Engineering - Smart Product Engineering - Cork
Modern life involves more and more interaction with smart products including smartphones, fitness trackers, autonomous cars, virtual assistants like Alexa, electronic medical devices, energy monitors and industrial equipment. To meet user requirements, these products must have aesthetic appeal and must include sensors, embedded computing, communication networks, cloud-based services and an engaging and functional user interface. Smart products gather and manage data and integrate with cloud services to best meet the demands of the modern user. Smart Products are part of the larger Internet of Things (IoT) world, but Smart Products provide the human-centric experiences, behind which lie the Computer, Sensor and Engineering Science technologies. In this way, they can deliver impactful personal and societal benefits in health and wellbeing, energy efficiency and sustainability, environmental protection and future transport.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | Munster Technological University |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | Munster Technological University | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
4 years (8 Semesters) full-time
Specific Subjects or course requirements
Score the necessary CAO points and meet Leaving Certificate Minimum entry requirements
6 Subjects
Subjects O6/H7 4
Subjects H5 2
Maths Grade 03/H6
English or Irish Grade O6/H7
Leaving Certificate General Entry Requirements
Minimum entry requirements may be satisfied by the results of more than one Leaving Certificate. The minimum entry requirements may be varied for non-standard applicants and holders of QQI-FET awards.
2nd Chance Maths Exam
Some students who apply for MTU courses may not achieve the required entry standard in Maths through the Leaving Certificate examination. For such applicants, the University offers a second chance to reach the required entry standard through a MTU Maths Exam.
This second chance facility allows applicants (depending on their results in the MTU Maths Exam) to gain entry to courses with an Ordinary Leaving Certificate Maths entry standard and (with a higher level of performance) courses with a Higher Leaving Certificate Maths entry standard.
Common Bonus Points Scale for Higher Level Maths
A bonus of 25 points is awarded to applicants who achieve a grade H6 or above in higher level (HL) Maths.
Formula:
All students presenting H6 or above in HL Maths will have 25 points added to their score for Maths.
The six highest subject points scores will then be counted to achieve a cumulative points score, as is normal practice. The bonus points will only be relevant in cases where the subject HL mathematics (including bonus points) is scored as one of the candidate’s six best subjects for points purposes. Consequently, if HL mathematics (cumulative points score) is not among these six subjects, the bonus points will not be included in the total points score. Bonus points will be awarded irrespective of the year in which the examinations were taken.
Foundation Maths
A minimum grade of F2 in foundation level Maths fulfils the minimum entry requirements in Maths for the following programmes
MT 541 Bachelor of Business
MT 571 BA in Early Childhood Education and Care
MT 574 BA in Social Care
MT 654 HC in Arts in Hospitality Studies
MT 655 HC in Arts in Culinary Studies
MT 941 Bachelor of Business (Honours)
MT 971 BA (Honours) in Early Childhood Education and Care
MT 974 BA (Honours) in Social Care
Maths is not required for entry to:
MT 575 BA in Community Development
MT 572 BA in Early Childhood Education & Care
MT 820 BA (Honours) in Contemporary Applied Art (Ceramics, Glass, Textiles)
MT 821 BA (Honours) in Fine Art
MT 822 BA (Honours) in Photography with New Media
MT 823 BA (Honours) in Visual Communications
MT 931 BA (Honours) in Popular Music - Electric Guitar
MT 932 BA (Honours) in Popular Music - Electric Bass Guitar
MT 933 BA (Honours) on Poplular Music - Keyboards
MT 934 BA (Honours) in Popular Music - Drums
MT 935 BA (Honours) in Popular Music - Voice
MT 936 BA (Honours) in Music
MT 938 BA (Honours) in Musical Theatre
MT 939 BA (Honours in Theatre and Drama Studies
Although not a requirement, if an applicant achieves a minimum grade of F2 in foundation level Maths this grade is recognised for entry and CAO points are awarded as follows: F1 = 20 points, F2 = 12 points.
