This four-year degree develops strong business knowledge alongside fluency in the Irish language. It offers a unique blend of academic, linguistic and cultural experiences - including a semester living and learning in the Gaeltacht, and a one-semester internship in an Irish-speaking environment.

Year 1
First year builds your business foundations and begins the development of your Irish language skills. Sample modules include:

• Principles of Microeconomics
• Introduction to Financial Accounting
• Business Information Systems & Information Management
• Mathematics and Statistics for Business
• Management: Enterprise and Society
• Foundations of Marketing Thought
• Gaeilge

Year 2
In second year, you’ll deepen your business knowledge with applied business modules, while continuing to strengthen your Irish. Sample modules include:

• Business Finance I
• Employment Relations
• Business Law I
• Management Accounting I
• Organisational Psychology
• Economics of Public Policy
• Gaeilge

Year 3

This year is split between two immersive experiences designed to build fluency, cultural understanding and confidence using Irish in professional settings. You’ll spend one semester living and studying through Irish at Áras Mháirtín Uí Chadhain, our Gaeltacht campus in An Cheathrú Rua. You’ll spend the other semester completing an internship in an Irish-speaking environment, arranged in collaboration with Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge and Údarás na Gaeltachta.

Year 4
Final year brings together your business and language learning with advanced modules in areas such as strategy, innovation and ethics. You’ll also have the flexibility to tailor your degree to your interests through optional modules. Sample modules include:

• Business Strategy
• Innovation: Creativity and Enterprise
• Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility
• Ireland in the Global Economy
• Gaeilge
• Optional modules in areas such as Marketing Management, Digital Business, Economics, Human Resource Management, Business Law, and International Business

Curriculum Information

• Gaeltacht immersion semester — study full-time in An Cheathrú Rua, living with host families to boost your Irish.
• Strong business focus — practical modules in marketing, management, finance, and policy.
• Bilingual advantage — fluent Irish plus business skills opens doors in public and private sectors.
• Career-ready preparation — modules designed to develop workplace competencies and cultural fluency.
• Pathways to teaching — qualify to teach both business and Irish at second level with further study.
• Irish language in key sectors — actively used and valued nationally and internationally, including in EU institutions.

The role of Irish in professional life is growing rapidly. Irish is increasingly central to sectors such as policymaking, broadcasting, education, and EU institutions, making graduates fluent in Irish with strong business skills highly sought-after.

Internationally, Irish is an official language of the European Union, opening doors to careers in translation, diplomacy, and international relations.

Possible career paths include:
• Accounting (practice and industry)
• Management advisory roles
• Taxation and commercial consulting
• Marketing and communications
• Human resource management
• Economic policy analysis
• Information systems management
• Finance (banking and insurance)
• Entrepreneurship
• Media, public affairs, and sports administration
• Teaching (business subjects and Gaeilge at second level, once qualified)

Graduates may also progress to postgraduate study in areas such as business, the Irish language, or education. This degree also prepares students to teach both business-related subjects and Gaeilge at second level, once they have obtained a recognised teaching qualification and met the Teaching Council’s standards.

Students on the BComm (le Gaeilge) don’t study abroad in the traditional sense. Instead, they take part in a unique Gaeltacht-based academic semester at our An Cheathrú Rua campus. This immersive experience is designed to strengthen fluency, deepen cultural understanding, and enrich personal and academic growth.

Gaeltacht Semester – Study in An Cheathrú Rua
In Semester 1 of Year 3, students live and study in the Gaeltacht, attending Áras Mháirtín Uí Chadhain, the University of Galway’s dedicated Irish-language centre in An Cheathrú Rua, Connemara. They complete six academic modules delivered through Irish, including Inniúlachtaí Gairme. (Professional Competencies), which prepares them for the workplace semester that follows.

Accommodation
Students stay with local host families for the duration of the semester, enjoying full board accommodation at a heavily subsidised cost of just €420 for 12 weeks, thanks to funding from the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge.

Why This Experience Matters
By the end of the Gaeltacht semester, students will have:

• Developed spoken and written fluency in real-life, academic, and social settings.
• Gained a deeper connection with Irish-language communities and culture.
• Built practical skills to confidently undertake their Semester 2 Irish-speaking work placement.
• Experienced personal growth through independent living and full language immersion.

