Two new degrees to be offered at Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT) from this September offer students the prospect of obtaining a double honours qualification in law with business or accounting.

The Bachelor of Business and Law (Honours) and the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Accounting and Law are both four year courses, designed to reflect changing workplace needs where multidisciplinary skills are required of employees.

According to John Cusack, Head of AIT’s Business School, “With increasing regulation of the business world, there is a constant demand for graduates who hold the advanced knowledge and skills to understand and pursue domestic and international commercial business transactions. These two new degrees will provide students with an in-depth critical understanding of the complementary areas of business, accounting and law.

“Students will learn the fundamental theories, concepts, principles and practices of the business, accountancy and legal professions. Critically both degrees will exempt graduates from the preliminary examination of the Law Society of Ireland and they be well placed to attempt Part 1 of the Final Examination of the Law Society, should they wish to progress to become qualified as a solicitor,” Mr Cusack said.

“Prospective students should look beyond the current economic climate when choosing what to study at third level,” he continued. “While elements of the legal profession that were dependent on property transfers are experiencing a downturn in fortunes, a law degree can serve as the ideal complement to a wide range of other disciplines, enabling you to enhance your career prospects. In particular, the combination of law with business or accounting will enable graduates to pursue job opportunities in the law; in general business, accounting, banking, taxation, insurance, teaching or journalism,” he concluded.

Students interested in learning more about the new degrees should contact AIT’s Admissions Office. Applications should be made directly to the Admissions Office in Athlone to email admissions@ait.ie or by phone to 090 642 4489/642 4695. Application forms and further information is available online at www.ait.ie.

As this is the first year that the courses will run, there are no cut-off points in relation to the degrees. However, Leaving Certificate applicants will be required to hold grade C3 at higher level in two subjects, plus grade D3 at ordinary level in four other subjects in the Leaving Certificate. Two of these subjects must be Mathematics and a language (English or Irish). Applicants over 23 years of age are not required to meet these minimum entry criteria and will be assessed by means of their application and an interview.

Candidates with FETAC qualifications are also eligible to apply to both programmes. For the Bachelor of Business and Law (Honours), FETAC applicants must hold one of the following awards: Administration (BBSAX), Business Studies (BBSXX), Marketing (BMXXX), Bilingual Secretarial Studies (BBSBS) or Business and Secretarial Studies (BBSSX). They are also required to have obtained distinctions in three modules. For the BA (Honours) in Accounting and Law, FETAC applicants must hold one of the following awards: Administration (BBSAX) or Business Studies (BBSXX). They must also have obtained distinctions in three modules.

For further information contact:

Brian Lynch
Communications and Marketing Manager
Athlone Institute of Technology
Tel 090 644 2595
Mobile 087 122 0361
Email brianlynch@ait.ie