Analytical Chemistry with Quality Assurance - Cork
The BSc (Honours) in Analytical Chemistry with Quality Assurance (ACQUA) prepares students for careers in the biopharmachemical industries and other areas such as environmental monitoring, food/beverage, oil and gas analysis, forensics, etc.
| 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 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 06/H7
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 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 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 Popular 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 the minimum entry requirements for courses are outlined on 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
Employment Opportunities
Graduates are prepared for laboratory careers in the BioPharmaChem industries and other industries. They are qualified in areas such as quality standards, good manufacturing practice, total quality management, and regulatory compliance. They may take up leadership roles in areas such as method design and implementation, process validation, and management of quality systems. Graduates of this programme continue to find employment in a range of high demand rewarding roles, primarily in the regional advanced manufacturing sectors, in particular biopharma and chemical industries. Roles include:
• BioPharma laboratory analyst
• Quality management and regulatory compliance
• Pharmaceutical and chemical research
• Chemistry teaching
• Environmental testing & analysis
Further Studies
Graduates may apply for a 2 year, full time, Professional Master of Education (120 ECTS credits). On completion, graduates are eligible for registration with the Teaching Council. Suitably qualified graduates can continue to postgraduate research study with a number of MTU research groups associated in areas such as Mass Spectrometry Analysis, Chemical Analysis (www.cappa.ie), or progress to research centres elsewhere.
Further information
September 2026
20
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
Overview
Chemists analyse and understand everyday materials to determine efficient and safe ways of transforming them into useful products, develop new products and materials, and monitor production processes to ensure the quality of finished products.
Analytical Chemistry is the speciality dealing with devising, selecting, and using methods for determining the identity and quantity of chemical composition of samples such as drugs, medicines, food and beverage, water, air etc. These have key components that are present at very low levels or concentrations, and many sophisticated techniques have been developed for their detection and analysis.
The BSc (Honours) in Analytical Chemistry with Quality Assurance (ACQUA) prepares students for careers in the biopharmachemical industries and other areas such as environmental monitoring, food/beverage, oil and gas analysis, forensics, etc. Graduates identify and solve analytical problems by the selection and use of a wide range of methods and techniques – from the mainstream areas of spectroscopy, chromatography, and electrochemistry, to more specialised areas such as particle size analysis or immunoassay techniques.
This honours degree also focuses on quality assurance, which is of vital importance to the biopharmaceutical, chemical and allied industries. The course is examined using a combination of continuous assessment of both theory and practical work, and end of year examinations.
This honours degree is recognised by the Institute of Chemistry of Ireland for membership (MICI); graduates are also eligible to apply for Associate Membership of the Royal Society of Chemistry (AMRSC).
What will I study?
First Year at a Glance:
• Chemical Principles: study of general chemical interactions
• Physics: study of fundamental basis of energy, light and heat
• Laboratory Skills: understanding the basis for good laboratory practice in a chemistry laboratory
• Biology: study of fundamental building blocks of life
• Mathematics: students use maths to problem solve
• Creativity, Innovation and Teamwork: Team building, independent working and communication skills development
Dr Mary Lehane
T: +353 (0)21 433 5866
E: mary.lehane@mtu.ie