Code
BBUSI
Location
Waterford
Campus
Cork Road
- Level Level 6
- Duration 2 years
- Credits 120
- Delivery Part-time
- Application Status Opens June for Sept start
- Next Intake September 2025
Waterford Chamber Skillnet will be supporting this programme for the academic year 23/24 by offering funding up to 50% for eligible candidates / companies.
To make an application for funding please visit www.waterfordskillnet.ie
Please note that funded places are limited and awarded on a first come first served basis.
The Higher Certificate in Business is a two-year part-time certificate programme designed to help students build a broad range of practical business skills across the main business functional areas - including Accounting; Economics; Law; HRM, Management and Marketing. Successful completion of the HCBS will also see students greatly enhance their 'soft skills' such as interpersonal communications and self-motivation - these skills are greatly prized by today's employers.
The Higher Certificate in Business is recognised as a Major Award on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications. As such earning the Higher Cert will serve in itself as a foundation to a business career - and also open the door to a broad range of further academic progression opportunities. Having completed the HCBS the graduate will have in-depth experience of a range of Business specialisms and thereby better able to chose the specialist area that they might wish to pursue as a career.
For late applications please contact [email protected]
Teaching and Learning Model
The HCBS ACCS programme is delivered in a flexible blended mode with weeks 1,6 and 12 of each 12-week semester delivered on site in SETU and the remaining weeks delivered online. Classes will be delivered on Monday and Wednesday evenings 7 – 10pm and on Saturday mornings 9.30am – 12.30pm.
Please note that while there are 5 or 6 modules listed per semester (depending on the semester), it is possible to take fewer modules per semester and complete the programme over a longer time frame.
Assessment
Assessment is a combination of exams and continuous assessments.
Year 1
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| Personal, Professional and Academic Skills 1 | Personal, Professional and Academic Skills 2 |
| Management | Introduction to Organisational Behaviour |
| Introduction to Microeconomics 1 | Introduction to Macroeconomics 1 |
| Maths for Business | Statistics for Business |
| Fundamentals of Accounting 1 | Fundamentals of Accounting 2 |
Year 1
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|
M is a mandatory subject - E is an elective subject
Year 2
| Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
|---|---|
| Fundamentals of Marketing | Marketing Mix Decisions |
| An Introduction to HRM | HRM in Practice |
| Law 1 | Law 2 |
| Management Accounting 1 | Management Accounting 2 |
| Introductory to Microeconomics 2 | Introductory Macroeconomics 2 |
| Enterprise Skills | ICT for Business |
Year 2
| Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
|---|---|
M is a mandatory subject - E is an elective subject
Year 3
| Semester 5 | Semester 6 |
|---|---|
M is a mandatory subject - E is an elective subject
Year 4
| Semester 7 | Semester 8 |
|---|---|
M is a mandatory subject - E is an elective subject
Leaving Certificate or equivalent for mature student.
Graduates of the Higher Certificate in Business can gain employment in trainee management and junior management positions in any of the main business functions and across all industry and services sectors.
The qualification also allows students to progress to other academic programmes including all degree courses in the School of Business at SETU Waterford in particular the Bachelor of Business (Hons) Level 8. Students progressing to Year 3 of the Bachelor of Business (Hons) Level 8 must achieve a Merit 2 or above in the Higher Certificate in Business. Please check the entry requirements for all other Level 8 programmes.
The HCBS programme currently carries exemptions from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).
Graduates of the Higher Certificate in Business can gain employment in trainee management and junior management positions in any of the main business functions and across all industry and services sectors. The qualification also allows students to progress to other academic programmes including all degree courses in the School of Business at SETU Waterford in particular the Bachelor of Business (Hons) Level 8. Students progressing to Year 3 of the Bachelor of Business (Hons) Level 8 must achieve a Merit 2 or above in the Higher Certificate in Business. Please check the entry requirements for all other Level 8 programmes.
Course Leader
