| Code | CK202 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 Years |
| Teaching Mode | Full-time |
| Qualifications | BSc (Hons) |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 |
| Fees | See Fees and Costs for full details. |
| CAO Points | 2024: 498 |
| CAO Points Range | 2024: 498-613 |
Course Outline
The BSc Accounting is one of the longest-established undergraduate accounting degrees in Ireland. The degree prepares students for senior roles in professional accountancy and across a wide range of business environments.
The key benefits of the degree programme are:
- A fast-track to qualifying as a professional accountant. BSc Accounting students can now gain extensive exemptions from Chartered Accountants Ireland, the largest accounting body on the Island of Ireland. Students can get students can gain exemptions from the full set of CAP 1 exams and half of the CAP 2 exams. No other UCC degree offers this amount of exemptions.
- A paid 6-month work placement with the leading professional accounting firms or top industry organisations.
- A tailored business degree. A broad range of optional business subjects, from business consulting to entrepreneurial start-ups, allowing students to tailor their degree in accordance with their interests and career goals.
Modules
Each year, students complete 12 modules amounting to 60 credits, except for the third year where students are on paid work placement for semester 2.
During the programme students study modules from finance, law, IT, management, economics, accounting, auditing, governance, marketing, statistics and tax subjects.
Year 1
In year 1 students are given a thorough introduction to all business subjects which underpin accounting and the wider business environment: finance, economics, IT, statistics, financial accounting and management accounting.
- AC1103 Financial Accounting Fundamentals
- AC1104 Accounting for Partnerships and Companies
- AC1107 Investment in Capital Assets
- AC1108 Introduction to Valuation and Risk
- AC1109 Management Accounting: Principles and Concepts
- AC1115 Management Accounting: Cost & Control Systems
- EC1202 Economic Reasoning for Business
- EC1203 Macroeconomic Context and Business
- IS1106 Introduction to Information Systems
- IS1107 Information Systems for the Networked Enterprise
- ST1023 Introduction to Business Statistics
- ST2200 Methods of Business Statistics
Year 2
In Year 2 students take a combination of compulsory and elective modules, allowing students to begin to tailor their degree. Compulsory modules further develop knowledge of accounting, information technology and introduce students to law, taxation subjects.
* Compulsory modules (45 credits) include International Financial Reporting 1; Consolidated Financial Statements and Reporting; Placement Plan; Introduction to Taxation; Data Analysis, Business Reporting & Process Automation; Corporate Financial Management; Data Management and Fundamentals; Introduction to the Legal System and Introduction to Business Law.
* Elective modules (15 credits) are chosen from Business Microeconomics 1; Business Microeconomics 2; Systems Analysis and Systems Design: Systems Analysis and Systems Change: Introduction to Marketing: Principles of Management and Organization: People and Organisation: Data Analysis II: Introduction to Operations Research: Modelling and Systems for Decision Making.
Year 3
In Year 3 students will study in UCC for Semester 1, then complete a 6-month paid work placement (see Work Placement information below). Students develop their accounting and business knowledge in a professional setting. Students’ teamwork, interpersonal, communication and critical skills are developed in preparation for placement.
* Compulsory modules: International Financial Reporting 2: Theory and Practice; Auditing; Multinational Finance; Cases in Corporate Finance; and Governance, Regulation and Control of Financial Organisations; Management Accounting: Data & Decision Making.
Year 4
In Year 4 students will have an opportunity to tailor their degree further through the large selection of elective modules to study. Module selection will be guided by their placement experience.
* Compulsory modules (25 credits) include Advanced Financial Accounting; Management Accounting: Planning and Control; Taxation: Income Tax and VAT; Financial Information Analysis; Corporate Valuation.
* Elective Modules (35 credits) are selected from Economics, Information Systems, Accounting, Law, Marketing, and Management subjects.
Academic Programme Catalogue
See the Academic Programme Catalogue for the complete and up-to-date content for this course. Note that the modules for all courses are subject to change from year-to-year. For complete descriptions of individual modules, see the Book of Modules.
Course Practicalities
Expected lecture hours: 12 lecture hours per week. Lectures may be further supplemented by tutorials and computer lab time.
Assessment
Written exams will take place at both the end of Semester 1 and Semester 2. Some modules will not have formal end-of-term written examinations. These modules use other types of assessment and may typically require students to complete tasks such as a project, essay, presentation or an in-class written test.
