Business, Economics and Social Studies
B.A. (Mod.) in Economic and Social Studies (B.E.S.S.) or Bachelor in Business Studies (B.B.S.) ; 4 years full-time ; 236 places ; CAO points: 511 (2018) ; CAO code: TR081
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EU Applicants
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Mature Student – Supplementary Application Form
Read the information about how to apply as a mature student then select the link below to complete the TCD Supplementary Application Form for mature students.
Non-EU Applicants
Advanced Entry Applications
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What is Business, Economic and Social Studies (B.E.S.S.)?
B.E.S.S. is a uniquely flexible degree programme offering you 10 different degree options across the disciplines of Business, Economics, Political Science and Sociology. It provides students with a broad education, and you will have the option to graduate with a Single Honours or Joint Honours degree with another subject or a Major with a Minor. It also offers a high level of flexibility in two very important ways: from the second year onwards students are allowed to (a) choose the specific degree they wish to take and, (b) choose individual modules within their chosen degree path. Students, therefore, have an opportunity to adjust their study programmes in accordance with their academic results, interests, aptitudes and emerging career aspirations.
B.E.S.S.: The course for you?
The disciplines of Business, Economics, Political Science and Sociology all look at the world around us, analysing how it works and how to achieve certain ends. Where they differ is in the things they look at and the way they examine them. In your first year as a B.E.S.S. student, you will be introduced to the way that each discipline approaches the complex world that we live in. From the second year onwards, the flexible programme structure allows you to choose the disciplines that appeal to you, along with the specific topics that interest you, through a wide range of modules within each discipline. Graduates invariably tell us that it is this broad, flexible approach that allowed them to build the knowledge and insights that they rely on progressively as they advance to more senior positions in their careers.
B.E.S.S. @ Trinity
BUSINESS
Top international professors and leading business people engage with the students, challenge them and guide them into top roles within the business world. Past students are now leaders in the world of business, government, entertainment, technology, innovation and non-profit businesses.
ECONOMICS
Many of the economic problems which dominate the headlines are engaged within this discipline. Economics blends together theory, data and statistical techniques to help understand economic problems and to make policy recommendations.
Trinity is ranked 1st in Ireland and 104th in the world. The Economics Department is ranked joint first In Ireland, in the top 40 In Europe and in the top 150 in the world for Economics and Econometrics (QS World University Rankings, 2018).
POLITICAL SCIENCE
Politics affects us all in our daily lives. Should government tax the rich for greater equality? Should the amount of money the EU spends on agriculture be cut? Questions such as these, along with analysis of political systems and how democracy works, are at the heart of the study of politics.
Trinity is ranked 1st in Ireland and104th in the world. The Political Science Department is ranked 15th in Europe and 43rd in the world for Politics and International Studies (QS World University Rankings, 2018).
SOCIOLOGY
Sociology is the study of social change and the consequences of human behaviour. When you study Sociology you will get the opportunity to analyse people and societies, exploring areas as diverse as migration, race and gender, conflict studies, digitalisation, identities and employment studies.
Trinity is ranked 1st in Ireland and the Sociology Department is ranked 1st in Ireland and in the top 40 in Europe and in the top 100 in the world (QS World University Rankings, 2018).
Graduate skills and career opportunities
From a career perspective B.E.S.S. is an extremely flexible and practical degree programme. Graduates are also highly sought after by employers in a range of fields, such as in finance and banking, politics, research, management consulting, teaching, public service, journalism, within both national and international organisations within the profit, not for profit and public sector. Graduates have gone on to successful and rewarding careers in varied roles around the globe. The following are just a few examples of the organisations that have recruited B.E.S.S. graduates: Accenture, Alcatel, Cisco, Barclay’s Bank, Commission for Energy Regulation, Enterprise Ireland, Google, KPMG, Microsoft, Morgan Stanley, Tesco, Topshop, Channel 4 and Atlantic Philanthropies.
In addition, many B.E.S.S. graduates have gone on to postgraduate study at leading universities around the world such as the London School of Economics, the University of Cambridge, the University of Edinburgh and the University of Warwick.
Your degree and what you’ll study
Year 1
Explore your options
A common first year introduces students to a wide range of options. You will study the following 4 disciplines:
- Business
- Economics
- Political Science
- Sociology
Also choose one complementary module from Law, Social Policy, Language (French, German, Spanish, Polish, Russian)
Access to all 10 degree options is completely open at the end of the first year.
