Italian - Conversion Course

Course Outline
The Higher Diploma in Arts (Italian) is a conversion course for those with a prior knowledge of Italian who want to study Italian language and culture to honours degree level. Competence in Italian language on entry should be equivalent to the standard in Italian achieved at the end of First Arts.

It is aimed at graduates who may want to be considered for a master's course in the subject area subsequently (but do not have an honours degree in Italian) or who may want to add Italian to their qualifications.

The course involves the study of Italian language to BA level and of Italian culture (literature, theatre, cinema, art, media) from Dante to Berlusconi. The course consists of modules to the value of 60 credits taken from Levels II and III of the undergraduate BA degree in Italian.

The subject modules will be chosen by you in consultation with the Head of the Department of Italian or the course coordinator, taking into account timetable constraints and suitability of course combinations. In any case, you must include the 10-credit language module at BA level: the Department will determine, in consultation with you, if additional language study is necessary. The programme of study to be followed may differ for each individual student, depending on the your background, preferred area of specialisation, etc.

If you are applying for this course to gain a teaching subject please consult with the Teaching Council Subject Declaration Form to view specific requirements for this subject.

Why Choose This Course
The Department of Italian is one of the smallest units in UCC, which means that as a student, you get the individual attention needed to help you progress from beginners' level to degree standard. There are a high percentage of mature students in the BA undergraduate programme in Italian, which facilitates the integration of students of this course.

Modules
Further details on the modules listed above can be found in our book of modules. Any modules listed above are indicative of the current set of modules for this course but are subject to change from year to year.

University Calendar
You can find the full academic content for the current year of any given course in our University Calendar.

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 study Italian intensively over one academic year.

The Higher Diploma in Arts is a conversion programme and applicants would not normally have studied the relevant subject to Honours Degree level previously, but you must satisfy the Head of Department that, at the start of the course, your linguistic competence in Italian will allow you to draw benefit from courses at second-year and final-year undergraduate level.

English Language Requirements

Applicants that are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university approved English language requirements available here.

For applicants with qualifications completed outside of Ireland

Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements, please find our grades comparison by country here.

International/non-EU applicants

For full details of the non-EU application procedure please 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.

Not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above.

For more information please contact the International Office.

Additional Requirements (All Applicants)
Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. This will include the following questions:

You may enter the details of professional or voluntary positions held. We strongly encourage you to complete this section with all relevant work experiences that will support your application.

In addition to your previously declared qualifications, please outline any additional academic courses, self-learning and professional training relevant to this programme.

Please describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.

Please detail your computing/technical/IT skills.
Please indicate your level of foreign language expertise in any of the languages offered by the programme.

N.B. Please note that the Higher Diploma in Arts programme is NOT a teacher training programme. Graduates must apply for the Postgraduate Master of Education teacher training programme to qualify as a secondary school teacher, please see http://www.ucc.ie/en/pec01

How Do I Apply
1. Choose Course
Firstly choose your course. Applicants can apply for up to two courses under one application. Details of taught courses are available on our online prospectus.

2. Apply Online
Once you have chosen your course you can apply online at the online application portal. Applicants will need to apply before the course closing date. There is a non-refundable €50 application fee for all courses apart from the Education - Professional Master of Education - (Secondary School/Post-Primary Teacher Training) which has a €100 application fee.

Applicants for the Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health Nursing must apply on the PAC website when the programme opens for applications.

3. Gather Supporting Documents
Scanned copies of the following documents will need to be uploaded to the online application portal in support of your application. Applicants may need to produce the original documents if you are accepted onto a course and register at UCC.

Original qualification documents listed on your application including transcripts of results from institutions other than UCC
Any supplementary items requested for your course.
Please log into the online application portal for more details.

4. Application processing timeline
Our online application portal opens for applications for most courses in early November of each year. Check specific course details.

5. Rounds
For courses that are in the rounds system (Irish and EU applicants), please check the rounds closing dates via link below.

Questions on how to apply?
Please use our web enquiry form to contact us.

Additional Requirements (All Applicants)
Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. This will include the following questions:

You may enter the details of professional or voluntary positions held. We strongly encourage you to complete this section with all relevant work experiences that will support your application.

In addition to your previously declared qualifications, please outline any additional academic courses, self-learning and professional training relevant to this programme.

Please describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.

Please detail your computing/technical/IT skills.
Please indicate your level of foreign language expertise in any of the languages offered by the programme.

**N.B. Please note that the Higher Diploma in Arts programme is NOT a teacher training programme. Graduates must apply for the Postgraduate Master of Education teacher training programme to qualify as a secondary school teacher, please see http://www.ucc.ie/en/pec01
The closing date for non-EU applications is 15 June

Language skills are assessed by assignments and/or written and listening tests, which provide you with regular feedback on your progress. At the end of the year, you take written and oral examinations.

Courses on Italian culture are assessed by a combination of class tests, written assignments and end-of-year examinations. The Department of Italian places great emphasis on guiding students in the development of writing skills, and you are encouraged to engage in dialogue with lecturers during the drafting of essays and projects.

Higher Diploma 60 ECTS credits

Full-time 1 year, Part-time over 2 years

Additional Teaching Mode Information
The part-time option will be taught during weekday working hours over 2 years.

Start Date 7 September 2020

Skills and Careers Information
Italian is not widely taught in Irish schools and consequently our student numbers are small compared, for example, to those in French. Demand by employers in Ireland for graduates of Italian, with the strong language and analytical skills you can acquire with us, is currently greater than supply, but many of our graduates also choose to work in Italy or other countries.

The Department also has a LinkedIn Group exclusively for its graduates, where information on vacancies is exchanged.

Employers place a high value on graduates with strong language skills of the kind you can acquire by studying Italian at UCC. At a careers session in December 2012, Anne Gough, Grafton Recruitment and Cork Chamber Ambassador, told prospective students that a non-language graduate might start on €25,000, while, in the same company in the Cork area, a graduate with a language would start on €32,500.