Overview
First Year - Commerce
To be admitted to the First University Examination in Commerce, a student must have satisfactorily attended prescribed modules to the value of 60 credits.
Second Year - Commerce
No student may register for the Second Year programme of study until the First University Examination in Commerce has been passed. Second Year consists of core modules to the value of 50 credits and elective modules to the value of 10 credits. In order to be admitted to the Second University Examination in Commerce, a student must have satisfactorily attended prescribed modules to the value of 60 credits.
Year Abroad Option - Third Year
A limited number of students may be allowed to take either:
- their Third Year at an approved university in another country, or
- their first semester of Third Year at an approved university in another country.
Applications to study abroad should be submitted to the International Office (IO) in January in Second Year (see under Third Year for details).
Third Year - Commerce
No student may register for the Third Year programme of study until the Second University Examination in Commerce has been passed. 50% of the aggregate Third Year mark of taught modules (maximum 450 marks) is carried forward and added to the Fourth Year aggregate mark (maximum 1200 marks) to determine the final mark in the BComm (Hons) Degree (maximum 1650 marks).
Third Year can be completed in one of three ways:
- Most students will complete the whole year in UCC,
- Some students will complete Semester 1 in an approved university abroad and the remainder of the year in UCC, and
- Some students will complete the whole year in an approved university abroad.
Students Completing Third Year in UCC
Third Year consists of core modules to the value of 40 credits consisting of 25 credits of modules aligned with the major options offered in Year 4 and 15 credits of a Transferable Skills module. Successful completion of the ECDL computer course is highly recommended for the Transferable Skills Work Placement and Research Project modules. Places on the Work Placement option are limited and students will be ranked on the basis of their second year examination results and success at interview. Elective modules to the value of 20 credits will be chosen from the options provided. In order to be admitted to the Third University Examination in Commerce, a student must have satisfactorily attended prescribed modules to the value of 60 credits.
Students Completing Semester 1 Abroad and the Remainder of the Year in UCC
A limited number of students may be allowed to take the first Semester of their Third Year at an approved university in another country. This option is only available to students who
- obtain at least 55% in their first attempt of the First University Examination in Commerce, and who
- pass all modules and obtain at least 60% at the College Examination Board in the first semester of the Second University Examination in Commerce.
The approved host university will be in an English-speaking country or will deliver its courses through English. Second Year students who wish to avail of this facility in their Third Year must apply to and receive permission from Cork University Business School. Applications should be submitted to the International Office (IO) in January in Second Year (contact IO for application deadline). This application should include full details of the applicant's proposed academic workload in the approved host university. It is important to stress that the number of students who can avail of the year-abroad option will be limited by the number of places available in any given year. Where the demand exceeds the number of available places, the International Office and the BComm Programme Directors will adjudicate on the applications. The adjudication will be based on the following criteria:
- the student's performance in their University Examinations in Commerce;
- the quality of the application; and
- an interview (if held).
Third Year consists of core modules to the value of 40 credits and elective modules to the value of 20 credits. Students are required to study modules within their chosen university which align with the Year 4 UCC major options (approved by Programme Directors) and complete the 15 credits of Transferable Skills. It is recommended that modules amounting to 30 ECTS (other than the Transferrable Skills module which must be taken at UCC) can be taken in the host university and the remaining credits taken in UCC. Successful completion of the ECDL computer course is highly recommended for the Transferable Skills Work Placement and Research Project modules. Places on the Work Placement option are limited and students will be ranked on the basis of their second year examination results and success at interview.
During the semester abroad students should complete a workload broadly equivalent to
- 30 ECTS credits or
- 144 teaching contact hours.
The workload should be at a broadly equivalent level to the UCC BComm (Hons) III.
Semester abroad students are expected to complete a module(s) broadly equivalent to the matching BComm (Hons) III core module(s) offered by UCC. Semester abroad students are not expected to take identical courses to the remaining modules offered in BComm (Hons) III. Nevertheless, students are advised that some modules in BComm (Hons) III Semester One may be prerequisites to certain BComm (Hons) III Semester Two modules and to BComm (Hons) IV modules (and/or certain postgraduate programmes). Students should obtain agreement from the Programme Director(s) on the courses/modules they propose to take while abroad, and the standard necessary to be achieved in these in order to fulfil any prerequisite requirements they may wish to avail of.
In order to be admitted to the Third University Examination in Commerce, a student must have satisfactorily attended modules to the value of 60 credits. Individual marks per module will be submitted to the Spring Examination Board with a Supplemental Board in Autumn.