Year 2
Choose your pathway
Learn the core skills in up to three* of the following disciplines: Business, Economics, Political Science, and Sociology.
While you will mainly focus on your chosen Single Honours or Joint Honours discipline(s), you may select some modules from other disciplines.
Single Honours
Choose 1 of:
- Business
- Economics
- Political Science
- Sociology
Joint Honours
Choose 1 of the following 6 combinations:
- Business and Economics
- Business and Political Science
- Sociology and Business
- Economics and Political Science
- Economics and Sociology
- Political Science and Sociology
Complementary modules available in Law, Social Policy, Languages, Philosophy, Trinity Electives here determine which disciplines you can pursue in subsequent years.
Year 3
Focus on your chosen Single Honours or Joint Honours disciplines
Business, Economics, Political Science, Sociology
Option to study abroad – France, Germany, Spain, Turkey, Sweden, Netherlands, USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong.
Year 4
Research based development of core area(s)
Business, Economics, Political Science, Sociology
Dissertation/case study preparation.
BESS at a glance
Year 1 (60 credits)
Business*
-
Fundamentals of Management and Organisation
*Modules are subject to change.
Economics
- Introduction to Economics
- Mathematics and Statistics
Political Science
- Introduction to Political Science
Sociology
- Introduction to Sociology
Complementary modules
Choose one subject from:
- Law
- Social Policy
- Intro to Central, East European and Russian Area Studies
- Language (French, German, Spanish, Russian or Polish)
Year 2 (60 credits)
Choose 1 or 2 B.E.S.S. disciplines
Business*
- Organisational Behaviour
- Principles of Marking
- Introduction to Accounting
- Introduction to Finance
- Introduction to Operations Management
- Creative Thinking, Innovation and Entrepreneurial Action
*Modules are subject to change.
Economics
- Intermediate Economics
- Economy of Ireland
- Mathematics and Statistics
Political Science
- History of Political Thought
- International Relations
- Comparative Politics
Sociology
- Gender, Work and Family
- Social Theory
- Introduction to Social Research
- Power, State and Social Movements
Complementary modules
- Central Problems in Philosophy
- History of Philosophy
- Logic and Philosophy of Science
- European Refugee Policy
- Analysis Poverty and Social Exclusion
- Housing Policy
- Crime and Irish Society
- Language
- Law
- Trinity Electives
Year 3 (60 credits)
Specialise in depth in 1 or 2 BESS disciplines
Business*
-
Management Accounting for business decisions -
Financial Accounting -
Human Resource Management -
Business in Society -
Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Business Modelling -
Introduction to Fixed Income Securities and Alternative Investments -
Corporate Finance and Equity Valuation -
Services Management -
Digital Technology in Operations -
Organisational -
Theory and Organisational Analysis -
Investments -
Contemporary Marketing Management -
Consumer Behaviour -
Social Entrepreneurship
*Modules are subject to change.
Economics
- Economic Analysis
- Money and Banking
- European Economy
- Economics of Less Developed Countries
- Investment Analysis
- Economics of Policy Issues
- Industrial Economics
- Mathematical Economics
- Econometrics
Political science
- Research Methods for Political Science
- Irish Politics
- Democracy and Development
- European Union Politics
- Public Opinion
- Political Institutions of the United States
- Political Participation
- Contemporary Issues and Controversies in US Politics
Sociology
- Social Stratification and Inequalities
- Globalisation and Development
- Researching Society
- Race, Ethnicity and Identity
- Comparative Sociology of Europe
Complementary modules
- Life Courses and Evolving Welfare States
- Company Law
- Commercial Law
- International Law
Year 4 (60 credits)
Specialise in depth in 1 or 2 BESS disciplines
Business*
- International Business and the Global Economy
- Exploring Organisational Experiences
- Financial Reporting and Analysis
- Business Dissertation (BBS only Minimum 2.1 grade in Year 3)
- Advances in Marketing Theory and Practice
- Managing New Product Development
- Social Innovation and Social Impact
- Derivatives and International Finance
- Economic Policy and Business History
- Strategic Management: Theory and Practice (B.B.S. students)
*Modules are subject to change.
