Where to study business

Ailbe Murphy, Career Guidance Counsellor at Jesus & Mary Secondary School, Enniscrone, Co Sligo, outlines the options for students

What are the different courses on offer?

There is a huge selection of business courses for students to choose from. The courses on offer cater for every level of academic ability from a oneyear Post Leaving Certificate Course to a level 6/ level 7 or level 8 degree options in third level institutions. A business course is open to all as there is no requirement for applicants to have studied a business subject for the Leaving Certificate but is desirable. CAO Applicant statistics on www.cao.ie from 1st February 2017 states that 11,021 applicants have listed an Administration/ Business degree programme level 8 as their first preference and 11,025 applicants stated a Business course as their first preference at level 6/7. Students can progress upwards through the qualifications ladder. Post Leaving Cert Courses (PLCs) in the area of business are popular with students as a progression route into the CAO system to gain entry into Third Level or to enter the world of work. PLCs are awarded by QQI at level 5 or 6 and information on courses can be accessed on www. qualifax.ie

The points for courses vary from 300 points upwards in an Institute of Technology to over 400 points in a University. Institutes of Technology offer a wide range of level 8, level 7 and level 6 business related courses ranging from Accounting, Business, Office Administration, Taxation, law, Marketing, Management and I.T.

Universities such as D.C.U, Trinity College, UCD, Maynooth, U.C.C, UL and NUIG offer a variety of broad level 8 Business / commerce degrees with options to study a language, work placement or study abroad.

Following in UCD footsteps D.C.U Business school in 2016 confirmed its position in the top 5% of business schools worldwide.

D.C.U offers students a degree in Global Business where students have the option to study in France/Germany/ Spain/USA/ or Canada. Students spend two years in a leading university abroad and graduates will be awarded a degree from each university (D.C.U and abroad).

Courses with the option of work experience built into them offer students the chance to make links with employers which is useful after they finish their degree for employment prospects for example Business Courses in Dublin City University and University of Limerick have one-year work placements as an option for many years now. Theory is brought to life through work on practical business projects in addition to work placement. Students who study Business and a Language have better employment prospects as students will study in a university abroad for one or two years to specialise in their chosen language, become fluent in the language and immerse themselves in another culture. A language is very important as we are a member of the E.U, for travel and seeking work with multinationals.

More specialised Business courses in universities include a degree in Entrepreneurship, and a degree in Equine Business at NUI Maynooth. Business, Economic and Social Studies (BESS) at Trinity College is a common entry degree programme leading to ten degree options. This provides students with a broad education and a high level of flexibility.

Students that may want to leave their options open and not narrow their career choice down to business alone could opt for an Arts Degree which allows students to take a business subject along with one or two other subjects. NUI Maynooth has excellent business options through their first year Arts Degree programme. It is possible to progress into a specialised business degree at the end of first year depending on your subjects and results.

If students are unsure of what they want to do after college then it is probably better to go with a broad degree which leaves their options open. This gives them the opportunity to specialise later in their degree once they have sampled the subject or to specialise in a particular area by completing a Postgraduate Course or Masters. The website www.gradireland.com will assist you finding the Postgraduate course you want. Exemptions from appropriate professional bodies may also be available. For students interested in Accountancy it is important to check exemptions from some professional examinations with the Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Within a business degree the range of subjects is very broad. Students may be exposed to marketing, management, accounting and finance, law, human resource management, information systems, business statistics, mathematics, economics, sociology, and political science.

Courses in business prepares students to work in a variety of areas but career possibilities depend upon special interests or specialisms. Graduates of business courses are qualified to pursue careers in the following area; Industrial relations, human resource management, office management, finance, accounting, banking, insurance, taxation, marketing, management and teaching just to name afew.

Students should research business courses in 3rd level colleges, private business schools and PLC colleges online at college websites, www.cao. ie www.qualifax.ie www.unibrowse.ie and www.careersportal.ie where they will find information on colleges, courses descriptions, requirements, approximate points required as well as career videos and interviews of people working in the business sector.

Students knowledge of the business world, combined with their problem solving and analytical skills, makes business graduates highly desirable employees. If students have an aptitude for figures, statistics and enjoy solving problems, then a business course might suit them.

Are there other routes to business that they’d be better off pursuing, such as a science/ law/ arts undergrad and then a business postgrad?

Graduates need to have more than a business qualification; competition is tough as the market is flooded with general business graduates. Having a language, computer, accounting, law component to your business degree qualification opens up more job opportunities.

Any other points you think are relevant. What do employers look for in a business graduate, how important are credentials, experience etc.

Employers tend to look for graduates that are highly motivated, able to work as part of a team as well as having the ability to work on their own initiative. Have excellent communication skills, be organised and efficient. To have the ability to cope with stress. To have energy and enthusiasm. A Business Graduate should have good analytical and numerical skills. Be open minded, adaptable, flexible and above all be willing to work. The result of your degree is important in order to get called for interview but it is very important to sell yourself at interview, talk about relevant projects you got involved in during college, relevant work experience, time spent abroad or voluntary work. Show the employer that you have drive and determination to succeed.