Full details of minimum entry requirements for courses are outlined in the relevant course webpage. Applicants are advised to check the relevant subjects, tests, portfolios, and dates very carefully. In particular, there are early assessment procedures for some courses.
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
Holders of the LCVP apply in the normal way through the CAO. Points are awarded on the same basis as for the Leaving Certificate. The link modules ‘subject’ may not be used to meet the minimum entry requirements.
Leaving Certificate Applied Programme LCAP
The LCA subjects do not meet the minimum requirements for entry to MTU full-time courses. Holders of Leaving Certificate Applied qualifications may wish to proceed to a FET-QQI course and in turn apply to third level on the basis of their FET-QQI award.
Careers / Further progression
Further Studies
Upon successful completion of this programme, graduates may apply for postgraduate study in a variety of related master programmes. The NIMBUS Research Centre, at MTU, Bishopstown Campus, Cork, offers PhD opportunities in relevant topics.
There is a strong demand for engineering graduates with practical IoT and digital product development knowledge. Industrial input to the programme development ensures that graduates will develop sought after engineering, design and business skills in key future technologies.
Students undertake a relevant work placement between April and September of third year. This introduces them to the work practices and environments that they will encounter as professional engineers.
Graduates can work in product design, requirements specification, electronic and mechanical design and prototyping, embedded software development, systems test, manufacturing, cloud service provision and project/business management.
Further information
40
Entry 2025
Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2025 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2025 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2025 CAO Handbook): Fee: €60 Closing Date: 1 May 2025 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2025 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2025 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 2025. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2025, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2025 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2025 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €60 applies.
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 2025 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
Industrial partners have guided the course design and development to ensure that it integrates the competencies of the diverse disciplines involved in Smart Product Development and management. This programme enables students to; identify opportunities in the fast-changing marketplace for smart products, develop product requirements, and design and evaluate prototypes.
This programme is designed for students who are keen to combine their technical and creative design ability with the business skills required to achieve commercial success. It employs a project-based approach to teaching and learning in which students focus each semester on developing, prototyping and evaluating product solutions. Course delivery relies heavily on practical, studiobased projects and assessments, giving students the opportunity to combine electronic engineering with manufacturing techniques and design methodologies to develop products and systems to meet customer requirements in a real-life product development setting.
Year 1 is a mix of theory and practice, with an average of 10 hours in the classroom and 12 hours of applied work.
• Design Thinking: Promotes a human-centred approach to understanding customer’s needs, generating creative ideas and rapid prototyping.
• Sensor measurement: Smart products interface with the real world using sensors and the circuits to connect sensors to the digital world are introduced.
• 3D Design and Print: Apply Computer Aided Drawing (CAD) to produce devices to be prototyped in the 3D printing studio.
• Embedded Software: Students learn to design and write embedded software to control a smart product.
• Mathematics: A skills-building module, as engineers use maths to design systems
• Innovation and Teamwork: Develop skills to create and assess innovation strategies and collaborate on team activities.
Question Time
What level of Mathematics is required? Grade 03/H6 in the Leaving Certificate exam is the minimum requirement. Mathematics is used in all engineering disciplines and provides powerful tools for understanding and solving problems. You would need to be comfortable with mathematics.
Has the course professional accreditation?
As a new programme, the BEng (Honours) in Smart Product Engineering is currently not accredited. An application for accreditation by Engineers Ireland at the Bachelor (Honours) Level 8 educational standard will be made when the programme is operational.
Can you give me examples of the type of work I will be able to do?
You will be able to identify user needs and design, prototype, commercialise and manage smart products, interfacing the realworld and cloud services to meet those user needs. After graduation, the smart product engineer role can span the entire life cycle of products from concept development, design, prototyping and evaluation, volume production and management and support of product services. Key skills areas include system design, programmable electronic systems, mechanical design, networks, software and commercial evaluation.
Dr Martin Hill
T: +353 (0)21 433 5475
Email: martin.hill@mtu.ie