Business & Management

Accreditation: National University of Ireland
Place on NFQ: Level 9
Award: Postgraduate Diploma in Business and Management

The Programme
The Postgraduate Diploma in Business and Management is a one-year programme that provides graduate-level instruction in core business disciplines. Students take six subjects over two semesters that cover both quantitative and general management topics. They will learn about, among other things, human resource planning, the management of change, leadership and strategic direction, financial policy, and the principles of business research.

The programme, which runs from September to April, can be taken from anywhere in the country and is delivered through a blend of weekend seminars/webinars, online resources, and course texts.

Is This Programme For You?
This programme is ideally suited to those who want, in the space of one academic year, to study subjects that are of huge relevance to contemporary business life. Whatever a student’s professional background or areas of responsibility, this course will give them a solid grounding in ideas and practices integral to organisational success, whether the organisation is an SME, a large corporation or a public sector body.

This diploma is divided into two semesters. Students take three subjects in each semester.

Semester One
Economics
This course focuses on the economic principles especially applicable to business strategies and objectives. It addresses such topics as pricing, taxation, growth, regulation, and managing in competitive markets.

Human Resource Management
Among the topics addressed on this course are motivation theory, group dynamics, politics and conflict in organisations, human resource planning, performance appraisal, training and development, corporate culture, and organisational change.

Finance
This course covers, among other topics, annual financial statements, investment appraisal, cost and management accounting, standard costing, ratio analysis, the management of cash, stocks and debtors, business planning and budgeting, and company valuations.

Semester Two
Organisation and Strategy
This course addresses several key issues in the literature on organisation and strategy, including decision-making in organisations, contingency theory, the nature of bureaucracy, markets, strategic management, and networks.

Leadership and Strategy Implementation
The topics addressed in this course include leadership theories, the differences between private- and public-sector leadership, leadership and vision creation, leadership and strategy formulation, policy formulation and implementation, the management of change, and ethics and social responsibility.

Research Methods
This course provides a comprehensive explication and analysis of sophisticated quantitative and qualitative research. It considers, among other things, research strategy and design, sampling, depth interviews, random variables, hypothesis testing, and appropriate mathematical techniques.

Admission Requirements
Applicants must have a primary degree or equivalent qualification.

Go to www.ipa.ie.

Download the programme application form and complete it in full.

Email that form, along with all the items below, to postgrad@ipa.ie, with the subject heading: Application for: Name of Programme. The items below must be scanned and included as attachments in the email:

A passport-type photograph.
A scan of your degree or relevant qualification.
The semester fee OR a letter from your employer confirming that fees will be paid directly to the IPA.

Places on the programmes are limited and demand for places is likely to exceed the number available. Consequently, you are strongly advised to apply as early as possible.

Students are assessed by means of assignments and examinations.

One academic year.

Delivery Method
The programme is delivered through a blended learning model. Students attend seminars/webinars on three weekends in each term and are supported in their studies by a range of resources, including essential textbooks.

The cost of the programme is €5,000 per annum (includes all matriculation and examination fees, all seminars, textbooks and course material), payable in two instalments.

Commences: September 2024