Business, Economics and Social Studies | TR081
BESS is the only programme in Ireland where students can study business, economics, political science, and sociology together. Offering a flexible structure, it allows students to explore all four areas before specialising in their chosen field, including the option to focus entirely on economics or combine it with another discipline.
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Is it for me?
BESS is designed for students who are curious about how businesses operate, how societies function, and how political and economic systems shape the world. The programme introduces you to a broad range of disciplines - business, economics, political science and sociology - that help make sense of today’s complex global challenges.
A unique aspect of BESS is that it gives students the time to engage with all four areas in first year, before choosing to specialise - either in economics alone (single honour) or in combination with another subject (joint honours). This flexibility makes BESS an ideal choice for students who want both breadth and depth in their studies.
Course Structure
The BESS degree begins with a common first year, where all students take modules in business, economics, political science, and sociology. This broad foundation allows students to explore each discipline before deciding on their preferred area of study.
From the second year, students choose their degree path - either single honours in economics or a joint honours combination with business, political science, or sociology - and can tailor their learning through module selection within that pathway.
- First Year:
Students pursue the common programme regardless of their final degree option. - Second Year:
Single Honours students take Intermediate Economics, Economy of Ireland and Mathematical and Statistical Methods plus three optional courses. Joint Honours students must take Intermediate Economics, Economy of Ireland and Mathematical and Statistical Methods.* - Third Year:
Single Honours students take Economic Analysis and Econometrics and at least one other Economics course. Joint Honours students take three Economics courses, one of which must be chosen from a designated subset of the available courses. - Fourth Year:
Single honours students must take Economic Theory and then may choose three of the remaining courses offered. Joint Honours students must take any two of the Economics courses offered. There are no compulsory fourth year Economics courses for the Joint Honours Economics degree option.
*Please note that the Business School and Political Science Department also require students to take specific courses. Refer to the handbooks issued by these Departments for further information.
Entry Requirements?
In 2024 minimum CAO entry was 555 points with 236 places being available in the programme. Please note the special entry requirements of Leaving Certificate - OC3/HD3 Mathematics or GCSE - Grade B Mathematics. Please visit the Study at Trinity website (external website) for additional details regarding admissions requirements.
