About Business Economics (msc) in University College Cork

The MSc Business Economics is an integrated course applying economics to the business environment. Designed in consultation with leaders from the business community and public sector organisations, this unique course equips you with the key skills for career development in the ever-changing business world. It also provides a good foundation for those interested in undertaking further study at PhD, DBA or professional development level.

This is a research-orientated course, which is both theoretically grounded and evidence-based. The focus is on analysing, understanding and explaining business performance in a competitive environment.

The MSc Business Economics course is unique to UCC, incorporating both taught courses and action research, and using economic theory and analysis explicitly applied to business. Through the focused taught courses and conducting your own research, you learn how to explain and apply core theories, empirical methods and a range of analytical tools that are relevant and transferable to a range of fundamental business issues. The use of workshops, discussion groups, visiting speakers and lectures guide student learning and allow you to explore fundamental business issues.

A portfolio of skills required to support business analysis and managerial decision-making is developed, including communication skills (written and oral), analytical and evaluation skills and team-working skills. Our market research has indicated that such skills are very highly rated by employers.

The course places emphasis on:

• the preparation and presentation of quality business reports
• techniques of data analysis that include forecasting and scenario analysis and survey analysis
• team-working for assignments to enhance interpersonal relationships
• a problem-solving approach using case studies

The programme for the degree of MSc consists of two parts as set out below. Part I consists of a combination of examinations and coursework in a set of specified taught modules to the value of 60 credits. Part II consists of researching and writing a business economics report to the value of 30 credits.

Why Choose This Course

This innovative course aims to develop your skills for employment as a business or strategic analyst as well as providing foundations for undertaking further study. The focus of the course is on increasing your understanding of the reasons underlying firm performance and competitiveness.  Experience at writing a business economics report is a significant feature of the course as it develops research skills and strengthens presentation skills, which are highly rated by employers. Strong emphasis is placed on employment and career search through workshops on interview techniques, skills analysis, CV presentation and job applications.

The quality of the course can be gauged from the fact that in both 2010 and 2011, an MSc Business Economics student won the Accenture Leader of Tomorrow Award. The Accenture award is open to all final-year and postgraduate students from across Ireland, and aims to identify innovative and entrepreneurial young talent in order to foster Ireland’s next generation of leaders.

Skills and Careers Information

Skills developed on the MSc course include:

• leadership, organisational, interpersonal and team-working skills
• working to deadlines in producing analyses, reports and presentations to professional standards
• ability to interpret economic data and events
• ability to explain complex issues to non-specialists
• application of economic tools and concepts to the business world
• research project design, implementation and management

The course has an excellent employment track record and every year, our graduates pursue challenging careers in the private and public sectors. MSc graduates have obtained employment in a wide range of areas at home and abroad, including management consulting, the financial and banking sectors, private sector, public sector, research institutes, and the education sector.

Academic qualification equivalents

• Applicants should have an honours degree in a related subject.
• Indian applicants will normally be required to achieve a first class/first division mark in their undergraduate programme at a good institution of higher education in India. At the discretion of academic departments, students with degrees awarded by top universities such as the University of Mumbai, University of Delhi, University of Calcutta, and the University of Pune, may be accepted with high second class/high second division marks. 

English language requirements (one of the below):

• IELTS: 6.5  Minimum individual sections 5.5
• TOEFL: TOEFL 90  Listening - 17; Reading - 18; Speaking - 20; Writing 17
• PTE: 63 Minimum individual sections 51

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