Undergraduate Programmes
Why Study History?
Knowing what happened and why is essential in life. Studying History at UCD provides you with the skills necessary to sunderstand the world we live in. You will benefit from our wide range of expertise and the emphasis placed upon small group seminars, and interactive, enjoyable and varied forms of teaching and learning.
It is not essential to have studied History at Leaving Certificate.
What will I study?
First year focuses on broad historical surveys and core skills such as critical analysis, oral presentation and writing.
You can find more information on First Year here.
Second and Third Year deepen these skills and offer great choice.
You can find more information on Second and Third Year here.
What will I learn?
You will discover how today's world was shaped by the past. You will develop practical skills in writing, oral communiction, data management and analysis.
Undergraduate Modules, Levels 1, 2 and 3
The new History Student Handbook 2012 - 2013 should be read by anyone taking an undergraduate module in History, and you will find History Programmes and Pathways (pdf) is of some use too. You will also need the most recent version of the History Syllabus 2012 / 2013.
Those undergraduates following the Irish Studies programme should consult the Irish Studies Handbook 2012-13.
There is also information on each individual module offered by the School, and on other programmes, available on the UCD Horizons webpages.
The School of History offers advice on essays and submissions on this website.
How Will I Register for Modules?
The registration process for UCD undergraduate modules opens each year in August. Registration is through SISWeb, and the key dates surrounding the whole process can be found here. If not automatically pre-registered to compulsory core modules, students should register for modules according to their programme pathway. Details of what core and option modules students need to take can be found in the History Student Handbook 2012 - 2013
The option modules students get to take in the School of History and Archives are designed on the basis that small group learning enhances the student experience. In order to maintain this small group learning experience, option modules’ capacities are strictly regulated. Option modules are capped at 40 students, with seminar groups containing 20 students. It is inevitable that some students will be disappointed at not being able to enrol in their first preferences. However, there are many modules on offer to choose from, covering a wide range of periods and geographical areas.
