Commerce (Global Experience)

Course Overview

The Bachelor of Commerce (Global Experience) degree is a four-year comprehensive business course, where students complete modules from all different areas of business in the first two years of the degree. In year three students undertake a work placement, study abroad or a combination of the work placement and study abroad. In final year students specialise in one stream, from Accounting & Performance Measurement, Economics & Public Policy, Management of Human Resources, Marketing Management, Digital Business & Analytics, Finance, Business Law or International Business. The aim of the programme is to give students the necessary knowledge, skills, networks and experience to succeed in the business world, but also in their workplace, work-life and communities.

Global Experience Year Options

• 1. 6 Month Work Placement in Ireland & 1 Semester Studying Abroad

• 2. Year-long Study Abroad

• Limited opportunities are also available for a year-long international work placement

Areas of Specialism 

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 University of Galway or equivalent postgraduate accounting programmes in other universities.

Find out more about our Accounting Exemptions here.

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.

Management of Human Resources: 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, the marketing of services and global marketing. The disciplines research programme enhances each subjects 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. Students will be well positioned to secure jobs as management consultants specialising in IS or to work within the IS department of a 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. Using a multidisciplinary approach, students develop their cultural awareness skills and understand how to operate effectively in a dynamic global business environment.

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-to date, relevant and useful to todays 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. The programme allows students to work individually and in groups on different projects which are relevant to the ever-changing and dynamic business environment, thus developing their business and interpersonal skills.

Deloitte Partnership

University of Galway is pleased to be partnering with  Deloitte on the BComm (Global Experience) course. 

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Course Outline

Year One

• Introduction to Management Accounting/Financial Accounting
• Business Information Systems andInformationManagement for Business
• Mathematics and Statistics for Business
• Foundations of Marketing Thought
• Contemporary Management Thought
• Choice between Spanish, German and the combination of Business Law (semester II)/Skills to Succeed (semester I)Year Two

• Inferential Statistical Methods for Business
• Marketing Management
• Organisational Psychology
• Applied Microeconomics for Business
• Management Accounting I
• Skills for Business
• Business Finance I
• Work and Employment Relations
• Macroeconomics and the Business Environment
• Information and Operations Management

Plus two optional modules from the following:

• International Financial Reporting I
• Introduction to Financial Economics
• Economics of Public Policy
• The Psychology of Consumer Behaviour
• Information Systems and Project Management
• Advanced Statistical Methods for Business
• Management of Organisational Change
• Business Law II
• Doing Business in China - Chinese Language & Culture I

Year Three

•  One semester studying abroad in the USA, Australia, China/Hong Kong or Europe and one semester on work placement in Ireland, or
• Full academic year of study abroad,or Full academic year of work placement 

 Year Four

• Ireland in the Global Economy
• Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility
• Business Strategy
• Innovation: Creativity and Enterprise

Specialise in a business discipline/stream:

• Accounting & Performance Measurement
• Economics & Public Policy
• Management of Human Resources
• Digital Business & Analytics
• Marketing Management
• Finance
• Business Law
• International Business
• Enterprise

In addition to the above listed disciplines/streams, students may take optional modules from a list of electives.

Modules are assessed by means of continuous assessment/assignments and/or final/terminal exam. 

Curriculum Information

Further Education

Graduates can take specialist postgraduate programmes, which are available in all of the core business disciplines.

Accounting graduates may be eligible for admission to the Master of Accounting programme at University of Galway or elsewhere.  Graduates of the Masters of Accounting programme are eligible for significant exemptions from the professional examinations of Chartered Accountants Ireland, and are required to pass only the Institute's Final Admitting Examination prior to being admitted to Associate membership of the Institute.

Click here for more infomation on our Taught Postgraduate Programmes

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

Glossary of Terms

Year 1 (60 Credits)

Year 2 (60 Credits)

Year 3 (0 Credits)

Year 4 (0 Credits)

Course Overview

The Bachelor of Commerce (Global Experience) degree is a four-year comprehensive business course, where students complete modules from all different areas of business in the first two years of the degree. In year three students undertake a work placement, study abroad or a combination of the work placement and study abroad. In final year students specialise in one stream, from Accounting & Performance Measurement, Economics & Public Policy, Management of Human Resources, Marketing Management, Digital Business & Analytics, Finance, Business Law or International Business. The aim of the programme is to give students the necessary knowledge, skills, networks and experience to succeed in the business world, but also in their workplace, work-life and communities.

