Irish and Politics

Irish and politics at Queen's University of Belfast is a combination that has particular significance at an institution located in a society shaped by the intersection of language, identity, and political conflict in distinctive ways. Students on this programme combine advanced learning of the Irish language with a study of politics. In the Irish component, the focus is on the modern language and culture, with language modules examining core aspects of written and spoken Irish, covering subjects such as syntax, phonetics, and semantics.

A range of optional modules provides a broad understanding of diverse aspects of Irish culture, society, and identity, including studies in Irish translation, language and rights, modern poetry, Irish linguistics, and the short story. The growth of Gaelic identity is also explored, and insight into the country's wider heritage is developed through the study of mythology, folklore, and the Scots-Gaelic tradition. Politics provides the analytical framework for understanding power, governance, political systems, and the political dimensions of identity and conflict.

At Queen's University of Belfast, this three-year full-time programme develops genuine linguistic competence in Irish alongside political analysis, taught at an institution with particular research strength in the politics of Northern Ireland, peace processes, and Irish political history. The Belfast context gives the programme an immediacy and relevance to live political questions that few other institutions can match.

With a typical entry tariff of 136 UCAS points, this is a competitive programme at a research-intensive university. Graduates pursue careers in the civil service, public administration, journalism, broadcasting, arts and cultural organisations, education, politics, community development, the voluntary sector, and any field where Irish language competence and a rigorous understanding of political processes are professionally valued. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in Irish studies, political science, or law.