Students Completing Third Year Abroad
A limited number of students may be allowed to take their Third Year at an approved university in another country. This option is only available to students who obtain
- at least 55% in their first attempt of the First University Examination in Commerce, and
- pass all modules and obtain at least 60% in the first semester of the Second University Examination in Commerce.
The approved host university will be in an English-speaking country or will deliver its courses through English. Second Year students who wish to avail of this facility in their Third Year must apply to and receive permission from Cork University Business School. Applications should be submitted to the International Office (IO) in January in Second Year (contact IO for application deadline). This application should include full details of the applicant's proposed academic workload in the approved host university. It is important to stress that the number of students who can avail of the year-abroad option will be limited by the number of places available in any given year. Where the demand exceeds the number of available places, the International Office and the BComm Programme Directors will adjudicate on the applications. The adjudication will be based on the following criteria:
- the student's performance in the University Examinations in Commerce;
- the quality of the application; and
- an interview (if held).
To fulfil requirements for the successful completion of the year abroad, a student must achieve a pass standard, as applied by the host institution, on a set of courses approved by Cork University Business School, UCC. Students will be asked to complete a workload broadly equivalent to
- 60 ECTS credits, or
- 288 teaching contact hours over an academic year.
The workload should be at a broadly equivalent level to the UCC BComm (Hons) III. Third Year consists of core modules to the value of 40 credits and elective modules to the value of 20 credits. Students are required to study modules within their chosen university which align with the Year 4 UCC major options (approved by Programme Directors).
Year-abroad students are not expected to take identical courses to the modules offered in BComm (Hons) III. Nevertheless, students are advised that some modules in BComm (Hons) III may be prerequisites to certain BComm (Hons) IV modules (and/or certain postgraduate programmes). Students should obtain agreement from the Programme Director(s) on the courses/modules they propose to take while abroad, and the standard necessary to be achieved in these in order to fulfil any prerequisite requirements they may wish to avail of.
Marks shall be submitted to the Autumn Examination Board, UCC with a Supplemental Board in Winter.
Fourth Year - Commerce
No student may register for the Fourth Year programme of study until the Third University Examination in Commerce has been passed. Fourth Year consists of core modules to the value of 40 credits constituting a subject Major and modules to the value of 20 credits from any other Major group apart from the Major chosen or from elective module options. To be admitted to the BComm (Hons) Degree Examination, a student must have satisfactorily attended prescribed modules to the value of 60 credits.
Optional Additional Modules (fee applies)
Students may also take up to 10 additional credits in addition to their 60 core credits in First Year, Second Year and/or Fourth Year. Please note that the fee for taking every 5 additional credits will be 1/12th of the full year tuition fee for the programme. All such additional credits are offered subject to the availability of staff and resources, and to the attainment of a minimum viable group size, normally six.
A student may not select an optional additional module that clashes with the timetable of any module in the student's core 60 credits of study.
Students must obtain advance approval from Cork University Business School to register for additional modules. To do so, students should submit a signed Student Application Form to Cork University Business School.
These optional additional modules will not contribute to end of year results nor will they contribute to the final degree award. However, marks achieved in these modules will appear on the student's transcript.
Alternatively, students may take the Certificate in Languages which is a part-time programme taken over one or two academic years. It involves the study of two languages (from Chinese, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish) at levels from ab initio (beginner) to advanced. In determining the appropriate modules to be taken in each of the languages, recognition will be given for prior learning, and where appropriate students' language level will be assessed by the relevant language coordinator.
Programme Requirements
For information about modules, module choice, options and credit weightings, please go to Programme Requirements.
