Business Economics

Course Outline
Our MSc Business Economics programme is an integrated course applying economics to the business environment. Designed in consultation with leaders from the business community and public sector organisations, this unique course equips you with the key skills for career development in the ever-changing business world. It also provides a good foundation for those interested in undertaking further study at PhD, DBA or professional development level.

The MSc Business Economics course is unique to UCC, incorporating both taught courses and action research, and using economic theory and analysis explicitly applied to business. Through the focused taught courses and conducting your own research, you learn how to explain and apply core theories, empirical methods and a range of analytical tools that are relevant and transferable to a range of fundamental business issues.

In this course you will develop a portfolio of skills required to support business analysis and managerial decision-making. These skills include communication skills (written and oral), analytical and evaluation skills and team-working skills. Our market research has indicated that such skills are very highly rated by employers.

The course places emphasis on:
• the preparation and presentation of quality business reports
• techniques of data analysis that include forecasting and scenario analysis and survey analysis
• team-working for assignments to enhance interpersonal relationships
• a problem-solving approach using case studies

The MSc programme comprises two parts:
Part I consists of a combination of examinations and coursework in a set of specified taught modules to the value of 60 credits.

Part II consists of researching and writing a Business Economics Report to the value of 30 credits.

Course Practicalities
The course consists of approximately 12 hours of lectures/workshops a week, excluding visiting speaker seminars and time that you must set aside for group work and assignment preparation.
It culminates in the writing of a business economics report where you will demonstrate an application of concepts and frameworks to an actual business situation. This approach will demonstrate how you can translate your learning into practice. An external business advisor is appointed to each student and provides guidance and advice.

The course is assessed by a combination of exams and coursework. Approximately 45% of the course is assessed by coursework, including presentations, written reports, in-class assessments, and group work.

We have a dedicated course teaching team drawn from the School of Economics and our learning approach combines lectures, projects, seminars, group discussion, presentations along with individual and group reports. Seminars are also provided by visiting speakers from public and private sector organisations.

Connected Curriculum
Our learning approach reflects UCC's commitment to the Connected Curriculum where we emphasise the connection between students, learning, research and leadership through our vision for a connected university. Our staff are at the forefront of this integrative approach to learning and will support you in making meaningful connections within and between disciplines such as business, economics and finance.

Why Choose This Course
This innovative course aims to develop your skills for employment as a business or strategic analyst as well as providing foundations for undertaking further study.

Strong emphasis is placed on employment and career search through workshops on interview techniques, skills analysis, CV presentation and job applications.

The quality of the course can be gauged from the fact that our graduates have won the Accenture Leader of Tomorrow (LOT) Award on two occasions. The Accenture award is open to all final-year and postgraduate students from across Ireland, and aims to identify innovative and entrepreneurial young talent in order to foster Ireland's next generation of leaders.

Modules
Part I (60 credits)
• EC6617 Professional Business Skills
• EC6619 Advanced Quantitative Techniques for Business Research
• EC6620 Research Methods for Business Economics
• EC6621 Economics of Business Strategy
• EC6622 Business Relationships and Business Strategy
• EC6623 Analysing General Business Conditions
• EC6624 Macroeconomic Data Analysis for Strategic Decision-Making
• EC6625 Financial Economics and Business Strategy
• EC6626 Corporate Treasury Management
• EC6627 Fieldwork Methods for Business
• EC6628 Analysis of Business Survey Data

Part II (30 credits)
• EC6618 Business Economics Report (BER)
See the College Calendar (MA Business Economics|) for further details on content and modules.

Modules
Further details on the modules listed above can be found in our book of modules. Any modules listed above are indicative of the current set of modules for this course but are subject to change from year to year.

University Calendar
You can find the full academic content for the current year of any given course in our University Calendar.

Minimum 2H2 primary degree [NFQ Level 8] or equivalent. Note that there is NO requirement for Economics or Business subjects to be part of the primary degree.

Consideration will be given to applicants not meeting the above criteria (i.e. no primary degree) but with extensive relevant professional experience, as deemed appropriate by the Head of Economics in consultation with the Programme Director, subject to the approval of the School of Business.

If you are applying with Qualifications obtained outside Ireland and you wish to verify if you meet the minimum academic and English language requirements for this programme please view
https://www.ucc.ie/en/study/comparison/
to view the grades comparison table by country and for details of recognised English language tests.

English Language Requirements
Applicants that are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university approved English language requirements available at https://www.ucc.ie/en/study/comparison/english/postgraduate/

For applicants with qualifications completed outside of Ireland
Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements, available at https://www.ucc.ie/en/study/comparison/

International/non-EU applicants
For full details of the non-EU application procedure please visit our how to apply pages for international students. In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.

Not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above.

For more information please contact the International Office.

Closing Date: Non-EU Closing Date: 15 June

Open for EU applications, check rounds closing dates under
How to Apply - Application Date Weblink below.

How Do I Apply
1. Choose Course
Firstly choose your course. Applicants can apply for up to two courses under one application. Details of taught courses are available on our online prospectus.

2. Apply Online
Once you have chosen your course you can apply online at the online application portal. Applicants will need to apply before the course closing date. There is a non-refundable €50 application fee for all courses apart from the Education - Professional Master of Education - (Secondary School/Post-Primary Teacher Training) which has a €100 application fee.

Applicants for the Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health Nursing must apply on the PAC website when the programme opens for applications.

3. Gather Supporting Documents
Scanned copies of the following documents will need to be uploaded to the online application portal in support of your application. Applicants may need to produce the original documents if you are accepted onto a course and register at UCC.
• Original qualification documents listed on your application including transcripts of results from institutions other than UCC
• Any supplementary items requested for your course.

Please log into the online application portal for more details.

4. Application processing timeline
Our online application portal opens for applications for most courses in early November of each year. Check specific course details.

5. Rounds
For courses that are in the rounds system (Irish and EU applicants), please check the rounds closing dates.

Additional Requirements (All Applicants)
Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. This will include the following question:
• You may enter the details of professional or voluntary positions held. We strongly encourage you to complete this section with all relevant work experiences that will support your application.

The course is assessed by a combination of exams and coursework. Approximately 45% of the course is assessed by coursework, including presentations, written reports, in-class assessments and group work.

1 year full-time, 2 years part-time

The part-time option will be taught during weekday working hours over 2 years.

Start Date: 7 September 2020

Skills and Careers Information
Skills developed on the MSc course include:
• leadership, organisational, interpersonal and team-working skills
• working to deadlines in producing analyses, reports and presentations to professional standards
• ability to interpret economic data and events
• ability to explain complex issues to non-specialists
• application of economic tools and concepts to the business world
• research project design, implementation and management

The course has an excellent employment track record and every year, our graduates pursue challenging careers in the private and public sectors. MSc graduates have obtained employment in a wide range of areas at home and abroad, including management consulting, the financial and banking sectors, private sector, public sector, research institutes, and the education sector.