Business & Languages
MH409 provides students with the widest choice of business and languages of any university degree in Ireland. You choose one business subject (Accounting*, Business Management, International Business or Marketing) and one language (Chinese, French, German or Spanish). You do not need to have studied either business or your chosen language for the Leaving Certificate to take this degree.
| 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
4 years with placement or Erasmus/Study Abroad
Placement Option: Yes* (see Course Structure for details)
Specific Subjects or course requirements
Leaving Certificate: 2H5 & 4O6/H7, Irish, English & O4/H7 Mathematics.
Non-beginner Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Spanish: Leaving Cert H4 recommended.
Beginner Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Spanish: no previous study required.
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?
A combination of excellent skills in both business and a foreign language means that you are highly employable in all business sectors and in many international organisations. The 2020 Graduate Market Survey (AHECS) of employers in Ireland found that more employers were seeking business skills than any other graduate knowledge set, with the exception of engineering. Graduates are very well placed to join large multinational employers in their graduate programmes. You will also be an asset to a small or medium-sized organisation, where you will be able to contribute to the growth of the business both domestically and on the international stage. Your language skills mean that you will be able to work as a bridge between the English-speaking world and the cultures of your chosen language, whether that’s in an export-orientated firm in Ireland or for a company anywhere in the world.
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
Places 2023: 40
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
In your third year, you will have an opportunity to undertake either study abroad or an international internship (subject to approval), which will allow you to apply what you have learned. People with both business and language capabilities are in short supply, yet most businesses work with international customers or suppliers, making you highly employable!
If you already know which business subject and language you want to take for your degree, then you can choose to focus on these from the beginning. If you are unsure and would like to try out a couple of options before you commit, then you can switch between your business and language subjects in the first four weeks of semester one. This enables you to find the subjects that best match your interests and aptitude.
There is a possible transfer option to this degree in second year for students who have completed the first year of the BA degree (MH101) taking business and the relevant language.
Why choose this degree?
Wide variety of options: Maynooth University offers more subject combinations than any other business degree in Ireland, enabling you to combine four different business subjects with four different world languages.
Accredited year abroad: The opportunity to study or work abroad as an integral part of your degree which gives you a chance to put your learning into practice and significantly improves your employability upon graduation.
Employability:
- Graduates with an in-depth knowledge of business and strong language skills are in high demand on the jobs market.
- Employees that have both a deep insight into how to create value for businesses (through Accounting, Marketing, Management or International Business skills) and can apply these skills across both English and a modern language are rare and valuable. Most businesses in Ireland and Europe trade internationally across languages and so these skills are highly sought after.
No compromise: You get to choose the language you love and your business career choices.
* Please note that Accounting can only be combined with German or Spanish. All other business subjects can be combined with any of the four languages.
Course structure
1st year
You will take 30 credits of the business subject of your choice. This will provide you with a foundational knowledge of your business subject. Beginner (30 credits) and non-beginner (15 credits) options are available in French, German, Spanish and Chinese. Students who take a language at non-beginner level (15 credits) also take the relevant Language and Culture modules (15 credits).
You also have the option of taking one or two non-beginner (post Leaving Certificate H4 or higher) languages in 1st year.
2nd year
For business, second year is about learning the functional capabilities of your subject, including some optional choices. As a language student, you will have a twin focus on language and culture. Your language skills will continue to be developed through small-group teaching, and you will be able to choose from a wide range of different options to hone your intercultural awareness.
3rd year
You will choose either Erasmus/study abroad in one of our partner universities or undertake an international internship (subject to availability). Study abroad will offer you the opportunity to develop your language and cultural skills. You will have an opportunity to strengthen your language skills by living and studying through the target language, and you’ll also be able to take modules in other language, cultural, business or alternative subjects. If you prefer to undertake an international internship, we can support you to have this accredited as part of your degree programme also. Students may also qualify for funding through the Erasmus+ internship programme.
*(The University’s Placement Office will support you in the search for a placement job; however, the process is competitive).
Final year
In your business subject, this is the year in which you will develop your understanding of the strategic aspects of running a business, as well as advanced skills in your chosen subject, including a range of optional and core modules. In your language, you will build on your experience abroad to develop a high degree of fluency and accuracy, and you will continue to develop your creative, analytical, and critical thinking through engaging with cultural studies.
Possible topics
1st year
Your business topics will vary depending on your subject choice. In Marketing, for example, you will learn about consumer behaviour and market analysis. In Accounting, you will learn the basics of financial accounting. In Management, you will learn about business models, and how to manage people, amongst others.
2nd year
Examples of business topics include management accounting, international management, human resource management, operations and supply chain management, and digital marketing, amongst others. In your language, you will be able to choose from a range of modules, including linguistics and language studies, film and literary studies, and language for business.
Final year
Examples of business topics include advanced management and cost accounting, strategic management, management information systems, innovation, and international marketing, amongst others. In your language, you will be able to choose from a range of modules, including advanced linguistics, film studies, politics and the media, literary analysis and translation.
Professor Joseph Coughlan, Programme Director
Maynooth University School of Business, TSI Building, North Campus
+ 353 1 708 3609
joseph.coughlan@mu.ie
business@mu.ie
www.maynoothuniversity.ie/business
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