BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance - Part-time

Overview
Course Content
Structure
Career Opportunities
Fees
Next Steps

Overview

part time accounting degree

Successful completion of this accounting degree gives substantial exemptions from professional accountancy examinations such as ACCA.

The BA (Hons) in Accounting & Finance degree programme is designed to prepare students for a career in the accounting and finance function in business. It features a blend of specialised accounting and finance subjects together with general business subjects. It aims to develop an awareness of the international relationships between finance and other business disciplines, to develop a critical and methodical approach to problem solving and decision making in a financial context and to develop the ability to interpret and communicate financial and other information.

Ireland has an exceptionally strong international financial services sector with particular strengths in administration and management of funds; reinsurance; cross border insurance and specialist finance, such as aviation leasing and asset finance. As a result, there is a continuing need for well-educated staff to work as managers, accountants, auditors, financial accounting, management accountants, professional advisers, regulators and service providers with sophisticated domain knowledge in the key business provision of financial services.

Ireland is a very profitable location for multinationals and financial service providers, due to the combination of high productivity and a cost base that is very competitive with other locations, which have similarly sophisticated ecosystems. The IFS 2020 identifies a need for further education in this area to fill the skills gap, which arises in start-up, indigenous and multinational companies. This programme accommodates a wide audience of learners whose specific interests in Accounting & Finance.

This programme is a 4-year Part-Time programme. Prospective learners for this programme are those who wish to pursue a career as a professional in accountancy or finance related fields. The programme may be of interest for part time learners that already work in the profession and are seeking career progression through attaining a degree qualification, or who are seeking to enter into the profession.

ACCA & CIMA

The programme is aligned to the ACCA syllabus and graduates are currently exempted from all 9 of the Fundamental level ACCA exams and 7 CIMA paper exemptions. In order to maintain exemptions, delivery and assessment of the programme may be subject to additional requirements which do not apply to other programmes or to modules which are cross listed with other programmes (including sitting Closed Book examinations).

Objectives

The programme's specific objectives are to:

To provide learners with knowledge and understanding of the fundamental theories, concepts and methods of accounting and finance and the inter‐relationship between the accounting and finance functions and complementary business disciplines.
To provide and develop a professional competency in the techniques and models necessary to prepare financial information for internal and external stakeholders and to interpret the significance and relevance of that information.
To provide and develop the skills necessary to employ a methodical and critical approach to business problem solving and decision making using an appropriate balance of financial and non‐financial information.
To equip learners with the ability to communicate financial information in an effective and coherent manner using both written and oral media whilst giving due regard to technical standards, ethical business practices and sound corporate governance.
To cultivate an appreciation of how current and emerging issues are likely to impact on the future development and direction of accounting and finance practices.
To provide learners with the underpinning knowledge to pursue future postgraduate study.
To provide a strong link with the major professional accounting bodies and afford learners the opportunity to maximise potential exemptions in further professional study.
Facilitate the development by the learner of applied skills that are directly complementary and relevant to the workplace.
To enable the learner to identify, develop and apply analytical, creative, problem solving and research skills.
To provide the learner with a comprehensive platform for career development, innovation and further study.

Delivery

For the academic year 2024/25, this programme will run online.

Course Content

The BA (Hons) in Accounting & Finance programme comprises of 3 levels. Students should complete this course in 4 years part-time. This programme has the following content:

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Core Modules

Principles of Accounting

Economic Perspectives

Business Context and Organisation

IT Essentials

Mathematics for Business

Foundational Academic Skills

Accounting Information Systems

Core Modules

Business and Company Law

Management

Cost Accounting

Financial Accounting

Financial Management

ESG and Ethics

Advanced Economic Perspectives

Core Modules

Management Accounting for Performance

Advanced Financial Management

Financial Reporting

Taxation Systems

Audit and Assurance

Capstone Project

Teaching and Assessment

The BA (Hons) in Accounting & Finance is taught mainly through lectures and tutorials, with students taking responsibility for a significant amount of study outside scheduled class contact times. Student assessment will be based on a combination of continuous assessment and end of year Closed Book examinations. Continuous assessment will include essay writing, case studies, presentations, literature reviews and projects, and students will be required to work individually as well as in groups. End of year examinations are typically held in late April/early May. Level 1 subjects may also include an in-class assessment usually held in December.