This is a standout opportunity to live the language, grow your confidence, and prepare for a career in business.

Work placement is a central and compulsory part of the BComm (Gaeilge) and takes place during Semester 2 of Year 3.

Duration and Timing
Students spend one full semester (12–14 weeks) on placement during Year 3, Semester 2. This follows a Gaeltacht-based academic semester in An Cheathrú Rua, allowing students to sharpen their Irish before entering the workplace.

Work Placement Partners
Placements are arranged and supported by Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, in collaboration with Údarás na Gaeltachta. With over 400 client companies, students have access to a diverse network of organisations, including:

• Gaillimh le Gaeilge
• Foras na Gaeilge
• Conradh na Gaeilge
• Companies in sectors such as:
• Biomedicine & pharmacology
• ICT and niche manufacturing
• Audio-visual and digital media
• Tourism and hospitality
• Food processing, aquaculture, and renewable energy
• Arts and crafts

Type of Work and Roles
Placements are matched to students' chosen business specialisms and career interests. Students may gain experience in areas like:

• Marketing and communications
• Business administration
• Community development
• Media and content creation
• Event coordination
• Policy, planning, and public affairs

Irish Language Immersion
All work is carried out through Irish, giving students the rare and valuable opportunity to use the language in a professional setting on a daily basis. This practical immersion helps students transition from classroom learning to fluent workplace communication.

Skills and Benefits
During the placement, students build skills in:

• Workplace communication (written and oral)
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Problem-solving and innovation
• Sector-specific software or systems
• Bilingual professionalism and cultural competence

The placement also helps students clarify their career direction, make valuable professional connections, and in some cases, secure graduate employment offers with their host organisation.

Location
Placements take place primarily in Irish-speaking regions, particularly in the Gaeltacht. Some students may be placed at Údarás na Gaeltachta headquarters or in urban organisations working bilingually.

Rióna Ní Fhrighil
Jonathan Levie
Yixin Qiu
Aine Ni Leime
Patricia McHugh
Declan Fleming
Michael Lang
Brent Kelly
Kieran Conboy
Simeon Vidolov
Emma Holian
Ashley Piggins
Sharon Cotter

The BComm le Gaeilge combines a broad business education with advanced study of the Irish language. Students divide their time between business lectures, small-group Irish classes, practical skills modules, and immersive Gaeltacht-based learning.

How Will I Learn?

1. Business Lectures – Core business modules are taught through English and cover key areas such as economics, marketing, accounting, management, and digital business.
2. Small-Group Irish Language Classes – Gaeilge modules are delivered in small groups to encourage active participation and build fluency in written and spoken Irish. You’ll develop confidence using Irish in both professional and academic settings.
3. Innovation and Enterprise – Modules such as Innovation, Creativity and Enterprise (ICE) help students apply business theory to real-world challenges, with an emphasis on teamwork, critical thinking, and entrepreneurship.
4. Gaeltacht Semester – In Year 3, students spend one semester studying at Áras Mháirtín Uí Chadhain in An Cheathrú Rua, a University of Galway campus in the heart of the Connemara Gaeltacht. This immersive experience strengthens both language and academic skills in a fully Irish-speaking environment.
5. Irish-Language Work Placement – The second semester of Year 3 is a work placement in an Irish-speaking organisation, coordinated by Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge in partnership with Údarás na Gaeltachta.
6. Practical Application – Across the programme, students engage in case studies, group projects, business presentations, and role-plays—applying what they’ve learned to real-life business contexts.

How Will I Be Assessed?

1. Continuous Assessment – Includes essays, presentations, projects, and Irish-language assignments.
2. Examinations – End-of-semester exams assess understanding of business content and proficiency in Irish.
3. Oral Assessments – Gaeilge modules feature oral presentations, discussions, and role-plays to assess fluency and confidence in spoken Irish.
4. Project Work – Many business modules include group-based or individual projects where students apply business theory to real companies or develop entrepreneurial ideas.
5. Gaeltacht Semester & Work Placement – Students are assessed through a combination of academic assignments and reflective learning tasks linked to both the Gaeltacht experience and work placement. The focus is on language use, professionalism, and applied learning.

