Engineering
Society needs engineers to maintain and develop critical infrastructure and industrial activity. Various branches of engineering are essential to meet the many societal challenges that face us in the future as they consider and advance novel solutions for the way we live. As a society we rely on the capabilities of engineering to deliver creative solutions for challenges that confront us, for example, in health, energy, digital age, communications, sustainability, and food security.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | National University of Ireland |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | National University of Ireland | Level 8 NFQ |
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.
The following are considered Lab Science subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Physics with Chemistry (Joint) and Agricultural Science. Technology can be substituted for a Lab Science subject.
Applicants will need to meet the following minimum entry requirements:
English O6/H7
Irish O6/H7
Maths H4*
Lab Science O6/H7
*If the H4 is in Applied Mathematics, a H6 in Mathematics is also required.
Students presenting with a 2016 (or previous) Leaving Certificate must present with a HC2 in Mathematics or Applied Mathematics; if the HC2 is in Applied Mathematics, a HD3 in Mathematics is also required.
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
UCC awards the following points to the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme Link Modules:
Distinction 66 points
Merit 46 points
Pass 28 points
While Link Modules are counted for point scoring purposes they may not be counted as one of the six subjects to satisfy minimum entry requirements.
Careers / Further progression
Skills and Careers Information
Graduate Study Options
All graduates of our undergraduate (BE) or postgraduate (ME) degree can undertake research degrees in any of five disciplines, including the four of the BE/ME programmes plus Mechanical Engineering. This includes Masters by Research (MEngSc) or PhD options.
We also offer a taught Masters programme, including:
MEngSc Electrical & Electronic Engineering
MEngSc Mechanical Engineering (Manufacturing, Process & Automation Systems)
MEngSc Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Engineering
PG Dip Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Engineering
MEngSc Sustainable Energy Engineering
Career Opportunities
According to UCC’s Destination Survey, almost all our graduates were employed after six months of graduating. Current demand for engineers in the Irish economy and abroad continues to be very strong.
Depending on which discipline a student takes, careers are available in a variety of sectors including but not limited to:
Biotechnology
Construction
Consultancy (design, environmental, general)
Electronics & Computers
Energy
Environmental
Healthcare & Biomedical
PharmaChem (bio/pharmaceuticals, chemicals)
Public sector
Renewables & fossil fuels
Waste management
Water
Job paths of recent graduates are varied according to programme type and include: automation engineer; business consultant; civil and structural engineer; data analyst; design manager; electrical and electronic engineer; energy engineer; process and chemical engineer; project leader; quality director; and validation engineer.
Recent employers of our graduates include: Accenture, Analog, Apple, Arup, BAM Ireland, Cork City Council, Dell EMC, Diageo, Eli Lilly, ESB International, First Derivatives, GlaxoSmithKline, Intel, Jacobs Engineering, Janssen, MSD, Pernod Ricard (Irish Distillers), Pfizer, PM Group, and Zenith Technologies.
Further information
Approximate Available Places 15
Find out about the mature entry requirements at https://www.ucc.ie/en/study/undergrad/entryreqs/matureapplicants/
Approximate Available Places Overall 146
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
Course Outline
Society needs engineers to maintain and develop critical infrastructure and industrial activity. Various branches of engineering are essential to meet the many societal challenges that face us in the future as they consider and advance novel solutions for the way we live. As a society we rely on the capabilities of engineering to deliver creative solutions for challenges that confront us, for example, in health, energy, digital age, communications, sustainability, and food security. An engineers’ ability to convert scientific and technological advances into useful systems has impacted hugely on improving the levels of comfort, quality of life, and life expectancy in modern society, and will continue to be the major differentiating factor of Irish competitiveness in a world of global challenges.
As a UCC Engineering BE (Hons) student you will follow a common first-year programme that provides a broad education in the fundamentals of engineering. At the end of first year, you then choose your preferred engineering pathway from one of the following routes:
- Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Energy Engineering
- Process and Chemical Engineering
We strived to develop these degree routes so that they are integrated and learn from each other. This multidisciplinary approach is important for the future of engineering and provides you with a flexibility that allows you to develop your career in a variety of settings.
Year 1 Modules
Our first year programme, common to all pathways, gives you sufficient time and opportunities to explore the four domains of engineering and consider what it means to develop a professional career in each of them.
Your first year of Engineering in UCC will provide a broad-based education in engineering fundamentals where you take introductory modules in mathematics, physics and chemistry. You will also take modules covering basic engineering subjects which introduce you to the four branches of engineering.
CE1003 Introduction to Structural and Civil Engineering (5 credits)
CE1005 Engineering Computation and Problem Solving (5 credits)
CM1001Chemistry for Engineers (5 credits)
EE1007 Introduction to Electrical & Electronic Engineering (5 credits)
MA1011 Mathematical Methods for Engineers I (5 credits)
MA1012 Mathematical Methods for Engineers II (5 credits)
ME1002 Engineering Thermodynamics (5 credits)
NE1001 Introduction to Energy Engineering (5 credits)
PE1003 Introduction to Process and Chemical Engineering (5 credits)
PY1006 Physics for Engineers II (5 credits)
PY1012 Physics for Engineers I (10 credits)
In second and third year you will follow the modules for your chosen engineering degree route. You choose which branch of engineering you wish to follow for second year, quotas notwithstanding, and offers are usually based on the results of your first-year exams. All students are guaranteed one of their top two programme choices after first year.
At the end of third year you can choose to finish with an Honours BE degree in fourth year, or to continue to the Integrated Masters of Engineering (ME) programme for a further two years. This five-year programme up to level 9 (Masters) is required by Engineers Ireland for chartered engineer status and is consequently a popular route for our students.
Placement or Study Abroad Information
Work Placement
Work placements are offered at the end of third year in all the engineering courses. These three-month optional work placements are normally paid.
All the Masters (ME) programmes have an eight-month paid placement in their fourth year which runs from January to August of that year.
Study Abroad
Study abroad is not compulsory, but we are happy to facilitate you if you wish to spend a semester or a year in another university – be it in America or Europe. Normally between two and four students decide to avail of this opportunity each year.
School of Engineering
schoolofengineering@ucc.ie
+353 (0)21 490 2210
http://www.ucc.ie/en/soe/