m are native speakers)
- Spanish is one of the three most widely used languages in the world (alongside English and Mandarin).
- Spanish is the official language of Spain and most countries in Latin America.
- Spanish is the second language in the USA (by 2027 there will be more Spanish speakers in the US than in Spain).
- Spanish is one of the official languages of the United Nations, the European Union and many other international bodies. It plays a vital role in international business, international relations, audio-visual media, and other areas.
- Spanish is the key to the fascinating cultural heritage of Latin America and Spain.
- The University of Limerick offers Spanish at both beginner and advanced levels.
Learn more about our courses and upcoming events
What you will study
You will learn about Spanish and Latin American societies, cultures, and literatures, as well as improve your language skills at all levels and develop your intercultural awareness.
Note: Spanish is available at beginners and post leaving certificate level. Students require a minimum H4 grade in Spanish to study post leaving certificate level Spanish. Students require a minimum H4 grade in a language other than English to study beginners Spanish.
Spanish Joint Honours Pathway
Modules are subject to change.
| Year 1 | Semester 1 | Semester 2 | |
|
SP4131 |
Spanish for Beginners 1 |
SP4132 |
Spanish for Beginners 2 |
|
SP4141 |
Spanish Language and Society 1 (post leaving certificate) |
SP4142 |
Spanish Language and Society 2 (post leaving certificate) |
| Year 2 | Semester 3 | Semester 4 | |
|
SP4003 |
Socio-Political Issues in the Contemporary Hispanic World: Society, Culture and Representation |
Cooperative Education Work Placement | |
|
SP4133 |
Spanish for Beginners 3 |
||
|
SP4143 |
Spanish Language, Culture and Society 3 (post leaving certificate) |
||
| Year 3 | Semester 5 | Semester 6 | |
| Erasmus/Exchange placement with a partner institution abroad |
SP4146 |
Modern and Contemporary Spain |
|
|
SP4622 |
Indigenismo and Negrismo in Latin American Literature |
||
| Year 4 | Semester 7 | Semester 8 | |
|
SP4147 |
Spain, Europe and Beyond |
SP4148 |
Media and Current Issues in the Spanish-Speaking World |
|
SP4007 |
Modern Trends in Hispanic Culture and the Arts |
SP4628 |
Women's Narratives of Resistance in the Hispanic World |
Entry requirements
| Additional considerations |
Applicants are required to hold at the time of enrolment the established Leaving Certificate (or an approved equivalent) with a minimum of six subjects which must include: Two H5 (Higher level) grades and Four O6 (Ordinary level) grades or four H7 (Higher Level) grades. Subjects must include Mathematics, Irish or another language, and English. Note: Grade F6 in Foundation Mathematics also satisfies the minimum entry requirements. Foundation mathematics is not reckonable for scoring purposes. In addition, students wishing to study a Language must hold a minimum H4 grade in that language, with the exception of beginners German or beginners Spanish where a H4 grade in a language other than English is required. Specialist requirement in Mathematics also for those studying Economics or Mathematics. For certain subjects, additional special qualifications specific to individual subjects or disciplines may be determined by the respective departments in accordance with Academic Council regulations. Applications are especially welcome from Mature Students. Mature applicants must apply through the Central applications Office (CAO) by 1 February. QQI Entry Certain QQI Awards are acceptable in fulfilling admission requirements for this programme. go to the UL Admissions QQI page for a full list of modules. |
|---|---|
| Non-EU Entry Requirements |
|
How to apply
| Where are you applying from? | How to Apply |
|---|---|
| Ireland | Irish students must apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found here. |
| The UK | Students who have completed their A-Levels can apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found on the Academic Registry website. |
| The EU | EU Students can apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found on the Academic Registry website. |
| Non-EU country | If you are outside of the EU, you can apply for this subject through the Bachelor of Arts degree. |
Fees and funding
Student course fees are broken into three components - Student contribution, Student Levy and Tuition Fees.
A number of illustrative examples of fees for this course based on the current fee levels have been set out in the tables below.
An explanation of the components, how to determine status and the criteria involved is provided below the examples as is a list of possible scholarships and funding available.
