Science - Pharmaceutical Science - Tallaght
If you’re interested in how new drugs and therapies are discovered and developed, this course may be right for you. It covers the full process of development, as well as technical, regulatory and management aspects. Pharmaceutical Science combines a broad range of biology and chemistry disciplines that are critical to the discovery and development of new drugs and therapies. The course covers the development from discovery through to the formulation of medicines.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | Technological University Dublin |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | Technological University Dublin | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
4 Years
Specific Subjects or course requirements
Irish Leaving Certificate
Minimum No of Subjects: 6
Higher: 2 H5's
Minimum Grade in:
Maths: F2/O6/H7
English or Irish: O6/H7
Leaving Certificate General Entry Requirements
Entry/Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for consideration for a course an applicant must possess the minimum entry requirements for that course. Entry requirements are outlined above.
CAO offers are determined on the basis of examination score except in the case of courses which involve suitability tests, interviews and other assessment procedures. All suitability tests/interviews/auditions/portfolio reviews etc will generally be carried out during the period March - May each year.
Where a specific grade is required in a subject (H4, O3 etc) an applicant must achieve that grade or better in order to be eligible for consideration (H = Higher Level; O = Ordinary Level). Where a requirement is 2 or 3 honours, grade H5 or better on Higher Level
Leaving Certificate papers is needed to meet such a requirement.
In the case of both Higher and Ordinary Level Leaving Certificate results, grades lower than H7 (Higher) or 06 (Ordinary) are not acceptable for eligibility purposes or for points calculation.
For the purpose of meeting minimum entry requirements, results from any number of sittings of the Irish Leaving Certificate Examination may be combined.
An applicant’s examination score will be calculated by adding together the points scored in the best six subjects in a single sitting of the Irish Leaving Certificate Examination.
Matriculation Examinations will not be accepted either for the purpose of meeting minimum entry requirements or for calculating examination scores.
Demand usually exceeds the number of places available and therefore examination results better than the minimum entry requirement are likely to be required.
When a number of applicants have the same points score, a random number is attached to the score for each course preference. This will then determine the position of each applicant on the waiting lists for offers.
Bonus Points Maths (Irish Leaving Certificate)
25 bonus points will continue to be awarded for Higher Level Mathematics for H6 grades and above. Bonus points are only counted where that subject is scored as one of the applicant’s best six subjects for points purposes.
Foundation Level Mathematics
We accept Foundation Level Mathematics for the purposes of entry requirements the case of any course where Higher or Ordinary Level Mathematics is not a requirement. Please check above to ensure you are aware of the individual math requirement.
Points are awarded as follows:
F1 = 20 points
F2 = 12 points
Foundation Level Irish
For the most part the University will not consider Foundation Level Irish for the purposes of entry requirements or for points, however a grade F3 in Foundation level Irish is acceptable for meeting the minimum entry requirements for some Higher Certificate courses. Students with an F3 in Foundation level Irish must have passed five other subjects with a minimum grade of O6 including Math, students should check on individual course pages to determine if their foundation Irish grade is sufficient.
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
Distinction 66 points
Merit 46 points
Pass 28 points
The Link Modules can be used as one of the six subjects for overall points calculation and may also be considered as a subject for the purposes of minimum entry requirements, dependent on the programme for which you are applying.
Leaving Certificate Applied Programme LCAP
QQI FET Applicants General Information
How to Apply
You must apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO).
In order to apply, you must have obtained a full major award. A Component Certificate (minor award) is not sufficient.
The best 8 modules of your award are used for ranking purposes.
In addition to the QQI minimum entry requirements, QQI quotas and QQI points apply. The max QQI points awarded is 390.
If you’ve accumulated your major award over more than one academic year, you’ll need to apply to the QQI for a major award.
If you present full QQI Level 5/6 awards, you won’t be required to meet minimum entry requirements based on Leaving Certificate results. The QQI Level 5/6 award is accepted in its own right.
Careers / Further progression
What are my career opportunities?
Senior Process Technologist
Regulatory Compliance Supervisor
Process Development Lead
Microbiologist
Lead Environmental Monitor Officer
Manufacturing Manager
Technical Sales Manager
Progression
On graduation, you’ll be equipped to enter the pharma or biopharma industries or you may continue to postgraduate study at TU Dublin or elsewhere.
Further information
Whatever your reason for coming back to education – to update your skills, gain a new qualification, achieve a personal goal or ambition, etc. TU Dublin welcomes applications from all mature students aged 23+.
It may be daunting but you’re not alone. TU Dublin has a range of supports in place to help you decide what course to take, get through the application process and get settled into college life.
For further information go to https://www.tudublin.ie/study/undergraduate/cao/entry-routes/mature-applicants/
EU Applicants
We welcome EU Applicants with high-school qualifications from a European Union or European Free Trade Association country.
A Level GCSE Applicants
We welcome students who have completed their GCSE or A Level exams.
TU Dublin Access Routes
We aim to ensure that students of all backgrounds and nationalities can find a pathway to higher education that suits their circumstances at different stages of their lives and careers. Please take some time to look at the various Access entry routes outlined below and feel free to contact us for further information. We are more than happy to give you advice on which entry route might be suitable for your individual needs and to support you in making your application.
