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Analytical Chemistry - Environmental Forensic & Pharmaceutical - Grangegorman

Higher Education CAO
TU851

An analytical chemist is trained to use modern analytical techniques and instruments to develop strategies to detect, identify and quantify substances such as the pollutants in air and water, illegal substances in suspicious powders and the active pharmaceutical ingredients in medicinal products. This course, which includes rigorous scientific training and a six-month work placement, will make you work-ready.

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
Location:
Grangegorman
Attendance Options:
Daytime, Full time
Qualification Letters:
BSc (Hons)
Apply to:
CAO
CAO Points Round 1
Year Points
2023 422
2022 402
2021 400
2020 349

Duration

4 Years.

Contact Hours: 23 hours a week approximately (please note the programme entails 40 hours a week work in total). 4 - 5 days on site; no days online.

Specific Subjects or course requirements

Irish Leaving Certificate

Minimum No of Subjects: 6
Higher: 2 H5's

Minimum Grade in:
Maths: O3/H7
English or Irish: O6/H7

At least a H4 in one of: Physics, Chemistry, Physics & Chemistry, Biology or Technology.

Leaving Certificate General Entry Requirements

Minimum 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

The University recognises the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP) for admission purposes and results in the Link Modules element of the programme will be considered as follows:

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

The Leaving Cert Applied Programme will not meet minimum entry requirements and will not be awarded points.

QQI FET Applicants General Information

We welcome applications from students presenting QQI (formerly known as FET/FETAC) Level 5/6 awards. Over 500 first-year places are available, for QQI FET Applicants, on our Higher Certificate, Ordinary Degree and most Honours Degree courses.

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.

QQI FET General Information Link

QQI FET Entry Requirements

Careers / Further progression

What are my career opportunities?
Environmental Chemist
Forensic Analyst
Quality Control Chemist
Pharmaceutical Analyst

Graduate Employers:
Environmental Protection Agency
Henkel
Irish Distillers
Pfizer
State Laboratory

Progression
On graduation you may continue to postgraduate study at TU Dublin or in other higher education institutions. The programme meets the requirements as an approved undergraduate degree for the Professional Master of Education (Post Primary)for those who want to teach chemistry and science in secondary schools.

Course Web Page

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/

25

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 Analytical Chemistry (Environmental, Forensic & Pharmaceutical)?
An analytical chemist is trained to use modern analytical techniques and instruments to develop strategies to detect, identify and quantify substances such as the pollutants in air and water, illegal substances in suspicious powders and the active pharmaceutical ingredients in medicinal products.

This course, which includes rigorous scientific training and a six-month work placement, will make you work-ready.

To be an analytical chemist, you need an interest in science and a curious mind, and to enjoy solving problems. An eye for detail is also important.

The course has a substantial practical component, which supports the development of key laboratory skills and training in modern analytical instrumentation.

Laboratory practicals, case studies and workshops allow you to develop analytical thinking, teamwork, IT and science communication skills.

In Year 1, you’ll be introduced to forensic, pharmaceutical and environmental chemistry. All science subjects are taught on the basis that you may not have studied them at Leaving Certificate.

Year 2 includes the core chemistry topics and specialised modules in analytical, forensic and environmental chemistry. In the final two years, the emphasis is on analytical chemistry and environmental, forensic and pharmaceutical applications. The six-month work placement in Year 3 and the year 4 research project will benefit you greatly. Thus, graduates are work-ready problem-solvers with excellent laboratory skills.

Study Abroad Opportunities
Although most students undertake a work placement in Ireland, it is possible during the Year 3 placement to study in an industrial or academic environment abroad as part of the Erasmus programme.

Work Placement
The six month work placement in third year is a very valuable aspect of the course. Because it has been in place for over 15 years, we have established strong networks with employers. We ensure that you are supported while you apply for and obtain your placement.

Professional Accreditation
The course is recognised internationally as it is accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry. It is also recognised by the Institute of Chemistry of Ireland for graduate membership.

Equipment Requirements
Laboratory glasses, laboratory coat and spatula (details provided at induction).

Year One
First year provides a foundation in science as well as an introductory module on environmental, forensic and pharmaceutical chemistry, which features hands-on activities in these areas:

Semester 1 and 2:
Career Development and IT
Cell Biology and Microbiology
General and Organic Chemistry
Introduction to Environmental, Forensic & Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Mathematics
Physics

Year 2
In second year, the course becomes more specialised and focuses on building a knowledge and understanding of the core chemistry topics as well as exploring analytical, environmental and forensic chemistry.

Semester 1:
Forensic Biology and Polymers
Inorganic Chemistry - Bonding & Reactivity
Introduction to Environmental Chemistry
Organic Chemistry & Spectroscopy
Spectroscopy & Thermodynamics
Statistics & Classical Analysis

Semester 2:
Criminalistics
Inorganic Chemistry - Materials, Biostructures & Spectroscopic Analysis
Kinetics & Electrochemistry
Organic Chemistry & Stereochemistry
Spectroscopy & Chromatography
Workplace Regulations & Professional Development

Year 3
In the final two years, the emphasis is on analytical chemistry and its forensic, environmental and pharmaceutical applications. Modules feature case studies based on real-life scenarios which develop team-working and critical analysis skills.

Semester 1:
Analytical Chemistry
Carbonyl and Stereochemistry
Forensic & Environmental Analysis
Inorganic chemistry in Action
Kinetics, Thermodynamics and Electrochemistry
Physical & Organic Spectroscopy

Semester 2:
Six month work placement in company or public body

Year 4
Your research project in fourth year gives you the opportunity to be guided by our staff while exploring areas aligned with their expertise such as the detection of antibiotic residues in food and the development of sensors that can interface with digital cameras. You will team up with a research supervisor and use your chemical knowledge and initiative to explore a topic and answer a research question.

Semester 1:
Advanced Analytical Chemistry
Advanced Inorganic Topics
Advanced Organic Chemistry
Environmental Compliance and Occupational Hygiene
Pharmaceutical & Solid State Analysis
Surface Chemistry & Photochemistry

Semester 2:
Advanced Environmental Analysis
DNA Profiling & Criminalistics
Final Year Research Project
Forensic Toxicology and Fires

Contact Us
Claire McDonnell, Programme Chair
claire.mcdonnell@tudublin.ie
+35312205553

Contact Us
Gavin Sewell, Year 1 Tutor
gavin.sewell@tudublin.ie
+35312205568

Contact Us
School of Chemical & BioPharmaceutical Sciences
school.cbps@tudublin.ie

Location:
Grangegorman
Attendance Options:
Daytime, Full time
Qualification Letters:
BSc (Hons)
Apply to:
CAO
CAO Points Round 1
Year Points
2023 422
2022 402
2021 400
2020 349