Bachelor of Arts (International Applicants Only)

This degree is a level 8 major award on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) awarded by University of Limerick.
Please note that this programme page is specifically for international students wishing to study this programme in Ireland. It is not relevant for CAO applicants. Relevant programme details for CAO applicants may be found in the undergraduate section and will be labelled with a CAO code.

Places Offered: Up to 300

Programme Overview

The Bachelor of Arts is a four-year, full-time, honours degree (Level 8). At Mary Immaculate College (MIC), the programme is flexible and wide-ranging. Students study four different major subjects in the first year and focus on two of these subjects in the second year, which they will then continue to study to degree level as joint honours. Students have the option to study a combination of traditional Arts subjects such as English, French, German, or History, as well as newer subjects like Drama & Theatre Studies, Media & Communication Studies, Psychology, and Business Studies. In the third year, students will have opportunities to work, travel, and study abroad as part of the Off-Campus Programme.

A Bachelor of Arts degree from MIC cultivates essential skills for career advancement and personal growth, equipping graduates to contribute meaningfully to society. The programme's flexibility enables students to explore a range of subjects before solidifying their academic focus.

Skills such as critical thinking, communication, and analysis are developed throughout the programme. Assessment methods are diverse and may include coursework, practical tasks, written examinations, and independent research projects.

Subjects Offered

• Business Studies
• Drama & Theatre Studies
• English Language & Literature
• French Studies
• Gaeilge
• Geography
• German Studies
• History
• Mathematics
• Media & Communication Studies
• Music
• Philosophy
• Psychology
• Theology & Religious Studies

Career & Further Study Opportunities

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Arts at MIC are well-prepared for various roles across multiple sectors, including:

• Academic Administration
• Psychology
• Arts Bodies
• Public Service
• Civil Service
• Publishing
• Film Industry
• Social Services
• Financial Services
• Teaching
• International and EU Organisations
• Television & Radio
• Linguistic & Translation Work
• Tourism
• Marketing & Public Relations
• Urban Planning
• Overseas Aid Work
• Professional Administration/Management
• Banking and Commerce
• Regional and Local Community Development

Further Study Opportunities

Many graduates pursue postgraduate studies to specialize in particular fields. Opportunities for further education at MIC include:

• Graduate Diploma / MA in Applied Linguistics
• MA / M Sc in Environment, Society and Culture
• MA in Climate, Justice & Sustainability
• MA in History
• MA in Media Studies
• MA in Modern English Literature
• MA / PhD in Arts by Research

Off-Campus Programme

In the third year, students participate in an Off-Campus Programme, which typically consists of study abroad placements in Europe, Australia, or the USA, as well as work placements in varying contexts. These international experiences are highly valued for the cultural and linguistic benefits they provide.

Students are encouraged to spend at least one semester abroad, with those studying French or German required to complete a semester in a relevant language environment. This unique opportunity enhances adaptability and fosters a global outlookessential attributes for success in today's dynamic job market.

Programme Information

Year 1

In the first year, students choose four subjects from the fourteen offered in the Arts programme. Students should select at least two subjects from different second-year subject groups to ensure suitability for progression.

Years 2-4

Towards the end of the first year, guidance is provided for students to select subjects for the remaining years. In Year 2, students will focus on two of the four subjects from Year 1, advancing these to degree level as joint honours.

Overview of Programme Structure

• Semesters 1 & 2 (Year 1)
  • Skills for Study and Work 1 & 2
  • Major Subject A
  • Major Subject B
  • Major Subject C
  • Major Subject D
• Semesters 3 & 4 (Year 2)
  • Major Subject 1 (two modules)
  • Major Subject 2 (two modules)
  • Elective
• Semesters 5 & 6 (Year 3)
  • Off-Campus Programme 1 & 2 (Work Placement and/or Study Abroad)
• Semesters 7 & 8 (Year 4)
  • Major Subject 1 (two modules)
  • Major Subject 2 (two modules)
  • Undergraduate Dissertation 1 & 2

Undergraduate Dissertation

In the final year, students complete an Undergraduate Dissertation in one of their major subjects, an opportunity to conduct extended research and analysis under the guidance of academic supervisors. This component hones research and analytical competencies, beneficial for both career advancement and further academic pursuits.

Mary Immaculate College (MIC), known in Irish as Coláiste Mhuire Gan Smál, is a university-level College of Education and the Liberal Arts in Limerick, Ireland, academically linked with the University of Limerick. Founded in 1898 by Bishop Edward Thomas O'Dwyer and the Sisters of Mercy for the professional education of Catholic primary school teachers, MIC is the oldest third-level institution in Limerick City.