Programme Requirements
Module List
Code |
Title |
Credits |
| |
AC1100 | Introduction to Accounting | 5 |
BU1000 | Developing Critical Thinking Skills | 5 |
EC1207 | Principles of the Micro Economy | 5 |
EC1208 | Principles of the Macro Economy | 5 |
FE1101 | Introduction to Food Business and Development | 5 |
IS1105 | Business Information Systems | 5 |
LW1108 | Introduction to the Legal System | 5 |
LW1109 | Introduction to Business Law | 5 |
MA1100 | Introductory Mathematics for Business I | 5 |
MG1000 | Principles of Management | 5 |
MG1002 | Foundations of Marketing | 5 |
ST1023 | Introduction to Business Statistics | 5 |
1 | |
| Chinese Language (Mandarin) I (10) | |
| Introduction to French : Complete Beginners (5) | |
| French for Near Beginners (5) | |
| Threshold French (5) | |
| French for Reading Purposes I (5) | |
| Ceart na Gaeilge idir Scríobh agus Labhairt (10) | |
| German Language (Beginner Level A1) Part 1 and German Language (Beginner Level A1) Part 2 2 | |
| German Language (CEFR-Level A2.1) and German Language (CEFR-Level A2.2) 3 | |
| Spanish Language (Beginner Level) (10) | |
| Spanish Language (Improver [01] Level) (10) | |
| Introduction to Written and Spoken Italian (10) 4 | |
| |
AC2204 | Introduction to Management Accounting | 5 |
AC2205 | Intermediate Management Accounting | 5 |
BU2001 | Placement Skills and Professional Practice | 5 |
EC2010 | Macroeconomics: Money and Monetary Policy | 5 |
EC2200 | Economics of Managerial Decision Making | 5 |
IS2200 | IS Analysis and Design for Business | 5 |
MG2001 | People and Organisation | 5 |
MG2005 | International Business | 5 |
MG2007 | Enterprise Planning and Processes | 5 |
MG2008 | Business Ethics and Governance | 5 |
| 10 |
| Sustainability in Modern Businesses (5) | |
| Global Food Policy (5) | |
| International Politics (5) | |
| European Government and Politics (5) | |
| Commercial Law: The Law of Sale and Agency (5) | |
| Commercial Law: Intellectual Property Law and Finance (5) | |
| Introductory Mathematics for Business II (5) | |
| Consumer Behaviour and Sustainable Consumption (5) | |
| Methods of Business Statistics (5) | |
1 | |
| Chinese Language (Mandarin) I (10) | |
| Introduction to French : Complete Beginners and French for Near Beginners | |
| Threshold French and French for Reading Purposes I | |
| Towards Vantage French and French for Reading Purposes II | |
| Ceart na Gaeilge idir Scríobh agus Labhairt (10) | |
| Úsáid agus Cruinneas na Gaeilge I (10) | |
| German Language (Beginner Level A1) Part 1 and German Language (Beginner Level A1) Part 2 2 | |
| German Language (CEFR-Level A2.1) and German Language (CEFR-Level A2.2) 3 | |
| Integrated German Language Course for BComm Students (10) 5 | |
| Spanish Language (Beginner Level) (10) | |
| Spanish Language (Improver [01] Level) (10) | |
| Introduction to Written and Spoken Italian (10) 4 | |
| Intermediate Italian Language (10) | |
| |
| |
BU3001 | Transferable Skills - Work Placement | 15 |
or BU3002 | Transferable Skills - Research Project |
EC3005 | Banking and Finance | 5 |
EC3008 | Financial Strategy | 5 |
FE3020 | Understanding Supply Chain Management | 5 |
MG3018 | Human Resource Management | 5 |
MG3021 | Market Research | 5 |
| 20 |
| Investment Appraisal (5) 6 | |
| Introduction to Asset Pricing and Valuation (5) 6 | |
| Growth and Development in a Global Economy (5) | |
| Co-operative Business and Sustainable Rural Economies (5) | |
| International Food Business (5) | |
| Global Political Economy - Finance (5) | |
| Designing and Using Management Information Systems (5) | |
| Information Systems Solutions for the Digital Enterprise (5) | |
| Company Law (10) | |
| Multivariable Calculus and Optimisation (5) | |
| Marketing Communications (5) | |
| Social Media Marketing (5) | |
| Data Analysis I (5) | |
| |
| Transferable Skills - Work Placement (15) | |
| Transferable Skills - Research Project (15) |
| |
| |
| 40 |
| |
| Corporate Financing (5) | |
| Business Strategy Capstone (10) (core module) | |
| Money, Credit and Banking (5) | |
| International Finance (5) | |
| Finance and Capital Markets (5) | |
| Portfolio Analysis (5) | |
| Business Econometrics 1 (5) | |
| |
| Business Strategy Capstone (10) (core module) | |
| Economics of the Labour Market (5) | |
| Behavioural Economics in Labour Markets (5) | |
| Work and Employment Relations (5) | |
| Critical Perspectives in Human Resource Management (5) | |
| Human Resource Management in Practice (5) | |
| Leadership and Organisational Dynamics (5) | |
| |
| Business Strategy Capstone (10) (core module) | |
| Firm Organisation and Behaviour (5) | |
| Strategic Economic Consultancy (5) | |
| Entrepreneurship, Creativity and Opportunity Recognition (5) | |
| Entrepreneurial Business Start-Ups (5) | |
| SME Management and Family Business (5) | |
| Innovation Management and Organisational Change (5) | |
| |
| Business Strategy Capstone (10) (core module) | |
| Consumer Behaviour in Food Markets (5) | |
