Accounts Administrator (Business Administration)

Duration
This is a Full-time one-year course, which runs from September to May. Exact details of the timetable will be given out to students during the induction process prior to class commencement in September.
Overview

This course will equip students with an exemplary standard of administrative skills, encompassing business, legal, medical and essential IT skills for the contemporary workplace. Students gain a range of transversal skills such as organisational, interpersonal, and communication skills, which are sought after by employers. Through the Legal Practice and Procedures module, students are given an overview of legal structures in Ireland, its court system and branches of Civil and Criminal Law, which will enable them to progress to work as a legal administrator. The Medical Terminology module equips students with the knowledge, skill and competence in the use of such terminology, enabling them to work as a medical receptionist or administrator role in medical practice, clinic or hospital context.

Students will acquire proficiency in modern office technologies and a minimum speed of 25 WPM, enabling them to carry out effective office administration roles. This course has a strong record of sending graduates into direct employment.

The course is aimed at:

• School Leavers
• Those who have been in the workforce before, but now need to update and develop new skills
• Those who wish to acquire IT skills for the first time
• Those who wish to defer a college place in order to improve their IT skills
• Those who wish to acquire the necessary skills to work from home

Entry Requirements
One of the following:

• Leaving Certificate (LC Established, LCVP, LCA) or equivalent
• A Full Level 4 QQI/FETAC Award (or equivalent)
• Mature Applicants (aged 21 or over) – appropriate experience will be considered in lieu of formal qualifications. Note: Mature applicants may be entitled to VTOS funding. For details about VTOS, please For details about VTOS, please contact the college.
• Applicants whose first language is not English require level B1 competency on the CEFR language framework. Applicants may be required to undergo English language testing to establish their language competency.

Course Modules

• Business Administration Skills
• Bookkeeping Manual and Computerised
• Word Processing
• Communications
• Work Experience
• Payroll Manual and Computerised
• Spreadsheet Methods
• Digital Presentations

Certification
Level 5 QQI Award Business Administration (5M2468)

Special Features
All Dublin College Dun Laoghaire students are provided with an M365 account, which gives them access to the tools and resources needed to deliver assessment work while attending their course. M365 Apps include Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook and OneDrive.

QQI Component Maths 5N1833 (may be available as an option for students requiring Maths for progression through the CAO system if they do not have the LC entry requirement). If a student wishes to progress to Third Level, it is very important that all students check any specific entry requirements, especially when it comes to the Maths entry requirement, before embarking on this course.

Work Experience
Students will be required to undertake a period of work placement in an organisation connected to their vocational area during the academic year.  Work Experience is mandatory for all of our full-time Level 5 courses. Students are required to source their own work placement, but will be assisted in this by the work experience teacher.  The work placement is usually for a period of 10 days or a minimum of 60 hours.  Students usually find the work experience element of the course to be invaluable, and should bear in mind that a successful work placement can sometimes lead to further opportunities.

Additional Information
Assessment

The following techniques will be used to assess the knowledge and skills that students will have achieved on successful completion of modules:

• Student Record
• Portfolio/Collection of Work
• Assignments
• Examination – Written or Practical
• Project

All assignments are submitted electronically.  Therefore, all students need access to a device such as a computer/laptop.

A full major award is granted for passing all 8 components.  On successful completion of each component, you will be awarded a pass, a merit or a distinction grade. See www.qqi.ie for more details.

Progression Opportunities
Graduates are eligible to apply through the CAO and/or the Higher Education Links Scheme for entry to year one of a range of higher certificate and degree programmes at Universities, Institutes of Technology and Technological Universities using their full QQI Level 5 major award.  Places are not guaranteed in these Institutes and are subject to students meeting certain criteria. It is the students’ responsibility to consult with the relevant HEI for information on the admissions process and any specific entry requirements.  Students may also refer to the individual HEI prospectus or may also refer to the QQI FET section of the CAO website.  www.cao.ie

Examples of CAO progression opportunities are listed below.
Progression Examples
BA Arts (DN520)

BA Humanities (DN530)

BCL Law (DN600)

Bachelor of Business and Law (BBL) (DN610)

BSc Social Sciences (DN700)

BSc Psychology (DN720)

BSocSc Social Policy and Sociology (DN750)

BSc Criminology with Psychology  (DN620)

University College Dublin – www.ucd.ie
BA Arts (MH101)

BA Psychology (MH106)

Bachelor of Social Science (MH107)

BA Finance (MH401)

Maynooth University – www.nuimaynooth.ie
BA Human Resource Management (NC005)

BA Psychology (NC010)

BA (Honours) in Business (NC009)

BA (honours) in Marketing Practice (NC020)

BA (honours) in Accounting and Finance (NC022)

Higher Certificate in Business (NC103)

National College of Ireland – www.ncirl.ie
Bachelor of Law (TR004)

Trinity College Dublin – www.tcd.ie
Bachelor Business Studies (DC111)

BA Economics, Politics and Law (DC230)

Dublin City University – www.dcu.ie

Career Paths
Accounts Administration staff can perform a wide range of finance support roles in any business office environment. Qualified to engage in a wide range of bookkeeping and payroll roles within a busy office and with experience gained the opportunity to pursue an Accounting Technicians Qualification is the next step in having a successful career in this area.