The Orient is beckoning as TCD expands its business with a language programme to include Chinese. The language emphasis is similar to that of TCD's established business programmes with French, German and Russian (offered under the BESS umbrella) with language taught for a specific purpose.

Business and language are taught in an integrated manner, explains Patrick McCabe, co-ordinator of the business and language degrees at TCD. "Language is taught in the context of contemporary culture, society, economy and institutions."

It will be a tough programme, he admits, with students having no previous exposure to Chinese. "So, we have set fairly stiff entry requirements. We're looking for two Bs at Leaving Cert in languages other than Irish. This is to signal that students need to be generally interested in language acquisition, enjoy language structure and the technical side of language."

Students will spend one year abroad in a Chinese university. "In the first term, they will concentrate on language development and, after that, they will take further language and business courses through Chinese," says McCabe. There are no tuition fees for partner universities. The cost of studying outside the EU may be slightly higher than in Ireland but students can mitigate their costs through activities such as giving English language tutorials.

Why take Chinese with business? McCabe says Asia is opening up and is important to a small open economy such as Ireland. Chinese will be alternated with Japanese over the coming years so students entering TCD in 1999 will be offered the option of business studies with Japanese.

It's hoped that a postgraduate offering in Asian studies or management may be available by the time the first cohort of students graduate with their primary degrees.

TR0088 (business with Chinese) is a late addition to the CAO this year and is not listed in the handbook. Students can apply for the 15 first-year places up until May 1st, the late closing date, or, if they have already applied to the CAO, they can use the change-of-mind facility (available until July 1st) to include TR0088 in their choices.

A one-hour open session will be held on Wednesday, May 6th, from 5 p.m. in the Davis Theatre, Arts Building, TCD. All are welcome.

For information contact TCD Admissions office at (01) 608 1133 or Patrick McCabe, School of Business Studies, at (01) 608 1164.