Corporate Services | DBS Library | International Students | Current Students | News & Events 

Home / Our Courses / /

Higher Certificate in Arts - Full-time

  • Overview
  • Course Content
  • Structure
  • Career Opportunities
  • Fees
  • Next Steps

Overview

Higher Certificate in Arts 

Overview

The Higher Certificate in Arts (Level 6, 120 ECTS) is a two year full-time, or three year part-time, programme leading to a QQI Major Award placed at Level 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). The Higher Certificate in Arts is a multi-purpose award designed to meet the needs of a variety of learners and offers an inspiring and challenging educational experience, developing a broad range of knowledge and skills across a spectrum of academic disciplines, but also a course of personal and academic skills development and a structured pathway to further educational opportunities. The Higher Certificate in Arts is an award in its own right but it also provides elective pathways to a number of undergraduate programmes in DBS (in Psychology; Social Science; Business; Marketing; Accounting and Finance, Film and Creative Media, and Law).

Stage one comprises modules in: Contemporary Humanities; Contemporary Social Sciences; Economic and the World of Business; Film and Creative Media as well as learning provided in modules: Digital Skills (5 ECTS), Academic Skills (10 ECTS) and the Career Discovery module which offers learners a platform for educational and career related investigation, job analysis, CV building, interview practice and work experience identification.

In Stage two there are two strands: academic underpinning in the module Critical Thinking Skills (10 ECTS) and elective academic pathways (50 ECTS). This stage provides learners with the opportunity to experience introductory-level subject specialisation on one of these elective pathways: Psychology; Social Science; Film and Creative Media; General Arts; Business; Marketing; Accounting and Finance and Law. These specialisms are offered in the second half of the programme. Specialist pathways include:

  • General Arts

  • Psychology    

  • Social Science   

  • Film and Creative Media

  • Business

  • Marketing

  • Accounting and Finance

  • Law


Once selected, all elements of the pathway become mandatory - the modular elements of the pathways are determined by the requirements of the parent programmes from which they are derived. With the exception of the General Arts pathway, learners will share classes with the first year of different DBS Level 8 programmes.

The Higher Certificate in Arts aims to produce graduates who are knowledgeable and academically well-rounded, possessed of a wide range of transferrable skills, and well-qualified and prepared to successfully progress to a range of further academic or work-related challenges.

It provides an alternative learning route into existing undergraduate degree offerings with additional support structures to guide and support learners. This programme provides an opportunity for learners to experience an extended and closely supported transition into third-level education with significant subject specialisation at Level 6.

There is an embedded award of a Certificate in Arts (Level 6, 60 ECTS), available to learners who do not wish to complete the full Higher Certificate award. The Certificate in Arts (Level 6, 60 ECTS) equates to the first year and first stage of the Higher Certificate in Arts programme and is offered to allow maximum flexibility for  learners.

 

Programme Aims and Objectives

The specific programme objectives are as follows:

  • Provide an introduction to a range of subjects available for study within the areas of arts, business and law.

  • Acquaint learners with an introductory level understanding of some of the key language, concepts and philosophical underpinnings of particular subjects at third level.

  • Facilitate in the development of writing, oral presentation and IT skills.

  • Promote an understanding of how different academic disciplines or subjects engage and explore issues and problems in the world.

  • Facilitate in the development of independent study, research and learning skills.

  • Facilitate in the development of team-working, project-management, time-management and careers skills.

  • Enable learners to learn from their experience and reflect upon their academic and personal goals and development.

  • Offer the opportunity for progression onto Level 8 programmes of education and training in subject areas related to the content of the programme.

     

Course Content

Stage One Modules

  • Digital Skills

  • Contemporary Humanities

  • Contemporary Social Sciences

  • Economics and the World of Business

  • Film and Creative Media

  • Academic Skills

  • Careers Discovery

Stage Two Modules

Learners choose one Elective Pathway

Elective Pathway
(Learners choose one)
  Parent Programme
 General Arts
  Higher Certificate in Arts
 Psychology  BA (Hons) in Psychology
 Social Science
  BA (Hons) in Social Science
 Film & Creative Media
  BA (Hons) in Film and Creative Media
 Business
 BA (Hons) in Business
 Marketing  BA (Hons) in Marketing
 Accounting and Finance
 BA (Hons) in Accounting and Finance
 Law  Bachelor of Law (Hons)

 

Stage Two Modules Elective Pathway Detail

 

Learners choose one elective pathway and join classes of the parent degree programme from which each pathway is drawn. Each elective pathway delivers 50 ECTS of learning and by the end of Stage two students have achieved sufficient specialist learning to progress to the second year (Stage two) of the parent Level 8 degree.

