CUBS UCC’s BSc Accounting first degree in Ireland to secure CAP 2 exemptions from Chartered Accountants Ireland

Posted on: 13 Feb 2024

CUBS UCC’s BSc Accounting first degree in Ireland to secure CAP 2 exemptions from Chartered Accountants Ireland

UCC’s BSc Accounting degree (CK202) has become the first undergraduate degree in Ireland to secure CAP 2 exemptions from Chartered Accountants Ireland (CAI)*. Graduates of the programme can now gain exemptions from half of the CAP 2 exams, which are the penultimate exams of CAI. These new exemptions are in addition to the full CAP 1 exam exemptions that BSc Accounting students can already avail of.

The acquisition of these exemption’s places BSc Accounting graduates in a unique position relative to other accounting and business undergraduate degrees in Ireland, as they now have the ability to undertake fewer professional accountancy exams based upon their undergraduate degree studies.

According to Dr. Peter Cleary (BSc Accounting Programme Director) “the acquisition of these CAP 2 exemptions is a significant development for anyone considering a career as a professional accountant as it has the potential to greatly reduce the number of exams needed for BSc Accounting (CK202) students to qualify as Chartered Accountants”. Dr. Cleary continued, “the fact that the BSc Accounting degree is the first undergraduate degree in Ireland to secure these exemptions, only re-enforces the attractiveness of the degree, from which employment prospects have always been excellent.” Dr Jamie O’Neill (BSc Accounting Programme Director) added that “the BSc Accounting degree now gives students the best of both worlds as they can simultaneously study for a broad-based business degree in UCC while gaining the most exemptions possible from the professional accounting bodies.”   

Coupled with the national and international shortage of qualified accountants – this recent development will be of major interest to Leaving Certificate students considering their options after secondary school. The accounting profession itself is constantly evolving, with areas such as accounting for sustainability and the use of data analytics/visualisation tools within the profession – both currently receiving high levels of attention. These, and other related areas, are extensively covered as part of the BSc Accounting degree (CK202).

Any questions/queries about the above or the BSc Accounting degree (CK202) in general can be e-mailed to [email protected]

*Chartered Accountants Ireland - https://www.charteredaccountants.ie/