Bachelor of Commerce

Course Overview

Commerce is a very flexible programme that covers all business areas before a student chooses a specialism in final year in one of the following:

Accounting & Performance Measurement: Students study accounting and accounting-related modules, positioning them for a career in accountancy and related areas. Depending on the modules chosen, exemptions are available to successful students in the professional accountancy bodies’ exams. In addition, students may apply for entry, on a competitive basis, to the Master of Accounting (MAcc programme at NUI Galway or equivalent postgraduate accounting programmes in other universities.

Accounting Exemptions

Economics & Public Policy: Students can apply their economic theory to modules as diverse as the economics of globalisation, the economics of money and finance, and health and environmental economics. Economics specialist students are well placed to undertake either postgraduate research at home or abroad, or to embark on a variety of careers in business and economic policy analysis.

Human Resource Management: This specialisation focuses on the management of the human factor in organisations, exploring the nature of the employment relationship and the rights and obligations of the parties involved. It also focuses on the theoretical bases for the best utilisation of human resources (HR. It is targeted at students with a particular interest in the human aspect of organisations and those intending to develop a career in the HR management area.

Marketing Management: This specialisation provides an excellent foundation in a range of key and popular marketing topics, such as media and marketing communications, brand management, marketing analytics and research, digital marketing planning, and global marketing. The discipline’s research programme enhances each subject’s content, ensuring it is taught to world-class standards.

Digital Business & Analytics: This specialisation focuses on the implementation, use and management of information systems within business. It contains practice-based modules that teach students how to create IS using database technology, web design technology and computer programming languages. It also provides modules that enable students to investigate how to manage IS within business.

Finance: This specialisation focuses on a diverse range of important contemporary topics in national and international finance, including international monetary systems, banking, exchange rates, financing and investment decisions, taxation, financial reporting, investments and issues of financial management inherent in managing multinational corporations and institutions. Students will be readily employable in private sector financial services firms as well as both Irish and international public sector financial institutions.

Business Law: This specialisation focuses on the legal aspects of business. Students taking this stream will study core aspects of the law as it relates to commercial activity, such as Company Law. It is also possible to go into depth on topics that are central to many businesses, such as intellectual property, information technology law, and international trade law. Students who complete the stream can progress to the LLB degree and can then go on to qualify as solicitors or barristers. Training in law and business also opens up many other careers, such as journalism, public service, and senior management.

International Business: This specialisation focuses on managing people, diversity in culture and how to effectively lead and manage in a global marketplace. The specialisation focuses on developing knowledge and expertise in international business and cross-cultural management and provides students with the knowledge and skills required for a career in international management and multinational corporations as well as other organisations.

Enterprise: This specialisation focuses on giving enterprising students the structural and academic supports necessary to succeed in an entrepreneurial career. Students will receive the knowledge and supports necessary to succeed and innovate as entrepreneurs in an evolving global economy.

• The programme provides students with a mix of large lectures and smaller group tutorials where they can ask further questions and get help with coursework. Our lecturers’ links with industry ensure that the programme is up-todate, relevant and useful to today’s graduates and employers.
• Specially tailored modules such as Skills for Business which is now taken by second year students. This one–semester module is designed to improve student employability and preparation for the workplace by developing a set of practical skills that form the basis for effective working life.

Management: This specialisation focuses on managing people, operations and organizations in a diverse and international context. The specialisation focuses on developing knowledge and expertise for general management. It is targeted at students that seek a managerial role in any functional area, management consultancy, or would like to keep their options open to work in an array of industries and sectors. In a generalist career pathway, breadth of perspective as well as good cross-functional judgement are important, as this agility transcends specialist knowledge / skills only, particularly in an era of perma-ambiguity.

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Minimum Grade H5 in two subjects and passes in four other subjects at O6/H7 level in the Leaving Certificate, including Irish, English, another language, Mathematics, and any two other subjects recognised for entry purposes.

Academic entry requirements standardised per country here.

English language requirements here.

Graduates will be very well-positioned to pursue a career in many business related areas such as:

• Accounting
• Management Consultancy
• Taxation
• Commercial Advisory Services
• Economic Policy Advisory Services
• Marketing
• Human Resource Management
• Information Systems Management
• Finance (including Banking & Insurance)
• Personnel Management
• Entrepreneurship
• Event Management
• Public Relations

Depending on subject choices, exemptions are available to successful students in the examinations of the professional accountancy bodies. Business Information Systems graduates are well-positioned to secure jobs as management consultants specialising in information systems or to work within the IS department of a business.

Graduates can also go on to select from a range of postgraduate programmes in their chosen discipline at the J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics.

Accounting Exemptions - we are recognised by:

Partnership with PwC

University of Galway is pleased to partner with PwC on the University’s BComm Skills Pathway, which comprises of three modules; Skills for Success, Skills for Business, Innovation, Creativity & Enterprise (ICE). This exciting new strategic partnership focuses on developing students outside of their core academic work. It includes the enhancement of student employability skills, building resilience, and mentoring students to understand the progression of ideas from concept to marketplace. The support from PwC, one of the world’s leading professional services firms, and largest graduate recruiters, will bring business expertise and valuable insights to NUI Galway students preparing them for the Irish and International workplace.

Innovation: Creativity and Enterprise – ICE A partnership with business to drive innovation with students

Final year students in the J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics are provided with the opportunity to put the business knowledge they have gained through their studies into practice through a module in Innovation: Creativity and Enterprise (ICE). Developed in conjunction with entrepreneur Pádraig O’Céidigh, the module involves partnering with local business leaders to provide opportunities for all students to engage in projects, requiring them to innovate in a variety of interesting areas in a business or community setting. More than 30 local business and community leaders get involved each year, mentoring students in group-based projects, requiring them to innovate in a variety of interesting areas.

Global Experience Transfer Option

The BComm can be extended from three to four years. We offer students a competitive opportunity based on student performance and merit to enhance their studies, spending one academic year studying abroad or one semester studying abroad along with a one-semester work placement. In third year students will study a range of business courses through English at an international partner university in North America, Australia, Asia or Europe, providing students with invaluable experience and graduating with a BComm (Global Experience) degree. Students will return to NUI Galway to complete their final year.

Work Placement partners include:

• DHKN • Corrib Oil • Grant Thornton • KPMG • Accenture • Abbott • Wayfair • ESB Group • Medtronic • Shelbourne Hotel • Boston Scientific • Alkermes • PwC • Aviva • Aerogen • Zurich • Creganna.

Study Abroad partners include:

Click here to check out our Interactive Study Abroad Global Map.