Every Irish business degree — from BComm to BBS to Global Business — mapped side by side. Universities, technological universities, and private colleges. CAO codes, 2025 points, specialisation options, professional accreditations, and the routes into accounting, finance, marketing, management, and more.
In Ireland, the BComm (Bachelor of Commerce), BBS (Bachelor of Business Studies), and BBus (Bachelor of Business) are all full Level 8 honours degrees that lead to the same graduate outcomes. The naming varies by institution: UCD and Galway use "BComm," UL uses "BBS," DCU and TU Dublin use "BBus" or "BBS," while TCD offers "BESS" (Business, Economics and Social Studies) — a broader multidisciplinary programme. Regardless of the title, all accredited degrees qualify graduates for the same professional exemptions from bodies like ACCA, CPA Ireland, Chartered Accountants Ireland, CIMA, and the Marketing Institute of Ireland.
| UNIVERSITY | CAO CODE | PROGRAMME | DEGREE | YEARS | 2025 R1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TCD | TR034 | Management Science & Information Systems Studies | BSc | 4 | 625* |
| TCD | TR062 | Business, Economics and Social Studies (BESS) | BSc | 4 | 566 |
| TCD | TR080 | Global Business | BBS | 4 | 601 |
| UCD | DN650 | Commerce (BComm) | BComm | 3–4 | 566 |
| UCD | DN610 | Business and Law | BBL | 4 | 566 |
| DCU | DC111 | Business Studies | BBS | 4 | 510 |
| DCU | DC112 | Global Business (France) | BBS | 4 | 543 |
| DCU | DC110 | Business Studies International | BBS | 4 | 498 |
| UCC | CK204 | Finance | BComm | 4 | 578 |
| UCC | CK201 | Commerce | BComm | 3 | 511 |
| UCC | CK202 | Accounting | BComm | 4 | 510 |
| UCC | CK203 | Business Information Systems | BComm | 4 | 463 |
| UL | LM050 | Business Studies (with language options) | BBS | 4 | 444 |
| UL | LM056 | International Business | BBS | 4 | 544 |
| Galway | GY201 | Commerce | BComm | 3 | 454 |
| Galway | GY202 | Commerce (International) with French | BComm | 4 | 517 |
| Galway | GY203 | Commerce (International) with German | BComm | 4 | 517 |
| Maynooth | MH401 | International Finance & Economics | BA | 3 | 410 |
| Maynooth | MH402 | Quantitative Finance | BSc | 4 | 430 |
| Maynooth | MH403 | Accounting & Finance | BA | 3 | 420 |
| TU Dublin | TU959 | Business & Law | BBus | 4 | 350 |
| SETU | SE400 | Business (Waterford) | BBus | 4 | 273 |
| SETU | SE401 | Business (Carlow) | BBus | 4 | 260 |
| ATU | AU601 | Business (Galway) | BBus | 4 | 280 |
| ATU | AU301 | Business (Letterkenny) | BBus | 4 | 287 |
| TUS | US841 | Business (Limerick) | BBus | 4 | 316 |
| TUS | US840 | Business (Athlone) | BBus | 4 | 278 |
| MTU | MT941 | Business (Kerry — Common Entry) | BBus | 4 | 301 |
| MTU | MT943 | Marketing (Cork) | BBus | 4 | 358 |
| DkIT | DK802 | Business with Management | BBus | 4 | 252 |
| NCI | NC009 | Business | BBus | 4 | 270 |
| DBS | DB512 | Business Studies | BBus | 3 | 263 |
Points shown are 2025 CAO Round 1. Not all applicants at starred (*) points were offered places. Points change annually — place courses in genuine order of preference, not based on previous points.
Ireland's largest university. Business programmes span five campuses across Dublin. Strong emphasis on technology integration and industry connections. Progression routes from Level 6/7 to Level 8.
Visit TU DublinSE400 includes optional language pathway. Separate direct-entry for Accounting, Marketing, International Business, and BIS across three campuses. Strong regional employer links in the south-east.
Visit SETUSeparate campuses in Galway and Letterkenny with distinct programme offerings. Galway also offers BIS (320), Finance & Economics (307), and Entrepreneurship (300). Strong links to west and north-west industry.
Visit ATUWide choice across three campuses. Notable US836 Business Studies (AI for Enterprise) combines business with artificial intelligence — a forward-looking option. Also offers Digital Marketing, International Business, and Event Management.
Visit TUSKerry campus offers common-entry business (MT941) allowing specialisation after Year 1. Cork campus has direct-entry streams for Marketing, Accounting, BIS, and International Business with Language. Also offers Global Business & Pilot Studies (MT946, 329).
Visit MTUDkIT offers Business with Management and International Business with Digitalisation (297). NCI is located in Dublin's IFSC financial district with strong industry ties. DBS offers flexible scheduling and a range of specialised business streams including Digital Marketing, HRM, and Global Business.
Most Irish business degrees provide exemptions from some or all exams of professional bodies. This means you can skip parts of the professional qualification process, saving time and money. The number of exemptions varies by university and programme — if you already know which professional route you want (e.g. Chartered Accountant, ACCA), check which programme gives you the most exemptions before choosing.
