Higher Diploma (Business Studies)


J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics

Course overview

This programme is designed to provide non-business graduates with a well-rounded understanding of business. Students are educated in the fundamental skills of business administration, enabling them to play an active role in the management and development of business enterprises with an orientation towards the commercial and industrial environments. All courses assume no previous knowledge of the subject.

This programme provides you with the fundamental skills to work in business, and will complement your existing degree. It also provides you with an opportunity for further postgraduate study, with exemptions provided from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) exams. For engineering graduates it is approved as part of the Engineers Ireland’s Registered Training Providers Programme.

Key facts

Entry requirements

The programme is open to degree holders other than holders of the BComm. degree (or equivalent) from a University or other recognised degree awarding body. Applicants should hold a NQAI Level 8 qualification or equivalent. International applicants who are not native speakers of English may be required to provide evidence of fluency. The minimum requirement is an IELTS score of 6.5.

Duration: 1 academic year (September to May)

Next start date: September 2013

ECTS weighting: 60

Average intake: 50 (45 for EU citizens and 5 for non-EU citizens)

Closing date: Please refer to the offer rounds/closing date webpage.

Mode of study: Taught

Course outline

This programme includes core modules on Accounting, Financial Management, Economics, Management, Marketing Principles, Management Information Systems, and Communications in Organisations. A wide range of optional modules are also available to students in Semester Two, which include Accounting for Management Decisions, Macroeconomics, Employment Relations, Global Marketing, eBusiness, and Business Law. The range of modules available allows students to either specialise in a particular discipline, or to study a broad range of business subjects.

Applications and selections

Applications are made online via The Postgraduate Applications Centre(PAC). Relevant PAC application code(s) above.

Who teaches this course?

Dr Geraldine Robbins
Ms Patricia Martyn
Ms Orla McHugh
Ms Ann Walsh
Ms Johanna Fahy
Dr Gerard Turley
Mr Martin Hughes
Dr Elaine Wallace
Ms Maureen Maloney
Ms Deirdre Curran
Dr Natasha Evers
Mr Chris Barry
Ms Anna-Louise Hinds

Requirements and assessment

Semester One exams: December. Semester Two exams: April/May. A range of assessment methods are integrated and assessed throughout the programme. These include essays, projects, reports, presentations, and case studies.

Find out more

Dr. Eoin Whelan
T: +353 91 494 224
E: eoin.whelan@nuigalway.ie | dbs@nuigalway.ie

www.cairnes.nuigalway.ie/postgrad/

PAC code

GYC11

Fees for this course

EU (Total): €5,965
 - Student levy: €224
Non-EU (Total): €13,250

Fees for courses

Current students

Damien Gunning

"I feel that the DBS will be a stepping stone in my academic life and firmly believe it will help contribute greatly to my study of another strand of the business learning curve."

Past students

Sean Daly

DBS Graduate 2009

"I found the DBS course to be an excellent all-round informative introduction to business and finance, which offered a broad and challenging range of modules. It was extremely beneficial to progressing towards a career in business."

Download taught and research

Postgrad prospectus cover 
NUI Galway Postgraduate Taught Prospectus

Research prospectus cover

NUI Galway Postgraduate Research Prospectus