Program Overview

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UCC University College Cork

Admissions Office Iontrálacha

Courses

UCC Undergraduate courses

Accounting

Programme Showcase - 13th Nov 24 __Accounting Seminar - 8th Jan 25 __

Course Fact File

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

On This Page

• Course Outline
• Course Practicalities
• Why Choose This Course
• Requirements
• Fees and Costs
• How To Apply

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

Previous

"Everything you need to be successful is here"

Aimee Desmond, Paul Dunlea & Kieran Murphy

BSc Accounting Graduates

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Overall, this degree has been hugely beneficial to my career prospects and has provided me with the necessary skills to be successful in life.

More from our recent Graduates

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Annie Blewitt – 2020 graduate. Assurance Assoc PwC

When I was in school, I was most driven in the numbers-related subjects, as most who consider a career in Accounting are. Of course, this drive comes in incredibly useful throughout this four-year degree, but the study of this degree also opens up a world beyond the numbers, a concept that I, myself, may not have considered altogether attractive before actually experiencing it. In this degree, you learn that there is so much more to accounting than the oh-so important balancing of a balance sheet or the profit or loss in a set of accounts. There is a history to the methods you take so much for granted, a knack to the calculations you may not even fully understand yet, and a world of opportunities you may not have even considered as you didn’t realise they were even possible down the path of accountancy.

Following my four years in the Accounting degree, I can confidently enter the jobs market knowing that I have the experience to back me up in any interview thanks to the six month work placement I had in my third year, and the support of a hard-earned but rewarding education in the UCC course that is highly esteemed by any employer I happen to encounter. I personally enjoy the knowledge that I have a graduate programme waiting for me after my graduation, thanks to my placement in PwC that I secured through the Accounting course’s placement co-ordinator who facilitates placement applications and interviews for Accounting students. Without the help of the accounting department’s lecturers and staff, this process would have been exponentially more difficult, and I am grateful for all the help I have been offered in this area.

Faolan Carberry – 2019 Graduate, Assurance Assoc, PwC

A big advantage of the BSc Accounting degree is the smaller class sizes compared to other business courses. This results in lectures being conducted in a more friendly and open environment, where questions are encouraged. It is also much easier to make friends with classmates which is a key part of any positive college experience.

If you are studying accounting for the Leaving Cert and wish to pursue accounting further, I believe the BSc Accounting degree is the best degree for you. Regardless of what professional qualification you pursue after college, no other UCC degree will provide you with as many exemptions as the BSc Accounting degree. Working and studying at the same time is challenging and the BSc Accounting degree minimises the amount of time which will have to be spent both working and studying which is a big advantage of the programme. Furthermore, the BSc Accounting degree also provides you with a substantial grounding in the topics which will be covered in the professional exams.

The lecturers on the programme are experts in their field coming from a wide range of backgrounds. Some have taught extensively on professional accountancy programmes while others have risen to top positions in the business world. This mixture of professional and educational experience leads to focused modules which are geared towards applying business concepts to practical situations.

When you are in the workplace, you will need more than just academic results to succeed. You will also need excellent communication, teamwork and presentation skills and the BSc Accounting Degree provides you with plenty of opportunities to develop these skills. The six-

month work placement in Third Year is also a great opportunity to gain first hand accountancy experience.

Katie Crowley – 2019 Graduate, Assurance Assoc, PwC

My name is Katie Crowley and I graduated from the BSc in Accounting in 2019. I thoroughly enjoyed my four years at UCC and would highly recommend the degree.

Over the four years I got the opportunity to complete a variety of modules in Accounting, Economics, Management, Finance, Statistics, BIS, Law, Excel, Tax and more. As well as providing you with a rounded education of accountancy and the wider business world, you also develop many vital soft skills such as presentation, teamwork, and interview skills. The course contains 12 hours of lectures per week plus tutorials which is very manageable. This allows plenty time to get involved in college life and join a club or society. The Accounting and Finance society organizes the annual A&F ball as well as many other events during the year.

In third year, we got the chance to go on a 6-month paid placement from January to June. This was a great opportunity to get real experience in the workplace while we still had July and August to enjoy some time off before beginning final year. At the end of my 6 months in PwC they offered to sponsor me on a master’s in accounting before joining their firm to complete a three-year graduate program and qualify as a Chartered Accountant. Many people in the course secured graduate programs at the end of placement which is one thing less to worry about when entering final year.

The BSc in Accounting maximises your exemptions from professional accountancy exams with ACA, CAI, CIMA, CPAI and CTA. No other UCC degree provides you with as many exemptions from professional accountancy exams. I am going down the ACA route which involves three sets of exams, CAP1s, CAP2s and FAEs. The BSc in Accounting is the only degree at UCC which leaves you fully exempt from CAP1s which means I only had 2 sets of exams to complete after I graduated.

The Chartered Accountant qualification is recognised worldwide meaning there is an opportunity to travel and work abroad as an accountant once you have qualified. Accountants are always in high demand because with every business it all comes back to the bottom line.

The biggest misconception about accounting is that it's a boring job, sometimes I wish it was boring

Caroline Crowley, Founder CPC Outsourcing, BSc Accounting Graduate

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The course offers a broad range of subjects such as Law, Economics, Marketing etc which gave me the opportunity to discover new interests.

Tilly Downes, Associate at PwC

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I'm so glad I chose to study Accounting in UCC. It is an excellent degree for anyone who has an interest in the areas of business, accounting and finance

Ailís McCarthy, Assurance Associate at PwC

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The BSc Accounting degree at UCC gave me the opportunity to work in one of the top accounting firms for 6 months. This was a very valuable experience where I got to apply my knowledge

Sarah Draper, UK & I Assurance Senior at EY

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The degree gave me the knowledge, experience and confidence to work with the largest professional services firm in the world

Brendan Foley,

Finance Manager at Johnson & Johnson

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“What I found interesting about this course is the wide spectrum of subject matter covered. The six- month placement enables students to work in some of the world’s top companies and enhances prospects of returning to that employer on graduation. The degree gave me the knowledge, experience and confidence to work with the largest professional services firm in the world”

The programme is an excellent stepping stone to a career in the accountancy profession, in finance or in business generally.

Ronan O'Loughlin,

Director of Education & Training, Chartered Accountants Ireland

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Graduates from the BSc Accounting programme in UCC have consistently performed well in the examinations of Chartered Accountants Ireland. Indeed the programme is an excellent stepping stone to a career in the accountancy profession, in finance or in business generally. Employer feedback has been very positive since the programme’s commencement

BSc Accounting boasts a wide range of modules that allows its students flexibility in what path they want to follow.

David Kavanagh, Corporate Finance Analyst at Deloitte Ireland

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

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.