Languages - Advanced Languages & Global Communication

This course is aimed at people hoping to return to the job market with modern language and intercultural communication skills along with competencies relating to managing global relationships, ICT, translation and localisation skills.

It offers advanced specialism in one language (from Spanish, German, Portuguese, Italian and French) and 10 credits of an additional foreign language from the same range. The programme will equip students with the necessary language competence, as well as intercultural skills, to be able to do business with markets of particular strategic interest to Ireland, both in Europe and beyond. By the end of the course, students in Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, German and French will have reached a minimum of CEFR level B1.

Course Practicalities
Classroom Daytime with online elements, including a work placement.

Why Choose This Course
Employers and graduates report on the importance of language competence in securing employment and in career development. The Cork region has an expanding GSS sector, with EMC, Apple and McAfee, for example, locating such services here. Munster-based companies like Kerry Foods are expanding globally, particularly in Brazil and Mexico. Since the 1990s, collaboration between the School of Languages in UCC and the IDA has succeeded in bringing call centres to the region by highlighting the availability of a core local workforce with the necessary language skills. People with experience in financial services will benefit from improved language skills, as vacancies and opportunities for promotion exist at national level that require these combined competencies.

It is a 60 credits course which comprises of the following:
• Advanced Language Skills in either French, German, Spanish, Italian or Portuguese (20 credits)
• Additional 10 credits in a second language chosen from French, German, Spanish, Italian or Portuguese (10 credits)
• Translation and Professional Communication Skills (5 credits)
• ICT and Localisation Skills (5 credits)
• Mobility, Pluringualism and Intercultural Communication in a Globalized World (10 credits)
• Work Placement (10 credits)

Please see the Postgraduate College Calendar for more details

Placement or Study Abroad Information
The Higher Diploma includes a 3-month Work Placement module which is coordinated by the Careers Office in UCC.

Applicants for this programme are expected to hold a level 8 degree with a major language component or equivalent language qualification (including relevant professional qualifications and relevant accredited examinations).

Individual language level requirements will apply for students wishing to choose German, French, Italian, Spanish or Portuguese.

Candidates may be required to complete a brief language proficiency test.

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:

Please indicate your level of language expertise in the language(s) offered by this programme and include details of any relevant qualifications, skills and experiences to date.
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.

How to 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 below.

The UCC application portal will open on November 1st for admission in September 2022.

Irish, EU, UK, EEA and Swiss Applicants: UCC operates a rounds closing date system for the majority of postgraduate taught courses, which means offers are made at a minimum of four times a year on a rolling basis.

The UCC rounds closing dates for postgraduate taught courses are below. Applicants are advised to apply as soon as possible.

Deadline for receipt of full applications/ Offers will be made:
For all completed applications received by January 17th, 2022 - Offers will be made by January 31st, 2022
For all completed applications received by March 7th, 2022 - Offers will be made by March 21st, 2022
For all completed applications received by May 3rd, 2022 - Offers will be made by May 17th, 2022
For all completed applications received by July 1st, 2022 - Offer will be made by July 15th, 2022

After July late applications may be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis for any courses that have remaining capacity.

Applicants from outside of EU, UK, EEA, Switzerland: Information may be found on the International Office Website.

NON-EU CLOSING DATE: 15 June

1 year Full-Time

Classroom Daytime with online elements, including a work placement

Skills and Careers Information
Provision of teaching in Portuguese and Spanish will facilitate the expansion of Irish companies into expanding global markets: this, in turn, will generate further demand for competence in these languages.

Competence in German is highly sought after by employers and Germany remains the most important trade partner of Ireland along with the UK. French remains in high demand from our industry partners, a point recently highlighted by two important stakeholders, VMWare and VoxPro.