Accounting with Finance (with Placement) - Athlone
The BA (Hons) in Accounting with Finance and Placement provides students with a comprehensive foundation in accounting principles, concepts and practices equipping students with the skills to work in various business contexts where they can to progress to become professional qualified accountants. The course places a high emphasis on obtaining exemptions from professional accounting exams. This ensures that graduates from this course have a minimal number of exams to sit after they graduate in order to become a fully qualified professional accountant.
This course includes a year-long placement which runs during year 3 of the course. This allows students to gain real-world experience in the workplace allowing them to apply their theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | Technological University of the Shannon |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | Technological University of the Shannon | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
4 years full-time.
Specific Subjects or course requirements
Grade H5 at higher level in two subjects, plus Grade O6/H7 in four other subjects in the Leaving Certificate. Two of these subjects must be mathematics and a language (English or Irish).
Other Information
Students have the option of transferring to the US 846 programme. Aside from the placement, all modules are identical to this programme.
Leaving Certificate General Entry Requirements
Foundation Level Irish
Foundation Level Irish at Grade F2 will meet the minimum language requirement for all courses.
Bonus Points for Honours Mathematics
25 bonus points will be awarded to any CAO applicant who has gained a grade H6 or higher in Leaving Certificate Honours Mathematics.
Foundation Level Mathematics*
Foundation Level Mathematics at Grade F2 or higher is acceptable as meeting the Mathematics requirement for the following courses:
Courses at Athlone Campus:
US926/US780 Early Years Education & Care
US782 Applied Social Studies in Social Care
US921 Social Care Practice
US803 Graphic & Digital Design
US700 Graphic Design
US802/US778 Animation & Illustration
US809/US704 Music & Sound Engineering
US942/US793 Business Studies with Event Management
Courses at Limerick, Thurles and Ennis Campuses:
US808/US703 Music Production & Technology
US807/US702 Creative Broadcast & Film Production
US920/US922 Social Care Work (Limerick/Thurles)
US923/US781 Social Care Work (Ennis)
US640 Sports Development & Coaching
US954/US785 Sports Development & Performance
US953/US787 Business Studies with Sports Management
US941/US791 Business Studies with Event Management
US946/US792 Business Studies with Beauty & Spa Management
US927/US783 Early Childhood Education & Care
US931 Culinary Entrepreneurship
US795/US631 Culinary Arts
*Please note, this list is correct at the time of print.
Garda Vetting
To ensure the protection of the public and justify public trust and confidence, TUS uses the Garda Vetting Unit (GCVU) service to assess the suitability of applicants to courses:
Athlone based courses:
US877 General Nursing
US878 Mental Health Nursing
US921 Social Care Practice
US780/US926 Early Childhood Education and Care
US782 Applied Social Studies in Social Care
US950 Nutrition and Health Science
US951 Sport Science with Exercise Physiology
US956 Athletic and Rehabilitation Therapy
US957 Physical Activity and Health Science
US788 Exercise and Health Science
US933 Physical Education Studies
Limerick, Thurles, Clonmel, Ennis based courses:
US801 Art & Design Teacher Education
US934 Physical Education with Business
US961/US784 Applied Sports Science with Sport & Exercise Nutrition
US958/US786 Applied Sports Science with Strength & Conditioning
US959/US789 Applied Sports Science with Performance Technology
US953/US787 Business Studies with Sports Management
US954/US785 Sports Development & Performance
US640 Sports Development & Coaching
US941/US791 Business Studies with Event Management
US927/US783 Early Childhood Education & Care
US920/US922 Social Care Work
US923/US781 Social Care Work
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
Points will be awarded for LCVP Link Modules as follows:
Pass: 28 points Merit: 46 points Distinction: 66 points
Leaving Certificate Applied Programme LCAP
QQI FET Applicants General Information
TUS accepts QQI-FET/FETAC awards for entry on all courses of study. The following minimum entry requirements will apply to graduates of QQI-FET/FETAC qualifications who are seeking admission to courses at TUS, however applicants should also check for the specific QQI requirements on each course page on the TUS website.
The minimum entry standard for applicants to level 6 and level 7 courses is a full QQI FET Level 5 award totalling 120 credits. The minimum entry standard for applicants to level 8 courses is a full QQI FET Level 5 award totalling 120 credits including a Distinction grade in at least 3 modules.
