BA (Hons) Irish Studies Bachelor's degree at the University of Liverpool
BA (Hons) Irish Studies at University of Liverpool. Irish Studies at Liverpool draws on the university's longstanding research tradition in Irish literature, history and culture.
About this course
BA (Hons) Irish Studies is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at the University of Liverpool, based in Main Campus. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Language and area studies graduates from this provider, 92% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 56% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £25,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Modern Languages, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Moderate evidence Published sample: 50; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 92% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 92% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year one 15 modules
- ENGLISH LITERATURE IN IRELAND: JONATHAN SWIFT TO WB YEATSOptional15 credits
- NORTHERN IRELAND BEFORE THE 'TROUBLES': FROM PARTITION TO CIVIL RIGHTS AND ARMALITESOptional15 credits
- BEGINNERS' IRISH LANGUAGE 1Optional15 credits
- CLOSE READINGOptional15 credits
- INTRODUCTION TO FILM LANGUAGEOptional15 credits
- POWER, BELIEF AND IDENTITY: MEDIEVAL AND EARLY MODERN WORLDS, C. 500-1600 CEOptional15 credits
- INTRODUCTION TO BRITISH POLITICSOptional15 credits
- FIELDTRIP TO IRELAND AND STUDY METHODSOptional15 credits
- MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY IRISH WRITING: FROM JAMES JOYCE TO SALLY ROONEYOptional15 credits
- IRELAND'S BATTLE OF IDEASOptional15 credits
- BEGINNERS' IRISH LANGUAGE 2Optional15 credits
- WAYS OF READINGOptional15 credits
- APPROACHES TO FILMOptional15 credits
- PEOPLE, POWER AND POLITICS: APPROACHES TO MODERN BRITISH HISTORY C. 1880-2016Optional15 credits
- BRITISH POLITICS IN COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVEOptional15 credits
Year two 13 modules
- RESEARCH METHODS FOR IRISH STUDIESCompulsory15 credits
- CONTINUING IRISH LANGUAGE 1Optional15 credits
- WRITING MAGAZINES / MAGAZINE WRITING: HISTORY, LITERATURE AND THE PERIODICALOptional30 credits
- MAKING HERITAGE HAPPENOptional15 credits
- PLACEMENT YEAR PREPARATIONOptional15 credits
- UK GENERAL ELECTIONS AND REFERENDUMS SINCE 1945Optional15 credits
- IRISH STUDIES IN ACTIONOptional15 credits
- CONTINUING IRISH LANGUAGE 2Optional15 credits
- BANNED: FICTION, SEX AND THE LIMITS OF DECENCYOptional30 credits
- SAINTS, SCHOLARS AND SEA MONSTERS: IRELAND AND THE NORTH ATLANTIC, C.400 - C.850Optional15 credits
- WAR STORIES: PERSONAL HISTORIES OF WAR IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURYOptional15 credits
- LIVING THE GLOBAL EIGHTEENTH CENTURYOptional15 credits
- MUSEUMS AND MONUMENTSOptional15 credits
Year three 7 modules
- IMAGINING THE MIGRANT SELF: HISTORY, LITERATURE AND THE POLITICS OF CULTUREOptional30 credits
- WAR WRITINGOptional30 credits
- CIVIL WAR AND THE SELF: HUMAN HISTORIES OF THE NORTHERN IRISH TROUBLES 1969-2019Optional15 credits
- FROM THE IRA TO THE FAR RIGHT: UNDERSTANDING POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN THE CONTEMPORARY WORLDOptional15 credits
- CONFLICT AND POLITICS IN NORTHERN IRELANDOptional15 credits
- WRITING FOR RADIO: BROADCASTING IN TWENTIETH-CENTURY BRITAIN AND IRELANDOptional30 credits
- JAMES JOYCE: A WRITING LIFEOptional30 credits
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
You'll study Irish language, literature and culture from foundations through to advanced independent research. A course like this typically begins with intensive language work in speaking, writing and grammar, alongside cultural and historical study of Irish societies. You'll usually move into specialist cultural studies, examining periods, authors or media in depth, and professional skills such as translation and interpreting. In later stages, you can pursue specialisations such as a year abroad, linguistics, cultural studies, or two-language combinations, depending on how the course is structured. Your final year normally combines near-native language proficiency with a research-led project or dissertation, allowing you to investigate Irish culture or language at an advanced level.
Who it's for
You're drawn to Irish literature, history or culture, or want to understand them more deeply. You think critically about texts and contexts, enjoy research, and want to develop genuine expertise in a specific area. If you're considering postgraduate study, research or a career where cultural knowledge and analytical thinking matter, this course will build both. You'll spend three years reading widely, debating interpretations, and producing your own sustained work. It suits people who value depth over breadth and want to study somewhere with serious research infrastructure behind what you learn.
Careers & job market
Across Modern Languages disciplines nationally, 85% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after leaving. Of those in employment, 70% are in highly skilled roles or continuing their studies. Starting salaries for Modern Languages graduates (national figures) range from £24,000 to £33,500; after five years, this typically rises to £32,725–£46,200. Many graduates go on to postgraduate research, teaching, publishing, media, heritage, the civil service, and cultural organisations. Your independent project and research skills will support whatever path you choose next.
University & format
This course is studied full-time over 3 years at The University of Liverpool, a public Russell Group university located on its Main Campus. Instruction is in English. The University of Liverpool is a recognised UK degree-awarding body; your degree will be nationally recognised. The university holds Gold for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023 and is.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Work placement year. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 90% |
| another higher-education qualification | 10% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code Q540). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at University of Liverpool →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Modern Languages graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £25,000 | £23,500 – £28,000 | 50 |
| 3 years after | £23,000 | £19,000 – £27,500 | 290 |
| 5 years after | £27,500 | £22,500 – £34,500 | 310 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 50; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in modern languages · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Modern Languages nationally
National figures for Modern Languages graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 50; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Modern Languages courses at the same study level.
Compared with 931 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Business and public service associate professionalsSOC 2020 35 · 22% of published destinations · ASHE median £38,760
- Administrative occupationsSOC 2020 41 · 12% of published destinations · ASHE median £27,006
- Teaching ProfessionalsSOC 2020 231 · 12% of published destinations · ASHE median £42,660
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 220; response rate: 52%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Modern Languages graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Modern Languages graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Translation agencies
- International businesses
- Government (FCDO)
- Tourism & education
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Modern Languages graduates.
Head of Modern Languages, Inspire, Lead & Develop MFLSuffolk County Council11 To 18 (Secondary) QTS Programme - Modern Languages (French, Spanish or German)Diversity DashboardHead of Modern Languages - Inspire & Lead GCSE FrenchCoast and Vale Learning TrustHead Of Department of Modern LanguagesSheringham High SchoolHead of MFL: Lead & Grow our Modern Languages DepartmentWayman Learning TrustModern Foreign Languages Assistant (French) 18 hrs p/w (temporary position)The Cherwell SchoolIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
92% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £25,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 9.1 out of 10: NSS 87.4% · in work or study 92% · continued 92%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
The University of Liverpool
Language and area studies across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Main Campus
5,175 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Modern Languages right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to University of Liverpool from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £27,000 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check University of Liverpool’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with University of Liverpool and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at University of Liverpool
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
Request information about BA (Hons) Irish Studies
Prospectus, key dates, entry and funding, free to your inbox.