Why Choose This Course
- Small Class Size
Small class sizes (approximately 70 students) allow students to benefit from high levels of guidance and support from lecturers and peer networking opportunities.
- Employer connections
BSc Accounting students will have many opportunities to attend guest talks from professional accountants in senior roles, as well as professional accounting firm partners and auditors, and professional accounting body representatives.
- Tailored Business Degree
The BSc Accounting provides students with a solid technical knowledge in accounting and associated subjects – finance, taxation, technology, sustainability and ethics. Students will also be able to tailor their degree through a broad range of optional modules on offer in years 2 and 4 of the programme. Key skills needed to excel in professional services and other leading firms such as critical thinking, problem-solving and interpersonal skills are also developed throughout the programme.
- Prizes and Awards
The BSc Accounting programme has several opportunities for students to secure scholarships and prizes sponsored by the leading professional accounting firms and professional bodies.
Placement or Study Abroad Information
BSc Accounting students take a paid 6-month work placement in year 3 of the programme. Work placement allows students to combine their BSc Accounting knowledge with real-world professional accounting experience. Students are given an opportunity to be placed with the world’s leading professional services firms, i.e., EY, KPMG, PwC and Deloitte in Ireland and abroad. Work placement allows students to form informed career goals during the degree programme. Many students secure a graduate role with their placement firms before completing the final year of their degree.
Skills and Careers Information
The BSc Accounting offers many exemptions from professional accountancy exams. Students can gain exemptions from the full set of CAP 1 exams and half of the CAP 2 exams of Chartered Accountants Ireland. These extensive exemptions offer a ‘fast-track’ to qualification as a Chartered Accountant.
Students are also able to gain many exemptions from other professional bodies, such as ACCA and CIMA.
No other UCC degree gives students as many professional accountancy exam exemptions.
Requirements
Leaving Certificate Entry Requirements
At Least six subjects must be presented. Minimum grade H5 in two subjects and minimum grade O6/H7 in four other subjects. English and Irish are requirements for all programmes unless the applicant is exempt from Irish.
Applicants will need to meet the following minimum entry requirements:
| English | Irish | Maths | Other Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| O6/H7 | O6/H7 | O6/H7 | O6/H7 |
Note you do not need to have studied Accounting or Higher Level Maths at Leaving Certificate.
EU/EFTA/UK Qualifications
EU/EFTA/UK applicants presenting an equivalent school-leaving qualification should review the EU/EFTA/UK Applicants page for information on equivalent grades and how to prove their level of English.
Mature Students
To compete through the mature entry route, applicants must be 23 years of age on or before 1 January of the application year and apply online via the CAO by 1 February. The application should include a statement of interest. Leaving Certificate Maths (or equivalent) is recommended. Applicants may also be called for interview.
Further information on applying as a mature student is available on the Mature Applicants and Mature Student Entry support pages.
Non-EU Applicants
Non-EU applicants are expected to have educational qualifications of a standard equivalent to the Irish Leaving Certificate. In addition, where such applicants are non-native speakers of the English language they must satisfy the university of their competency in the English language.
To verify if you meet the minimum academic and language requirements visit our qualification comparison page and refer to our International Office page for more information.
Fees and Costs
- Whether you are an EU or Non-EU student will affect the course fees applicable to you. See more information on EU Fees, Non-EU Fees, or Free Fees Status.
- The State will pay the tuition fees for EU students who are eligible under the Free Fees Scheme. The annual student contribution and capitation fees are payable by the student.
- See the Fee Schedule to find out the course fee.
- Check out scholarships that may be available to you.
- Explore our Nurturing Bright Futures free online course (Module 5) to learn about managing your money as a student and budgeting for university life.
Students who opt to re-sit exams to obtain professional body exemptions will incur a cost of €360 per 5 credit module.
How To Apply
Irish and European (EU/EFTA/UK) Applicants
Apply via the CAO. See the CAO Handbook for useful information on applying through the CAO.
Mature Applicants
Apply via the CAO by 1 February. To apply for a place as a mature student, you must be 23 years of age on or before 1 January of the year of entry.
QQI/FET Applicants
Apply via the CAO. See our QQI/FET Applicants page for information on the Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) Further Education and Training (FET) application process and whether there are routes available to this course.
Non-EU Applicants
If you are from outside the EU/EFTA/UK, apply online via the UCC Apply portal. See our International Office page for more information.