The premier accounting qualification in Ireland. 3.5-year training contract alongside exams (CAP1, CAP2, FAE). Most BComm/BBS graduates receive exemptions from CAP1 exams. Starting salaries for trainees: €24,000–€28,000, rising to €55,000+ on qualification.
charteredaccountants.ieAssociation of Chartered Certified Accountants — globally recognised across 180+ countries. 13 exams plus 36 months' practical experience. Irish business degrees typically provide 5–9 exam exemptions. Popular with graduates seeking international careers.
accaglobal.comCertified Public Accountants — Ireland's own professional body, established 1926. Flexible study options that suit part-time work. Often considered the most practical route for graduates who want to qualify while working in SMEs or industry rather than Big 4 firms.
cpaireland.ieChartered Institute of Management Accountants — focuses on management accounting, strategy, and business leadership rather than auditing. Ideal for graduates who see themselves in corporate finance, FP&A, or CFO roles rather than practice-based accounting.
cimaglobal.comThe MII is the professional body for marketers in Ireland. Graduates from accredited business/marketing programmes can gain Graduate Membership. Full membership (MIIMktg) requires 3+ years of marketing experience. Increasingly important as digital marketing skills grow in demand.
mii.ieChartered Institute of Personnel and Development — the professional body for HR and people development. DCU, UL, and others offer CIPD-accredited HRM pathways. Essential for graduates pursuing careers in Human Resources, recruitment, L&D, or organisational development.
cipd.ieTrainee roles at Big 4 (Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG) or mid-tier firms. 3–4 year training contract leads to Chartered Accountant, ACCA, or CPA qualification. Moves into industry, financial control, or tax advisory. Ireland's strong multinational presence creates steady demand.
Investment banking, fund management, financial analysis, risk management, fintech. Dublin's IFSC houses major financial institutions (JP Morgan, Citi, Goldman Sachs). Increasingly data-driven — quantitative finance and analytics skills highly valued. CFA designation a popular additional qualification.
Brand management, digital marketing, content strategy, social media, market research. Ireland's tech ecosystem (Google, Meta, TikTok, HubSpot) creates abundant opportunities. Growing demand for data-driven marketing, SEO/SEM, and marketing automation skills.
Strategy, operations, and transformation consulting at firms like McKinsey, BCG, Accenture, or Irish firms like BearingPoint and Kenmare Partners. Typically requires strong analytical skills and often a master's degree. Travel-heavy but excellent career accelerator.
Recruitment, employee relations, learning & development, compensation and benefits, organisational development. CIPD qualification is the industry standard. Multinationals in Ireland employ large HR teams — particularly in pharma, tech, and financial services.
Starting your own business, joining early-stage companies, or working in innovation roles. Ireland's startup ecosystem is thriving — Enterprise Ireland, LEOs, and NDRC provide funding and mentoring. Business degrees equip you with finance, marketing, and management foundations needed to launch.
| CAREER STAGE | ACCOUNTING & FINANCE | MARKETING | MANAGEMENT / CONSULTING |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate (0–2 yrs) | €24k–€32k | €26k–€32k | €30k–€38k |
| Mid-Career (3–5 yrs) | €45k–€65k | €38k–€55k | €50k–€70k |
| Qualified / Senior (5–10 yrs) | €65k–€90k | €55k–€80k | €70k–€100k |
| Senior / Director (10+ yrs) | €90k–€150k+ | €80k–€120k+ | €100k–€150k+ |
Salary ranges based on 2025 data from Morgan McKinley, Glassdoor, and gradireland. Dublin salaries typically 10–20% higher than regional roles. Accounting trainee salaries are lower initially but rise significantly on qualification.
If you're unsure which area of business interests you, choose a common-entry programme like UCD DN650 or UCC CK201 where you specialise in Year 2 or 3. If you already know you want finance or accounting, direct-entry options like UCC CK204 Finance (578) or CK202 Accounting (510) get you there faster.
Programmes with mandatory work placement (UL Co-Op, DCU INTRA) dramatically improve graduate employability and often lead directly to job offers. These placements are typically paid (€15k–€20k for 8 months) and give you real-world experience that sets your CV apart from competitors.
If you're considering a professional qualification (Chartered Accountant, ACCA, CPA), check how many exam exemptions each programme provides. The difference between 5 and 9 exemptions could save you a year of study and thousands in exam fees after graduation.
Programmes with a language or exchange year (TCD Global Business, DCU Global Business, UL with languages, Galway International Commerce) are increasingly valued by multinational employers. The extra year abroad also gives you a distinctive CV edge and life experience that's hard to replicate.
Three Irish business schools hold the prestigious "Triple Crown" — AACSB, EQUIS, and AMBA accreditation: TCD (Trinity Business School), UCD (Smurfit), and UL (Kemmy). Only ~1% of business schools worldwide hold all three. This signals world-class teaching, research, and graduate outcomes.
Technological universities (TU Dublin, SETU, ATU, TUS, MTU) offer Level 8 business degrees at lower points thresholds (252–350) with the same NFQ Level 8 qualification. Many also offer a ladder system — start at Level 6/7 and progress to Level 8 — ideal if your Leaving Cert points don't match your ability.
Points change every year based on supply and demand — they are not a measure of course quality. Always place your courses in genuine order of preference, not based on what you think points will be. Business is one of Ireland's most popular degree areas with a wide range of entry points, meaning there is a programme to suit almost every student. Whatever programme you choose, your degree is what you make of it — extracurriculars, internships, networking, and professional development matter just as much as the name on the parchment.