History

Studying History at degree level means engaging with the full sweep of human experience, from medieval Ireland to modern global politics. You will analyse primary sources such as manuscripts, government documents and newspaper archives, developing strong skills in critical thinking, research and written argument. Modules typically span Irish, British, European and world history, with opportunities to specialise in areas like the Irish revolutionary period, the World Wars, colonial history or social and cultural history. A typical week involves lectures, small-group tutorials where you discuss and debate historical interpretations, and time in the library working on essays and source analysis. Many programmes offer the chance to study abroad through Erasmus+, and some include placements with heritage organisations or archives.

Entry is through the CAO, typically as part of a broader Arts degree where you choose History as a major or joint subject. You will need to meet the general university entry requirements, including a minimum grade in English at Higher level, as history is a reading- and writing-intensive discipline. CAO points for Arts programmes at UCD, TCD, UCC and Maynooth are generally moderate to high, depending on the institution and year. If you do not meet Leaving Cert requirements directly, a QQI Level 5 or 6 PLC qualification in a relevant area such as Humanities or Social Science can provide a progression route into Level 7 or Level 8 programmes. Mature applicants aged 23 or over may apply through the mature student entry route, and HEAR and DARE schemes support applicants with socioeconomic or disability-related circumstances.

History graduates in Ireland enjoy reasonably solid employment prospects, particularly those who continue to postgraduate study or teacher education. Demand for secondary school History teachers remains consistent, supported by the Teaching Council's registration requirements. The heritage and cultural sector, though smaller, continues to employ graduates in archival, curatorial and tourism-related roles. More broadly, the transferable skills developed — critical analysis, research, written communication and argumentation — are attractive to employers in the civil service, law, journalism, NGOs and the private sector.