Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Accounting and Finance

What is this Course?

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

• Small Medium Enterprises
• The Public Sector
• Accounting Firms & Business in general
• Financial Services
• Banks and Information Technology

Previous Graduates are Employed in:

• State Street
• Google
• Oracle
• IBM
• KBC

Accreditation

This is a three year honours degree programme and is QQI accredited. Students will graduate with an internationally recognised Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree in Accounting and Finance.

What do you need?

Applicants for any Level 7 or Level 8 QQI-validated degree programme at the college may qualify for entry through their Irish Leaving Certificate or other international qualifications as follows:

• Leaving Certificate: the candidate must have obtained a minimum of grade H5 or above in two higher-level subjects together with a minimum of grade O6/H7 in four other subjects. A minimum of grade O6/H7 must be obtained in a language. A grade O6/H7 must be obtained in Mathematics.

• Pre-2017 Leaving Certificate Grading Scheme: the candidate must have obtained a minimum of grade C3 in at least two higher-level papers together with a minimum of four grade D3s in ordinary level subjects which must include Mathematics and a language.

• A-Level/GCSE: the candidate must have obtained a minimum of grade C or higher in at least two A-Level papers, together with a minimum of four GCSEs which must include Mathematics and a language.

• BTEC: the candidate must have obtained a minimum of a BTEC National Diploma in which four distinctions are required.

• QQI Level 5: Independent College Dublin will accept applications onto its Level 8 Honours Degree programmes from any applicant holding a QQI Level 5 qualification where a minimum of three distinctions have been obtained as part of their QQI award. To obtain an overall award, learners must have completed eight modules successfully. This does not have to be achieved in one year but can be accumulated over several years.

• Leaving Certificate Applied Programme (LCAP): the College does not recognise LCAP subjects as meeting its minimum entry requirements. However, if combined with a Grade 2 in any QQI certificate course, applicants may apply for any undergraduate course in the college.

• Mature applicants are welcome and can discuss entry based on professional work experience and academic qualifications with our Admissions Manager.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS:

If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence that you will be able to study at degree level English. Applicants for whom English is a second language are required to meet the following minimum requirements (or equivalent):

• Common European Framework B2+
• IELTS6.0 or equivalent

• Cambridge (FCE, CAE, CPE) 170
• TOEFL (IBT) 79
• TOEFL (CBT) 213
• TOEFL (PBT) 550
• Duolingo (Before 31st Dec 2022) 90
• Duolingo (From 1st Jan 2023) 105
• Pearson Test of English (PTE) 51.6

We offer a free online English test which can be taken during the admissions process.

How to Apply?

Apply by clicking our Apply for September or Apply for February button

During your application process you will be asked to supply the following documents:

• Original copy and English translations of degree and transcript of results from previous courses

• Copy of applicant’s passport

• Copies of any other previous academic qualifications

• Copy of GNIB card if already resident in Ireland

• Copy of English certificate – IELTS score of 6.0 or equivalent test is required

For further information email admissions@independentcollege.ie or phone +353 1 877 3903

Aims & Objectives

Independent College has a history of providing degree programmes that appeal to learners and produce graduates which match employer needs. Reviewing the accounting and finance programme has afforded the opportunity to ensure the programme will achieve its aims and equally, ensuring that those aims match stakeholder needs within a very challenging business and commercial environment.

The overall aims of the BA (Honours) in Accounting and Finance are as follows:

1. To provide learners with knowledge and understanding of the fundamental theories, concepts and methods of accounting and finance and the interrelationships between accounting and finance and other broader business functions.

2. To equip learners with the capability to a prepare a range of standard accounting statements for use by management in a business environment and interpreting the business implications of such information.

3. To create an environment where learners will be able to work effectively in teams and independently, to evaluate critically, think creatively and communicate effectively with respect to issues in various areas of accounting and finance.

4. To provide links with accounting and finance bodies to maximise opportunities of engagement and optimise career development for learners.

5. To facilitate the development by the learner of a range of transferable skills that are directly complementary and relevant to the workplace.

6. To provide learners with the knowledge and foundation to successfully pursue further study in professional or postgraduate programmes

Programme Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of the programme students should be able to:

-Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of accounting and finance techniques and concepts, including current reporting standards and a range of contemporary issues.

-Apply a professional knowledge and competency in the preparation of accounting and financial information for internal and external reporting and interpret the significance and relevance of that information.

-Analyse contemporary theories and practice concerning financial management, risk, and the operation of the accounting and finance function.

-Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of internal control issues in enterprises, and the effects of the regulatory environment on financial reporting.

-Assess the ethical responsibilities of accounting and finance and related professionals, identify potential ethical dilemmas that might arise, and evaluate possible solution approaches.

-Create, evaluate and assess options to enable effective problem solving and decision making, making use of appropriate qualitative, quantitative and ICT techniques and skills.

-Display a range of personal and interpersonal skills, including the capacity for continuous learning, independent research, effective communication, performing to deadlines, and working successfully in teams.

-Demonstrate a level of academic and professional ability supporting progression to further academic programmes and/or professional studies for relevant mainstream professional examinations.

Teaching & Assessment

The programme teaching and learning strategy is designed to allow the learner to progress through the theoretical and practical concepts in an orderly and logical fashion. The assessment strategy is planned to ensure practical application of the core principles of the module and facilitates feedback, which underpins the overall learning experience.

The primary purpose of Independent College Dublin’s strategy is that teaching, and assessment supports learning. In addition, assessment supports standards based on appropriate learning outcomes. The programme teaching and assessment strategy is informed by the QQI Business Award Standards. The programme learning outcomes (PLO), the module learning outcomes (MLO), and the graduate attributes also inform this process.

Throughout the programme, learners will experience a varied range of teaching and learning strategies, which are selectively chosen, based on level, module content and suitability to assessment. Most modules will primarily be delivered through a mix of lectures and practical workshops, with tutorials in place to support where necessary. Typically, material will be presented during lectures and workshops, with supporting documentation available via Moodle to learners.

It is envisaged that the learners will assimilate much of the material through problem solving and exercises. Emphasis will be placed on allowing the learners to examine the exercise problem descriptions and try possible solutions in the workshops. Tutorials will be used to allow the learners to get help, reinforce more difficult subject matter and provide learners with the opportunity for assistance to a specific problem.

Teaching will focus on the learner applying problem solving skills to existing programme material. Skills will be developed through a variety of mechanisms, for example:

• Integrated tutorials with industry engagement.

• Problem based learning exercises with trade practitioners.

• Co-delivering and guest lecturing on focussed syllabus content.

• Application workshop sessions, diagnostic and troubleshooting skills.

• Case study analysis, review, critiquing – reflective learning and writing skills.

• Blended learning and Flipped Classroom delivery

• Online synchronous and asynchronous delivery of lecturers.

• Directed e-learning