University of Limerick

Overview
The MA in Irish-German Studies is a unique programme harnessing particular strengths in UL thanks to the Centre for Irish-German Studies while combining it with attractive and complementary existing MA programmes in Ireland (Galway), Germany (Berlin, Lüneburg and Jena), Austria (Vienna) and Switzerland (Bern). It aims to attract highly qualified students who will benefit from a strongly interdisciplinary and internationally focused academic programme. All participating exchange programmes for the second semester, ranging from German, Austrian, English and Irish Studies to Teaching German as a Foreign Language as well as Cultural Studies and Intercultural Business Communication, have been chosen in order to provide students with expertise interrelated with and complementary to their studies in UL in semester one, giving students the chance to specialise in a range of contexts of the inter-relationship between Ireland and the German-speaking countries. The intellectual outcomes consist of in-depth knowledge of cultural, political, and historical dimensions of Irish-German relations as well as a high level of linguistic competence and intercultural skills, gained both inside the classroom and through international experience. The interdisciplinary academic dimension will contribute to the development of analytical and research skills needed for high-level international positions, whether in the fields of business, culture or politics and education.

• To provide students with the knowledge of cultural, political, and historical contexts of Irish-German relations and to explore the inter-relationship between Ireland and the German-speaking countries

• To enable students to evaluate critically theoretical approaches to the study of literature, culture, history and intercultural relations

• To enable students to hone their oral and written communication skills in German and in English

• To provide students with the knowledge and skills to design and conduct independent research required to proceed to doctoral degree studies

• To study themes and concepts that occur in the context of bilateral relations, i.e. identity, ethnicity, history, memory, language and home

• To give students the opportunity to benefit from the excellent research links of the Centre of Irish-German Studies in German-speaking countries and to study in an international setting and at different academic institutions.

Programme Content
Students will complete 60 credits of taught modules and complete a dissertation worth 30 credits in one year, making the programme worth 90 ECTS credits. In the autumn semester, students will take three modules of 9 credits each plus one 3-credit module at the University of Limerick. In the spring semester they will take modules for 30 ECTS credits at the relevant partner university. In exceptional circumstances (in line with current practice at undergraduate level in relation to exemptions for external study placements) students can remain in Limerick in the spring semester and take elective modules from programmes involved in semester one, following agreement with the course director. The programme combines lectures, tutorial discussions, film screenings, assigned and recommended reading and viewing and research-based critical writing both in Limerick and at another university. Attendance of guest lectures and readings by academics, writers, artists and practitioners in the relevant fields will be expected as well as student seminar presentations and individual library-based and, if applicable, archive-based research. Students also undertake a research dissertation during the summer at the University of Limerick under the guidance of a supervisor on a topic of their choice in the area of Irish-German relations (ca 15,000 words, Summer Semester).