Business

Programme Overview

The Higher Certificate in Business Studies is a flexible two-year Level 6 programme designed to provide students with essential skills, commercial awareness, and practical knowledge required to excel across modern business environments. Offering a broad exposure to foundational commercial disciplines—including Accounting, Economics, Management, Marketing, and Human Resource Management—the course deepens students' understanding of how business enterprises operate. Upon completion, graduates hold a widely recognized qualification that serves as an immediate entry point into the workforce or a direct gateway to honours degree studies.

Practical Learning & Special Features

The programme emphasizes applied learning methods, professional body exemptions, and clear academic progression:

• Applied Learning Methodology: Practical instruction utilizes real-world business case studies, group problem-solving, and analysis of current commercial challenges to bring theoretical concepts to life.
• Professional Body Exemptions: Graduates are entitled to valuable professional accounting exemptions, including Papers F1 and F3 of the ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and Modules C01 to C05 of CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants).
• Direct Progression Pathways: Graduates can transfer directly into degree programmes within the School of Business at SETU in Waterford, including the Level 8 Bachelor of Business (Hons), BA (Hons) in Accounting, BA (Hons) in Marketing & Digital Media, and BA (Hons) in International Business.

Coursework

The two-year foundational curriculum covers essential commercial, financial, and management subjects:

• Accounting & Financial Practice: Financial accounting fundamentals, recording business transactions, and introductory management accounting.
• Economics & Business Environment: Micro- and macroeconomic principles, market structures, and national/global commercial dynamics.
• Management & Human Resources: Principles of organizational management, leadership styles, human resource functions, and employee relations.
• Marketing & Business Applications: Introduction to marketing strategy, consumer behaviour, digital communications, and business technology tools.

Career Opportunities

Graduates earn a versatile Level 6 qualification that prepares them for entry-level roles across public and private sectors or seamless academic transfer:

• Junior Business & Administrative Executive
• Accounts Assistant & Trainee Bookkeeper
• Marketing & Customer Relations Assistant
• HR & Operations Assistant
• Sales & Retail Coordinator
• Direct Progression to Level 7 and Level 8 Honours Degrees across Accounting, Marketing, International Business, and Management

Upon completion of the Higher Certificate, graduates possess the practical business skills, recognized professional body exemptions, and academic foundation required to build a successful career or pursue specialized degree qualifications.

Special Features

The applied nature of the teaching affords you the opportunity to put your learning into practice. This is done through the use of case studies from real businesses and through the examination of real business problems. Graduates from the Higher Certificate in Business can transfer to degree courses in the School of Business at SETU in Waterford including Bachelor of Business (Hons), Bachelor of Business, BA (Hons) in Accounting, BA (Hons) in Marketing & Digital Media and BA (Hons) International Business.

Completion of this course entitles students to the following professional body exemptions

• Examinations F1 and F3 of the professional examinations of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
• Examinations C01 to C05 inclusive of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).