Business Economics (BSc (Hons))

Our Business Economics degree has been developed to meet a need in the market for highly skilled professionals who combine the knowledge of how business operates with the analytical abilities of a trained economist.

In a business career, you must have an understanding of strategy, resources and operations to effectively enable you to make appropriate decisions.  The aim of this degree is to develop your understanding of what a business is and how it operates, develop your analytical abilities in the discipline of economics and prepare you for working in a business environment. 

Unique Aspects of the Programme

The BSc Business Economics programme is a business oriented and employment directed degree programme.  It equips students with a deeper understanding of how business operates.  It examines the different components of a business including strategy, innovation and human resources.  The programme integrates the various elements of how business operates with the external environment in which a business finds itself.  The programme enables students to look at businesses in a more objective and critical manner. 

Economics broadly, and its subfield of Business Economics provides a powerful range of ideas and research methods (theoretical and empirical) to explain and understand business processes, events, prospects and outcomes.  This Programme draws on this resource to equip you with the tools and skills required for successful careers in the business sector.  Its objectives are to provide a broad understanding of the theory of the business and the economic framework from which that theory has been developed to explain how business operates. 

The programme structure, content, and delivery is designed to develop:

• an internationalisation perspective,
• a working facility in English for employment in business related organisations and activities,
• an ability to use concepts and theories as effective apparatus for thinking about business related issues in the market  economy and in relation to government regulation,
• a practical understanding of the nature, role and operation of business.

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Explain and communicate to various stakeholders how businesses operate in an international environment.
• Evaluate and communicate the organisation of business activities and practices.
• Interpret and analyse business reporting and information in the media.
• Conduct, analyse and interpret economic surveys in business.
• Effectively utilise economic theories, concepts, models, and frameworks as an apparatus of thought for decision-making in business.
• Improve employment skills to effectively work in a wide range of businesses including management consulting firms, private and public sector and research institutions.
• Know how to work responsibly, thoroughly, independently and quickly and to organise your work so as to be able to effectively collaborate with colleagues and other business stakeholders.
• Communicate your thinking, ideas, and analysis of business and economic matters through writing reports, preparing and making presentations, and engaging in public deliberations.

To be admitted to Year 3 at UCC, students will be required to: 

• successfully complete and pass credits equivalent to two full academic years' study of their degree programme at a partner Chinese university with whom University College Cork has a bilateral agreement; and
• satisfy English language proficiency requirements as set out by University College Cork for non-EU students.

English Language Requirement:

• IELTS:  6.0 - with no individual section lower than 5.5 
• TOEFL: 80 - with minimum scores as follows: Listening- 17; Reading - 18; Speaking - 20; Writing - 17