Celtic Civilisation - Conversion Course

Course Outline

The Higher Diploma in Arts (Celtic Civilisation) is intended for those who already have a degree and who wish to study the literature and culture of the medieval Celtic countries intensively over one academic year full time, or two academic years part time.



The course is aimed at graduates who would like to study a master’s course in the subject area (but who do not have an honours degree in the relevant area) or who may wish to add the Higher Diploma in Arts subject to their qualifications



The Higher Diploma in Celtic Civilisation consists of modules to the value of 60 credits taken from a range of existing Second and Third Arts modules in the relevant subject. Suitable modules as well as attendance requirements and coursework are determined by the Department of Early and Medieval Irish and approved by the College of Arts Celtic Studies and Social Sciences. The course of study to be followed may vary depending on your background, preferred area of specialisation etc.

Module options include:

Exile and Longing: Early Celtic Lyric Poetry

Celtic Saints

The Brehon Laws

The Celtic Languages

Early Irish Spirituality

Gender, Image and Identity in Medieval Ireland

The Mabinogi: Legends of Medieval Wales

Ireland and Scotland: The Gaelic World in the Middle Ages

Otherworld Journeys and Saintly Visions in Celtic Literature

Irish Historical Tales

The Finn Cycle

Early Irish Language

The Roots of the Arthurian Legend

Directed Research in Medieval Celtic Culture



Additional Teaching Mode Information

The part-time option will be taught during weekday working hours over 2 years

Requirements

It is intended for those who already have a 3 or 4 year primary degree, preferably in the area of Arts or the Sciences, and who wish to the subject Celtic Civilisation intensively over one academic year. The Higher Diploma in Arts is a conversion programme and applicant would not normally have studied the relevant subject to Honours Degree level previously.



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.

Celtic Civilisation modules are typically assessed through an in-class assessment and a final examination, both of which are in essay format. For module CC2010, you will undertake an extended research project which will be assessed based on an annotated bibliography (25% of total mark), a presentation to Department staff and fellow students (25%), and an essay (50%).

Higher Diploma 60 ECTS credits

1 year full-time, 2 years part-time.

Start Date: 8th September 2025.

Skills and Careers Information

As well as serving as an ideal entry-point to Celtic Studies for those without a prior qualification who are considering postgraduate study in the subject, the Higher Diploma in Celtic Civilisation can provide an additional qualification - and a mark of distinction - for students pursuing advanced degrees in such fields as classics, English, history or medieval studies. It is also a useful qualification for those seeking employment in the heritage sector.