EU Students with Free fees status in receipt of a SUSI grant
| HEA pays | Tuition Fees | €2,558 |
| SUSI pays | Student contribution | €3,000 |
| Student pays | Student Levy | €100 |
| €5,658 |
EU Students with Free fees status not in receipt of a grant
| HEA pays | Tuition Fees | €2,558 |
| Student pays | Student contribution | €3,000 |
| Student pays | Student Levy | €100 |
| €5,658 |
Students with EU fee status not in receipt of a grant
| Student pays | Tuition Fees | €2,558 |
| Student pays | Student contribution | €3,000 |
| Student pays | Student Levy | €100 |
| €5,658 |
Non-EU Students
| Student pays | Tuition Fees | €15,262 |
| Student pays | Student Levy | €100 |
| €15,362 |
Student course fees are comprised of the following components:
Student Contribution
Annual charge set by the government for all full-time third level students. All students are liable unless they have been approved for a grant by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). Please refer to https://www.studentfinance.ie to determine your eligibility for a grant and for instructions on how to apply. The current student contribution is set at €3000.
Student Levy
All students are liable to pay the Student Levy of €100. Please note the Student Levy is not covered by the SUSI Grant.
Tuition Fees
These are based on Residency, Citizenship, Course requirements.
Review the three groups of criteria to determine your fee status as follows
-
Residency
- You must have been living in an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland for at least 3 of the 5 years before starting your course
-
Citizenship
- You must be a citizen of an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland or have official refugee status
-
Course Requirements
(all must be met)
- You must be a first time full-time undergraduate (Exceptions are provided for students who hold a Level 6 or Level 7 qualification and are progressing to a Level 8 course in the same general area of study).
- You must be undertaking a full-time undergraduate course of at least 2 year’s duration
- You cannot be undertaking a repeat year of study at the same level unless evidence of exceptional circumstances eg serious illness is provided (in which case this condition may be waived)
Depending on how you meet these criteria your status will be one of the following -
- Free Fee Status: You satisfy all three categories (1, 2 and 3) and therefore are eligible for the Higher Education Authority’s Free Fees scheme.
- EU Fee Status: You satisfy both the citizenship and residency criteria but fail to satisfy the course requirements and are liable to EU fees.
- Non EU Fee Status: You do not meet either the citizenship or residency criteria and are therefore liable to Non EU fees.
More information about fees can be found on the Finance website
These scholarships are available for all courses
| Title | Award | Scholarships Available |
|---|---|---|
| All Ireland Scholarships - sponsored by J.P. McManus | €6,750 | 125 |
| Brad Duffy Access Scholarship | €5,000 for one year | 1 |
| Bursary for my Future Scholarship | €2,750 one off payment | 4 |
| Cooperative Education Award | 1 medal per faculty | |
| Elaine Fagan Scholarship | €1,500 | |
| Financial Aid Fund | ||
| Hegarty Family Access Scholarships | €5,000 for one year | 2 |
| Higher Education Grants & VEC Grants | ||
| Paddy Dooley Rowing Scholarship | €2,500 | |
| Plassey Campus Centre Scholarship Programme | ||
| Provincial GAA Bursaries Scheme | €750 | |
| Stuart Mangan Scholarship | ||
| The Michael Hillery and Jacinta O’Brien Athletics Scholarship | Various benefits equating to over €7,000 in value | |
| UL Sports Scholarships | Varies depending on level of Scholarship | Multiple |
Your future career
Language graduates have the potential to get good jobs as, by studying Spanish, you acquire a whole range of skills that can be applied to a great variety of professions. In particular, you will have very good communication skills, which are highly valued by employers. Learning a language gives you another way of looking at, analysing and interpreting the world, so you are automatically more attractive to potential employers. As a result, language graduates can explore a variety of careers and professions, for example:
- Teaching (Professional Masters of Education required)
- Public Service (because you have shown language learning potential you may be recruited to learn another language)
- Media
- International Business (Marketing, Finance, Personnel)
- Translating
- Localising and Interpreting
- Tourism
Follow-on study:
Student profile
Muireann Galvin
I am a final year Bachelor of Arts student studying Gaeilge and Spanish. Although I always knew that I wanted to be a post-primary Spanish and Gaeilge teacher, after completing my Leaving Certificate I still wasn’t sure which path to take so I decided to take a year out. During that year, I heard a lot of good things about UL so I put it down for my top two CAO choices. Unfortunately, I didn’t get my first choice and I was quite disappointed, but I took my second, which was the Bachelor of Arts programme with Spanish and Gaeilge. I can honestly say that I’ve never looked back and although I was given an option to transfer into my first choice after 1st year, I opted out as I felt that this course really was the one for me.
There is something for everyone on this course including Spanish literature, film and culture. We also study oral, aural and written aspects of the language, which have greatly improved my Spanish. Other opportunities include a semester abroad, workshops and language exchanges. I returned to my old school to do a 6 month work placement. I hope to go on and do a Master of Education in the coming year and look forward to using the Spanish language throughout the rest of my career. I’m grateful to be able to say that I’ve had the best four years here at UL.
