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History at UCD
UCD School of History is Ireland’s pre-eminent centre for historical teaching and research. The School has been a core part of the University since its foundation, and today it is home to a large and diverse group of historians, who teach and research the people, events and processes of the past. We are ranked amongst the top 100 history schools in the world (QS, 2023).
UCD history students study Irish, European, and global history, from the early middle ages to the late 20th century. They examine major historical transformation across a wide range of themes – politics, society, gender, economy, ideas, culture, medicine, environment, religion, sport, and war.
Undergraduate / Open Learning
There are many ways to study History at Undergraduate level. You can choose a BA Arts (3 years), BA Humanities (4 years) or BCL Law With History (4 years)
History students acquire key transferable skills that are attractive to a wide range of employers. These skills include critical thinking, creativity, writing, and researching. Recent graduates work in organisations such as RTÉ, the National Museum, Google, Dail Eireann, Government Departments, and the EU Commission.
After graduating with a degree in History, students can progress to Masters or PhD level and specialise in an area of History that interests. Students can also undertake a UCD Postgraduate Conversion course in areas such as Education, Law, Marketing or International Business.
Open Learning
Open Learning is a flexible way of studying history part-time at UCD. Open Learning means you can fit university around your life. Open Learning allows you to select the modules you wish to study, set the pace of your study, and whether you undertake the module assessment. It also can lead to undergraduate degree entry in UCD if you are taking the Certificate in Open Learning (30 credits) or if you are a Mature Student you can take one module (5 credits) in lieu of the MSAP exam. Open Learning is for you if you:- Need a more flexible study schedule
- Don’t yet qualify for entry to an undergraduate degree
- Want to get a feel for academic life before starting a full degree
- Are interested in one or more of the module topics available and want to learn more from experts in that field
Introduction to the School
Meet Staff and Students
Open Learning
MA Public History
MA Irish History
MA Programmes in UCD School of History
Postgraduate
UCD School of History offers an extensive range of both taught and research graduate programmes in history and in archives management, at Certificate, Diploma, MA, and PhD levels. All our courses are offered on both a part time and full time basis.
Taught Masters
MA History courses offer both a challenging and a rewarding introduction to the advanced study of History. While our Diploma and Masters programmes involve taught modules, the highlight for our students is almost always the dissertation.
This offers an exciting opportunity to pursue a significant, independent and original body of research under the watchful supervision of a member of the School’s academic staff. UCD School of History is a research-intensive department, and has a breadth of expertise to offer. The active research culture nurtures and encourages the next generation of scholars to push back the frontiers of understanding, to seek out new evidence, and to challenge accepted interpretations.
Courses include:
MA Archives & Records Management
MA European History (UNICA)
MA Global History
MA History of Welfare & Medicine in Society
MA International War Studies
MA Medieval Studies
MA Public History
MA Irish History
Research Degrees
UCD has one of the largest groups of doctoral researchers in the country, and a structured PhD programme which supports high-level independent research.
Lifelong Learning
UCD’s Lifelong Learning Programme is a series of courses that are participative, engaging, and facilitated by experts in their field. The courses are open to all adult learners regardless of previous educational experience and provide a unique opportunity to explore a subject without examinations.
The programme caters to an ever-growing community of around 1,400 Lifelong Learners and. All history courses are developed in collaboration with experienced tutors, UCD Schools, and the wider community.
Online booking for history courses starting in autumn and spring is now open.