The detail of the elective pathways are as follows:   

General Arts   

  • Literature in the Modern World

  • Drama and Theatre: Page and Stage

  • War & Peace in the Twentieth Century I

  • Irish Life and Cultures

  • Writing for College

  • Introduction to Philosophy

  • Introduction to Psychology

  • The Sociological Imagination

  • The Moving Image

  • Art and Architecture of Ireland

  • Ethics

  • War & Peace in the Twentieth Century II

  • Introduction to Communications

  • Introduction to Statistics

  • Communication for Success

  • Irish Literature

Psychology

All Stage Two arts modules are delivered in common with modules running as part of the DBS BA (Hons) Psychology programme and are mandatory if learners choose this pathway.

  • Foundations of Biopsychology

  • Foundations in Social Psychology

  • Psychological Foundations

  • Introduction to Psychoanalysis and the Unconscious

  • Research Technique & Analysis 1

  • Fundamentals of Cognitive Psychology

  • Developmental Psychology

     

Social Science

All Stage two social science modules are delivered in common with modules running as part of the DBS BA (Hons) Social Science programme and are mandatory if learners choose this pathway.

  • Foundations in Social Psychology

  • The Sociological Imagination

  • Introduction to Social Research

  • Psychology through the Lifespan 1

  • Social Policy and Law for Social Care 1

  • Foundations in Criminology



Film and Creative Media

All Stage two arts modules are delivered in common with modules running as part of the DBS BA (Hons) Film and Creative Media programme and are mandatory if learners choose this pathway.

  • Professional Practice: the Creative Workplace

  • Principles: Light, Camera, Photography

  •  The Moving Image

  • Audio Tech & Techniques

  • Software I: Professional Editing Platforms

  • Writing for Screen Media



Business

All Stage two business modules are delivered in common with modules running as part of the DBS BA (Hons) Business programme and are mandatory if learners choose this pathway.

  • Digital Skills 2

  • Maths and Stats for Business

  • Business Context and Organisation

  • Marketing Essentials

  • Economic Perspectives

  • Introduction to Business Finance



Marketing  

All Stage two arts modules are delivered in common with modules running as part of the DBS BA (Hons) Marketing programme and are mandatory if learners choose this pathway.

  • Digital Skills 2

  • Economic Perspectives

  • Marketing Essentials

  • Business Context and Organisation

  • Maths and Stats for Business

  • Digital Content Creation

     

Accounting and Finance
All Stage two accounting and finance modules are delivered in common with modules running as part of the DBS BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance programme and are mandatory if learners choose this pathway.

  • Digital Skills 2

  • Principles of Accounting

  • Economic Perspectives

  • Business Context and Organisation

  • Business Maths and Research Methods

  • Accounting Information Systems

     

Law

All Stage two law modules are delivered in common with modules running as part of the DBS Bachelor of Laws (Hons) programme and are mandatory if learners choose this pathway.

  • Introduction to Legal Research Skills

  • Criminal Law

  • Constitutional Law

  • Legal Systems

  • Contract Law

     











 

Structure

The Higher Certificate in Arts is a two year full-time, or a three year part-time programme, divided into two stages and offering a series of internal options or pathways at stage two. All students take all of stage one modules of the programme and then take the elective specialised subject pathways during their second year. Whatever internal pathway they choose students will encounter an attractive mix of specialised academic knowledge and a course of continuing academic, personal and professional learning development that will put them in good stead for the future.

Teaching and Assessment

Higher Certificate in Arts provides a flexible, active, peer-led, experiential and reflective learning environment for students. Modules will be delivered through a mix of practical skills sessions, tutorials, lectures, workshops and real-world case-based learning.
Assessment takes a variety of forms including: multiple choice questions, debates, presentations, individual portfolios of employment related artefacts, written assignments, reflective diaries, analysis of case studies and in-class tests.
At stage two of the programme the elective pathways are primarily assessed according to the assessment strategies of the parent programmes.  

