Business and Financial Economics (BA (Hons))

The BA (Hons) Business and Financial Economics is a programme delivered in partnership with Chinese partner universities with whom University College Cork has a bilateral agreement under statute 263 of the National University of Ireland. 

The programme comprises 180 credits. Students will study for one year if a scholarship student and for two years if a non-scholarship student prior to entering the programme in UCC. The students will complete two years at University College Cork, taking modules to the value of 60 credits in each of Second and Third Years. When studying at UCC a student may not register for more than 60 credits in any one academic year. 

Modules

First Year 

Scholarship students pursue specific programmes of study to the value of 60 credits (or ECTS equivalent) (1 year's study) at their home Chinese university (BTBU or BISTU) with whom UCC has a bilateral agreement. 

Non-Scholarship students pursue specific programmes of study to the value of 120 credits (or ECTS equivalent) (2 year's study) at their home Chinese university with whom UCC has a bilateral agreement. 

Examinations 
The First Year of this programme will be examined in accordance with examination regulations governed by the Chinese Education Authority. 

Second Year 

In order to be admitted to the Second University Examination in Business and Financial Economics a student must have satisfactorily attended prescribed modules amounting to 60 credits as follows:  

• EC2007 Current Issues in Economics (5 credits) 
• EC2100 Microeconomics: Behaviour and Organisations (5 credits) 
• EC2110 Microeconomics: Organisations and Institutions (5 credits) 
• EC2111 Macroeconomics: Growth and Irish Economic Development (5 credits) 
• EC2112 Macroeconomics: Irish and International Business Cycles (5 credits) 
• EC2115 Introduction to Mathematical Economic Analysis (5 credits) 
• EC2116 Introduction to Statistical Economic Analysis (5 credits) 
• EC2119 Economic Data Collection and Presentation Skills (5 credits) 
• EC2120 Report Writing and Oral Presentation Skills (5 credits) 
• EC2208 Resourcing Organisation and Competitive Capability 1 (5 credits)       
• EC3205 Economics of Information (10 credits) 

Third Year 

In order to be admitted to the Third University Examination in Business and Financial Economics a student must have satisfactorily attended prescribed modules amounting to 60 credits as follows: 

• EC3010 Research in International Economics (5 credits)                                       
• EC3100 The Economics of Corporate Strategy 1 (5 credits) 
• EC3119 Capital Markets and Asset Valuation (5 credits) 
• EC3127 Economics and the Labour Market (5 credits) 
• EC3135 Health Economics: The Role of Public Policy (5 credits) 
• EC3152 Quantitative Methods: Econometrics 1 (5 credits) 
• EC3153 Quantitative Methods: Econometrics 2 (5 credits) 
• EC3155 Survey Methods: Quantitative Analysis (5 credits) 
• EC3156 Environmental Economics: The Problem of Climate Change (5 credits) 
• EC3157 Public Finance Projects (5 credits) 
• EC3161 Regional and Urban Economics (5 credits)      
• EC3162 Contextualising the Modern Global Economy (5 credits)                                       

See the College Calendar for additional information on the Programme and the Book of Modules for further details on modules. 

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to: 

• Communicate and work effectively to a Professional Standard; 
• Demonstrate analytical and problem solving skills associated with effective practice; 
• Engage in the application of frameworks and techniques in organizational settings; 
• Understand the contemporary business and financial markets integrating into a global economy; 
• Develop transferable skills which are relevant for career development. 

Expected lecture hours: You will have approximately 12 lecture hours per week, with additional tutorial and practical hours and class meetings or activities. 

Full module information is detailed in the book of modules. 

Written exams will take place at the end of Semester 1 and Semester 2.  Not all modules will have formal examinations.  Many modules use other types of assessment including: 

• Individual assignments and in-class exams 
• Group projects 
• Oral presentation or poster presentations 
• Economics reports 

There are two entry routes into this programme. 

1. Students selected for the scholarship-based Overseas Visiting Learning Programme (OVLP) under the guidance of Beijing Municipal Education Commission. These students will have successfully completed and passed 1 year of an approved programme of study in BTBU or BISTU with whom University College Cork has a bilateral agreement. 
2. Non-Scholarship students from approved Chinese Partner Institutions will have successfully completed and passed 2 years of an approved programme of study in a UCC partner university in China. 

To be admitted to Second Year at UCC, students will be required to have: 

• Completed 3 credits of Economics including either Microeconomics or Macroeconomics; 
• Achieved 70% minimum marks (in Business or Economics modules); and 
• Satisfied English language proficiency requirements as set out by University College Cork for non-EU students IELTS 6.0. 

Final approval is subject to the discretion of the Programme Director(s) in University College Cork. 

In the event of an applicant exceeding the entry criteria, no module exemptions will be allowed under any circumstance.