Law - BCL & Languages
Students undertake all of the required modules needed for Law and a full suite of modules in their chosen European language.
There are additional opportunities to continue the study of other modern languages in first year and/or take up a new language as a beginner in second year.
Students receive an excellent grounding in core law subjects, while also developing their linguistic competence and intercultural awareness.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | National University of Ireland |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | National University of Ireland | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
4 years
Erasmus/Study Abroad Option: Yes, integrated.
Placement Option: Yes – subject to availability
Specific Subjects or course requirements
Leaving Certificate:
2H5 & 4O6/H7, Irish & English.
Students who wish to take Irish as part of their degree must have a H4 in Irish.
Leaving Certificate General Entry Requirements
In general, students must be 17 years or older by 15th January in the year after entry to the University. If you are younger, you must make a special application to the University’s President.
All Leaving Certificate subjects carry equal points with the exception of *Mathematics (details below). Points are awarded for your six best subjects in any one year. These do not have to include subjects needed to meet general minimum entry requirements. Minimum entry requirements and course requirements may be satisfied by an accumulation of subjects over more than one year. As well as achieving the required points, you must have a minimum of six subjects in your Leaving Certificate, with two Higher Level papers at grade H5 and four Ordinary or Higher Level papers at grade O6/H7.
The requirements for each course are shown above.
* 25 bonus points will be added to the points score for a Leaving Certificate Higher Level Mathematics grade H6 or higher.
The bonus points are included in the overall points calculation only when Mathematics is one of the applicant’s best six subjects following the addition of the bonus.
Foundation level Mathematics is accepted for matriculation (i.e. can be counted as one of the six subjects required - grade F6 or higher), but does not meet the requirement for degrees where Mathematics is a special programme requirement. Points are not awarded for this subject.
Foundation level Irish is not accepted for matriculation. Points are not awarded for this subject.
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
Points are awarded as follows:
Distinction 66
Merit 46
Pass 28
Applicants can use their points allocation for the Link Modules as one of their best six subjects for the purpose of calculating points, but the Link Modules do not qualify as a subject for minimum entry requirement purposes.
QQI FET Applicants General Information
Click on the 'QQI FET Applicants Information link' below for specific course entry requirements.
QQI FET General Information Link
Careers / Further progression
Options after Graduation?
>Taking a degree in Law and Languages opens up career opportunities with multinational companies and law firms based in Ireland, with international agencies, companies and law firms based abroad, and the public service in Ireland and the EU.
>Various EU institutions require the services of “lawyer linguists”, i.e. European citizens with a degree in Law and excellent knowledge of several European languages.
>The public and civil services in Ireland and the EU have a need for graduates with strong language skills and a deep understanding of legal procedures and practices to work as legal translators and legal interpreters.
>Graduates from this programme will have a unique set of skills that will enable them to work between two legal jurisdictions and serve clients in both.
>Graduates will be eligible to enrol in the Law Society FE-1 entrance examinations. Accreditation of the degree as an approved law degree for the purpose of taking King’s Inns entrance exams is currently being sought.
Further information
Maynooth University greatly values the particular contribution of mature students to the academic and social environment of the University. A mature student is 23 years or older by 1st January in the year of entry to the University. For part-time degrees the mature age is 21. There is no upper age limit; we currently have students who range in age from 23 to over 70. Up to 200 mature students begin their studies here each year. Many of our mature entrants undertake preparatory studies in advance of gaining admission.
The Mature Student Office is committed to supporting the learning experience of our mature students. A certain number of places are reserved for mature students on all undergraduate courses. We offer a range of supports for mature students including an advisory service, tailored information sessions during Orientation/Welcome Week, academic advisors, the Student Budgeting Advice Service and a technology skills programme. There is also a Mature Student Society on campus providing a continuation of peer support, both academic and social, to incoming mature students.
See the Mature Student handbook for detailed information about applying as a mature student. Call, email or drop in to meet us in MAP Lodge on the North Campus or to request a mature student information pack. If the opportunity to return to education has presented itself to you, we hope you’ll choose Maynooth University.
Emer Sheerin, Mature Student Officer
+ 353 1 708 3307
emer.sheerin@mu.ie
Places 2024: 50
Entry 2024
Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2024 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2024 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: €60 Closing Date: 1 May 2024 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2024 at 5pm
Exceptional online late application (see page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee €60 Closing Date: 22 July 2024 at 5pm
Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid making an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all application fees are non-refundable.
LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5pm on 1 February 2024. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2024, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2024 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €60 applies.
Exceptional Late Applications (Exception to the timetable)
The exceptional closing date of 22 July at 5pm applies only to applicants who are registered as an undergraduate student on 1 May 2024 in any year in any one of the participating HEIs (subject to the exclusions listed below). In order to avail of the Exceptional Late Application facility you must have entered the HEI through the CAO system. This is an exceptional late closing date and all steps must be completed by 5pm on 22 July. No changes may be made after this date.
If you did not enter your current course through the CAO system, you must first contact the Admissions Office of the HEI to which you wish to apply and they will inform you if you may submit an application direct to the institution.
Exclusions:
You may submit a late application only for entry to courses other than your existing course. If you wish to repeat the year in the same course you must arrange this within your HEI.
Mary Immaculate College Limerick, Marino Institute of Education, Trinity College Dublin, University of Limerick and Maynooth University have special procedures in place in the case of current or previous students who wish to apply for entry to another course in the same HEI. Such applicants must contact their Admissions Office to determine the application procedure. However, if you are a student in another HEI and you wish to apply to any of these five HEIs, you should apply through CAO.
Refer to page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook on how to make an Exceptional Late Application.
Restrictions
As a CAO applicant you may experience one or more of the following restrictions based on your course choices, your category of application, or restrictions imposed by the HEIs that you wish to apply to. Please read the section on 'Restrictions' on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:
General Restrictions
1. Making a late application
2. Making changes to your course choices
Restricted Courses
3. Applying for a restricted course
Mature Applicants
4. Mature applicants
Supplementary Admissions Routes
5. Applying for DARE and/or HEAR
Why choose this degree?
>Choose from a range of European languages to match your interests.
>The BCL (Law and Languages) is a four-year degree in Law combined with French, German, Irish or Spanish, opening up a range of employment prospects within and beyond Ireland.
>The degree includes modules in French, German and Spanish Law or specialised modules relating to law and the Irish language, as well as classes in legal translation and vocabulary.
>Students will have an opportunity to gain international experience through an integrated study abroad programme at one of our European or international partner institutions. >Students taking Irish will be expected to combine a Gaeltacht placement or Irish-language work placement of one semester with an Erasmus study placement abroad of one semester in third year.
>Students interested in gaining intersectoral experience will be supported to undertake a work placement in a country where their chosen language is spoken. Students are encouraged to source their own work placements, which are subject to approval and registration with the Careers and Employability Service.
>Graduates of this programme will develop a strong capacity for analytical and critical thinking as well as strong linguistic skills and a keen sense of cultural awareness.
Course structure
1st year
> 30 credits of Law
> 30 credits of language study
> Students can choose from French, German, Irish or Spanish. French, German and Spanish can be taken at beginners’ or post Leaving Certificate-level.
2nd year
> Continue in 2nd year with at least 30 credits of Law and 30 credits of your chosen language.
> Take advantage of the opportunity to continue studying a second European language or to begin a new language via the option of a 10 credit Elective.
3rd year
> All students undertake a study abroad programme after 2nd year.
> Students can opt to spend their year studying abroad or a combination of both study abroad and work placement in a country/region where
the language they are studying is spoken (subject to approval).
4th year
> After spending a year studying or on work placement abroad, students qualify with a 4-year BCL (International) degree.
Possible topics
1st year
> The nature of legal systems, and how laws are made nationally and internationally
> The laws relating to crime, negligence, and privacy
> Introduction to French/German/Spanish Law
2nd year
> The laws relating to evidence, and building a legal case
> EU and Company Law
> Intermediate French/German/Spanish Law
> Legal Language & Legal Translation
4th year
> The laws relating to the family, media, and property
> The theory of laws and legal systems
> Advanced French/German/Spanish Law
> Legal Language & Legal Translation
Maynooth University School of Law and Criminology, New House
+ 353 1 474 7265
law@mu.ie
www.maynoothuniversity.ie/law
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn @maynoothlaw
Maynooth University School of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures
Rye Hall Block D, North Campus, Maynooth University
+353 (0) 1 708 3419
smllc@mu.ie
www.maynoothuniversity.ie/school-modern-languages
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