Key information for Higher Certificate in Business

Code: BBUSI | Level: 6 | Duration: 2 years | Delivery: Part-time | Credits: 120

Location for Higher Certificate in Business

Location: Waterford | Campus: Cork Road

Application Information for Higher Certificate in Business

Next Intake: September 2026 | Application Status: Closed | Fee Information Link: /current-students/fees-and-grants/fees/lll-fees

International Applicants information for Higher Certificate in Business

Eligibility Notice: This course is unavailable to international applicants. Explore available international courses at https://www.setu.ie/courses/type/international

What modules are taught in Higher Certificate in Business?

AssessmentsAssessment is a combination of exams and continuous assessments. | Year 1: Sem 1: Personal, Professional and Academic Skills 1 | Sem 2: Personal, Professional and Academic Skills 2, Sem 1: Management | Sem 2: Introduction to Organisational Behaviour, Sem 1: Introduction to Microeconomics 1 | Sem 2: Introduction to Macroeconomics 1, Sem 1: Maths for Business | Sem 2: Statistics for Business, Sem 1: Fundamentals of Accounting 1 | Sem 2: Fundamentals of Accounting 2 | Year 2: Sem 3: Fundamentals of Marketing | Sem 4: Marketing Mix Decisions, Sem 3: An Introduction to HRM | Sem 4: HRM in Practice, Sem 3: Law 1 | Sem 4: Law 2, Sem 3: Management Accounting 1 | Sem 4: Management Accounting 2, Sem 3: Introductory to Microeconomics 2 | Sem 4: Introductory Macroeconomics 2, Sem 3: Enterprise Skills | Sem 4: ICT for Business

BBUSI Waterford

Higher Certificate in Business

Business

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Programme Overview

The Higher Certificate in Business is a two-year part-time Level 6 Major Award on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), delivered via the ACCS (Accumulation of Credits and Certification of Subjects) scheme. Designed to build a broad base of practical expertise across key operational functions—including accounting, economics, management, marketing, law, and human resource management—this programme offers a comprehensive foundation for starting or advancing a commercial career. The course gives students exposure to diverse business specialisms, helping them identify their individual strengths before committing to a specific career pathway or further academic specialization.

Coursework

The foundational Level 6 curriculum provides a thorough grounding in core business functions and legal frameworks:

Financial & Management Accounting: Fundamentals of bookkeeping, basic financial statement analysis, and cost management.
Economics & Business Law: Micro- and macroeconomic principles alongside essential legal frameworks governing commercial operations.
Management & Human Resource Management (HRM): Principles of organizational leadership, team dynamics, recruitment, and employee relations.
Marketing & Business Applications: Introduction to marketing strategy, digital communication tools, consumer behaviour, and modern business technology.

Career Opportunities

Graduates earn an accredited Level 6 Major Award that opens doors to entry-level commercial roles or direct academic progression into higher degree awards:

Junior Business & Administrative Executive
Accounts & Finance Assistant
Marketing Assistant & Digital Operations Coordinator
HR & Personnel Administrator
Customer Relations & Operations Specialist
Direct Progression to Level 7 Ordinary Degrees and Level 8 Honours Degrees in Business, Management, Marketing, or HR

Upon completion of the Higher Certificate, graduates possess the practical business toolkit, professional communication skills, and recognized NFQ Level 6 qualification required to excel in modern office environments or seamlessly continue higher education.

Delivery

The HCBS ACCS programme is delivered in a flexible blended mode with weeks 1,6 and 12 of each 12-week semester delivered on site in SETU and the remaining weeks delivered online. Classes will be delivered on Monday and Wednesday evenings 7 – 10pm and on Saturday mornings 9.30am – 12.30pm.

Please note that while there are 5 or 6 modules listed per semester (depending on the semester), it is possible to take fewer modules per semester and complete the programme over a longer time frame.

Assessments

Assessment is a combination of exams and continuous assessments.

Year 1

Semester 1	Semester 2
Personal, Professional and Academic Skills 1	Personal, Professional and Academic Skills 2
Management	Introduction to Organisational Behaviour
Introduction to Microeconomics 1	Introduction to Macroeconomics 1
Maths for Business	Statistics for Business
Fundamentals of Accounting 1	Fundamentals of Accounting 2

Year 2

Semester 3	Semester 4
Fundamentals of Marketing	Marketing Mix Decisions
An Introduction to HRM	HRM in Practice
Law 1	Law 2
Management Accounting 1	Management Accounting 2
Introductory to Microeconomics 2	Introductory Macroeconomics 2
Enterprise Skills	ICT for Business

Leaving Certificate or equivalent for mature student.

Graduates of the Higher Certificate in Business can gain employment in trainee management and junior management positions in any of the main business functions and across all industry and services sectors.

The qualification also allows students to progress to other academic programmes including all degree courses in the School of Business at SETU in particular the Bachelor of Business (Hons) Level 8. Students progressing to Year 3 of the Bachelor of Business (Hons) Level 8 must achieve a Merit 2 or above in the Higher Certificate in Business. Please check the entry requirements for all other Level 8 programmes.

The HCBS programme currently carries exemptions from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).