Overview
Get your third level award at your own pace or Professional Development for Teachers
The Bachelor of Arts Single Module (BASM) study option offers you the attractive opportunity to study a variety of interesting Humanities subjects at an Honours degree level through online distance learning, without having to commit to a full-time, or part-time, campus-based programme. If you wish to pursue an award of Diploma or Degree in Humanities you can accumulate your credits using this option too.
Sarah completed her degree in Humanities while working full time and living in Balbriggan. https://youtu.be/zZDt3aMy9Yw
Watch our Open Day taster lecture as an online learner: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcauV71QXVg
DCU People
I started my degree in humanities when I was an English language teacher in a secondary school with the aim of branching out into teaching humanities subjects.
Read more about Janet O'Connor
I loved every minute of it!
Read more about Gary White
Careers & Further Options
Careers
The Bachelor of Arts Single Module (BASM) study allows you to undertake study at university degree level for personal enjoyment or continual professional development (CPD) purposes or accumulating credits towards an exit award.
Studying of Bachelor of Arts Single Module (BASM) modules will develop skills such as critical thinking, high quality written expression, and transferable skills such as organisation and time-management. The knowledge, abilities and skills you will develop are highly valued by employers and will also be useful and valuable to you should you undertake any further study.
Potential Careers:
- Post-Primary Teacher
- Historian
- Librarian
- Museum curator
- Academic
- Writer
- Journalist
- Community Worker
- Social Worker
In these areas:
- Education
- Personal Development
- Office of Public Works
- Social Work
- Community Groups
- Journalism
Many Bachelor of Arts Single Module (BASM) students have gone on to successfully enter the teaching profession (post-primary level) and existing post-primary level teaching staff have enhanced their teaching prospects by adding another subject to their teaching repertoire.
Teaching Council:
Many people enter their studies with the ambition of becoming a teacher. The Teaching Council was established to encourage teaching as a profession at primary and post-primary levels and to promote the professional development of teachers and to regulate standards in the profession.
For further information contact: www.tcil.ie
Entry Requirements
All applicants making an application for the Bachelor of Arts Single Module (BASM) must
- Upload a copy of their current and valid passport (biographic and photo page) as proof of identification
- Applicants aged over 23 years on January 1st in the year of entry are eligible for admission to the programme subject to submitting the required documentation and paying a deposit.
- Applicants who are under 23 years on January 1st in the year of entry must upload a copy of their current and valid passport and also a copy of their leaving certificate results and must satisfy the normal minimum degree entry requirements of Dublin City University which are detailed here https://www.dcu.ie/registry/entry.shtml. Subject to meeting the requirements an offer will be made and a deposit required.
In addition, applicants who are non-native speakers of the English language must satisfy the university requirements for competency in the English language.
Course Structure
The DCU Bachelor of Arts Single Module (BASM) study option allows you to undertake study at (level 8) degree level for personal enjoyment or professional development. You can complete your modules without having to commit to study towards an exit award or alternatively accumulate your credits towards an award of Diploma or Degree, the choice is yours
Of specific interest to many Bachelor of Arts Single Module (BASM) students is that the History, Literature and Sociology modules are recognised by the Teaching Council of Ireland for general registration in relation to the (post-primary level) teaching of History, English and CSPE respectively. Post-primary level teachers who wish to up-skill and become registered in one of these subject areas may use the BASM programme in order to accomplish this goal.
At the beginning of the academic year, you can choose from a suite of modules in English, History, Philosophy, and Sociology. As a Bachelor of Arts Single Module (BASM) student, you will have access to an array of self-study learning materials and resources, along with reading lists for required textbooks. Studying Humanities and Social Science subjects necessarily involves spending a lot of time reading academic material.
Course Structure:
As a Bachelor of Arts Single Module (BASM) student you may choose to study from a range of modules in the following Humanities subject areas:
Each of these subject areas is presented as a suite of six modules, which cover different aspects of that subject.
The Bachelor of Arts Single Module (BASM) study option allows you to undertake the study of these modules for personal enjoyment or continual professional development (CPD) purposes without aiming to exit with an award.
You also have the choice of continuing your studies to accumulate enough credits for an award of Diploma or Degree in Humanities i.e. 120 credits for the Diploma or 180 credits for the Degree. Students have up to 8 years to accumulate these credits and exit with an award.
Please note that the programme is under constant review and there may be changes to the structure, content and presentation of the programme in future years.
Each module is awarded 15 European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credit points.
Module Selection:
The modular structure of the Bachelor of Arts Single Module (BASM) study option gives students choice and flexibility in choosing which module(s) to undertake. Module choice may be subject to individual module regulations. The number of modules you undertake each year will depend on your individual circumstances. If you wish to undertake more than one module, please see the registration rules in relation to module selection. If you are returning to study after a long absence, and/or you are in full-time employment it is recommended that you should not take more than two modules in your first year.
Fees and Funding
Fees
How To Apply
Please see Application Procedures or E-mail ugadmissions@dcu.ie.
To apply for this programme:
- All Applicants must apply through DCU's Student Application Portal which is available here. Here is a quick step by step guide if you need help with your application.
