BA (Honours) Degree in Digital and Business Skills
Overview
The Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Degree in Digital and Business Skills (DABS) is a forward-thinking programme designed to equip learners with a comprehensive skill set for thriving in the dynamic business and digital sectors. This degree integrates academic learning with practical, real-world experience, offering structured work placements and assessed project work each year to help students build valuable skills, knowledge, and expertise for a range of professional careers.
The first two years of the programme are completed at City of Dublin FET College, Central Campus, Cathal Brugha. Upon successful completion, Learners will earn a Higher Certificate in Digital and Business Skills, with the option to exit the programme or continue into the third year at the National College of Ireland to pursue the Level 8 Bachelor of Arts in Digital and Business Skills without the need of applying through the CAO.
Eligible participants will be paid an allowance throughout their time on this programme. Participants on this programme will be joint City of Dublin ETB and NCI learners and will have full access to the supports available in both institutes (library, learner supports etc.). Industry guidance is integrated into the curriculum, offering insights and opportunities for real-world applications, preparing participants for future career paths.
Together, these scaffolded elements create a nurturing and empowering environment where learners can thrive academically and professionally.
Provider Locations and Structure
Learners complete two years at City of Dublin FET College, Central Campus, Cathal Brugha and obtain the Higher Certificate in Digital and Business Skills.
Successful Learners may exit the programme at that time or progress into year three of the Digital and Business Skills (Hons) Degree programme with the National College of Ireland.
Course Content – For All Years
In Year 1, the modules are:
- Personal Development and Reflection
- Communication and Working in Professional Environments
- Digital Literacy & Proficiency, are geared towards fostering self-awareness and cultivating foundational skills essential for personal and professional growth.
- Navigating the Digital Landscape
- Navigating Organisations and The Business Environment World
- Information Literacy and Academic Learning introduces learners to research and critical engagement skills.
- Work placement Preparation
- Work placement assessment activities
In Year 2 the modules are:
- Personal Goals & Financial Awareness
- Leadership & Team Environments
- Data Management
- Digital Marketing
- Sustainability for Business
- Critical Thinking: Self, Perspectives, and World
- Work Place Preparation 2
- Work Placement 2
Each module in this stage carries 5 credits, except for 2.1 which is valued at 10 credits, and 2.8 Work Placement 2, which is valued at 20 credits.
Year 3
- Academic Supports for Learning and Writing Well
- Strategic Tools for Managing in a Business Environment
- Data Analytics
- Business World Elective: Organisational Culture, People and Leadership
- Business World Elective: Digital Marketing
- Digital World Elective: User Experience
- Digital World Elective: Programming
- Workplace preparation
- Work placement 3
Year 4
- Career Readiness
- Business Innovation and Development
- Artificial Intelligence
- Digital World Elective: Advanced Artificial Intelligence
- Digital World Elective: Data Visualisation
- Business World Elective: Cloud & Cyber Security/with business slant
- Business World Elective: Sustainability for Business & Society
- Work Placement Preparation 4
- Work Placement 4
Embedded Awards
After successfully completing years 1 & 2 NFQ Level 6, Higher Certificate in Digital and Business Skills
After successfully completing year 3 NFQ Level 7, Bachelor of Arts in Digital and Business Skills
After successfully completing year 4 NFQ Level 8, Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Digital and Business Skills.
Planned Intake
25 students per year.
Entry Requirements and Eligibility
The applicant’s academic ability may be demonstrated by successful completion of any of the following:
- Leaving Certificate (5 passes)
- Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (5 passes)
- Leaving Certificate Applied plus level 6 P-TECH award (Pathways to Technology)
- Level 5 QQI Certificate in a relevant area
- Other equivalent award
- Level 6 Certificate in P-TECH (Pathways in Technology) from NCI
In the case of mature learners, i.e. 21 years and over, there are no formal academic entry requirements. The applicant’s academic ability is determined using the principles of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
Prospective learners will be expected to demonstrate:
- a desire to work in the business sector
- an ability to act with responsibility and autonomy
- an ability to take responsibility for their own learning while under supervision
- an ability to to work collaboratively with others
- effective communication and presentation skills
- Minimum English language and literacy competence at entry to the programme for speakers of English as a second language is Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, B2 in writing, reading, listening and speaking
- Where the learner has not completed their second-level education through the medium of English, evidence of achievement of this standard is necessary for entry to the programme.
Application Process:
Step 1 – Application
Applications may be made on-line via the College website www.cathalbrughafet.ie. All applications will be acknowledged by e-mail in the case of on-line applications.
Step 2 – Interview
Applicants will be invited for interview in the College. The purpose of this interview is to determine the applicant’s capacity to participate on the course for which he/she has applied. In some cases, applicants may be called for a second interview.
Step 3 – Offer of place and acceptance/refusal of offer
Places on the programme are offered based on suitability provided that:
- the criteria (entry and interview) have been met
- there is a place available to be offered, i.e. the course is not full.
- the applicant demonstrates at the interview the capacity to successfully participate on the course for which he/she has applied. This includes the academic, practical and work placement elements of the course.
As part of the processing of an application, an applicant may be referred for a career’s information session and/or learning support for further advice in determining their course choice.
If deemed appropriate, applicants may also be referred for an educational assessment.
Special Features
There are no costs associated with the Higher Certificate in Digital and Business Skills or the Digital and Business Skills BA (Hons) Degree. Additionally, students receive an allowance and are guided by a Business Professional during their work placements.
The BA Honours Degree in Digital and Business Skills can serve as a pathway to further education in the future. Graduates with a Level 8 qualification may choose to pursue master’s programmes or PhD programmes in related fields of study.
Contact details
City of Dublin FET College
Central Campus
Cathal Brugha
76 Marlborough Street
Dublin 1
D01 X8V0
T: 01 533 7126
E: info@kmcfe.cdetb.ie