Science - Carlow
A Common Entry course is a popular choice for students who have an interest in a discipline but are unsure of what career path they would like to follow. Common Entry courses allow students to study a broad range of subjects initially and then choose their preferred specialist area. This allows students more time to discover what interests them most.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | South East Technological University |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | South East Technological University | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
4 years, full-time.
Specific Subjects or course requirements
2 subjects: H5
4 subjects: O6/H7
English or Irish: O6/H7
Mathematics: O6/H7
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
Entry requirements for Honours Bachelor Degrees (Level 8)
This link module can be used in place of a sixth Leaving Certificate subject and will be accepted as meeting the six subject eligibility requirements for entry to honours degree courses.
Entry requirements for Ordinary Bachelor Degree (Level 7) and Higher Certificate (Level 6)
The LCVP link module can also be used in place of a fifth Leaving Certificate subject and will be accepted as meeting the five subject eligibility requirements for entry to ordinary bachelor degree and higher certificate courses
GRADE POINTS
Distinction 66
Merit 46
Pass 28
QQI FET Applicants General Information
Students who have completed a full QQI-FET award at Level 5, and achieved at least three distinctions, are eligible to apply through CAO for entry to Year 1 on to Level 6, 7 and 8 courses. Students who have completed a full QQI-FET award at Level 6 may be eligible to enter Year 2.
The maximum possible points awarded through QQI-FET is 390. The scoring system only applies where all of the requirements for the major award are met i.e. where the named component awards specified have been achieved to a minimum of 120 credits.
Progression Scheme
The Progression Scheme is an additional opportunity for students who successfully complete a QQI FET Award in a partner Colleges of Further Education and Training College/Centre to gain entry to SETU programmes. The list of partner Further Education and Training Colleges/Centres, relevant SETU programmes, linked QQI FET Awards and the criteria for the scheme are available at www.setu.ie/progression.
Careers / Further progression
COMMON ENTRY Science (Carlow)
Career Opportunities
This course allows graduates to gain an understanding of a solid science foundation, while also ensuring students have time to explore a wide range of career options. The course is designed to produce highly employable graduates to work within the biopharmaceutical, biotechnology and brewing and distilling industries. These sectors are rapidly evolving and offer excellent and varied employment options. Skills can be utilised globally so there are endless international opportunities.
COMMON ENTRY — Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biosciences with Biopharmaceuticals Stream
Career opportunities
The four year Biosciences with Biopharmaceuticals course is designed to produce highly employable graduates for the bioscience, biotechnology, biopharmaceutical science and food science industries.
These sectors are rapidly evolving and offer excellent and varied employment options in quality control, quality assurance, technical, supervisory or management areas.
COMMON ENTRY — Bachelor of Science (Honours) Brewing & Distilling Stream
Career opportunities
This course in Brewing and Distilling is the first degree of this type in Ireland. We work closely with industry to ensure that all graduates from the programme will directly meet the requirements of their future employers in the brewing and distilling industries but will also be in a position to enter a research career, undertake further studies or start up their own venture.
COMMON ENTRY — Bachelor of Science (Honours) Pharmaceutics & Drug Formulation Stream
Career opportunities
• Primary and secondary pharmaceutical production
• Pharmaceutical product development and manufacture
• Quality control in high-volume mass-market manufacturing plant
• Cleanroom and water-treatment facilities.
Further information
September 2026
Mature Student Applications
A mature student is someone who is at least 23 years of age on 1 January of the year of entry to an undergraduate course and who may not meet the normal admission requirements. Applications are made through the CAO before the 1 February or before late application deadline of 1 May 2026. Applicants are assessed based on the information they enter on their CAO application. Note: You must apply for nursing and music courses by 1 February 2026.
Selection Process – Nursing Applications
Mature applicants for nursing courses will receive correspondence under separate cover from the Nursing Careers Centre (Public Appointments Service - PAS). For full details on the application process see www.nursingcareers.ie.