A full FETAC award normally contains 8 modules. A full award may be accumulated over more than one academic year. In such cases, it is the responsibility of the applicant to contact QQI FET/FETAC for a full award where programmes are taken over more than one year. A QQI FET/FETAC Level 5 or Level 6 Record of Achievement does not meet the minimum entry standards. The maximum possible total score will be multiplied by 13 and divided by 12, to give a maximum overall points score of 390 for applicants from further education and training. Applicants to Restricted Application courses or courses where a Portfolio is required will have their Portfolio score added to their QQI-FET/FETAC score.
Careers / Further progression
What can I do after this course?
In addition to focussing on professional and digital skills, the course also enjoys a large number of exemptions from professional bodies, such as Chartered Accountants of Ireland, ACCA, CPA and CIMA. These exemptions reduce the number of professional exams you will have to take once you graduate when you start your training contract. Qualified accountants end up in a wide range of roles across a wide range of industries. Graduates typically start their careers in practice and once qualified, usually have their choice of employment opportunities. The majority gain employment with the “big four” firms, however some choose to stay in the locality with local accounting firms. Others take the option to work in the accounting/finance area in industry. Alternatively, graduates also have the option of pursuing a number of Masters courses within TUS Athlone, including the MA in Accounting, the MSc in Data Analytics or the Masters in Business.
Further information
MATURE APPLICATIONS
All EU nationals aged 23 or over on 1st January in the year of application are classified as ‘mature applicants’. The closing date for receipt of applications for consideration in this category is 1st February in the year of entry. Late applications will be considered for courses which do not require additional assessment. On an exceptional basis e.g. the quota remains unfilled, late applications may be considered for other courses.
Trade Qualifications
A trade applicant, seeking admission to the first year of a course, should do so through the CAO. Such application may be on the basis of National Craft Certificate, Senior Trades or Advanced Tourism Certification Board (NTCB)/QQI qualifications, instead of, or in addition to, Leaving Certificate results. TUS welcomes applications from such candidates. Possession of these awards at advanced level normally qualifies an applicant for entry to TUS.
Other Qualifications
Applicants with qualifications other than those listed above (including EU and overseas qualifications) should apply in the usual way, giving full details of their qualifications/application category on their application.
Entry 2025
Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2025 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2025 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2025 CAO Handbook): Fee: €60 Closing Date: 1 May 2025 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2025 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2025 at 5pm
Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid making an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all application fees are non-refundable.
LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5pm on 1 February 2025. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2025, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2025 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2025 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €60 applies.
Restrictions
As a CAO applicant you may experience one or more of the following restrictions based on your course choices, your category of application, or restrictions imposed by the HEIs that you wish to apply to. Please read the section on 'Restrictions' on page 3 of the 2025 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:
General Restrictions
1. Making a late application
2. Making changes to your course choices
Restricted Courses
3. Applying for a restricted course
Mature Applicants
4. Mature applicants
Supplementary Admissions Routes
5. Applying for DARE and/or HEAR
The course also places an emphasis on building students’ professional and digital skills. Preparing graduates for employment, the professional skills theme that runs throughout the course encompasses a range of skills, practices and activities to build the professional competencies demanded by the modern workplace. To further enhance employability, the digital skills theme within the course encompasses a range of software skills widely used in the accounting profession.
This course includes a year-long placement which runs during year 3 of the course. This allows students to gain real-world experience in the workplace allowing them to apply their theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios. Students will engage with a career-focused module ‘The Evolving Professional’ during year 2 of the course, in preparation for their placement. The work placement allows students to explore career paths, boosting their self-confidence and enhancing their curricula vitae.
At the Department of Accounting and Business Computing at TUS, our lecturing staff have extensive industry experience as well as high academic standards. With a strong legacy of accounting within the department, the lecturing team will ensure that graduates are knowledgeable, skilled and well prepared wherever their career takes them.
Why study this course?
By choosing this course, you can significantly enhance your employability upon graduation. This course is specifically designed to equip you with professional, technical, interpersonal and digital skills, making you a highly soughtafter candidate in the job market. Moreover, one of the key advantages of this course is the extensive range of exemptions it offers from prestigious professional bodies such as Chartered Accountants of Ireland, ACCA, CPA, and CIMA. These exemptions allow you to reduce the number of professional exams you’ll need to take once you graduate and start your training contract.
Modules at a glance:
Critical Skills for Learning, Management Accounting, Financial Accounting, Computer Applications, Economics for Accountants, Taxation, Sustainability for Accountants, Applications for Accountants, , Data Analytics and Visualisation, The Evolving Professional, Work Placement (year long)
Mr Bernard Tao Cui,
Head of Department,
Accounting and Business Computing
Tel: (090) 6471857
Email: Tao.Cui@tus.ie