Finance
The BSc Finance is based equally on the subject areas of corporate finance and financial economics. This combined approach provides graduates with a thorough grounding in each area.
Finance is concerned with the operation of financial markets and the valuation of financial assets, in particular in stock, bond, foreign exchange and interest rate markets. Movements in financial markets are driven by information, risk and uncertainty, which in turn provide the foundation for understanding strategic business decision-making.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | National University of Ireland |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | National University of Ireland | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
4 years, full-time.
Specific Subjects or course requirements
Leaving Certificate entry requirements:
At Least six subjects must be presented. Minimum grade H5 in two subjects and minimum grade O6/H7 in four other subjects. English and Irish are requirements for all programmes unless the applicant is exempt from Irish. Applicants will need to meet the following minimum entry requirements:
English O6/H7
Irish O6/H7
Maths O6/H7
Other Language O6/H7
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme LCVP
Distinction 66 points
Merit 46 points
Pass 28 points
Careers / Further progression
Skills and Careers Information
The BSc Finance degree prepares you for a career in the financial markets and financial services sector. In Year 3 you will spend six months on placement in a financial organisation, during which you will gain a valuable mix of both academic and practical skills, which are highly valued by employers.
The degree will provide you with a range of interesting career opportunities. Graduates from the course have gone on to work in:
- investment banking
- securities trading
- stock broking
- financial consultancy
- corporate banking
- fund management
- fund accounting
- insurance
- accountancy
These career paths have taken them to both national and international financial services centres where they have been highly successful.
Further information
September 2026
Approximate Available Places 9
Find out about the mature entry requirements at https://www.ucc.ie/en/study/undergrad/entryreqs/matureapplicants/
Approximate Available Places Overall 92
Entry 2026
Early online application (discounted): Fee €35 Closing Date: 20 January 2026 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €50 Closing Date: 1 February 2026 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2026 CAO Handbook): Fee: €65 Closing Date: 1 May 2026 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2026 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2026 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 2026. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2026, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2026 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2026 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €65 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 2026 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
Course Outline
The BSc Finance is based equally on the subject areas of corporate finance and financial economics. This combined approach provides graduates with a thorough grounding in each area.
Finance is concerned with the operation of financial markets and the valuation of financial assets, in particular in stock, bond, foreign exchange and interest rate markets. Movements in financial markets are driven by information, risk and uncertainty, which in turn provide the foundation for understanding strategic business decision-making.
You will gain specialised knowledge of:
Financial and monetary systems
Investment and securities analysis
Financial markets and institutions
Strategy
Information systems
Accounting
Quantitative techniques
Research methods
Recruitment of UCC finance graduates remains exceptionally high among leading firms nationally and internationally. Employment prospects are excellent with nearly 100% of recent (2017 & 2016) graduates in employment (64% average) or further study (34% average). Graduates are highly sought after by financial companies in Ireland, primarily but the BSc Finance degree also has international applicability.
Modules
Year 1 Modules (all 5 credits):
AC1103 Financial Accounting Fundamentals; AC1104 Accounting for Partnerships and Companies; AC1105 Investment Analysis; AC1106 Introduction to Asset Valuation; AC1109 Management Accounting: Principles and Concepts & AC1115 Management Accounting: Cost & Control Systems (5 credits each); EC1200 & EC1211 Quantitative Techniques for Economics I and II (5 credits each); EC1209 Understanding and Interpreting Data; EC1210 Skills for Analysing Economic Data; EC1213 Microeconomic Reasoning & Practice; EC1214 is now Macroeconomics: Tools of Analysis
Year 2 Modules:
International Financial Reporting I; Consolidated Financial Statements and Reporting; Introduction to Taxation; Data Analysis, Business Reporting & Process Automation; Placement Plan; Corporate Financial Policies; Business Econometrics and Forecasting; The Macroeconomic Environment in the Short Term; The Macroeconomic Environment in the Long Term; Microeconomics and the Individual; Microeconomics and Macroeconomic Outcomes
Year 3 Modules:
Multinational Finance; Governance, Regulation and Control of Financial Organisations; Case Studies in Corporate Finance; Economic Consulting; Time Series Analysis; Principles of Insurance for Finance; Advanced Data Analysis for Finance; Placement and Research Report; Introduction to Corporate Information Systems
Economics and Markets after the Crisis
Governance, Regulation and Control of Financial Organisations
Insurance for Finance
Corporate Information Systems
You will also spend six months on placement in a financial organisation in Year 3. This internship, which is arranged by UCC, is in a designated financial institution or related organisation located in Ireland or the UK.
Year 4 Modules:
Core
Financial Information Analysis; Corporate Valuation; Securities Analysis; Money Credit and Banking; International Finance; Economics of Corporate Strategy; Economics of Strategic Behaviour; Finance and Capital Markets; Portfolio Analysis
Electives
Taxation: Income Tax and VAT; Corporation Tax and Capital Gains Tax; Management Accounting; Empirical and Behavioural Finance; Entrepreneurial Finance; Derivatives Valuation
On successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
-Derive and apply solutions to financial issues from knowledge of finance, economics, accounting, and information technology
-Apply theory to estimate the value of economies, industries, companies, capital projects as well as financial assets and derivatives
-Identify financial problems, analyse their impact, and formulate solutions that will withstand critical examination
-Work effectively as an individual, and as a finance professional, in teams and in multi-disciplinary settings
-Communicate and interact effectively with professional financial services bodies, the broader financial community, and with society at large.
Dr Meadbh Sherman / Mr David Humphreys
bscfinance@ucc.ie
(+353) 21 490 3522 / (+353) 21 490 3462
www.cubsucc.com/programmes/ug/CK204/
Bróna Meenan, Programme Administrator
bscfinance@ucc.ie
(+353) 21 490 3825