Key Info

Bachelor of Arts in Law and Accounting

NFQ Level 8 major Award Honours Bachelor Degree
CAO points history
443
Course code
LM020
Duration
4 Years
Subject area
Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Business
Course Director
Dr John Heneghan
Email
john.heneghan@ul.ie
Tel
00 353 61 213420
Admissions:
Tel
+353 (0)61 233755

About you

You have an interest in both law and accounting and would like to pursue both subjects at University. You like reading, and have an analytical mind. You like to solve problems, and are inquisitive. You are also self-disciplined and motivated. Designed as a joint honours degree, the BA in Law and Accounting offers you a full law degree and full accounting degree. Because at this stage, you may not know what career you would like to pursue, the BA Law and Accounting degree allows you to pursue either career, while using skills from both disciplines to enhance your chosen professional career path.

Why study Law and Accounting at UL?

Within the business world a strong legal background assists the work of many accounting specialists. Equally, a firm grounding in all aspects of accounting, including taxation, deepens the lawyer’s understanding of business transactions. The course reflects a demanding, broad and practical programme of study which will provide you with a firm foundation in both law and accounting. The combination allows you to make your choice of profession when you have a better knowledge of your strengths and of the law and accounting disciplines.

What you will study

The programme is four years in duration. During the first four semesters, in addition to studying the core subjects of Law and Accounting, you will also study Economics, Taxation and Mathematics. In semester 2 of 3rd year, an eight-month period of Cooperative Education provides you with an opportunity to apply the theory you have acquired in a practical work environment. You return to campus at the beginning of Year 4 and continue with your studies in the core subjects of Law and Accounting. In each of these final two semesters, you will choose five modules from a variety of subjects to maximise your exposure to either Law or Accounting, or any combination of both disciplines that suits your needs. You also have the opportunity to undertake a Final Year Project, which is a research project on a topic of your choosing.

Exemptions

Exemption is granted to students who hold an honours Bachelor’s Degree in Law and Accounting as follows:

The Law Society of Ireland
The Bachelor’s degree in Law and Accounting covers the core subjects required by the Law Society of Ireland Final Examination, Part I.

The Honorable Society of King’s Inns
The Bachelor’s Degree in Law and Accounting may constitute an approved law degree for the purposes of taking the entrance examination of the Honorable Society of King’s Inns if students have studied Jurisprudence and Administrative Law, along with the core law modules in this programme. NOTE: As exemptions are under continual review, please contact the School of Law at UL for the most recent information.

Accounting Exemptions
Exemption is granted to students who hold an honours Bachelor’s Degree in Law and Accounting as follows:

Chartered Accountants Ireland (CAI)
CA Proficiency 1 (CAP1): Graduates with a minimum 2.2 award will, under certain conditions, be exempt from CAP 1.
CA Proficiency 2 (CAP2): No exemption
Final Admitting Exam (FAE): No exemption

Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
Fundamentals: Exempt from 7 out of 14 papers
Professional: No exemption

Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Ireland (CPA)
Foundation 1: Exempt from all 3 papers
Foundation 2: Exempt from all 4 papers
Professional 1: Exempt from 2 out of 6 papers
Professional 2: No exemption

Chartered Institute of Management Accountants in Ireland (CIMA)
Certificate in Business Accounting: Exempt from all 6 papers
Managerial level: Exempt from 2 out of 6 papers
Strategic level: No exemption

Institute of Taxation in Ireland (ITI)
Income Tax Fundamentals: Exempt Financial Reporting & Tax Accounting
Fundamentals: Exempt
Law Fundamentals: Exempt
Capital Gains Tax Fundamentals: No exemption
Part 2: No exemption
Part 3: No exemption

This information applies to 2019 graduates. Graduates of Bachelor’s Degree in Law and Accounting are not in any way prejudiced by virtue of their joint degree, and get the same exemptions as any graduate with a degree in Accounting.

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What you will study

The programme is four years in duration. During the first four semesters, in addition to studying the core subjects of Law and Accounting, you will also study Economics, Taxation and Mathematics.

In semester 2 of 3rd year, an eight-month period of Cooperative Education provides you with an opportunity to apply the theory you have acquired in a practical work environment.

You return to campus at the beginning of Year 4 and continue with your studies in the core subjects of Law and Accounting. In each of these final two semesters, you will choose five modules from a variety of subjects to maximise your exposure to either Law or Accounting, or any combination of both disciplines that suits your needs.

You also have the opportunity to undertake a Final Year Project, which is a research project on a topic of your choosing.

