Law & Accounting
Embark on the route to becoming a professional in accounting or law, both of which offer a rewarding career with international mobility and high earning potential.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | National University of Ireland |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | National University of Ireland | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
BCL (Law and Accounting) CAO Code: MH502 LWA
3 years
Placement Option: Yes – subject to availability
Erasmus/Study Abroad Option: Yes – subject to availability
Specific Subjects or course requirements
Leaving Certificate:
2H5 & 4O6/H7, Irish & English & 04/H7 Mathematics*
* Students admitted to MH502 are required to have O4/H7 Mathematics to register for LWA
Leaving Certificate General Entry Requirements
In general, students must be 17 years or older by 15th January in the year after entry to the University. If you are younger, you must make a special application to the University’s President.
All Leaving Certificate subjects carry equal points with the exception of *Mathematics (details below). Points are awarded for your six best subjects in any one year. These do not have to include subjects needed to meet general minimum entry requirements. Minimum entry requirements and course requirements may be satisfied by an accumulation of subjects over more than one year. As well as achieving the required points, you must have a minimum of six subjects in your Leaving Certificate, with two Higher Level papers at grade H5 and four Ordinary or Higher Level papers at grade O6/H7.
The requirements for each course are shown above.
* 25 bonus points will be added to the points score for a Leaving Certificate Higher Level Mathematics grade H6 or higher.
The bonus points are included in the overall points calculation only when Mathematics is one of the applicant’s best six subjects following the addition of the bonus.
Foundation level Mathematics is accepted for matriculation (i.e. can be counted as one of the six subjects required - grade F6 or higher), but does not meet the requirement for degrees where Mathematics is a special programme requirement. Points are not awarded for this subject.
Foundation level Irish is not accepted for matriculation. Points are not awarded for this subject.
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
Points are awarded as follows:
Distinction 66
Merit 46
Pass 28
Applicants can use their points allocation for the Link Modules as one of their best six subjects for the purpose of calculating points, but the Link Modules do not qualify as a subject for minimum entry requirement purposes.
QQI FET Applicants General Information
Click on the 'QQI FET Applicants Information link' below for specific course entry requirements.
QQI FET General Information Link
Careers / Further progression
Options after graduation?
- The numeracy skills, coupled with an ability to think critically and analytically, which are developed on this programme, are invaluable assets in a wide range of careers. Graduates have successful and rewarding careers in accounting, banking and the financialservices sector generally, as well as financial research and teaching.
- Graduates of the BCL programme, wishing to pursue a career in accounting, will be in a position to enter professional training and avail of certain exemptions from the professional accounting bodies.
- Graduates of the BCL programme will be in a position to take exams for entrance to the Honorable Society of King’s Inns in order to begin training as a barrister and are eligible to progress to take the Law Society of Ireland’s FE1 examinations to begin training as a solicitor.
- Postgraduate study options at the School of Law and Criminology and the School of Business have a strong international focus to reflect the increasingly global nature of accounting, law and legal practice. Options currently include the LL.M. (International Business Law) and LL.M. (Global Legal Studies). Many of our students continue to further postgraduate study in a very wide range of Business, Accounting and Finance subjects at Maynooth University.
Further information
Maynooth University greatly values the particular contribution of mature students to the academic and social environment of the University. A mature student is 23 years or older by 1st January in the year of entry to the University. For part-time degrees the mature age is 21. There is no upper age limit; we currently have students who range in age from 23 to over 70. Up to 200 mature students begin their studies here each year. Many of our mature entrants undertake preparatory studies in advance of gaining admission.
The Mature Student Office is committed to supporting the learning experience of our mature students. A certain number of places are reserved for mature students on all undergraduate courses. We offer a range of supports for mature students including an advisory service, tailored information sessions during Orientation/Welcome Week, academic advisors, the Student Budgeting Advice Service and a technology skills programme. There is also a Mature Student Society on campus providing a continuation of peer support, both academic and social, to incoming mature students.
See the Mature Student handbook for detailed information about applying as a mature student. Call, email or drop in to meet us in MAP Lodge on the North Campus or to request a mature student information pack. If the opportunity to return to education has presented itself to you, we hope you’ll choose Maynooth University.
