Expand+Course Requirements
Subjects Required
Minimum of O3 or H6 in Mathematics and minimum of O3 or H5 in one of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics with Chemistry or Agricultural Science

General Entry Requirements
A minimum of six Leaving Certific...

Hide-Course Requirements
Subjects Required
Minimum of O3 or H6 in Mathematics and minimum of O3 or H5 in one of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics with Chemistry or Agricultural Science

General Entry Requirements
A minimum of six Leaving Certificate subjects at Grade 06/ H7, to include the subjects English OR Irish AND the subject Mathematics. In addition, applicants must present at least two subjects at grade H5.

Leaving Certificate Mathematics Requirements
DCU does not award points for the subject of Mathematics at Leaving Certificate Ordinary Alternative or Foundation Level. This subject will be accepted for admission purposes for the following courses:

BA in Applied Language and Translation Studies
BA in Contemporary Culture and Society
BSc in Education and Training
BA in Journalism
BA in International Relations
BA in Communication Studies
BA Gaeilge agus Iriseoireacht (Irish and Journalism)
Bachelor of Civil Law (Law and Society)
BSc in Multimedia
Bachelor of Arts: Joint Honours
Bachelor of Early Childhood Education

Leaving Certificate Subject Combinations
Certain subjects will not be scored separately if they occur in combination with subjects that are similar in content. In each case, the highest individual grade will be scored. The following six groups of subjects are affected by this:

1 Music and Musicianship, Music A, Music B

2 Economics, Agricultural Economics

3 Physics with Chemistry - if combined with Physics and Chemistry, only two best scored - if combined with Physics or Chemistry, only best scored

4 History, Economics and Economic History - if all three are taken, only the best two will be scored

5 Latin, Classical Studies

6 Greek, Classical Studies

Bonus Points for Honours Mathematics
25 bonus points will continue to be awarded in 2018 for higher level Mathematics, at grades H6 and above in the Irish Leaving Certificate or equivalent.

Expand+All QQI awards are part of the new inclusive National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), developed by QQI. Applicants who have a full NFQ Level 5 award in the appropriate qualifications and modules, with a minimum of five distinctions, can be admitte...

Hide-All QQI awards are part of the new inclusive National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), developed by QQI. Applicants who have a full NFQ Level 5 award in the appropriate qualifications and modules, with a minimum of five distinctions, can be admitted on a competitive basis to certain DCU courses. There are a limited number of places available on courses.

NFQ has made changes to the CAS (Common Awards System). Please refer to the DCU website for specific details on the range of QQI awards which link into the university’s Level 8 degree courses.

General Entry Requirements

• Full QQI Level 5 Certification must be achieved in one single sitting.

• QQI awards are normally made up of eight minor awards, commonly known as modules.

• Five distinctions from the eight modules must be achieved.

Course Entry Requirements

Additional course requirements are indicated in the details of each course which can be found at the 'QQI FET Entry Requirements' link below. This requires the attainment of performance in specifically named QQI Level 5 awards and in some cases, the inclusion of specific modules. For example, for the BSc in Education and Training, students must attain the full QQI Level 5 award with distinctions in five modules, but three of the distinctions must be in modules that DCU specifies. Please visit www. cao.ie/index.php?page=fetac_search for the most up-todate information on course requirements.

Applying to DCU

Candidates make their application to DCU through the CAO and are ranked based on their performance in the eight modules that make up their award. From 2017 the points awarded for QQI awards were revised. Please visit www2.cao.ie/fetac/FETAC_scoring.pdf for scoring information.

Please note:

1 A Major Award must be achieved. Component Certificates or Records of Achievement are not acceptable.

2 In certain courses, DCU will require the achievement of certain grades and/or specified components, e.g. five distinctions, including a minimum pass in Mathematics, or four specific science modules.

3 A Major Award may be achieved over a number of sittings; however, for scoring purposes, only results achieved in a single sitting, e.g. between 1st August and 31st July are assessed. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that their QQI centre applies for a Major Award to QQI where courses are taken over more than one year.

