Modern Language (JH)

B.A. Honours Bachelor Degree (NFQ Level 8)
4 Years Full-Time
205 Places
CAO Points 346-511 (2023)

Overview

Modern Languages at Trinity

In an increasingly interconnected and multicultural world, advanced language skills and intercultural competencies will equip you for a wide variety of careers and will give you a distinct competitive advantage. Language competence is one of the biggest skills gaps in the Irish labour market and language graduates are highly sought after in a variety of sectors.

We invite you to study languages in Trinity’s School of Languages, Literatures and Cultural Studies. It is a leading language school in Ireland and consistently ranked in the top 100 languages schools in the world.

Within the Modern Languages programme you study two modern European languages. It is the most intensive exposure to languages and cultures that Trinity has to offer. You can choose between French, German, Irish, Italian, Russian and Spanish. Apart from French and Irish, all languages can be studied from both advanced and beginners level.

Modern Language plus another subject at Trinity 

In today’s globalised world, and the post-Brexit times we live in, competence in languages is a key asset for rewarding international careers and for Ireland to stay connected, prosper and maximise its opportunities as an economy, society and culture.

Trinity’s School of Languages, Literatures and Cultural Studies consistently ranked in the top 100 languages schools in the world. In Trinity’s Joint Honours entry routes, you can study a Modern European language with a wide variety of other disciplines across the Humanities and beyond. The languages to choose from are French, German, Irish, Italian, Russian and Spanish. Apart from French and Irish all languages can be studied from both advanced and beginners level.

Modern Languages: The course for you?

Studying two languages at Trinity will enable you to develop your skills to a level where you can communicate confidently and competently on virtually any subject and in every situation. Throughout your studies you will experience an intensive and exciting encounter with the people, cultures and societies of the languages you study. You will gain deeper familiarity through the study of their literature, culture, history and politics, and you will gain competencies in understanding and successfully navigating cultural differences. You will also acquire crucial and highly valuable transferable skills such as thinking analytically and independently

Modern Language plus another subject: The course for you?

Choosing a modern language plus another subject allows you to combine an interest in languages with an entirely different academic discipline, and will give you intensive exposure to both of your subjects, their methodologies and specificities. You will find that very often the topics as well as the approaches of your two subjects will intersect and complement each other very well.

Pathways

Modern Languages: The pathways available are Major with Minor and Joint Honours.

Modern Language plus another Subject: The pathways available are Single Honours, Major with Minor and Joint Honours.

Graduate skills and career opportunities

Foreign language skills and intercultural competencies constitute one of the biggest skills gaps in the Irish labour market and language graduates are very sought after in a variety of careers. Dublin-based headquarters of Google, Facebook, LinkedIn and others are seeking the advanced language and intercultural skills our graduates acquire, and there is currently an acute shortage of language specialists in the Irish secondary school system. Our graduates have exciting careers in a wide range of fields such as cultural and creative industries, translation and interpreting, journalism and the media, publishing and arts administration, diplomacy and tourism, marketing and finance, as well as second and third-level teaching or the civil service. Many go on to take postgraduate courses in areas such as business or law for which a languages degree is an excellent background.

Your degree and what you’ll study

Modern Languages: In each of the languages you have typically at least eight and up to 12 contact hours per week, which roughly divide equally between language learning and studying the culture, literature, history and society of your languages.

Modern Language plus another Subject: In each of your two subjects you will have typically between eight and 12 contact hours per week. In the language part of your programme, this divides equally between language learning and studying the culture, literature, history and society of your language.

In beginners languages the emphasis on language is higher in the first year. From year to year students have an increasing choice in respect of which areas to focus on and specialise in. All students complete a Capstone—an independent research project—in their final year.

Study abroad

A year or a semester studying abroad is one of the highlights of a student’s Trinity experience, and immersing oneself in the language and culture is one of the most valuable ways of achieving fluency and of gaining deeper intercultural understanding.