| Grocery Shopper Behaviour and Food Retail Marketing (5) | |
| Strategic Marketing (5) | |
| International Brand Strategy (5) | |
| International Marketing Management (5) | |
| Digital Marketing (5) | |
| |
| Business Strategy Capstone (10) (core module) | |
| Lean Thinking and Process Improvement (5) | |
| Global Food Supply Chain Management (5) | |
| Enterprise Data Governance and Data Modeling (5) | |
| Project Management (5) | |
| Operations Management (5) | |
| Business Networks (5) | |
| 20 |
| Management Accounting: Planning and Control (5) | |
| Management Accounting: Performance and Decision Making (5) | |
| Financial Reporting 1 (5) | |
| Financial Reporting 2 (5) | |
| Corporate Financing (5) | |
| Food Choice Analysis (5) | |
| Co-operative Banking (5) | |
| Public Finance - Theory and Practice (5) | |
| Employment Law: Contracts, Termination, Collective Labour Law (5) | |
| Employment Law: Rights Protection, Equality, Specific Categories of Employees (5) | |
| Financial Services: Law and Regulation (5) | |
| Contemporary Issues in Corporate Law (5) | |
| Income Tax Law (5) | |
| User Experience Design 1 (5) | |
| User Experience Design 2 (5) | |
| Discrete Time Financial Models (5) | |
| Data Analysis II (5) | |
| Introduction to Operations Research (5) | |
| Modelling and Systems for Decision Making (5) | |
1 | |
| Chinese Language (Mandarin) I (10) | |
| Introduction to French : Complete Beginners and French for Near Beginners | |
| Threshold French and French for Reading Purposes I | |
| Towards Vantage French and French for Reading Purposes II | |
| Ceart na Gaeilge idir Scríobh agus Labhairt (10) | |
| Úsáid agus Cruinneas na Gaeilge I (10) | |
| Úsáid agus Cruinneas na Gaeilge (10) | |
| German Language (Beginner Level A1) Part 1 and German Language (Beginner Level A1) Part 2 2 | |
| German Language (CEFR-Level A2.1) and German Language (CEFR-Level A2.2) 3 | |
| Integrated German Language Course for BComm Students (10) 5 | |
| Advanced Integrated German Language Course for Business Students (10) 7 | |
| Spanish Language (Beginner Level) (10) | |
| Spanish Language (Improver [01] Level) (10) | |
| Introduction to Written and Spoken Italian (10) 4 | |
| Intermediate Italian Language (10) | |
| Advanced Italian Language (10) | |
Total Credits | 240 |
Examinations
Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards Book and for each module in the Book of Modules.
Programme Learning Outcomes
Programme Learning Outcomes for BComm (Hons) (NFQ Level 8, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:
1
1-1
Communicate and work effectively to a professional standard;
1-2
2
Demonstrate analytical and problem-solving skills associated with effective practice;
1-3
3
Engage in the application of frameworks and techniques in organisational settings;
1-4
4
Develop original and innovate strategic solutions for a global company, towards a sustainable, profitable path;
1-5
5
Engage in Experiential Learning;
19-1
6
Demonstrate enhancement in student professional practice and career paths to excel in future work environments.
*** Only for Incoming First Years and Repeat First Years 2024/2025 ***
*** Click here for Marks and Standards for all other years ***
Marks and Standards
These Marks and Standards should be read in conjunction with the Programme Requirements and the Book of Modules.
Fitness to Practise
All students on programmes subject to Fitness to Practise in UCC will be required to comply with the Fitness to Practise Policy and meet the relevant Fitness to Practise standards, in order to progress to the next year of his/her/their programme. Click here for a list of programmes subject to the Fitness to Practise Policy.
Marks and Credits
Students are required to take modules to the value of 60 credits.
Total Marks for year: 1200.
First Year - Pass and Progression Criteria
To pass first year and progress to second year, students must achieve:
- An aggregate mark of 40% across all modules,
- A pass mark in modules to the value of at least 50 credits, and
- A module mark of at least 30% in any remaining modules.
Pass by Compensation: Students who satisfy each of the above criteria are allowed to compensate in modules to the value of 10 credits and pass the year overall.
Award of Honours in the Degree Award
An honours classification is awarded for the final degree using the final year examination results and marks carried forward from the second year. The aggregate of 33.33% of the second year marks plus 66.67% of the final year marks will be used to calculate the final degree award.
Honours will be awarded as follows:
- First Class Honours: ≥ 70%
- Second Class Honours, Grade I: ≥ 60% and <70%
- Second Class Honours, Grade II: ≥ 50% and <60%
- Pass: ≥ 40% and <50%
Award of Honours when a student undertakes Study Abroad
When students study abroad as part of his/her/their degree programme, the calculation of the final degree award is based on modules in the Book of Modules only.
