Prospective Students

Understanding the Course:

The essential toolkit for the world of business

The Bachelor of Business Studies degree is a first-class all-round business degree with exciting options in HR management, marketing, law, eBusiness management, and finance. It is the essential toolkit for the world of business.

Today's business world is rapidly evolving, and the key to success in this world is creativity and innovation. Just look at how the internet has changed the way we communicate, buy products and inform ourselves. These values are at the core of our Business Studies course - a course that is constantly innovating to reflect both best practice in business education and relevance to management and business practice in the real world.

Since the early 1980s the Bachelor of Business Studies (BBS) has introduced many innovations to undergraduate education. Through elements such as business simulations and new enterprise development projects, we set out to stimulate and foster imaginative thinking among our graduates, giving you the skills to arrive at solutions to business problems.

About You:

Do you find the world of business an interesting place? Do you see yourself enjoying a career in one of the many areas of business that could take you from management and finance to marketing and HR?

Course Structure:

Your Business Studies degree course is structured to give you an introduction to all aspects of business.

Once you have the foundations you can choose the particular area of business that you want to specialise in. In this way the course caters for both those who already have a clear idea about what they want to do and those who need to find out more before making a final decision.

You can opt for either a three or four year course of study. The four year course includes a one year paid work placement at the end of the second year, which gives you an opportunity to experience a real working business environment.

The degree is structured around four elements: core subjects, options, skills and specialisms.

Core modules provide a solid business foundation, while options in the first, second and final year offer the opportunity to acquire proficiency in a European language or expertise in other business-related topics (see subject listing). In your final year you will be able specialise in one of five areas of business.

Throughout this course you will develop skills in areas such as communications, computing, teamwork and problem solving.

View the subjects currently taught on this course (2012 - 2013)

1. General business degree with a strong international reputation.
2. Gain valuable experience and a competitive edge with optional year-long work placement.
3. Specialise in a key business area (law, e-business, marketing, HR or finance) in final year.
4. Develop skills in communications, IT, teamwork and problem solving.
5. Strong entrepreneurial focus to encourage innovation and creativity.

The Bachelor of Business Studies has recently been awarded two new exemptions from CIMA, the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. These are E1-Enterprise Operations( at Operational Level) and E2-Enterprise Management ( at Management Level)

These two exemptions are in addition to the exisiting exmeptions, which are

C01- Fundamentals of Management Accounting
C02- Fundamentals of Financial Accounting
C03-Fundamentals of Business Mathematics
C04-Fundamentals of Business Economics
C05-Fundamentals of Ethics, Corporate Governance and Business Law

International Students
Non-native English speakers may be eligible to apply to the International Foundation Certificate (IFC) course, which will help you to achieve the English language requirements necessary for entry to this course as well as preparing you for adjustment to university learning in the Irish context.

What Our Graduates Say
"I achieved a broad perspective of the business world…practical learning, which can be applied to the everyday business environment…the practicality of subjects such as economics, accounting and business maths are very evident in my chosen career…the degree has given me the basis from which I can progress my career."
Karen Nulty, National Irish Bank Foreign Exhange Dealer

Career Prospects:

You will be ready to make a genuine and lasting contribution to any workforce. Indeed, graduates from the BBS have an international reputation for making an immediate and significant contribution whatever path they choose. And you will follow in their footsteps.

As shown in surveys of university graduates, graduates of the BBS are now the most sought after business graduates in Ireland.

Depending on your final year specialism, you can qualify for significant exemptions from examinations of certain professional bodies: e.g. Marketing and Accounting. (All exemptions awarded to graduates are subject to annual review and revision by the various professional bodies.)

So, whether you want to pursue an industrial, commercial or public career, or whether you want to start your own business, there's no better place to start than at DCU.

This course is also suitable for those who ultimately wish to pursue a career in teaching as it is recognised by the Teaching Council to teach the subjects Accounting, Business, and Economics.

Entry Requirements:

Leaving Certificate
In addition to the general entry requirements the following apply:

OC3 or HD3 in Mathematics.

GCE A Level
In addition to the general entry requirements the following apply:

GCE A-Level D or GCE AS-Level C or GCSE C in Mathematics.

FETAC Level 5

BBSXX Business Studies, BBSAX Business Studies - Administration, BBSIT International Trade, BMXXX Marketing

If you don't meet the minimum requirements in Mathematics above you must complete the Statistics or Mathematics module at FETAC level. Therefore, for BBSXX Business Studies or BBSAX Business Studies- Administration or BBSIT International Trade or BMXXX Marketing, distinctions in 5 modules are required with one of these 5 distinctions being in module B20029 Statistics or C20139 Mathematics.

Transfer Applications
Holders of a HETAC Higher Certificate/National Certificate in Business Studies with Distinction may be considered for admission into the second year.
Holders of a HETAC Bachelor (Ordinary) Degree/National Diploma in Business Studies with Merit or Distinction may be considered for admission into second year. No additional exemptions will be awarded from second year.

International Applications
International candidates are expected to have educational qualifications of a standard equivalent to those outlined above. In addition, where such candidates are non-native speakers of the English language they must satisfy the university of their competency in the English language. For further information on international applications click here.

How to Apply and Closing Dates

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Fee information