Career opportunities


On the completion of the Higher Certificate in Arts learners will acquire well rounded academic knowledge and a range of transferable skills and tools to pursue a career in any area of work that requires strong skills of written expression, oral presentation, communication, conceptual and critical thought, teamwork or project management.

Graduates will be able to find entry-level jobs or further study to excel in specific roles and get into many sectors. After completion of the Higher Certificate in Arts programme, students will have access to a range of entry-level employment opportunities in areas such as:

  • Business Administration

  • General Arts

  • Law

  • Marketing

  • Sales

  • Film and Media

  • Psychology

  • Social Science

  • Health and Social Services

  • Finance

  • Accounting

 
Related DBS courses have an excellent record of inspiring and enabling students to go on to further study, with a very high proportion of graduates progressing onto further educational programmes at honours degree level and beyond and to a very wide variety of jobs and careers.


Transfer and Progression


Graduates of this Higher Certificate in Arts programme will automatically gain right of entry to Year two of any one of the following DBS honours degree programmes: BA (Hons) in Psychology, BA (Hons) in Social Science, and BA (Hons) in Film and Creative Media, BA (Hons) in Accounting & Finance, BA (Hons) in Marketing and BA (Hons) in Business (all streams). The programme is clearly placed and validated on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) and so graduates will also be qualified to apply for entry to similar programmes in other institutions.



Graduate Attributes of the Higher Certificate in Arts

Graduates from this programme will possess the following attributes and skills:

  • Problem-solving and analytical skills

  • Communication Skills

  • IT skills (basic use of computers)

  • Capacity to analyse and synthesise diverse academic theories and practices

  • Independent learning and self-development

  • Ability to collaborate effectively

  • Ability to demonstrate and use initiative

  • Clear and accurate writing

  • Entrepreneurship

  • Innovation

  • Negotiation skills

  • Adaptability


Skills:

  • Basic Project Management

  • Basic Technological competence

  • Basic mathematical ability

  • Time management

  • Introductory level research capability

  • Essay and report writing skills

  • Document preparation

  • Oral and visual presentation skills

Fees

The fees for Full-time Certificate in Arts are €5,995 for EU students.

Click here to view international fees.  

Click here to view EU fees.

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

Please note there is no tax relief on this one year programme.

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.

School Leaver Applicants

Application for first year full-time programmes in the college is through the CAO System. The CAO system applies only to applications for first year admissions to undergraduate full-time day programmes described in the prospectus, which have a CAO Course code www.cao.ie.  . Application forms and the CAO Handbook are both supplied by the Central Applications Office (CAO), Tower House, Eglinton Street, Galway or from your Career Guidance Counsellor.

Mature Applicants

If you are over 23 years of age on the 1st of January on the year of admission and 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 Learners

Graduates of this programme will automatically gain entry to any one of the following DBS School of Arts honours degree programmes: BA (Hons) in Psychology, BA (Hons) in Social Science, and BA (Hons) in Film. The programme is clearly placed and validated on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) and so graduates will also be qualified to apply for entry to similar programmes in other institutions. Learners should thus be able to progress from enrolling on the Certificate to graduating with an Honours Degree award in four years.

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.

Application fee to CAO

Early applicants to CAO can benefit from a reduced fee of €30 for early online applications. There is a standard application fee of €45 made payable to CAO on submitting your CAO application form or online application to www.cao.ie before the normal closing date. Late applicants will be charged €90 for paper applications and €60 for online applications.
Categories:
  • International
  • Psychology & Social Science
  • Media & Journalism
  • Full-time Degrees/ Certificates
  • Full-Time
  • Arts
  • 6

Course overview

Awarding Body: 
Quality & Qualifications Ireland (QQI)
QQI AWARD LOGO (1)
Award: Certificate
NFQ Level: Level 6
Award Title: 
Certificate in Arts
Award Type:
Duration: 2 Years
CAO Code: DB563
Next Intake: September 2024

Contact Us

We are now accepting applications for programmes taking place in 2024. 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