Examination Boards
- Provisional marks for Semester 1 examinations are released in January/February of each year. These marks are subject to approval at the University Examination Board.
- Marks for all modules taken in Semester 1 and 2, including those wholly assessed by Continuous Assessment, will be presented to the University Examination Board at the end of Semester 2.
Supplemental Examinations and Assessment
- Students who fail to achieve the progression standard for the year at the Summer Examination Board must complete Supplemental Examinations and/or Continuous Assessment for those specific module(s), where there is provision to do so.
- Please refer to the Book of Modules for requirements governing the Supplemental Examination and Assessment for individual modules. Note: For some modules there is no Supplemental Examination and Assessment.
- The marks achieved in the Supplemental Examinations and/or Continuous Assessment of a repeat module are considered at the Autumn Examination Board.
- The actual mark achieved by the candidate in the Supplemental or Repeat Year Examination will be recorded on the student record (Academic Transcript).
- The maximum mark that will be taken into account for aggregation and progression purposes is a pass level, unless the student has been granted a cap waiver or deferral by the University Mitigation Committee, or a University Examination Board, or has been approved to defer the previous attempt by the University Mitigation Committee.
- At the Autumn Examination Board, marks from all passed modules approved at the Summer Examination Board are carried forward and are combined with the marks achieved in Supplemental Examinations and/or Assessments. The pass and progression criteria are applied to the aggregate mark achieved.
Note: The mark achieved at the last examination/assessment attempt is the mark that is included in the calculation of the aggregate mark for pass and progression purposes.
Study Abroad
- When students study abroad as part of his/her/their degree programme, they will be assessed by his/her/their host university.
- To pass the study abroad period and progress to the subsequent year, a student must achieve a pass standard as applied by the host institution.
- A Pass/Fail judgement will be presented to the UCC Examination Boards:
- At the Summer Examination Board for students spending Semester 1 abroad.
- At the Autumn/Winter Examination Board for students spending the full academic year abroad or Semester 2 only.
- For students failing to achieve a pass mark, Supplemental Assessment will be prescribed by the School in UCC, and these results will be presented at a Winter Examination Board.
Exemptions
All passed modules carry an exemption, which is limited to a period of five academic years (or two in the case of Computer Science modules) subsequent to the award of the exemption.
Repeat Year Examinations
Students repeating the year may do so choosing one of the following mechanisms:
1. Students retain module exemptions, if any, and must repeat all failed/absent modules, including those modules where the failing mark previously achieved was greater than the level of compensation (≥ 30%) but who failed to achieve the progression standard for the year (see above). The pass and progression criteria are then applied to the combination of full marks achieved in modules passed at the first attempt, plus capped marks achieved in modules in the Repeat Year Examinations.
Note: For students selecting different modules not previously taken, there are no restrictions on the marks awarded for those modules at the first attempt in a repeat year. The selection of different modules by the student means that the student foregoes any previous marks achieved in the original modules (including previously passed modules).
2. Students may forego all module exemptions achieved and repeat the year choosing modules to the value of the full 60 credits. In determining pass and progression, there is no restriction on the marks awarded for modules taken at the first attempt of the Repeat Year. Modules taken at the subsequent Supplemental Examination and Assessment are capped at the pass mark.
Subject to capacity, all students - whether they have failed or passed - are allowed to choose this second option, in an attempt to improve his/her/their grade.
Students repeating the final year are eligible for the award of Honours in the first Repeat Year only. Final year students wishing to repeat the year with a view to improving his/her/their degree result may do so only if they have not been conferred.
Three Year Rule
Students must pass/progress within three academic years of the date of first registration for a year, otherwise they cannot continue in the programme.
Terms and Definitions
Programme Description
Module Descriptions/Assessment
- Module descriptions, including the pass standard for a module, special requirements to pass a module, and assessment elements and their weightings, are contained in the Book of Modules.
Marks and Credits
- A maximum of 100 marks may be awarded for every five credits of a programme.
- Some modules are assessed on a Pass/Fail basis only, i.e. marks are not awarded.
Pass and Progression
- Progression is defined as the permission granted to a student to register in the subsequent academic year for the next set of modules within his/her/their programme of study.
- Compensation is defined as the process by which a student, who fails to satisfy some of the regulations for credit in a specific module, is nevertheless recommended for credit to be awarded on the grounds that the failure is offset by his/her/their performance in the other modules on his/her/their programme of study.