Mature Applicant – Change of Mind
The Change of Mind facility becomes available after 1 May and the closing date is 1 July.
The Change of Mind facility affords mature applicants an opportunity to change the order of preference only of their course choices. If applicants introduce a new programme to their list of choices by way of Change of Mind, they will compete for a place on that programme based on their Leaving Certificate or equivalent results only. They will not compete as a mature applicant.
Graduates with relevant Bachelor of Science Degree
Non-standard application
A non-standard application is one that does not meet the definition of a standard application.
The special categories are:
• GCE/GCSE
• Other school leaving exams
• NCVA Level 2/3
• FETAC Level 5/6
• Further Education (other than QQI)
• Mature
• Higher/Third Level Education
Applicants wishing to make a non-standard application must select the relevant category when applying to the CAO.
Entry 2026
Early online application (discounted): Fee €35 Closing Date: 20 January 2026 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €50 Closing Date: 1 February 2026 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2026 CAO Handbook): Fee: €65 Closing Date: 1 May 2026 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2026 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2026 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 2026. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2026, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2026 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2026 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €65 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 2026 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
COMMON ENTRY Science (Carlow)
About the course
A Common Entry course is a popular choice for students who have an interest in a discipline but are unsure of what career path they would like to follow. Common Entry courses allow students to study a broad range of subjects initially and then choose their preferred specialist area. This allows students more time to discover what interests them most.
Course structure
The first year of this course provides students with a foundation in science, and subjects are common for all students. After Year 1, students separate into their chosen specialist area from the following:
• Biosciences with Biopharmaceuticals
• Brewing & Distilling
• Pharmaceutics & Drug Formulation
The course offers a blend of academic and practical skill development and work placement.
Science — COMMON ENTRY Degree Options
BSc (Honours) – NFQ Level 8 Brewing & Distilling
BSc (Honours) – NFQ Level 8 Pharmaceutics & Drug Formulation
BSc (Honours) – NFQ Level 8 Biosciences with Biopharmaceuticals
FOLLOW ON STUDY
Postgraduate Study — MSc or PhD
COMMON ENTRY — Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biosciences with Biopharmaceuticals
About the course
Bioscience is the branch of science concerned with living organisms and is the foundation of many other schools of scientific inquiry, including biopharmaceuticals, which refers to medical drugs manufactured in living organisms such as bacteria, yeast and mammalian cells.
COMMON ENTRY — Bachelor of Science (Honours) Brewing & Distilling
About the course
Successful brewing and distilling requires the application of both scientific and engineering principles. This four year course equips students with the necessary scientific knowledge and instrumentation competencies to work in the brewing and distilling industry.
Modules include product development, marketing and regulatory affairs. The course incorporates industry work placement in Year 3 and a research project in Year 4.
COMMON ENTRY — Bachelor of Science (Honours) Pharmaceutics & Drug Formulation
About the course
The purpose of this course is to produce graduates with the skills to make new pharmaceutical products, trouble-shoot problems in the stability of existing products, and in production proper.
This course is for you if you like science, enjoy analytical activities and problem solving, and want to study a course with a high level of practical laboratory work.
COMMON ENTRY — Bachelor of Science (Honours) All Streams
Year 1 Modules
Semester 1
Fundamental Biology
Chemistry 1
Physics 1
Laboratory Science
Quantitative Methods 1
Semester 2
Animal & Human Biology
Chemistry 2
Physics 2
Quantitative Methods 2
Current Concepts in Science
COMMON ENTRY — Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biosciences with Biopharmaceuticals Stream Lead
Dr Anne-Marie Enright PhD
E: anne-marie.enright@setu.ie
COMMON ENTRY — Bachelor of Science (Honours) Brewing & Distilling Stream Lead
Dr Sinead Morris PhD
E: sinead.morris@setu.ie
COMMON ENTRY — Bachelor of Science (Honours) Pharmaceutics & Drug Formulation Stream Lead
Dr Ariane Perez-Gavilan PhD
E: ariane.perezgavilan@setu.ie