Bachelor of Business Studies (Honours) (Human Resource Management) (Top-up)

I chose to study with University College Dublin (UCD) as it has a good reputation and offers high quality education, and decided to pursue the Bachelor of Business Studies (Honours) (Management) Degree with UCD as a Management role involves a level of human touch that is not easily replaced by Artificial Intelligence (AI) nor robots.

UCD has a wonderful overseas and local teaching team, and the lecturers made the concepts more relatable by combining theories with real-life examples from their own experiences or the news. The lecturers were also helpful in ensuring that my doubts were clarified. This programme has provided me with a thorough understanding of the management field and how a company works. With the knowledge I have gained through the programme, I will be able to apply my learning to my future work and gain competitive advantages that can enhance my opportunity for a better position within an organisation.

Kaplan took good care of me throughout my studies in Singapore as having come from overseas and being in an unfamiliar environment, I could then focus better on my studies. The friendly and efficient staff have made my experience with UCD and Kaplan a great one.

I was previously a Diploma holder and decided to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree to open more doors to job opportunities. I chose the University College Dublin (UCD) programme as it could be completed in 18 months.

I was working in the same field prior to taking up this Degree and upon graduation, managed to switch to a new company and obtained a salary increment. I would recommend the UCD programme at Kaplan as it has helped me achieve career progression and a higher salary.

I began my Kaplan education with a Diploma, which laid strong foundations for my transition into pursuing a Bachelor of Business Studies (Honours) (Management) (Top-up) Degree with University College Dublin (UCD).

My path to acquiring a reputable and well-recognised business Degree was clear considering UCD’s Triple Crown accreditation. Also, the University has produced alumni across the globe, with its graduates making an impact in politics, literature and the international business world over the decades.

Participating in the 2019 Kaplan Kickstart Challenge, an internship programme for students to work at start-ups and contribute business ideas for a chance to win prize money, was most memorable. Equipped with analytical, business and operational know-how, and knowledge from studying at Kaplan, I was able to apply this expertise while interning.

As a result, I won the “Best Intern” award in the competition and was offered a full-time role. This has accelerated my career since, allowing me to find my current placement in an American MNC.

The University College Dublin (UCD) programme was well-delivered and broadened my knowledge through a wide variety of learning activities. I gained rich educational experiences from the local and international lecturers’ sharing sessions.

On top of that, graduating as a top student at UCD was key to unlocking many incredible opportunities as well as fulfilling my personal and professional goals.

My current job scope includes supporting, leading and mentoring the team to achieve the efficient and smooth operation of properties. The programme enhanced my job performance by improving my knowledge in areas such as project management, data analysis and evaluation, and time management skills.

I would recommend UCD to others for its recognition, affordable fees and convenient location.

University College Dublin Graduate (2021)

The research I did on University College Dublin (UCD) confirmed that it would provide the business management skills I needed to augment my experience – UCD is known for learning and teaching excellence, and its good rankings globally. Additionally, I favour its research-led education. As such, I chose to study the Master of Science in Management with UCD.

The programme has helped me to conceptualise, evaluate and execute my business strategies. While researching my thesis topic, I got to explore effective leadership styles practised by Singaporean SMEs, aimed at developing or expanding their businesses internationally. The research journey was enriching and augmented my knowledge and skills in dealing with local SMEs. My studies have also helped reaffirm my professional abilities.

I started the programme a few months before my new job, which required me to juggle travel time and family. Then, I lost my job during the COVID-19 lockdown – both my confidence and finances dipped. However, I found the determination to see my programme through to the finish line.

Eventually, I launched two businesses before graduation with the knowledge gained from the module, Global Strategic Management. The module taught me to apply the “red ocean strategy” and “blue ocean strategy” (which means “doing what others do at a cheaper price” and “producing things that others cannot”) in business. This led me to launch a student care centre offering unique services instead of a standard childcare centre.

Considering everything, I would recommend UCD to any one of my friends.

University College Dublin, 1st Class Honours Graduate (2020)

Before I decided to enrol with University College Dublin (UCD), I had done research on several other universities. When I spoke to a UCD consultant, I was quite impressed with the University’s rankings, and I like the fact that some of its lecturers are flown in from the university to teach here.

Throughout the course, we had numerous group assignments and had to work with different people. I feel that this helps to reinforce skills that are relevant to both group and individual work. In a way, it prepares us to work in a team setting that is relevant to the workforce. Studying this programme has helped me qualify for a role I was looking for, despite having to juggle caring for my son, spending time with my family and studying. I appreciate the soft skills learnt through the group assignments.

Overall, I had a great learning experience thanks to my lecturers and peers, and I enjoyed my time at UCD. This course has been the highlight of my experience, and I have made good friends throughout the course. I also appreciate that the campus location is centrally located.

University College Dublin, 2nd Class Honours Graduate (2020)

As a working adult, choosing the right university to enrol with is a massive undertaking as there are many factors to take into consideration. University College Dublin (UCD), Ireland’s largest university, is ranked within the top 1% of higher education institutions globally* and ranked high in the world for Graduate Employability, which meant it undoubtedly topped my list.

What attracted me to choose UCD’s Bachelor of Business Studies (Honours) in Human Resource Management (Top-up) Degree programme was its mode of delivery and assessment methods, as well as the possibility of completion within 18 months, which suited my busy schedule.

This programme has equipped me with the skills to manage stakeholders from different cultures and backgrounds, especially in today’s globalised and diverse workplace. Furthermore, it helped me stay relevant in this challenging business environment.

Upon completing my programme, I managed to progress in my career and land my current role as an Assistant Manager. I would recommend UCD as the quality of the lecturers exceeded my satisfaction and because the classes are conducted in a block manner, make it easier for working students to plan around it.

*Times Higher Education 2020

University College Dublin, First Class Honours Graduate (2020)

I opted to enrol with University College Dublin as it is recognised worldwide, and its programme structure is customised for full-time working professionals like myself.

This programme has given me the exposure to other functions of supply chain, and I have thus developed interests in areas outside of my current job scope, such as project management and lean management. This has expanded my employment opportunities as I am more willing and ready to take on new responsibilities.

The knowledge I gained from the programme also encourages me to think out-of-the-box and find better ways to improve my productivity at work. Through better understanding of the rationale behind practices in the workplace, it is easier for me to identify the bottlenecks and close the gaps in them.

Overall, this programme is very part-timer friendly. The coursework is more manageable, and the duration is shorter as compared to other schools. Therefore, it is extremely suitable for those who wish to pursue further studies while holding a full-time job.