Course queries:
business@universityofgalway.ie 

Programme Director(s):
Dr Dorothy Ní Uigín
Irish Language Academic Director
School of Languages, Literatures and Cultures
College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies
E: dorothy.niuigin@ollscoilnagaillimhe.ie

Q: Do I need to be fluent in Irish to apply?
A: You don’t need to be fluent, but a good standard is required. You’ll need at least a H4 in Leaving Cert Irish (or equivalent) to meet the entry requirements. The degree will build on this foundation to develop fluency in both spoken and written Irish for professional settings.

Q: Can I study or work abroad as part of the degree?
A: Not abroad – but you will take part in a structured Gaeltacht-based experience in third year. You’ll spend one semester on work placement in an Irish-speaking organisation and the other semester studying at our University of Galway centre in An Cheathrú Rua.

Q: What kind of work placement will I do?
A: Your placement will be in an Irish-speaking organisation or company, coordinated with support from Údarás na Gaeltachta. Previous students have worked in areas such as digital media, tourism, tech, and community development – with employers like TG4, Foras na Gaeilge, Conradh na Gaeilge, and Gaillimh le Gaeilge.

Q: Why should I study Irish with Business?
A: This degree opens doors to unique careers where Irish is a distinct advantage – from media and communications to public service and Gaeltacht-based enterprises. You’ll graduate with in-demand business skills and the ability to work professionally through Irish.

Q: Will accommodation be provided for the Gaeltacht semester?
A: Yes. Students are eligible for the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht accommodation allowance, and with additional support from Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, the cost for full board accommodation with a local host family is just €420 for the 12 weeks. *Prices are subject to change.

Q: Can this degree lead to teaching?
A: Yes. Graduates who complete a recognised teaching qualification and meet the Teaching Council’s subject-specific requirements will be eligible to teach Business subjects and Gaeilge at second level.

Minimum Grade H5 in two subjects and passes in four other subjects at O6/H7 level in the Leaving Certificate, including Irish, English, another language, Mathematics, and any two other subjects recognised for entry purposes.

Additional Requirements
For Leaving Certificate - A H4 in Gaeilge is also a requirement.

Alternative Pathways
The Access Centre at University of Galway provides a number of alternative entry routes to undergraduate programmes. See below some useful links:

• QQI/FET/FETAC Places
• Mature Students
• Access and Foundation programmes
• HEAR Scheme
• DARE Scheme

Other Qualifications
If you are a school leaver presenting results other than Leaving Cert results, please review the entry requirements relevant to you:

• A Level students
• International Baccalaureate students
• EU students

For applicants whose first language is not English, it is important to check our English Language Requirements.

Admissions Office
Our Admissions Office provides additional detail relevant to CAO applicants including key dates, FAQs and instructions for non-school leavers.

Irish and European (EU/EFTA/UK) Applicants
Apply via the CAO. See the CAO Handbook for useful information on applying through the CAO.

Mature Applicants
Apply via the CAO by 1 February. To apply for a place as a mature student, you must be 23 years of age on or before 1 January of the year of entry. Further information available here.

QQI/FET/FETAC Applicants
Apply via the CAO. See our QQI/FET/FETAC Applicants page for information on places available and entry requirements.

Fees for Academic Year 2025/2026

• Most EU students applying through the CAO will be eligible for the ‘Free Fees Initiative’. You can find out more here.
• If you are eligible for a means tested SUSI grant this may cover 100% of this Student Contribution Charge. If you are 100% eligible SUSI will pay the Student Contribution Charge of €3,000 on your behalf. 
• The Student Levy It is payable by all students and it is not covered by SUSI
• Where the course duration is greater than 1 year, there is an inflationary increase approved of 3.4% per annum for continuing year fees. This applies to non-EU fees.
• You can find additional detail on the Fees Office webpage including FAQs and how fee status is assessed.

Application Process
Students applying for full undergraduate degree programmes from outside of the European Union (EU), and who are liable for full non-EU tuition fees, should apply online via Apply to University of Galway. Our application portal opens on the 1^st October each year for each the following September.  

Further Information
Please visit the international application webpage for further information on closing dates, documentation requirements, application fees and the application process.

Gaeilge - University of Galway