  Semester 1
AC4001 Principles of Accounting
EC4101 Microeconomics
LA4001 Legal System and Method
LA4111 Contract Law 1
LA4211 Criminal Law 1

 

  Semester 2 Summer
AC4002 Managerial Accounting  
EC4102 Macroeconomics  
MA4302 Applied Statistics for Accounting  
LA4122 Contract Law 2  
LA4222 Criminal Law 2
Semester 3  
FI4003 Finance
TX4204 Capital Taxation
LA4033 Law of the European Union 1
LA4430 Constitutional Law 1
LA4310 Law of Torts 1

 

Semester 4   Summer
AC4034 Accounting and Auditing Frameworks  
AC4024 Financial Accounting and Reporting  
LA4044 Law of the European Union 2  
LA4440 Constitutional Law 2  
LA4320 Law of Torts 2  
  Semester 5
AC4305 Financial Information Analysis
FI4015 Corporate Finance
TX4305 Taxation Theory and Practice
LA4610 Land Law 1
LA4022 Commercial Law

 

  Semester 6 Summer
CO4320 Cooperative Education  
     
     
     
     
Year 4 Semester 7
  Students select 5 modules from 
AC4007 Advanced Financial Reporting
AC4417 Management Accounting 1
LA4810 Equity and Trusts 1
TX4007 Taxation for Corporates
LA4530 Company Law 1
BS4447 Project 1
   

 

  Semester 8 Summer
  Students select 5 modules from  
AC4418 Management Accounting 2  
TX4008 International Tax  
LA4828 Equity and Trusts 2  
LA4620 Land Law 2  
LA4540 Company Law 2  
BS4448 Project 2  
AC4018 Corporate Transparency and Business Ethics  

Entry requirements

CAO points history
443
Minimum grades

Applicants are required to hold at the time of enrolment the established Leaving Certificate (or an approved equivalent) with a minimum of six subjects which must include: Two H5 (Higher level) grades and Four O6 (Ordinary level) grades or four H7 (Higher Level) grades. Subjects must include Mathematics, Irish or another language, and English.

In addition, applicants must hold at least an O4/H7 grade in Mathematics.

Additional considerations

Mature Students

We welcome applications from mature students. Mature applicants must apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO) by 1 February.

Application information for mature student applicants (PDF)

Non-EU Entry Requirements

How to apply

Where are you applying from? How to Apply
Ireland Irish students must apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found here. 
The UK  Students who have completed their A-Levels can apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found on the Academic Registry website. 
The EU EU students can apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found on the Academic Registry website.
Non-EU country If you are outside of the EU, you can apply for this degree here.

Fees and funding

Student course fees are broken into three components - Student contribution, Student Levy and Tuition Fees.

A number of illustrative examples of fees for this course based on the current fee levels have been set out in the tables below.

An explanation of the components, how to determine status and the criteria involved is provided below the examples as is a list of possible scholarships and funding available.

EU Students with Free fees status in receipt of a SUSI grant

HEA pays Tuition Fees €2,558
SUSI pays Student contribution €3,000
Student pays Student Levy €100
€5,658

EU Students with Free fees status not in receipt of a grant

HEA pays Tuition Fees €2,558
Student pays Student contribution €3,000
Student pays Student Levy €100
€5,658

Students with EU fee status not in receipt of a grant

Student pays Tuition Fees €2,558
Student pays Student contribution €3,000
Student pays Student Levy €100
€5,658

Non-EU Students

Student pays Tuition Fees €16,300
Student pays Student Levy €100
€16,400

Student course fees are comprised of the following components:

Student Contribution

Annual charge set by the government for all full-time third level students. All students are liable unless they have been approved for a grant by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). Please refer to https://www.studentfinance.ie to determine your eligibility for a grant and for instructions on how to apply. The current student contribution is set at €3000.

Student Levy

All students are liable to pay the Student Levy of €100. Please note the Student Levy is not covered by the SUSI Grant.

Tuition Fees

These are based on Residency, Citizenship, Course requirements.