Awarding Body and NFQ Level

This programme has been validated and approved by the Irish state agency, QQI (Quality and Qualifications Ireland). The programme is positioned at Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), a framework for the development, recognition and award of qualifications in Ireland. The programme is listed on the Irish Register of Qualifications.

Under QQI, DBS is obliged to carry out reviews and re-submit the programme for re-approval on a cyclical basis. This means that, during your programme of study, there may be changes to programme content or delivery. Where this occurs, transition arrangements are carefully considered to ensure coherence and consistency for learners.

Structure

Level 1

Stage 1, delivered across Years 1 and 2 in Part Time mode, will provide learners with knowledge of relevant disciplines such as management and organisation, law and regulation, Information Technology, Economics and Accounting and Finance practice. Learners will also learn skills relevant to professional practice such as business frameworks, context, etc.

Level 2

Stage 2, delivered across Years 2 and 3 in Part Time mode, will build on the knowledge developed at Stage 1 in economics, business strategy, regulation and control in financial environments and financial management. In addition, learners will gain understanding of principles of professional practice, specifically finance and accountancy.

Level 3

Stage 3, delivered across Years 3 and 4 in Part Time mode, will complete learners’ instruction in finance, audit, tax and financial reporting. Students will complete their award stage with a capstone project.

This programme is taught on a hybrid basis. This means learners are timetabled either in-class or online, in a mix of online and in-class days. While a portion of the module classes will be hosted live-online through synchronous delivery, on-site in class attendance will be required throughout each semester of the programme.

Career Opportunities

Graduates from this programme often use it as a fast track to professional accountancy qualifications, availing of their entitlement to exceptional exemptions from ACCA. Former students from this programme are employed worldwide in a range of business, accounting and finance positions. They work in tax, audit and general accounting firms as well as multinational blue-chip companies and small and medium-sized enterprises across a range of industry sectors.

There are currently numerous employment opportunities in the following areas:

· Accountancy Firms;
· Management Consultants;
· Commercial Banks;
· Investment Banks;
· Asset Managers;
· Insurance Companies.

Employment opportunities also exist across the diverse SME (Small Medium Sized Enterprises) sector and within the public sector.

Graduates can also pursue further academic study within DBS including the MSc. International Accounting and Finance, and the MSc. in Trading and Finance, or may explore a more business-focussed postgraduate programme in our MBA.

Fees

The Course Fees for the BA (Hons) in Accounting and Finance are:

• Level 1: €590 (10 credit modules) / €300 (5 credit modules) per annum.

• Level 2: €700 (10 credit modules) / €360 (5 credit modules) per annum.

• Level 3: €750 (10 credit modules) / €380 (5 credit modules) per annum.

For a full list of part-time undergraduate business degree fees click here.

You can also contact our admissions team who will also be able to advise on the payment options available to our students.

All undergraduate programmes of 2 years or more have been approved for tax relief purposes. Tax relief is granted to Irish resident taxpayers at the standard rate of income tax in respect of tuition fees paid exceeding €2,000 and up to €7,000 for part-time programmes only

All QQI accredited programmes of education and training of 3 months or longer duration offered by Dublin Business School (DBS) are covered by arrangements under section 65 (4) (b) of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012 whereby in the event that DBS ceases to provide the programme, for any reason, after learners have started on that programme, Kaplan Inc., as guarantor, will refund the moneys most recently paid by or for the learner. More details are included in the terms and conditions of learner admission to DBS (https://www.dbs.ie/terms-and-conditions) and on programme handbooks provided at induction.

