BESS - Business, Economics and Social Studies (TR081)
What is BESS?
The BESS programme offers students a broad-based education in business, economics, political science and sociology in the first year. After this students can adjust their module options to reflect their academic strengths, interests and emerging career aspirations. This unique aspect of the programme gives students the time to engage with all four areas and then the opportunity to specialise to a high level solely in economics (single honour) or to combine with the study of business, political science or sociology (joint honours).
Course Structure
BESS offers a high level of flexibility in two very important ways: from the second year onwards students are allowed to (a) choose the specific degree they wish to take and, (b) choose individual modules within their chosen degree path.
| Single Honours Economics | Joint Honours Economics | |
1st Year | Students pursue the common programme regardless of their final degree option | |
2nd Year | Students select six subjects from the range of courses offered by BESS | |
| Single Honours students take Intermediate Economics, Economy of Ireland and Mathematical and Statistical Methods plus three optional courses. | Joint Honours students must take Intermediate Economics, Economy of Ireland and Mathematical and Statistical Methods.* | |
3rd Year | Students in third year are required to take six courses in total | |
| Students pursuing a Single Honours Economics degree take Economic Analysis and Econometrics and at least one other Economics course. | Students pursuing a Joint Honours Economics degree must take three Economics courses, one of which must be chosen from a designated subset of the available courses. | |
4th Year | In their final year, students take four courses | |
| Economic Theory is a core requirement and students may choose three of the remaining courses offered. | Students must take any two of the Economics courses offered. There are no compulsory fourth year Economics courses for the Joint Honours Economics degree option. | |
*Please note that the Business School and Political Science Department also require students to take specific courses. Refer to the handbooks issued by these Departments for further information.
You can find out more about the course structure by visiting the BESS website.
Is it for me?
BESS introduces you to a broad range of disciplines that will help you make sense of the complex world in which we live today. The course will appeal to students who are excited about the challenges of understanding the way societies are organised, create wealth and are governed.
BESS graduates are highly sought after by employers and many former students are now leaders in the fields of business, government, technology, the media and academia.
What are the entry requirements?
In 2021 minimum CAO entry points 566 points with 236 places being available in the programme. Please note the special entry requirements of Leaving Certificate - OC3/HD3 Mathematics or GCSE - Grade B Mathematics. Please visit the Study at Trinity website for additional details regarding admissions requirements.