Business Studies - Online

Course Overview

The Higher Diploma in Business Studies is a part-time postgraduate course designed to provide non-business graduates with a well-rounded understanding of business to advance their careers in a business setting. This course provides training in the fundamental skills of business administration which enables graduates to play an active role in the development and management of business enterprises. Emphasis is placed on individual and group assignments, focusing on developing both applied skills and key interpersonal skills.



This course also provides a pathway for graduates to progress to level 9 postgraduate studies in business.



For engineering graduates, the course is approved as part of the Engineers Ireland’s Registered Training Providers Programme.



Who’s Suited to This Course

The Higher Diploma in Business studies is suitable if you:

• Have an interest in business

• Would like to pursue a career in business

• Wish to pursue a Master’s degree in business and you do not have a business undergraduate degree

• Wish to complement your undergraduate degree with a business qualification.



Course Delivery

This course is delivered online through:

• Live online lectures

• Podcasts and presentations (recorded spoken lectures with presentation slides)

• Screencasts (video recordings, e.g.: a demonstration of how to solve an equation)

• Reading material, assignments and online discussions

Year 1

• Information Management for Business I

• Principles of Microeconomics

• Introduction to Financial Accounting

• Contemporary Management Thought

• Introduction to Management Accounting

• Leading and Managing People



Year 2

• Foundations of Marketing Thought

• Marketing Management



And select 4 modules from the following options

• Organisational Psychology and Analysis

• Business Law I

• Management of Organisational Change

• Applied Microeconomics for Business

• Business Intelligence and Analytics

• Innovation and Entrepreneurship

• Negotiation Skills

• Management Skills

• Implementing Digital Innovation

• Cases in Marketing Strategy



*The syllabus is subject to change on a cyclical basis.



Please see Course Web Page above for module details.

Applicants require a Level 8 honours degree of H2.2 standard or above. This course is open to graduates of any discipline who wish to acquire a grounding in business practices. Applicants are expected to possess a good level of computer literacy.



Entry requirements for part-time students can be found here (i.e. age, English language requirements etc.)

Applications must be completed online at: https://nuigalway.elluciancrmrecruit.com/Apply/Account/Login.



An application requires a registration fee of €35. You will be asked to upload proof of identification, academic transcripts, a personal statement, an academic reference and documentation to fulfil the English requirement (where English is not your first language).

Duration: 2 years, part-time.

Mode of study: Online Learning

Next start date September 2025

Career Opportunities

Graduates can progress in a diverse range of industries, such as marketing, financial services, information systems and human resources. Graduates can also pursue further postgraduate study at Master’s level, such as the MSc Marketing, MSc Industrial Relations and HR Management courses.