Queen's University Belfast

Source: https://www.qub.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/irish-portuguese-ba-qr55/ Parent: https://www.qub.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/

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Undergraduate 2027

Undergraduate 2025

BA | Undergraduate

Irish and Portuguese

Apply via UCAS Register Interest

Entry year : Academic Year 2027/28

Entry requirements : ABB

Attendance : 4 years (Full-time) \

UCAS Code : QR55

Overview
Course content
Modules
Entry requirements
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Students on this course will receive intensive tuition in Irish and Portuguese. You may also choose from a wide range of modules relating to Irish culture and society such as film-making, the short story, poetry, Gaelic identity, mythology and Scottish Gaelic, as well as a wide variety of literary, historical, social, cultural and linguistic aspects of Portuguese-speaking countries across the globe. The degree takes four years to complete (which includes a period studying abroad).

Irish and Celtic Studies at QUB ranks 3rd in the UK for Research, [Source: Complete University Guide 2025,]

Course highlights

Global Opportunities

After Stage 2, you will spend around 8 months working or studying in a Portuguese-speaking country. Students have the possibility to go to Portugal and Latin America and the choice to teach, study, complete a work placement, or volunteer. All students receive training focused directly on living and working/studying abroad.

Industry Links

We have former students in senior positions in most Irish language sectors and we maintain good links with media production companies, the translation sector and language promotion agencies. Students have the option of doing a work placement in final year.

QUB Languages and Careers Festival

https://www.youtube.com/live/BSeWzcAiLpo

World Class Facilities

Queen’s has an excellent library for Irish materials and an outstanding collection of resources relating to Ireland, Portugal and Latin America.

Internationally Renowned Experts

Queen’s has world-leading experts in the history of the Irish language and literature and in Portuguese and Latin American literature and culture.

Student Experience

The Irish student society, An Cumann Gaelach, is one of the biggest in QUB. The society is extremely active and holds a range of events and activities each year (annual festival, Irish classes, concerts, annual dinner-dance, etc.)

Strong emphasis on Irish language and culture. Students complete 4 hours of language per week (interactive classes based on the national syllabus for Irish)

Irish has a bespoke online platform for language learning called Learning Branch (this contains a range of subject-specific language tasks and mirrors content in language modules)

Students have a unique opportunity to engage with native speakers through attendance at an annual Gaeltacht residential in Rannafast, Donegal. The course lasts 3 weeks at takes place at the end of both Stage 1 and Stage 2.

Spanish and Portuguese Society: Students can get involved in a vibrant student network that organizes activities throughout the year (e.g. tapas nights, language intercambios) and includes many ERASMUS students at Queen’s as well.

https://www.facebook.com/ancumanngaelachqub

Further Study Opportunities

Students completing this course may proceed to the MRes which is a research preparation degree, allowing students to explore in depth a topic of their choice. It is an ideal preparation for PhD research. Other PG courses of possible interest for graduates of Irish include the MA in Arts Management and the MA in Translation

‘Learning Spanish and Portuguese at university gave me a structured understanding and plan for dealing with new tasks, giving me the ability to write and be more coherent in my reporting in English. Translation studies in university gave me a unique skill in problem solving, finding a solution that not only is correct but one that fits appropriately; you can literally translate something, however there is always a better way to convey a message or an option that is much more appropriate to the situation you are in. My final year of university was full of fantastic memories, as our year group were much closer after having experienced an Erasmus year together, while we all also attended the many cultural events held by the Erasmus Society and the Spanish & Portuguese Society.” (Tiernan McGowan, BA Hons Spanish and Portuguese)

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience here at Queen’s. I have found my course to be both stimulating and enjoyable and the facilities really are ‘second-to-none’. The standard of teaching is first class and the support available to students is excellent. I would definitely recommend Queen’s to anyone."\ Maolíosa McGarry (Stage Three)

\ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xgjyYuKKmk

‘Learning Spanish and Portuguese at university gave me a structured understanding and plan for dealing with new tasks, giving me the ability to write and be more coherent in my reporting in English. Translation studies in university gave me a unique skill in problem solving, finding a solution that not only is correct but one that fits appropriately; you can literally translate something, however there is always a better way to convey a message or an option that is much more appropriate to the situation you are in. My final year of university was full of fantastic memories, as our year group were much closer after having experienced an Erasmus year together, while we all also attended the many cultural events held by the Erasmus Society and the Spanish & Portuguese Society.” (Tiernan McGowan, BA Hons Spanish and Portuguese)

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience here at Queen’s. I have found my course to be both stimulating and enjoyable and the facilities really are ‘second-to-none’. The standard of teaching is first class and the support available to students is excellent. I would definitely recommend Queen’s to anyone."\ Maolíosa McGarry (Stage Three)

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Course location

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