Program Overview

European Studies in the University of Limerick is a broad and integrated world-class programme. It allows students an in-depth opportunity to study European languages and policy and equips them with highly sought-after digital and research skills. It is also the only European Studies programme in Ireland which includes Irish as one of its language options.  

Brexit means more direct interaction with the EU and with individual member states on the continent. A better knowledge of the European Union, and Ireland’s place within it, is more needed than ever before. An understanding of Europe requires knowledge of its historical origins, of its economic, legal and societal aspects, and of its political institutions. The BA in European Studies develops knowledge and understanding of all of these areas linking them with knowledge of the cultures and languages of key member states. The University of Limerick has long led the way in Ireland in this field, with the result that this degree is one of the longest established European Studies degree programmes in Europe.

About you
There is no ‘typical’ European Studies student. The main qualities that you need for success in the field are;

• A healthy curiosity about how modern societies function
• An interest in the European Union, and the issues facing the Union and its member states
• a taste for languages other than your own
• An interest in developing digital and research skills
• An interest in working in teams and working independently
• an interest in other cultures and
• an ability to think independently and argue coherently for your ideas.
• Neither do you have to know what you want to ‘be’ when you leave college in order to choose European Studies. The degree offers a very broad entrance into the worlds of Humanities, Languages and Social Sciences.