Expand+DCU has an active mature student body and strongly encourages applications from mature candidates (those aged 23 years or above on 1st January in the year of entry). As a mature student, your wealth of knowledge and experience will make a valuable co...

Hide-DCU has an active mature student body and strongly encourages applications from mature candidates (those aged 23 years or above on 1st January in the year of entry). As a mature student, your wealth of knowledge and experience will make a valuable contribution to the university, and we are always working towards widening participation to allow mature students gain entry onto DCU courses.

What are the entry requirements?

Applying as a mature applicant means that you do not compete with Leaving Certificate students for places at DCU. Instead, experience other than examination grades is taken into consideration – this may be work experience, further studies or other relevant experience. For some courses, however, particular Leaving Certificate subjects may be necessary. In all cases, the university will want to know that you have the ability and motivation to make the most of your studies at DCU.

What supports are available for mature students?

There is a wide network of services. The Mature Student Academic Writing Week prepares you for college life through workshops on topics such as academic writing, citing and referencing. Other topics include supports for students at DCU, such as the Mathematics Learning Centre, IT supports and the Mature Student Society. You will also have access to Student Support and Development workshops throughout the academic year for example CV Clinics, Learning Students and Motivational Workshops.

What financial supports are available to mature students?

There are a number of sources, including the Government’s Free Fees Initiative, the Higher Education Grants Scheme, the Back to Education Allowance and the DCU Student Assistance Fund, once a registered DCU student. Information on these schemes is available at www.studentfinance.ie.

Where can I find out more?

For the Mature Student Officer, please contact 01 700 6987.

For general and admission enquiries, please contact the Registry on T +353 (0)1 700 5338 E registry@dcu.ie

How do I apply?

All mature applicants for full-time study must apply to the Central Applications Office (CAO) by 1st February in the year of entry.

Expand+Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20th January 2018 at 5:15pm

Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1st February 2018 at 5:15pm

Late online application - restrictions apply: Fee: €60 Closing Date: 1st May 2...

Hide-Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20th January 2018 at 5:15pm

Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1st February 2018 at 5:15pm

Late online application - restrictions apply: Fee: €60 Closing Date: 1st May 2018 at 5:15 pm

Change of Mind - restrictions apply: Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1st July 2018 5:15 pm

Exceptional online late application - see page 14 of the 2018 CAO Handbook: Fee €60 Closing Date: 22nd July 2018 at 5:15pm

You should avoid submitting an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all fees are non-refundable.

LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5:15pm on 1st February 2018 and will be accepted up to 5:15pm on 1st May 2018, subject to the restricitions listed on page 3 of the 2018 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5th March 2018 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €60 applies.

Exceptional Late Applications (Exception to the Timetable)
The exceptional closing date of 22nd of July at 5:15pm applies only to applicants who are currently undergraduate students 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.

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, Trinity College Dublin, University of Limerick, Maynooth University and Galway Mayo Institute of Technology 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 15 of the 2018 CAO Handbook on how to make an Exceptional Late Application.

Restricted-category Applicants
Mature applicants – most HEIs will require mature applicants, who wish to be assessed on mature grounds, to have applied to CAO by 1st February 2018 at 5:15pm. (This restriction does not apply if the applicant wishes to be considered on the basis of school leaving qualifications only.) For more information about applying to CAO on the basis of mature years go to www.cao.ie/mature.

Applying for the HEAR and/or DARE schemes – to be considered for the HEAR and/or DARE schemes applicants must have registered on the CAO system by 1st February 2018 at 5:15pm and must have completed the HEAR/DARE application form by 1st March 2018 at 5:15pm – supporting documents must be sent to CAO offices before 1st April 2018 at 5:15pm.

Expand+Why DCU?
• Longest established biotechnology course in Ireland.

• Modern course integrating emerging new technologies.

• Multidisciplinary academic staff all within the School of Biotechnology.

• Opportunities to do an INTRA placement a...

