Undergraduate - Centre for European Studies

European Studies is designed for students with a broad intellectual appetite, and who are interested in a range of disciplines and subjects. Staff from different departments work together to deliver a fully integrated programme that offers flexibility and choice for students to tailor their programme and reach their potential.

Why European Studies at Trinity?

If you care about Europe’s past and future, if you enjoy studying languages, and have an interest in history, politics, and the workings of contemporary society you will enjoy this course.

Students will study and gain fluency in two European languages: French, German, Irish, Italian, Polish, Russian, or Spanish.
- German, Italian, Polish, Spanish, and Russian can be studied from beginner level, Irish can be a minor language only.
Students will explore and engage with cultural, political and societal diversity of European countries, analyse Europe’s past, and explore the current state of our complex continent. You will spend an exciting year abroad in one of our partner universities.
Students will gain intercultural communication competencies, critical thinking skills and linguistics abilities which will give you a competitive edge in the global job market.

Your degree and what you will study

In your first two years, you will study:

Two European languages, and the society and cultures of the two countries/regions. Both languages are studied equally*.
- French, German, Irish, Italian, Polish, Russian, or Spanish.
- German, Italian, Polish, Spanish, and Russian can be studied from beginner level, Irish can be a minor language only.
The history of early modern Europe, an introductory module to the history of ideas followed by study of the history of Europe in the 20th century.
An introductory module in your choice of social sciences, political science, sociology or economics (in year one) and options of your choice in history, politics, sociology, or economics (in year two).

*The following language combinations are not possible for European Studies:

Spanish and Irish
German and Russian
German and Polish
Russian and Polish

For your third year:

You will choose a Major language and will spend your third year at a university abroad studying through the Major language.

In your fourth (final) year, you will:

Continue advancing both Major and Minor languages.
Choose options from a wide range of modules in history, political science, sociology, economics, culture and literature.
Study your final core module ‘Modernity and Society: Ideas and Culture in Europe since 1850’ and write a Capstone on a topic of your choice.

Assessments
At all levels, you will be assessed by a combination of continuous assessment and exams. We use a mix of traditional and innovative continuous assessment methods. These include written, oral and aural examinations, essays, project work, presentations, podcast creation, book reviews and dossiers. Final-year students also write a Capstone project.

Graduate skills and career opportunities

The intercultural competencies, linguistic abilities, and critical analysis skills gained through European Studies programme allow our graduates to take up opportunities in a diverse range of careers.

Our graduates have a successful track record of securing posts in international organisations in Ireland, the EU and across the rest of the globe. This includes civil service institutions and the diplomatic corps, in business consultancy, and journalism.

Recent graduates are building careers in European Commission, Enterprise Ireland, embassies of Ireland across around the world, International Chamber of Commerce, Deloitte, Morgan Stanley, Pernod Ricard Singapore, and E&Y New York, to name but a few.