Visit Us

Open days are a great way to help you make your decision about DBS. As well as experiencing our outstanding facilities, you'll have the opportunity to receive personalised advice from academics from your subject area, meet current students and also have your questions answered on general subjects such as entry requirements, student support and the admissions process. Find out when our next open day is taking place.

Our admissions office is located in our Aungier Street campus and you are welcome to visit the college to speak with a member of our admissions team Mondays to Fridays, 8:45am – 5:15pm. Alternatively, you can contact us by email.

Entry Requirements

Before making an application please ensure you are aware of all our entry requirements.

Apply Today

Standard Applicants for the Evening Business Degree programmes must meet the minimum entry requirements of the College. For Evening Business Degree programmes the minimum entry requirements are 2 honours in higher level subjects and 4 passes in ordinary level subjects (to include English & Maths) in the Leaving Certificate or equivalent. Please forward the relevant documentation or any other second or third level qualifications (original & official English translation where issued in another language) to the Admissions Office. Proof of age such as a copy of driver’s licence or passport must also be submitted.

Standard Applicants

Standard Applicants for this programme must meet the minimum entry requirements of the College. The minimum entry requirements are 2 honours in higher level subjects and 4 passes in ordinary level subjects (to include English) in the Leaving Certificate or equivalent. Please forward the relevant documentation or any other second or third level qualifications (original & official English translation where issued in another language) to the Admissions Office. Proof of age such as a copy of driver’s licence or passport must also be submitted.

Mature Applicants

If you are over 23 years of age on the 1st of January on the year of admission and/or do not meet the minimum entry requirements, you may apply as a Mature Student. Mature students should apply directly to the Admissions Office at Dublin Business School. Mature students are assessed on the basis of age, work experience, general education standard, motivation and commitment to the programme for which they are applying. Please forward documentation such as any relevant transcripts, a CV or any other related documentation to the Admissions Office. Proof of age such as a copy of driver’s licence or passport must also be submitted.

Transfer Students

Students holding a relevant Certificate, Diploma or other relevant third level qualification may qualify for entry to the second or third year of degree programme. Transfer applications to the second or third year part-time programmes are to be made directly to the college. Students should send copies of their examination transcripts and other relevant documentation along with their application form (available from the School / College) to the Admissions Office at Dublin Business School. Exemptions are not granted for ‘Award Stage’ modules, therefore some modules are not eligible for consideration to be exempted regardless of prior study.

EU Citizens

A European (EU) Application is one made by a person:
(a) who is permanently a resident in one of the member states of the European Union and/or
(b) who will have received full-time second level education, for three of the five years immediately before the date of proposed admission, in member states.

Non-EU Applicants

Non-EU applicants should contact directly the International Admissions Office at Dublin Business School. Note, part time programmes are not eligible for study visa consideration, and therefore this programme is not available to learners who may require a study visa to come to or be resident in Ireland.

FETAC/QQI Applicants

Minimum admission requirements for graduates of FETAC/QQI awards (former NCVA Level 2 or 3) are a full FETAC/QQI award in a course in a cognate area with a distinction grade in at least three modules. A full FETAC/QQI award normally consists of 8 modules. A full award may be accumulated over more than one academic year. Further details can be obtained from the Admissions Office.

Categories:

Accounting & Finance
Business & Management
8
Part-Time
Evening Degrees

Course overview

Awarding Body:
Quality & Qualifications Ireland (QQI)

Award: Honours Bachelor Degree
NFQ Level: Level 8 (Honours Bachelor Degree)
Award Title:
BA (Hons) Accounting & Finance
Award Type: Major
Duration: 4 Years (2 evenings per week)
Next Intake: September 2025

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Contact Us

We are now accepting applications for programmes taking place in 2025. Contact our admissions team for more information

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 01 417 7500
Opening times:
Monday to Friday
8:45am to 5:15pm

Related Information

Recognition & Accreditation

Entry Requirements

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