The foundation stone was laid on 8 December 1898 on an 11-acre site jointly purchased by the Bishop and the Sisters of Mercy, with construction led by Dublin architect George Byrne and Limerick contractors Molloy. The College opened its doors to its first students on 21 September 1901, and was officially opened on 16 May 1902. From its original 75 young women enrolled in 1901, MIC has grown into a multi-campus institution with a student population of over 5,000.

Mission

Mary Immaculate College is a third-level Catholic College of Education and the Liberal Arts. The College community promotes excellence in teaching, learning and research at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and seeks to foster the intellectual, spiritual, personal and professional development of students within a supportive and challenging environment that guarantees the intellectual freedom of staff and students. In particular, the College seeks to foster in its students a spirit of justice and compassion in the service of others, together with an openness to the religious tradition and values of each individual.

The College promotes a sense of identity enriched by an awareness of its Catholic tradition, the cultures, languages and traditions of Ireland, and its special commitment to the Irish language. Mary Immaculate College respects cultural diversity and strives to promote equity in society, providing an environment where all have the freedom and opportunity to achieve their full potential.

Founding vision

MIC continues to embrace the founding vision of Catherine McAuley, who established the Sisters of Mercy as champions for the most marginalised in society, with the conviction that education was essential to that mission. This emphasis on social justice and educational inclusion remains central to the College's institutional identity as it has grown and diversified over more than 125 years.

Academic structure

MIC offers programmes across two faculties, Education and Arts, spanning Level 4 to Level 10 on the National Framework of Qualifications. Undergraduate programmes are offered in:

• Primary and Post-Primary Teaching (Bachelor of Education, Teaching Council-accredited)
• Liberal Arts, with a choice of 14 subjects across a flexible, wide-ranging programme
• Early Childhood Care and Education
• Psychology, including a Bachelor of Science in Psychology incorporating workplace experience
• Drama and English
• English Language and Literature

The MIC Thurles campus additionally offers post-primary teacher education programmes in Home Economics, Gaeilge, Mathematics, Business Studies, Theology and Religious Studies, and Accounting. Postgraduate study is available across both faculties at Diploma, Master's and PhD level, alongside professional development and lifelong learning programmes.

Campuses

MIC is a multi-campus institution with centrally located, state-of-the-art facilities in both Limerick City and Thurles, Co. Tipperary:

• MIC Limerick: the College's original and main campus on South Circular Road, home to the historic 1899 building that remains central to College life today, alongside a state-of-the-art Sports Complex completed in 2008 at a cost of €16 million, and the 510-seat Lime Tree Theatre, officially opened in October 2012
• MIC Thurles: incorporated into MIC in 2016, originally established as a second-level school in 1837 and later a major seminary, today offering seven undergraduate programmes delivered by staff from both the Faculty of Education and the Faculty of Arts, with on-campus accommodation and the O'Dwyer Library housing approximately 15,000 print resources

Both campuses are characterised by an informal, relaxed atmosphere and a close rapport between students and staff, with the amenities of city and town life on the doorstep.

Affiliation with the University of Limerick

MIC has been academically linked with the University of Limerick since a formal partnership was established in 1990, with UL becoming MIC's accrediting body. Degrees were conferred by the National University of Ireland until 1994, and by UL from 1995 onward. In 1999, MIC became the first Irish College of Education to offer a Bachelor of Arts degree programme. The first PhD was awarded by MIC in 2003. MIC is also a member of the Shannon Consortium, a collaborative framework alongside the University of Limerick and Technological University of the Shannon.

Student life and facilities

• Wired FM (Wired 99.9FM): Limerick's only licensed student community radio station, run in partnership with the Technological University of the Shannon
• Lime Tree Theatre: a 510-seat venue on the Limerick campus hosting theatre, music, comedy, traditional arts, school performances and conferences
• MIC Munster GAA Centre of Excellence and extensive College Sport opportunities, supported by the dedicated Sports Complex
• CRAFT Maker Space, supporting hands-on creativity and enterprise
• Mary Immaculate Students' Union (MISU), marking 25 years of representing the student body
• Clubs and Societies, Arts and Culture programming, and a strong Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Interculturalism (EDII) commitment
• Recognition as an Age Friendly Campus
• Careers Service, Study Abroad opportunities, and an Off-Campus Programme

Leadership and governance

The College's first six Presidents were members of the Sisters of Mercy, beginning with Sr Paul Quinlan in 1898, followed by Sr Veronica Cullinan, Sr Celsus Barry, Sr Loreto Ní Chonchúir, Sr Cabrini Moloney and Sr Angela Bugler. Professor Peadar Cremin, appointed in 1999, was the seventh President and the first lay person to hold the position. He was succeeded by Professor Michael A. Hayes in 2011 and Professor Eugene Wall in 2018, the ninth President in the College's history. Mary Immaculate College is currently led by Professor Dermot Nestor, President of the College, with the Bishop of Limerick serving as Chairperson of the Board of Trustees.