Overview
The BSc (Hons) in Applied Economics is a four-year degree programme, which enables students to go on a 6-month UCC-approved work placement or to study abroad for a year in an approved University outside Ireland.
First Year
In First Year students take Economics (45 credits) together with one other subject (15 credits) from those listed below.
- Group 1: Asian Studies, Computer Science, History, Portuguese
- Group 2(a): History of Art
- Group 2(b): Applied Mathematics, European Studies, Folklore, Greek and Roman Civilisation, Gaeilge/Irish
- Group 3: Archaeology, Chinese Studies, German, Latin, Mathematics, Mathematical Studies, Politics
- Group 4: French, Sociology, Studies in Music
- Group 6(a): Geography, Italian
- Group 6(b): Celtic Civilisation, Philosophy, Spanish
See here for Points to Note regarding the above subject choices.
Students may not select modules which involve a timetable clash.
Second Year
No student may register for Second Year until they have passed the First University Examination in Applied Economics.
In Second Year students take modules to the value of 60 credits in Economics.
Third Year
No student may register for Third Year until they have passed the Second University Examination in Applied Economics.
Students can complete the Third Year (1) in UCC or (2) at a University abroad.
- Students completing Third Year in UCC take modules to the value of 60 credits in Economics, including either a Work Placement or a Research Project. The taught modules will take place from September to December. Students may not select modules that involve a timetable clash. The placement/research project will run from January to June.
- 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 60% in their First University Examination in Applied Economics. Applications should be submitted to the International Office (IO) in January in Second Year (contact IO for application deadline). Where the demand exceeds the number of available places, adjudication will be based on the student's performance in the first University Examination in Applied Economics.
To fulfill 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 the programme directors. Students will be asked to complete a workload broadly equivalent to (a) 60 ECTS credits or (b) 288 teaching contact hours over an academic year.
Fourth Year
No student may register for Fourth Year until they have passed the Third University Examination in Applied Economics.
In Fourth Year students take modules to the value of 60 credits in Economics. Students may not select modules which involve a timetable clash.
Programme Requirements
For information about modules, module choice, options and credit weightings, please go to Programme Requirements.
Programme Requirements
Module List
| Code |
Title |
Credits |
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| EC1107 | Reading Economists | 5 |
| EC1111 | Economic Data Collection | 5 |
| EC1112 | Economic Data As Evidence | 5 |
| EC1113 | Microeconomics: Co-operation in the Economic System | 5 |
| EC1114 | Macroeconomics: Public Policy in Ireland and the International Economy | 5 |
| EC1115 | Microeconomics: Coordination and Individual Decision Making | 5 |
| EC1123 | Writing for Economists | 5 |
| EC1124 | Critical Reasoning Skills in Economics | 5 |
| EC1125 | Transition to Professional Life I | 5 |
| 1 | 15 |
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| EC2006 | Transition to Professional Life II | 10 |
| EC2009 | Macroeconomics: Recessions and Booms in Ireland and International Economy | 5 |
| EC2010 | Macroeconomics: Money and Monetary Policy | 5 |
| EC2011 | Macroeconomics: Government Spending and Tax in Ireland and International Economy | 5 |
| EC2012 | Quantitative Methods: Economic Modelling of Decision Makers | 5 |
| EC2013 | Quantitative Methods: Empirical Research Methods | 5 |
| EC2014 | Reasoning and Problem Solving in Economics | 5 |
| EC2015 | Research in Economics | 5 |
| EC2016 | Microeconomics: Economic Information and Uncertainty | 5 |
| EC2017 | Microeconomics: Firms in a World of Uncertainty | 5 |
| EC2018 | Microeconomics: Behavioural Economics | 5 |
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| EC2019 | Debates in Applied Economics | 5 |
| EC3167 | Professional Skills for Placement | 5 |
| EC3169 | Reflective Recruitment and Engagement Skills for Placement | 5 |
| EC3164 | Work Placement 2 | 30 |
| or EC3165 | Economics Research Project |
| 15 |
| Financial Strategy (5) | |
| Environmental Economics: The Problem of Climate Change (5) | |
| Economics and Markets after the Crisis (5) | |
| The Economics of Sport (5) | |
| Health Economics (5) | |
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| EC3134 | Transition for Professional Life III | 10 |
| EC3137 | Creativity as a Developmental Resource | 5 |
| EC3139 | International Cooperation | 5 |
| EC3140 | Economic Growth and Development in a Global Context | 5 |
| EC3141 | Financial Institutions and Markets | 5 |
| EC3142 | Quantitative Methods: Survey Design and Implementation | 5 |
| EC3143 | Quantitative Methods: Empirical Econometrics | 5 |
| EC3144 | Honours Dissertation | 10 |
| EC3161 | Regional and Urban Economics | 5 |
| 3 | 5 |
| Capital Markets and Asset Valuation (5) | |
| Economics and the Labour Market (5) | |
| Environmental Economics: The Problem of Climate Change (5) | |
| Contextualising the Modern Global Economy (5) | |
| Economic Evaluations and Regulatory Impact Assessments (5) | |
| The Economics of Sport (5) | |
| 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 BSc (Hons) in Applied Economics (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 practice;
1-4
4
Demonstrate independent research capabilities;
1-5
5
Demonstrate self-awareness of their strengths, capabilities and weaknesses;
1-6
6
Be personal leaders in their own education.
*** 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 all Economics modules (45 credits) with a mark of not less than 40% in each module, and
- A mark of not less than 30% in the elective subject (15 credits).
Pass by Compensation: Students who satisfy each of the above criteria are allowed to compensate in the non-Economic subject with modules to the value of 15 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.
