BA FINANCE

Duration: 3 years (4 years with optional placement or Erasmus/Study Abroad)

1st year

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 hw 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, which may include Critical Skills, from Bachelor of Arts groups 1, 2 and 5 – maximum one per group. See BA groups table.

Maynooth Education: Critical Skills Option / Elective Option

2nd 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.