Ancient Medieval Languages

Course Outline

The Postgraduate Diploma in Ancient and Medieval Languages is a full-time diploma taken over 9 months. Its focus is on the development of skills in two or more ancient or medieval languages from a group consisting of Classical Greek, Latin, Old English, Old Irish, and Medieval Welsh. It also develops knowledge of the history and culture of the societies using these languages. It better equips students with the basic language skills necessary in order to undertake postgraduate research into the ancient or medieval worlds.



Students take 60 credits consisting of language modules to a minimum of 40 and a maximum of 50 credits (Section I) and cognate history and culture modules to a maximum of 20 and a minimum of 10 credits (Section II). They choose modules according to their experience in their chosen languages from within a group consisting of Classical Greek, Latin, Old English, Old Irish, and Medieval Welsh, and cannot take a beginners’ module if they have already passed it (or its equivalent).

Modules vary from year-to-year. Currently, you may choose from the following modules.



Section I: Language Modules (40-50 credits)

Old Irish

CC6001 Old Irish (10 credits)

CC6003 Early Irish Text (10 credits)

CC6011 Continuing Old Irish (10 credits)

CC6017 Researching Early Irish Texts: Language and Literature 1 (10 credits)

CC6018 Researching Early Irish Texts: Language and Literature 2 (10 credits)



Medieval Welsh

CC6004 Medieval Welsh (10 credits)



Old English

EN2012 Old English Language (5 credits)



Classical Greek

GK2003 Reading Greek (5 credits)

GK2023 Easy Greek Texts 2 (5 credits)

GK3033 Plato (5 credits)

GK6001 Beginners' Ancient Greek (15 credits)



Classical & Medieval Latin

LT2009 Reading Latin (5 credits)

LT6008 Livy (5 credits)

LT6024 Tacitus: Agricola (5 credits)

LT6025 Prudentius, Psychomachia (5 credits)

LT6026 Lucan, Bellum Civille 1 (5 credits)

LT6001 Beginners' Latin (15 credits)



Section II: Culture Modules (10-20 credits)

CC2002 Celtic Saints (5 credits)

CC2003 Exile and Longing: Early Celtic Lyric Poetry (5 credits)

CC2007 The Celtic Languages (5 credits)

CC2013 The Finn Cycle (5 credits)

CC3001 The Mabinogi: Legends of Medieval Wales (5 credits)

CC3014 Early Irish Spirituality (5 credits)

CC6006 Special Topic (10 credits)

CC6007 Research Presentation (10 credits)

CC6008 Palaeography and Manuscript-based Research (10 credits)

EN2011 Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales and Related Texts (5 credits)

EN3015 Of Monsters and Men: Old & Early English Literature (5 credits)

EN3065 Romance: Medieval to Renaissance (5 credits)

EN6051 Middle English Literature, 1200-1550 (10 credits)

EN6053 Old English Literature to c. 1200 (10 credits)

GR2018 Roman Imperial History; AD 14-68 (5 credits)

GR2019 Greek Mythology (5 credits)

GR6012 Divination and Cosmology in Late Antiquity (5 credits)

GR6014 Late Roman History, AD284-395 (5 credits)

GR6015 Latin Literature of Late Antiquity (5 credits)



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.

In order to be admitted to the Postgraduate Diploma in Ancient and Medieval Languages a candidate should have a minimum of a Second Class Honours Grade II in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) or equivalent, in a subject entailing the study of modern languages, ancient or medieval history, art, literature or culture, or equivalent qualifications.



Successful applicants must demonstrate evidence of having taken undergraduate or post-graduate modules in an area that involves the study of ancient or medieval history, art, literature or culture.



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. Visit our PG English Language Requirements page for more information.

Closing Date: Rolling deadline. Open until all places have been filled. Early application is advised.



Non-EU Closing Date

Open until all places have been filled or no later than 15 June. Early application is advised.

1 year full-time.

Start Date: 8th September 2025.

Skills and Careers Information

The primary purpose of the Postgraduate Diploma in Ancient or Medieval Languages is to better prepare students for postgraduate work in the study of some aspect of the ancient or medieval worlds. However, it also provides a broad training suited for those interested in careers in the cultural and heritage sectors as well as in the education sector. A good basic knowledge of these languages will prove particularly useful for those involved in the maintenance of museum and library collections, historical archives, and the numismatic or antique trades. Potential career paths include jobs involving historical archives, museum collections, the numismatic or antique trades, and teaching.