Finance (BSc (Hons)) at University College Cork

The BSc Finance is based equally on the subject areas of corporate finance and financial economics. This combined approach provides graduates with a thorough grounding in each area.

Finance is concerned with the operation of financial markets and the valuation of financial assets, in particular in stock, bond, foreign exchange and interest rate markets. Movements in financial markets are driven by information, risk and uncertainty, which in turn provide the foundation for understanding strategic business decision-making.

You will gain a specialised knowledge of:

• Financial and monetary systems
• Investment and securities analysis
• Financial markets and institutions
• Strategy
• Information systems
• Accounting
• Quantitative techniques
• Research methods

Recruitment of UCC finance graduates remains exceptionally high among leading firms nationally and internationally. Employment prospects are excellent with nearly 100% of recent (2017 & 2016) graduates in employment (64% average) or further study (34% average). Graduates are highly sought after by financial companies in Ireland, primarily but the BSc Finance degree also has international applicability.

Graduates are highly sought-after by financial companies in Ireland, primarily the IFSC, and by companies in the City of London.

In addition, the BSc Finance degree has international applicability. Recent graduates have gone onto careers in places such as Zurich, Buenos Aries, London, Sydney, Mexico, Edinburgh, Dubai and Malaysia.

Placement or Study Abroad Information

All students in the BSc Finance degree go on a six-month work placement during Year 3 of the course. This internship, which is arranged by UCC, is in a designated financial institution or related organisation located in Ireland or the UK.

It will allow you to gain first-hand experience of financial institutions and enterprise, to make informed career decisions and to acquaint employers with the high-quality nature of the specialised graduates of the BSc Finance course, all of which will enhance your career prospects.

Skills and Careers Information

The BSc Finance degree prepares you for a career in the financial markets and financial services sector. In Year 3 you will spend six months on placement in a financial organisation, during which you will gain a valuable mix of both academic and practical skills, which are highly valued by employers.

The degree will provide you with a range of interesting career opportunities. Graduates from the course have gone on to work in:

• investment banking
• securities trading
• stock broking
• financial consultancy
• corporate banking
• fund management
• fund accounting
• insurance 
• accountancy

These career paths have taken them to both national and international financial services centres where they have been highly successful.