Course Structure

BESS is a four-year degree built around a common first year and a process of gradual specialisation. You begin by studying all four disciplines, Business, Economics, Political Science and Sociology, before choosing the combination that suits you best. By the time you graduate, you will hold one of ten possible degree combinations across three degree types.

The Four Years: An Overview

Year 1 | Junior Freshman

In your first year you study all four BESS disciplines, taking 50 ECTS credits across Business, Economics, Political Science and Sociology. The remaining 10 credits are chosen from a range of approved modules including Law, Social Policy, and a selection of languages. There is no specialisation yet - first year is designed to give you a genuine experience of each discipline before you make any decisions.

Year 2 | Senior Freshman

At the start of second year you choose a pathway, Single Honours, Joint Honours, or Major with Minor, and begin to focus on one or two disciplines. This is your first opportunity to specialise, though in most cases it is still possible to adjust your pathway when you enter third year. The pathway you choose in second year will determine the options available to you in third year.

Year 3 | Junior Sophister

In third year you confirm your final exit pathway and begin to specialise in depth, selecting from a wider and more advanced range of modules in your chosen discipline or disciplines. Your Junior Sophister year contributes 30% towards your final degree result. Third year is also when many BESS students have the opportunity to study abroad at partner universities in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia.

Year 4 | Senior Sophister

In your final year you focus on the advanced development of your chosen subjects and complete a Capstone Project - an independent research project that gives you the opportunity to explore a topic in depth and to position yourself for a specific career path or for postgraduate study. Your Senior Sophister year contributes 70% towards your final degree result.

Your Degree Options

BESS offers three degree types, giving you ten possible degree combinations in total.

Degree Type	Description
Single Honours (4 options)	You specialise in one discipline - Business, Economics, Political Science or Sociology - taking the majority of your credits in that subject from second year onwards and completing your Capstone Project within it.
Joint Honours (5 options)	You study two disciplines in equal depth throughout your degree, graduating with a qualification in both. Joint Honours combinations available in BESS are: Business and Economics, Business and Political Science, Business and Sociology, Economics and Political Science, and Economics and Sociology.
Major with Minor (12 options)	You take a primary discipline as your major and a secondary discipline as your minor, with the majority of your credits in your major subject. This gives you depth in one area and breadth across two, and offers the widest range of combinations of the three degree types.

Degree Type

Description

Single Honours

(4 options)

You specialise in one discipline - Business, Economics, Political Science or Sociology - taking the majority of your credits in that subject from second year onwards and completing your Capstone Project within it.

Joint Honours

(5 options)

You study two disciplines in equal depth throughout your degree, graduating with a qualification in both. Joint Honours combinations available in BESS are: Business and Economics, Business and Political Science, Business and Sociology, Economics and Political Science, and Economics and Sociology.

Major with Minor

(12 options)

You take a primary discipline as your major and a secondary discipline as your minor, with the majority of your credits in your major subject. This gives you depth in one area and breadth across two, and offers the widest range of combinations of the three degree types.

Choosing Your Pathway

Pathway selection takes place at the end of first year, when you are invited by the Academic Registry to register for your chosen pathway ahead of second year. This is an important decision, but not necessarily a final one - students on the Major with Minor or Joint Honours pathways can in most cases adjust their pathway at the start of third year if their interests have shifted.

Students on the Single Honours pathway cannot change pathway after second year, so it is important to be confident in your choice before committing.

To help you make the right decision, the BESS course office holds pathway information sessions each year. You can also watch the pathway information video and download the pathway selection booklet below.

Pathway Information

Not sure which degree combination is right for you? This video walks you through the options and how the pathway selection process works.

Download Pathways Selection Booklet

Regulations

Pathway finalisation

Once your exit pathway has been confirmed, either at the end of second year for Single Honours students, or at the start of third year for all others, it cannot be changed. Each degree pathway requires specific modules to be completed, and it is not possible to graduate without them. If you are unsure about your pathway choice, speak to the course office before your selection is finalised.

Transfers into BESS

Due to the popularity of the programme, BESS is not currently in a position to facilitate transfer requests. Information on the general regulations governing transfers within Trinity, and from other third level institutions, is available via the links below.

Transfers within Trinity

Transfer from Another Institution

Full regulations

Full details of BESS programme regulations, including module requirements for each pathway, progression rules and assessment regulations, are set out in the BESS Handbook.

Download Course Handbook

Further Queries

If you have a question about any aspect of the course structure or regulations, the course office team is happy to help.