Modern Languages: 

For those who choose the Single Honours pathway, study abroad is mandatory in third year (except for Irish). For students combining the study of two modern languages we endeavour to facilitate a semester abroad in either or both, and all our students are strongly encouraged to spend at least a semester of their third year at one of our many partner universities. At a minimum, you will be required to spend two months in each of the countries the language of which you are studying during the course of the degree programme. We have long-established and well-working Erasmus partnerships with top institutions in the countries where our languages are spoken.

Modern Language plus another Subject:

For those who choose the Single Honours pathway in the language a third year of study abroad is mandatory (except for Irish). For all other students we strongly recommend and support spending a year or semester in the third year in one of our many partner universities, where the second subject can also be studied. At a minimum, you will be required to spend two months in the country of your language during the course of the degree programme. We have long-established and well-working Erasmus partnerships with top institutions in the countries where our languages are spoken.

 Study Modern Languages at Trinity College Dublin

 This short video provides an overview of the Modern Language degree programmes at Trinity College Dublin.

Course Details

Awards

B.A. Honours Bachelor Degree (NFQ Level 8)

CAO Information

CAO Points 346-511 (2023)

Number of Places

205 Places
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Course Options

Click here to view Modern Languages options

Click here to view Modern Language and another Subject options

Modern Language 

Within the Modern Languages programme you study two modern European languages.

The Modern Language options will appear in a drop-down menu on the CAO Application. For example, if you are applying for French and German, please select CAO Code TR667 French + Modern Language and pick German from the dropdown list. Or, if you are applying for French and Spanish, please select CAO Code TR672 Spanish and Modern Language and pick French from the dropdown list.

French and Irish are not available at beginner’s level.

German, Italian, Russian and Spanish may be taken either at Leaving Certificate Level (or equivalent) or at beginner’s level.

A student may not study two languages at beginner’s level.

Modern Language plus another Subject 

You can study a modern language and another subject as a Joint Honours, where both subjects are studied equally or as a Major/Minor, or where you study one subject more than the other for example 60% / 40%.

Modern Languages related courses:

TR024 European Studies

TR040 Middle Eastern and European Languages and Cultures

Modern Language plus another Subject related courses:

TR024 European Studies

TR040 Middle Eastern and European Languages and Cultures

TR039 Computer Science, Linguistics and a Language

TR018 Law and French

TR019 Law and German

TR085 Business Studies and French

TR086 Business Studies and German

TR087 Business Studies and Russian

TR089 Business Studies and Polish

TR090 Business Studies and Spanish

Admission Requirements

Modern Languages 

Leaving Certificate:

H4 in selected language or, for beginners, in a language other than English

Advanced GCE (A Level): 

Grade C In selected language or, for beginners, in a language other than English

You cannot combine two languages from beginner level. French and Irish are not available at beginners level. To be eligible, applicants must present a H4 in French or Irish.

Modern Language plus another Subject 

Leaving Certificate:

H4 in selected language or, for beginners, in a language other than English

Advanced GCE (A Level):

Grade C in selected language or, for beginners, in a language other than English

Other subjects will have specific entry requirements; please assess the relevant page

French and Irish are not available at beginners level. To be eligible applicants must present a H4 in French or Irish.

Course Fees

Click here for a full list of undergraduate fees

Get in Touch

undegraduate.sllcs@tcd.ie

Website

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Twitter: @TCDsllcs

Register Your Interest

Register your interest in studying at Ireland’s leading university, Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin.

Register Your Interest

The ability to combine two subjects enabled me to explore the multidisciplinary aspects of both subjects. I found that the skills and techniques acquired were often interchangeable. In my final year I was able to combine my two subject choices, English Studies and French, through my Dissertation topic: Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables.

Amy Burgess

Graduate of English Studies and French

Studying another language, and its literature and culture, not only leads to fluency in the language, it also opens your mind to different ways of working, and improves your overall communication skills. From my own perspective, I make practical use of my degree in French and Spanish from Trinity every day. After my degree I worked abroad for a couple of years, and I am headed to Paris in the summer to take up a post at the Irish Embassy.

Gavin Radford

Graduate of French and Spanish