Finance
>Finance is central to the operations of every multinational firm, small business, government, household and individual. Study Finance and give yourself a head start in life and in your career.
>Finance is a growing industry in Ireland and across the globe. Finance graduates can pursue many challenging and rewarding careers.
>Learn how the financial system works – how assets are traded, international markets are linked, government policy decisions affect financial markets.
| 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
3 years (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
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?
Finance graduates have strong numeracy skills, coupled with an ability to think critically and analytically – invaluable assets in a wide range of professions.
Our graduates can be found in the banking and financial services industry, economic consultancy, corporate finance, investment banking, retail broking, finance units of public and private sector organisations, financial research, journalism, and teaching.
Our graduates can be found working in the major financial centres of the world; New York, London, Hong Kong, Dublin, and many more. Many graduates want to continue studying Finance. At postgraduate level, we currently offer two programmes; MSc in Finance and MSc in Finance and Regulation.
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: 60
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
Why choose this degree?
>Finance is a multi-disciplinary field, offering a broad range of specializations, in investment banking, financial planning, risk management and corporate finance.
>Learn how to use financial market data and analysis tools in platforms including Bloomberg to perform in-depth analysis.
>Opportunity to take a work placement in a multi-national or Irish firm (subject to availability) to gain hands-on experience. Additionally, you also have the option to study abroad, thus having the opportunity to learn within another culture.
>The program offers our students a fantastic opportunity to build their professional network through academic engagement, guest lectures and industry guidance.
Course structure
Finance and Economics are the major elements of your degree. Study of Finance begins in 2nd year as students first require an introduction to the principles of how markets work and how money and finance interact with the economy.
> 15 credits of Economics, 7.5 credits of Accounting, 7.5 credits of Mathematics
> Option to take a further 7.5 credits of Mathematics
> Optional (but recommended) extra 7.5 credits of Accounting in the 2nd semester
> Choose 1 subject including Critical Skills from groups 1, 2 and 5 – maximum one per group (see p. 45 of 2024 prospectus for subject groups)
Maynooth Education
Critical Skills Option / Elective Option (see p. 22 of 2024 prospectus for details)
2nd year and Final year
Students choose from these options (a) or (b):
(a) Choose between the Single Major and Major/Minor routes to degree level.
Single Major: about 50% of modules are compulsory and are in Finance and the parts of Economics important to Finance. There are a lot of optional modules in Economics,and depending on your choices in the 2nd semester of 1st year you may take further modules in Financial Accounting and/or Mathematics.
Major/Minor: approximately 33% of your time is spent with the Minor subject, and you take fewer modules in Finance and Economics, though the core modules are still compulsory. Minor subjects to choose from include Business, Computer Science, Criminology, Geography, German, History, Law, Mathematical Studies, Music, Philosophy, Sociology or Spanish. You must have completed 15 credits in the subject in 1st year to be eligible for the Major/Minor. 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).
(b) Switch to the BA Accounting and Finance degree (MH403).
MH401 is a sister degree to MH403 BA Accounting and Finance, with many modules in common. Side steps between the two degrees are allowed at the end of 1st year, depending on the 1st year optional modules chosen
Students can switch to MH403 Accounting and Finance degree at the end of first year provided 22.5 credits of Accounting are taken in 1st year and you attain 60% if you did not have the required CAO points for entry to MH403. Those who are reasonably certain they wish for a career in Accounting should consider MH403 or MH407 both of which maximise Accounting exemptions. However modules such as Money and Banking, and Financial Institutions are not available to specialist Accountants (MH403). Some exemptions are available to those who choose to study Financial Accounting in all three years through MH401
Possible topics
1st year
Economics, Macroeconomics, Mathematics and Accounting
Optional 15 credit Critical Skills (see page 22 for details - Prospectus 2024)
2nd year
Corporate Finance, Financial Management, Econometrics, Financial Markets and Institutions, Money and Banking, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Financial Modelling
Optional 10 credit Electives (see p. 23 for details - prospectus 2024)
Final year
Investments, Derivative Securities, Ethics and Corporate Governance, Financial Modelling, Fixed Income Markets, Econometrics, International Finance, Irish Economy, Finance Thesis.
Shivam Agarwal, Programme Director
Maynooth University School of Business, TSI Building, North Campus
+ 353 1 708 3609
shivam.agarwal@mu.ie
business@mu.ie
www.maynoothuniversity.ie/business
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