Emer Sheerin, Mature Student Officer
+ 353 1 708 3307
emer.sheerin@mu.ie
2023: 200 (MH502)
Entry 2024
Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2024 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2024 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: €60 Closing Date: 1 May 2024 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2024 at 5pm
Exceptional online late application (see page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee €60 Closing Date: 22 July 2024 at 5pm
Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid making an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all application fees are non-refundable.
LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5pm on 1 February 2024. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2024, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2024 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €60 applies.
Exceptional Late Applications (Exception to the timetable)
The exceptional closing date of 22 July at 5pm applies only to applicants who are registered as an undergraduate student on 1 May 2024 in any year in any one of the participating HEIs (subject to the exclusions listed below). In order to avail of the Exceptional Late Application facility you must have entered the HEI through the CAO system. This is an exceptional late closing date and all steps must be completed by 5pm on 22 July. No changes may be made after this date.
If you did not enter your current course through the CAO system, you must first contact the Admissions Office of the HEI to which you wish to apply and they will inform you if you may submit an application direct to the institution.
Exclusions:
You may submit a late application only for entry to courses other than your existing course. If you wish to repeat the year in the same course you must arrange this within your HEI.
Mary Immaculate College Limerick, Marino Institute of Education, Trinity College Dublin, University of Limerick and Maynooth University have special procedures in place in the case of current or previous students who wish to apply for entry to another course in the same HEI. Such applicants must contact their Admissions Office to determine the application procedure. However, if you are a student in another HEI and you wish to apply to any of these five HEIs, you should apply through CAO.
Refer to page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook on how to make an Exceptional Late Application.
Restrictions
As a CAO applicant you may experience one or more of the following restrictions based on your course choices, your category of application, or restrictions imposed by the HEIs that you wish to apply to. Please read the section on 'Restrictions' on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:
General Restrictions
1. Making a late application
2. Making changes to your course choices
Restricted Courses
3. Applying for a restricted course
Mature Applicants
4. Mature applicants
Supplementary Admissions Routes
5. Applying for DARE and/or HEAR
Enhance your employability by developing your faculties for argument, reasoning and for the analysis of complicated ideas.
Acquire key financial and accounting skills alongside a thorough grounding in core law subjects. Become a highly sought-after law and accounting graduate with the technical and transferable skills needed to succeed in your chosen career.
Engage with expert faculty, who foster an engaging, friendly, supportive and dynamic learning environment.
Why choose this degree?
This programme is jointly accredited by both the legal and accounting professions. You can avail of exemptions (upon graduation) from CAP 1 examinations from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland, and equivalent examination papers from the ACCA, CIMA, and CPA professional accounting bodies. This law degree is accredited by the Honorable Society of King’s Inns.
This option is designed for students who would like to combine their study of law with gaining a strong background in accounting. For the three years of this programme, you will study Law and Accounting in equal measure, making this degree particularly attractive if you are considering a career in these fields.
You will acquire key financial and accounting skills alongside a thorough grounding in core law subjects.
Flexibility and choice: BCL students who successfully complete the first year of the programme have the option of transferring into the second year of the LLB programme (MH501)
Course structure
Accounting is taken jointly with Law for the three years of the programme, with a wide range of accounting and legal subjects being studied
Students take the core modules required for professional legal and accounting careers, but also choose from a range of optional modules. No prior knowledge of accounting or law is required, as we teach both subjects from first principles
A number of modules focus on developing critical skills (legal writing, advocacy, financial literacy and communication skills)
Some students may choose to complete a work placement or study abroad year between 2nd and final year and graduate after the 4th year. (*The University will support you in the search for a placement job; however, the process is competitive).
Possible topics
- Core modules like Criminal Law, Contract Law, Introduction to Accounting, and Fundamentals of Finance
- Critical skills modules, like Legal Research Methods
- Practical skills, participating in mock trials
2nd year
- Core modules like Company Law, Financial and Management Accounting and Taxation
- Critical skills, analysing materials in tutorials and seminars
- Practical skills, like participating in negotiation
Final year
- Core modules like Property Law, Management Accounting, Financial Accounting and Finance
- Critical skills, analysing the philosophy of law, and the ethics of corporate governance
- Choose from a range of options, including Media Law and Financial Reporting
Dr Danny Chow
Maynooth University School of Business, TSI Building, North Campus
+ 353 1 708 3609
danny.chow@mu.ie
business@mu.ie
www.maynoothuniversity.ie/business
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