- If applicable, provide evidence of competence in the English language as per DCU entry requirements. Please see link http://www.dcu.ie/registry/english.shtml.
Study Visas are not required for this online course/programme.
Application Deadlines
Applications will open on 21st October 2024 for September 2025 entry and will be accepted on a rolling basis until the programme is full or until the following dates:
- The closing date for non-EU applicants is 1st July 2025.
- The closing date for EU applicants is 31st July 2025.
All entry requirements should be met before the commencement of the programme.
Queries
Queries from applicants should be directed to ugadmissions@dcu.ie
Commencement of Programme
The programme commences in September 2025.
Life On Campus
At DCU, our students can expect a unique campus experience. We are known for our excellent teaching and learning facilities, our active clubs and societies, and our great social and sporting facilities. All this makes DCU an exciting place to be.
DCU has three academic campuses; Glasnevin, St. Patrick’s and All Hallows (both in Drumcondra), all close to Dublin City centre.
They can be reached by public transport, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann, with our Drumcondra campuses a ten minute walk from Drumcondra Train Station. Glasnevin is a 20 minute walk from St Patrick’s and All Hallows. They are also linked by Dublin Bus.
Each campus has a library (O’Reilly, Cregan and Woodlock Hall), study spaces, restaurants, and on-campus residencies. There are sports facilities on Glasnevin and St. Patrick’s, and there is a dedicated sports campus, St Claire’s, located near Glasnevin on the Ballymun Road.
DCU’s 19,000 students have access to exceptional teaching and learning facilities across our three academic campuses.
These include modern learning theatres, research centres, a new media and TV studio, radio/podcast studios, computer suites and advanced labs in the areas of Languages, Engineering, Physics, Chemistry and Biotechnology, as well as a Sports Performance centre and a training hospital ward. In 2021, we opened our first virtual reality ‘Leadership Lab’, which is located in our Business School.
We continue to improve and update our facilities. For example, construction of a new world-class STEM facility is underway on the Glasnevin campus. With capacity for an extra 3,000 STEM students, this facility will advance DCU’s international reputation for excellence in science and health, computing and engineering disciplines.
Studying in DCU isn’t just about course work. The university is rich in student life and activities.
There are more than 140 clubs and societies for students in DCU, with ‘Clubs & Socs’ days taking place on both the Glasnevin and Drumcondra campuses at the start of the academic year. They span everything from rugby to rock climbing, anime to jazz.
For many students, sport is an important part of the DCU experience. DCU’s Sports Complex boasts a 25 metre swimming pool, fitness centre gym, all-weather pitches and squash courts, as well as soccer, GAA and rugby pitches. DCU Dóchas Éireann, the university’s GAA club, is the largest third level Gaelic Games club in the country. Meanwhile, DCU Athletics has been Ireland’s highest achieving university club for many years. And DCU has dozens of other clubs to get involved in, from Archery to Weightlifting.
The Glasnevin campus is home to our purpose built, state-of-the-art student centre, The U, which serves the needs of a rapidly growing student body. Here, you will find the Student Leadership and Lifeskills Centre, performing arts and cultural spaces for students and the wider community, and the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Hub. Also located on our Glasnevin campus is The Helix, our renowned performing arts centre.
On our St Patrick’s campus, we have the Java Student Hub, a vibrant, warm and welcoming space where students can meet for coffee, play music, use the projector to watch events, or just relax. The walls of the Java Hub were designed based on the cultural history of St Patrick’s Campus, including the special references to the notable sporting history and history of the arts.
We have a number of academic, professional and social supports for students.
Student Advice Centre - Offers a wide range of supports and services to students and advice
The Writing Centre - drop-in writing workshops for students through the academic year
Maths Learning Centre - provides maths support for students of all ability levels with maths modules
Student Learning - facilitate the transition from passive to active learning for students at DCU, by teaching study skills, nurturing critical thinking and building student confidence.
Careers work with students to help them on their professional journey into graduate employment.
Our student support team offers a comprehensive support programme, helping students make that all important transition into university life and focusing on building confidence and skills which are key to success at third level.
DCU Glasnevin Campus
FAQs
Is DCU all one campus?
DCU is a multi campus university - the Glasnevin, St Patrick's and All Hallows campuses. The St Patrick's campus is where the Education courses are taught and some of the subjects from the BA Joint Honours degree. There is a 20-25 minute walk between the campuses but there are buses and bikes available to go between them also.
Click here to see maps of all of our campuses
If I'm studying on the St Patrick's campus, can I use the library and sports centre on the Glasnevin campus?
Yes, all facilities such as sports and accommodation are open for all DCU students to avail of.
Are there libraries in DCU and if they have wifi and work stations?
We have a brand new state of the art four floor library on our St. Patrick's Campus which complements the existing library on the Glasnevin campus. There is free wifi, work stations as well as desktop computers.
Does DCU provide accommodation?
DCU does have on-campus accommodation for undergraduate and postgraduate students, and you can find out more and apply via the Accommodation Office webpage.