Economics
- Economic Theory
- World Economy
- Development Economics
- Economics of Financial Markets
- Quantitative Methods
- International Economics
- Economic and Legal Aspects of Competition Policy
- Applied Economics
- Economics Dissertation
- History of Economic Thought
- Political Economy
Political science
- Issues in Contemporary Politics
- Contemporary International Relations
- African Politics
- Topics in Political Science
- Chinese Politics
- The Politics of Policy-Making
- Research Seminar
- Political Psychology
Sociology
- Sociology Dissertation
- Labour Markets, Gender and Institutions
- Conflict Studies
- Digital Lives and Social Networks
- Migration, Mobilities and Redistribution
- Poverty, Inequality and Redistribution
CHOOSING MODULES FOR THE SINGLE HONOURS DEGREE OPTION
In second year, Single Honours students, as well as taking modules from their preferred discipline, also select modules from one or more of the other three disciplines.
In third and fourth years, students take the majority of their modules from their chosen discipline but, in keeping with the B.E.S.S. philosophy of flexibility, there is significant scope to choose modules which appeal most from the range of available modules.
CHOOSING MODULES FOR THE JOINT HONOURS DEGREE OPTIONS
Throughout years 2, 3 and 4, Joint Honours students take approximately half of their modules from each of the two disciplines they select. Since module choices may be made from among the full range available in two disciplines, the Joint Honours programmes offer exceptionally high flexibility with regard to programme design and module choice.
ASSESSMENT
Most B.E.S.S. modules involve a system of continuous assessment, essays, projects and/or presentations contributing between 30% to 50% of the overall grade per module. The remainder is based on the results of a written end-of-semester examination.
Module Descriptors for all four years of the programme can be accessed via the Course Handbook www.tcd.ie/ssp/undergraduate/bess/current/handbook/index.php
Study abroad and language options
First and second year B.E.S.S. students have the option to study French, German, Spanish, Russian or Polish.
Students also have the opportunity to study abroad in their third year at prestigious universities in countries such as France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Austria, Belgium or Spain, as well as English-speaking international exchange programmes to prestigious universities in Europe, North America, Australia and Asia (China, Hong Kong and Japan). Some of the more popular universities are Uppsala University, Sweden; Emory University, Georgia, Senshu University, Japan; IEP – Institut d’Études Politiques de Paris, France; QUT Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia and the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Emily Waters, B.A. Business and Economics (2017). Financial Services Consultant, PwC Ireland.
It was the flexibility and broad subject options of the B.E.S.S. programme that encouraged me to study at Trinity College Dublin. After experiencing modules in business, economics, sociology, and political science in my first year, I decided to specialise in business and economics for the remainder of my degree. From modules on accounting, entrepreneurship, and international business to statistics, the European economy, and applied economics, Trinity’s B.E.S.S. programme allowed me to understand the realm of business and the various economic problems facing the world today. Interesting and thought-provoking lectures, coupled with Trinity’s knowledgeable and friendly professors, taught me how to think critically and engage with important topics on a theoretical and practical level. Outside of lectures, Trinity’s B.E.S.S. programme provided me with a platform to act as both B.E.S.S. Convenor and Production Manager of the Student Economic Review, one of the university’s oldest undergraduate journals. Having graduated in 2017, I am now employed as a Financial Services Consultant in PwC Ireland. Equipped with the skills I have gained academically in B.E.S.S. and the leadership qualities I have developed through my involvement in Trinity’s extra-curricular activities, I am able to provide new insights to the issues faced by PwC’s clients.
Course Details
Award
B.A. (Mod.) in Economic and Social Studies (B.E.S.S.) or Bachelor in Business Studies (B.B.S.)
Duration
4 years full-time
CAO Points Required
511 (2018)
Number of Places
236CAO code (Central Applications Office code) is
TR081
Minimum entry points required are 511 (2018)
More information on minimum entry points
Admission Requirements
For general admission requirements please click here
Leaving Certificate | O4/H6 | Mathematics |
GCSE: | Grade B | Mathematics |
Apply
To apply to this course, click on the relevant Apply Link below
EU Applicants
Read the information about how to apply, then apply directly to CAO.
Mature Student – Supplementary Application Form
Read the information about how to apply as a mature student then select the link below to complete the TCD Supplementary Application Form for mature students.
Non-EU Applicants
Advanced Entry Applications
Read the information about how to apply for Advanced Entry, then select the link below to apply.