Hide-Why DCU?
• Longest established biotechnology course in Ireland.

• Modern course integrating emerging new technologies.

• Multidisciplinary academic staff all within the School of Biotechnology.

• Opportunities to do an INTRA placement abroad in third year.

Understanding Biotechnology
Biotechnology is making significant contributions to the world we live in and global society as a whole. By studying the components of living cells, we can learn how to control, fix and modify them to our benefit. This knowledge is already leading to the creation and manufacture of products that help in the diagnosis and treatment of disease (e.g. the production of antibiotics and insulin, and other genetically engineered medicines such as safer recombinant vaccines), and the provision of services to areas like healthcare, food, agriculture, energy and the environment.

Biotechnologists find new and innovative solutions to problems encountered in society. They need a good fundamental grasp of the biochemistry underlying biological systems and a good knowledge of the exciting innovations occurring in genetics, immunology and bioinformatics. To understand how solutions go on to a commercial industrial scale, they also need a good understanding of the underlying physical and chemical engineering principles pertaining to living cells.

About You
If you have an inquisitive and analytical mind, if you are interested in the basic sciences and if you have a competency in mathematics, then you should thrive in Biotechnology.

Course Structure
By studying a wide range of scientific and engineering subjects you will gain the necessary and vital skills to succeed in the emerging technology-driven biotech industry.

At the start of your course, you will be introduced to the basic sciences, mathematics and computing. As you progress, you will discover more comprehensive areas of biotechnology, ranging from genetics and process engineering to immunology and gene cloning. In third year, specialist areas are introduced while in fourth year there is a strong emphasis on choice, with students selecting from a wide range of subjects. In addition, in Year Three you will have the opportunity to work in industry as part of our paid industrial training programme (INTRA).

Science courses at DCU provide an ideal opportunity to acquire hands-on experience, not only at the laboratory bench but also in meeting the challenges associated with on-going creative research projects. Here you will be able to explore your true potential through practical work – much of which counts towards your final mark. You will also undertake a significant research project in your final year.

Expand+What Will I Study?

Year One
Chemistry/Biology/Physics Laboratories
Mathematics
Chemistry
Physics
Introduction to Cell Biology and Biochemistry
Introduction to Bioprocessing

Year Two
Biomolecules and Metabolism
Cell Structure and Func...

Hide-What Will I Study?

Year One
Chemistry/Biology/Physics Laboratories
Mathematics
Chemistry
Physics
Introduction to Cell Biology and Biochemistry
Introduction to Bioprocessing

Year Two
Biomolecules and Metabolism
Cell Structure and Function
Microbiology and Genetics
Bioprocess Engineering
Organic Chemistry
Biotechnology Instrumentation
Statistics
Transport Processes
Laboratories
Scientific Literature

Year Three
Gene Cloning and Gene Expression
Biochemical and Microbiological Analysis
Commercial Biotechnology
Cell Culture and Tissue Biochemistry
Downstream Processing
Bioreactors and Primary Separations
Analytical Microbiology and Recombinant DNA
Cell Biology and Biochemistry Laboratory
bioprocess Engineering Lab
INTRA

Year Four
Industrial Bioprocessing
Proteomics and Protein Biotechnology
Bioreaction Engineering
Bioprocessing Laboratory
Genetics and Cell Biology
Immunology and Immuno-analysis
Animal Cell Biology
Human inheritance and population genetics
Literature Review
Project

Expand+International Students
As a non-native English speaker who does not meet the English language requirements, you may be eligible to apply to the International Foundation Certificate (IFC) course. This course will help you to achieve the English lan...

Hide-International Students
As a non-native English speaker who does not meet the English language requirements, you may be eligible to apply to the International Foundation Certificate (IFC) course. This course will help you to achieve the English language requirements necessary for entry into this course. It will also help you to adjust to the culture of Irish university learning. See page 124 of the UG College prospectus 2017 for full details of the IFC course.

This course is recognised by the Teaching Council for Teaching Biology (see page 235 of the UG Prospectus 2017 for further details)