Science - Biological Environmental & Geological Sciences

Duration

4 years, full-time.

Specific Subjects or course requirements

Leaving Certificate Entry Requirements
At least six subjects must be presented. Minimum grade H4 in one subject, minimum grade H5 in one subject and minimum grade O6/H7 in four other subjects. English and Irish are requirements for all programmes unless the applicant is exempt from Irish.

Applicants will need to meet the following minimum entry requirements:

English O6/H7
Irish O6/H7
Maths O6/H7 or H4*
Lab Science O6/H7 or H4*

The following are considered Lab Science subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Physics with Chemistry and Agricultural Science.

Note
H4 in either a Lab Science subject, Maths or Applied Maths or Computer Science*

* If the H4 is in Maths, Applied Maths or Computer Science an 06/H7 in a Lab Science subject is also required.

Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP

QQI FET Applicants General Information

QQI FET General Information Link

QQI FET Entry Requirements

Careers / Further progression

For further information on further study options from each area of study, please see the information below for the relevant degree programme:-

Applied Plant Biology (APB):
Our APB graduates have excellent career prospects and have entered a wide range of careers. This diversity reflects the breadth of the course and the emphasis on transferable skills and practical experience.

In some cases, our graduates work directly with plants, as plant breeders or crop protection scientists. The skills our graduates learn during the APB course mean that they are also employed in broader scientific areas such as the rapidly expanding environmental sector, as well as biotechnology, food, pharmaceutical, agricultural support, and health industries.

Other graduates are also employed in scientific research, science management, education, journalism and computing, while several have set up their own companies.

Ecology and Environmental Biology:
A degree in Ecology and Environmental Biology allows you to work in many different fields in Ireland and abroad such as:

research in universities or industry
research in government agencies such as OPW, EPA, ERU, Forestry, Fisheries
consultancy
journalism
teaching at second and third level
administration in civil service, county councils or industry
environmental scientists in industry, agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries and government
management conservation working in habitat management, nature reserves, landscape planning, and fisheries

Environmental Science:
Graduates in Environmental Science are eligible for any job that requires an honours degree in a science subject, but are particularly suitable for posts in:

environmental consultancies
environment and waste divisions of local authorities
the Environmental Protection Agency
environment divisions of chemical
pharmaceutical, food and other industries
non-Governmental organisations
Government departments concerned with natural resources, heritage, environment and land use.
Posts for environmental scientists typically involve:

monitoring compliance with environmental regulations
waste and natural resource management
pollution monitoring
environmental impact assessments
environmental auditing
designing environmental management systems
environmental risk assessments

Geoscience:
There is currently a global shortage of geology graduates. In recent years, graduates have gained employment in both the areas of environmental geology and mineral exploration, careers have been based both in Ireland or abroad in diverse fields such as infrastructure and engineering projects, geotechnical site investigations, hydrogeology, landfill management, environmental impact and protection, marine geology and mineral exploration in the field.

Currently, our graduates are in high demand and are being actively recruited by environmental geoscience, marine geoscience mineral exploration companies, guaranteeing unrivalled opportunities to work both overseas and in Ireland.

Jobs taken by UCC Geology graduates include:

Hydrogeologist in Ireland, UK
Engineering geologist in Ireland, UK
Environmental geoscientist with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Exploration geologist in Western Australia and Zambia
PhD Palaeontology in Antarctica

Zoology:
The skills developed during the degree will be attractive to a wide range of employers. Zoologists work as scientists with government departments such as in aquaculture and fisheries, wildlife, conservation, forestry services, wildlife parks and nature reserves. They work as environmental policy officers, in environmental consultancies, in print and film media, in science journalism, as museum curators, education officers, in non-governmental organisations and with industry, including food producers. Many graduates continue as research scientists. A zoological training is also relevant for other biological disciplines, in industry and in teaching.

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