UCC Postgraduate courses

Celtic Civilisation

Course Fact File
CodeHDACCV
Duration1 year Full-time; 2 years Part-time
Teaching ModeFull-time, Part-Time. See Additional Teaching Mode Information for more info.
QualificationsHDip in Arts
NFQ LevelLevel 8
Closing DateRolling deadline. Open until all places have been filled. Early application is advised.
Non-EU Closing DateOpen until all places have been filled or no later than 30 June. Early application is advised.
Start Date9 September 2024

Course Outline

The Higher Diploma in Arts (Celtic Civilisation) is intended for those who already have a degree and who wish to study the literature and culture of the medieval Celtic countries intensively over one academic year full time, or two academic years part time. 

The course is aimed at graduates who would like to study a master’s course in the subject area (but who do not have an honours degree in the relevant area) or who may wish to add the Higher Diploma in Arts subject to their qualifications

The Higher Diploma in Celtic Civilisation consists of modules to the value of 60 credits taken from a range of existing Second and Third Arts modules in the relevant subject. Suitable modules as well as attendance requirements and coursework are determined by the Department of Early and Medieval Irish and approved by the College of Arts Celtic Studies and Social Sciences. The course of study to be followed may vary depending on your background, preferred area of specialisation etc.

Module options include:

  • Exile and Longing: Early Celtic Lyric Poetry
  • Celtic Saints
  • The Brehon Laws
  • The Celtic Languages
  • Early Irish Spirituality
  • Gender, Image and Identity in Medieval Ireland
  • The Mabinogi: Legends of Medieval Wales
  • Ireland and Scotland: The Gaelic World in the Middle Ages
  • Otherworld Journeys and Saintly Visions in Celtic Literature
  • Irish Historical Tales
  • The Finn Cycle
  • Early Irish Language
  • The Roots of the Arthurian Legend
  • Directed Research in Medieval Celtic Culture

Additional Teaching Mode Information

The part-time option will be taught during weekday working hours over 2 years.

Academic Programme Catalogue

See the Academic Programme Catalogue where you can search for the complete and up-to-date content for this course. Note that the modules for all courses are subject to change from year to year. For complete descriptions of individual modules, see the Book of Modules.

Course Practicalities

For the full-time one-year option, you are required to choose modules with a total value of  60 credits from the Celtic Civilisation modules for second and third year. Taught modules have a value of 5 credits apiece, so students limiting themselves to these should take 6 modules per semester. Celtic Civilisation taught modules normally comprise 24 hours of lectures, accompanied by PowerPoint presentations and handouts. Materials presented in lecture, together with supplementary materials, are made available on each module’s Blackboard (UCC’s virtual learning system) site.  There are also project-based modules available, to be undertaken on topics agreed with the Department: CC2010 (10 credits) and CC3009 (5 credits).

You are expected and encouraged to extend and deepen your acquaintance with the topic through reading.  To this end, you are provided with reading lists, and recommended books as well as course-specific sourcebooks are placed for you in the Boole Library’s Open Reserve. Like all Arts subjects, Celtic Civilisation enables you to acquire facility in analysis and presentation of material through class essays.

Assessment

Celtic Civilisation modules are typically assessed through an in-class assessment and a final examination, both of which are in essay format. For module CC2010, you will undertake an extended research project which will be assessed based on an annotated bibliography (25% of total mark), a presentation to Department staff and fellow students (25%), and an essay (50%).

Who teaches this course

Celtic Civilisation is taught by members of the Department of Early and Medieval Irish.

Academic Staff:

John Carey

Kevin Murray

Caitríona Ó Dochartaigh

Emma Nic Cárthaigh

Why Choose This Course

The Higher Diploma in Celtic Civilisation affords a remarkable opportunity for gaining intensive exposure — tailored to your background and interests — to a subject covered by very few universities and by almost none outside Ireland.

Skills and Careers Information

As well as serving as an ideal entry-point to Celtic Studies for those without a prior qualification who are considering postgraduate study in the subject, the Higher Diploma in Celtic Civilisation can provide an additional qualification - and a mark of distinction - for students pursuing advanced degrees in such fields as classics, English, history or medieval studies. It is also a useful qualification for those seeking employment in the heritage sector.

Requirements

It is intended for those who already have a 3 or 4 year primary degree, preferably in the area of Arts or the Sciences, and who wish to the subject Celtic Civilisation intensively over one academic year.   The Higher Diploma in Arts is a conversion programme and applicant would not normally have studied the relevant subject to Honours Degree level previously.

For Applicants with Qualifications Completed Outside of Ireland

Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements. For more information see our Qualification Comparison page.

International/Non-EU Applicants

For full details of the non-EU application procedure visit our how to apply pages for international students.

  • In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.
  • Note that not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above. For more information contact the International Office.
English Language Requirements

Applicants who are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university-approved English language requirements. Vsit our PG English Language Requirements page for more information.

Fees and Costs

Postgraduate EU and International Fees 2024/2025

See our Postgraduate EU and Non-EU (International) Fee Schedule for the latest information.

Deposits 

If your course requires a deposit, that figure will be deducted from your second-semester fee payment in January.

Fee payment 

Fees are payable in two equal instalments. First payment is at registration and the balance usually by the end of January.

How can I pay? 

See different options on our How Do I Pay My Fees? page.

Any questions? See the 'Contact Us' section on the Fees Office page.

How To Apply

1. Check dates

Check the opening and closing dates for the application process in the fact file boxes at the top of the page.

2. Gather documents

Scanned copies of supporting documents have to be uploaded to the UCC online application portal and include:

  • Original qualification documents listed on your application including transcripts of results from institutions other than UCC.
  • Any supplementary items requested for your course if required.

3. Apply online

Apply online via the UCC online application portal. Note the majority of our courses have a non-refundable €50 application fee.

Any questions? Use our web enquiry form to contact us.

Additional Requirements (All Applicants)

Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. This will include the following questions:

  • You may enter the details of professional or voluntary positions held. We strongly encourage you to complete this section with all relevant work experiences that will support your application.

  • In addition to your previously declared qualifications, please outline any additional academic courses, self-learning and professional training relevant to this programme.

  • Please describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.

The closing date for non-EU applications is Open until all places have been filled or no later than 30 June. Early application is advised.

Apply Now

For queries regarding course content or timetables please contact

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