Review the three groups of criteria to determine your fee status as follows

  1. Residency
    • You must have been living in an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland for at least 3 of the 5 years before starting your course
  2. Citizenship
    • You must be a citizen of an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland or have official refugee status
  3. Course Requirements (all must be met)
    • You must be a first time full-time undergraduate (Exceptions are provided for students who hold a Level 6 or Level 7 qualification and are progressing to a Level 8 course in the same general area of study).
    • You must be undertaking a full-time undergraduate course of at least 2 year’s duration
    • You cannot be undertaking a repeat year of study at the same level unless evidence of exceptional circumstances eg serious illness is provided (in which case this condition may be waived)

Depending on how you meet these criteria your status will be one of the following -

  • Free Fee Status: You satisfy all three categories (1, 2 and 3) and therefore are eligible for the Higher Education Authority’s Free Fees scheme.
  • EU Fee Status: You satisfy the citizenship and/or residency criteria but fail to satisfy the course requirements and are liable to EU fees
  • Non EU Fee Status: You do not meet either the citizenship or residency criteria and are therefore liable to Non EU fees.

More information about fees can be found on the Finance website

These scholarships are available for this course

Title Award Scholarships Available
A & L Goodbody Solicitors Prizes iPad (or similar tablet PC), €500 2
Arthur Cox Valued Participation Prize
Grant Thornton Award
Mason Hayes & Curran Solicitors €500 1

These scholarships are available for all courses

Your future career

Employability skills from this degree

  • Researching, including verbal questioning
  • Evaluating, interpreting and explaining complex information clearly
  • Analysing, reasoning and critical judgement
  • Formulating sound arguments
  • Writing concisely
  • Lateral thinking and problem-solving
  • Communicating confidently and persuasively
  • Knowledge and awareness of business organisations
  • Attention to detail: ability to draft formal documents with precision
  • Numerical and quantitative skills
  • Ability to argue your case and to negotiate
  • Entrepreneurship and knowledge of global business issues

Further study options

Job titles for graduates with this degree

Graduates progressing directly into employment take up a wide variety of roles. The following provides a sample of initial roles listed on the Graduate Outcomes Survey by graduates approximately one year after graduation:

  • Assurance Associate
  • Audit Associate
  • Auditor
  • Banker
  • Trainee Barrister
  • Chartered Accountant
  • Financial Adviser
  • Financial Analyst
  • Operations Executive
  • Trainee Solicitor
  • Tax Assistant/Associate
  • Trial Co-Ordinator

Student Profiles

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Jennifer Moran

The Law and Accounting course at UL interested me initially because it offered a 2 in 1 degree which I thought was unique and would give me the edge with employers, rather than a regular business degree. The course does not restrict you to a certain area of law or business - it opens the door to a variety of opportunities and that’s what makes it so different.

Going to EY (Ernst & Young) in Dublin for my Co-op was a brilliant experience as I got exposure to the professional working world and the corporate social life of Dublin. I got the opportunity to intern in two different departments: Wealth and Asset Management and Aircraft Leasing. EY prepared me hugely for my future career in accounting as it tested my ability to adapt to a new environment within a short period which proved to be successful, as I was offered a graduate contract after my 8 months there.

Choosing UL gave me the opportunity to meet new people from around the country by living away from home but still being close to Galway. I have spent four of the best years of my life in UL as an undergraduate and I cannot recommend it enough.


 

Anita Parker

When my Guidance Counsellor advised me of UL’s strong graduate employment record, I knew this was the course for me. With a good mix of modules between Business and Law subjects, I know I will graduate with the required subjects to take professional exams in either accounting or law.

The course also provides great exemptions - these are of great benefit to those going into the working world as it is one less set of exams to study for, whilst balancing work at the same time. Students wishing to pursue the ACA accounting exams are fully exempt from the CAP1 exams and only have to sit the CAP2 and FAE exams. Not all accounting courses provide full CAP1 exemptions like this UL course does.

The Co-op program here at UL gives students an opportunity to get hands-on experience in the working world. This is a real advantage when applying for graduate jobs, as many courses outside UL do not have this element. As a final year student, I have found that employers from all areas, accounting, law, management consultancy etc. are lining up to employ us. The majority of my colleagues on this course will graduate knowing that they have a job when our carefree UL days are no more.

I did my co-op placement with KavanaghFennell, an insolvency company in Dublin. I decided to do my coop with this firm as I was unfamiliar with the whole area of insolvency and it was such a topical issue at the time. During my placement I worked mainly on receiverships, both corporate and personal. Every day was different; I encountered new issues in every case and I enjoyed this challenge and the opportunity to learn. I received invaluable hands-on experience of dealing with clients, creditors, banks, the Revenue Commissioners and many other agencies.

Since Co-op, I have been accepted into the graduate training program with the accounting firm KPMG. My co-op was of real advantage - being able to discuss my work experience during the interview was of great benefit and no doubt it contributed to me being offered the place. Thanks UL!

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