For more information on these entry routes go to https://www.tudublin.ie/study/undergraduate/cao/entry-routes/
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Entry 2024
Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2024 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2024 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: €60 Closing Date: 1 May 2024 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2024 at 5pm
Exceptional online late application (see page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee €60 Closing Date: 22 July 2024 at 5pm
Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid making an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all application fees are non-refundable.
LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5pm on 1 February 2024. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2024, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2024 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €60 applies.
Exceptional Late Applications (Exception to the timetable)
The exceptional closing date of 22 July at 5pm applies only to applicants who are registered as an undergraduate student on 1 May 2024 in any year in any one of the participating HEIs (subject to the exclusions listed below). In order to avail of the Exceptional Late Application facility you must have entered the HEI through the CAO system. This is an exceptional late closing date and all steps must be completed by 5pm on 22 July. No changes may be made after this date.
If you did not enter your current course through the CAO system, you must first contact the Admissions Office of the HEI to which you wish to apply and they will inform you if you may submit an application direct to the institution.
Exclusions:
You may submit a late application only for entry to courses other than your existing course. If you wish to repeat the year in the same course you must arrange this within your HEI.
Mary Immaculate College Limerick, Marino Institute of Education, Trinity College Dublin, University of Limerick and Maynooth University have special procedures in place in the case of current or previous students who wish to apply for entry to another course in the same HEI. Such applicants must contact their Admissions Office to determine the application procedure. However, if you are a student in another HEI and you wish to apply to any of these five HEIs, you should apply through CAO.
Refer to page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook on how to make an Exceptional Late Application.
Restrictions
As a CAO applicant you may experience one or more of the following restrictions based on your course choices, your category of application, or restrictions imposed by the HEIs that you wish to apply to. Please read the section on 'Restrictions' on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:
General Restrictions
1. Making a late application
2. Making changes to your course choices
Restricted Courses
3. Applying for a restricted course
Mature Applicants
4. Mature applicants
Supplementary Admissions Routes
5. Applying for DARE and/or HEAR
Is Sciences & Health for you?
At its core, science builds and organises knowledge using testable explanations about the physical and natural world. But you already know that – you have been following the many scientists who have explained the current COVID19 pandemic to us. You have been intrigued by the forensic detail of their knowledge and how it can be directly applied to the life you are leading. So, if this is your passion you will spend lots of time in labs but what you learn will have a real world application. Whether it’s physics or pharma, biology or food science, computing or mathematics...infinite possibilities await you.
What is Pharmaceutical Science?
If you’re interested in how new drugs and therapies are discovered and developed, this course may be right for you. It covers the full process of development, as well as technical, regulatory and management aspects.
Pharmaceutical Science combines a broad range of biology and chemistry disciplines that are critical to the discovery and development of new drugs and therapies. The course covers the development from discovery through to the formulation of medicines.
In Year 1, you’ll gain fundamental knowledge in chemistry and biology. In Years 2 and 3, you’re introduced to pharmaceutical-focused modules. You’ll also be introduced to the technical, regulatory and management aspects of pharmaceutical development and manufacturing. Year 4, includes modules such as Bioprocess Technology, Drug Synthesis, Advanced Statistics and Biopharma and Cell Technology. The course work is almost equally divided between practical laboratory and lecture classes.
Study Abroad Opportunities
You may chose to complete your 6-8 month work experience in a European country as part of the Erasmus programme.
Work Placement
Year 3, includes a work placement of 6-8 months, as part of the Student Industrial Placement Programme (SIPP). Many graduates have been employed on graduation by the company with which they completed their work placement.
Year 1
Semester 1
Biology 1
Chemistry I
Critical Skills Development
Laboratory Skills I
Mathematics 1 for Science Students
Physics 1
Semester 2
Biology 2
Chemistry 2
Laboratory Skills II
Mathematics 2 for Science Students
Physics 2
Year 2
Semester 3
Principles of Biochemistry
Drug Formulation
Lab Skills III(Pharma Science III)
Organic Chemistry
Pharmaceutical Analysis
Semester 4
Physical and Inorganic Chemistry
Lab Skills IV (Pharma Science)
API Process and Spectroscopy
Pharmaceutical Microbiology
Introductory Statistics
Year 3
Semester 5
Good Manufacturing Practice and Quality Systems
Lab Skills V (Pharma Science)
Organic Chemistry 3
Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
Aseptic Manufacture
Semester 6
Option 1 for Placement
Industry placement in a leading BioPharmaceutical company. This option requires the student to complete a Continuous Academic Development module (CAD) during the placement.
Option 2 for Placement
Erasmus programme
Option 3 for Placement (if unsuccessful in applications for options 1 and 2 above).
Completion of a number of relevant industry focused academically accredited modules one of which will be the CAD module referred to in first option above.
Year 4
Semester 7
Bioprocess Technology
Drug Synthesis
Integrated Laboratory Techniques
Scientific Communications and Student Project (Part 1)
Validation
Semester 8
Advanced Analytical Techniques
Advanced Biopharma and Cell Technology
Manufacturing Technology
Project
Advanced Statistics
Contact Us
School of Chemical & BioPharmaceutical Sciences
school.cbps@tudublin.ie