Global Experience Year Options

• 1. 6 Month Work Placement in Ireland & 1 Semester Studying Abroad

• 2. Year-long Study Abroad

• Limited opportunities are also available for a year-long international work placement

Areas of Specialism 

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 University of Galway or equivalent postgraduate accounting programmes in other universities.

Find out more about our Accounting Exemptions here.

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.

Management of Human Resources: 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, the marketing of services and global marketing. The disciplines research programme enhances each subjects 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. Students will be well positioned to secure jobs as management consultants specialising in IS or to work within the IS department of a 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. Using a multidisciplinary approach, students develop their cultural awareness skills and understand how to operate effectively in a dynamic global business environment.

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-to date, relevant and useful to todays 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. The programme allows students to work individually and in groups on different projects which are relevant to the ever-changing and dynamic business environment, thus developing their business and interpersonal skills.

Deloitte Partnership

University of Galway is pleased to be partnering with  Deloitte on the BComm (Global Experience) course. 

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Course Outline

Year One

• Introduction to Management Accounting/Financial Accounting
• Business Information Systems andInformationManagement for Business
• Mathematics and Statistics for Business
• Foundations of Marketing Thought
• Contemporary Management Thought
• Choice between Spanish, German and the combination of Business Law (semester II)/Skills to Succeed (semester I)Year Two

• Inferential Statistical Methods for Business
• Marketing Management
• Organisational Psychology
• Applied Microeconomics for Business
• Management Accounting I
• Skills for Business
• Business Finance I
• Work and Employment Relations
• Macroeconomics and the Business Environment
• Information and Operations Management

Plus two optional modules from the following:

• International Financial Reporting I
• Introduction to Financial Economics
• Economics of Public Policy
• The Psychology of Consumer Behaviour
• Information Systems and Project Management
• Advanced Statistical Methods for Business
• Management of Organisational Change
• Business Law II
• Doing Business in China - Chinese Language & Culture I

Year Three

•  One semester studying abroad in the USA, Australia, China/Hong Kong or Europe and one semester on work placement in Ireland, or
• Full academic year of study abroad,or Full academic year of work placement 

 Year Four

• Ireland in the Global Economy
• Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility
• Business Strategy
• Innovation: Creativity and Enterprise

Specialise in a business discipline/stream:

• Accounting & Performance Measurement
• Economics & Public Policy
• Management of Human Resources
• Digital Business & Analytics
• Marketing Management
• Finance
• Business Law
• International Business
• Enterprise

In addition to the above listed disciplines/streams, students may take optional modules from a list of electives.

Modules are assessed by means of continuous assessment/assignments and/or final/terminal exam. 

Curriculum Information

Further Education

Graduates can take specialist postgraduate programmes, which are available in all of the core business disciplines.

Accounting graduates may be eligible for admission to the Master of Accounting programme at University of Galway or elsewhere.  Graduates of the Masters of Accounting programme are eligible for significant exemptions from the professional examinations of Chartered Accountants Ireland, and are required to pass only the Institute's Final Admitting Examination prior to being admitted to Associate membership of the Institute.

Click here for more infomation on our Taught Postgraduate Programmes

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

Irish, UK and EU Undergraduate Applications

For full details on the undergraduate admission procedure and entry requirements please refer to the Undergraduate Admissions Office webpage.

How do I apply for an Undergraduate Course?

• You can apply online to the Central Applications Office (CAO) on the CAO Web site
• You can submit a paper application which you can download from the CAO Web site

Where do I submit my paper application?

You can send your paper application to the following postal address:

The Central Applications Office 
Tower House, Eglinton Street, Galway 
T: 353 91 509800 
E: www.cao.ie

Important CAO dates to remember:

There are three closing dates for applications.

• Normal application: 1 February.
• Late applications: 1 May (Late applications may NOT be made by those applying on 1 or for entry to Medicine).
• Change of mind: 1 July.

If you are submitting a non-standard application (an entry on page three of the application form), you should submit it to the CAO Office  by the 1 February.

Further information on Undergraduate Admission is available from the Undergraduate Admissions Office.

Further information on Undergraduate entrance Scholarships:www.nuigalway.ie/admissions/scholarships/index.html.

Learn More

• Download CAO application form and handbook