UCC Undergraduate courses

Law & Business

Course Fact File
CodeCK307
Duration4 years
Teaching ModeFull-time
QualificationsBCL (Hons)
NFQ LevelLevel 8
FeesEU State Student Contribution + Capitation: €3,138 See Fees and Costs for full details.
CAO Points2023: 567
CAO Points Range2023: 567 - 625

Course Outline

The BCL (Law and Business) is a joint honours degree combining the related disciplines of law and business. This exciting four-year programme:

  • explores the relationship between law and business, in areas such as business organisation, finance, and market regulation
  • applies key legal and business tools of analysis to examine issues affecting the performance of firms and industries in a global business environment.

During the first three years of this programme, you will take an equal amount of credits in law and business. Law modules include contract law, commercial law; and company law; while business modules cover topics in accounting, business information systems, economics, management and marketing.

In the final year of the programme, you can specialise in law or business with over 40 optional modules to choose from.

There is a focus on developing transferable skills throughout the programme, with compulsory modules in research, writing and communication involving group work and presentation skills.

 On successful completion of this degree, you should be able to:

  • Demonstrate in-depth and contextual knowledge and understanding of legal and business principles and rules;
  • Communicate and work effectively to a professional standard;
  • Engage in the application of frameworks and techniques in an organizational setting;
  • Demonstrate analytical and problem-solving skills associated with effective practice

Core Modules in First Year

  • AC1102 Financial Accounting (5 credits)
  • EC1207 Principles of the Micro Economy (5 credits)
  • EC1208 Principles of the Macro Economy (5 credits)
  • IS1105 Business Information Systems (5 credits)
  • LW1001 Legal Writing (5 credits)
  • LW1104 Foundations of the Legal System (5 credits)
  • LW1112 Constitutional and Institutional Law of the European Union (5 credits)
  • LW1114 Droit institutionnel de l'Union européenne
  • LW1154 Law of Contract (10 credits)
  • LW1161 Constitutional Law: Fundamental Rights (5 credits) plus
  • LW1162 Constitutional Law: Institutions of Government (5 credits) OR
  • LW1163 Dlí Bunreachtúil: Bunchearta (5 credits) plus
  • LW1164 Dlí Bunreachtúil: Institiúidí an Rialtais (5 credits)
  • MG1000 Foundations of Management and Organisational Behaviour (5 credits)

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

Students must take 60 credits per academic year, with 5 credits typically equating to 12 weeks of 2 lecture hours per week. Selected modules also include tutorials, a form of small group teaching, with 5 tutorials per semester being the norm.

As well as attending lectures and tutorials each week, students are expected to engage in self-directed learning which involves independent research and study in the library or online. This type of work can be undertaken individually or in a group setting.

Assessment

Law and Business modules are assessed by a variety of methods including by written assignments, and end of semester examinations. Some modules can include oral presentations as part of the examination process and group work.

Who teaches this course

You will be taught by the dedicated staff of the Law School and the Business School during your time as a UCC law and business student, many of whom are internationally recognised experts in their individual fields.

Why Choose This Course

I believed that this course will give me a fundamental grounding...so that, by the end of the degree, I will be clear about where I want to specialise.

Elaine McCarthy

Student, BCL Law and Business, Year 1

View Student

The BCL (Law and Business):

  • is a joint honours degree which provides you with an excellent foundation for a career in law or business
  • allows you to specialise in law or business in your final year thereby tailoring your studies to your interests and career plans
  • prioritises the development of transferable skills.

Placement or Study Abroad Information

The BCL Law and Business includes a work placement opportunity in a legal or business environment during the summer months preceding the final year of study. This optional work placement module (LW3407 Placement – 5 credits) forms part of your final year assessment.

Skills and Careers Information

The broad knowledge base and skills secured by graduates of the BCL (Law and Business) degree will afford them with a wide range of career opportunities in Ireland and abroad. The School of Law at UCC places a huge emphasis upon the development of transferable skills through dedicated modules, which develop writing skills, research and presentation skills. Graduates will have the opportunity to work in many sectors including: 

  • the legal profession (including being a solicitor; barrister, or in-house legal counsel)
  • accountancy
  • taxation
  • compliance
  • business information systems
  • financial services
  • food business.

Graduates may also choose to pursue postgraduate and/or professional studies in law or business from a wide range of academic and industry graduate programmes.

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:

EnglishIrishMathsOther Language
O6/H7 O6/H7 O6/H7 O6/H7
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.

Admission for mature applicants to this programme is based on the Law Assessment Test and Interview.

Further information on applying as a mature student is available on the Mature Applicants and Mature Student Entry support pages. 

QQI FET Entry

Applicants who meet the required level of distinctions in required subjects can apply for entry to this course using specific QQI FET qualifications. Please review the Programme Requirements on our Information for QQI FET Applicants page for information on related QQI courses, and visit Access UCC’s QQI/FET Entry section for further support. 

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.

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 CAOSee our QQI/FET Applicants page for information on the Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) Further Education and Training (FET) application process. 

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. 

For queries regarding course content or timetables please contact

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