Expand+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 ...

Hide-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*
Other Language O6/H7

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

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

A condition of enrolment on this programme is that all incoming students have cleared the vetting process in accordance with University policy and the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012.

Expand+To compete for a place as a school leaver, an applicant must satisfy the minimum entry requirements as well as any specific programme requirements, and then compete on the basis of the results obtained in their school leaving examinations.

Applic...

Hide-To compete for a place as a school leaver, an applicant must satisfy the minimum entry requirements as well as any specific programme requirements, and then compete on the basis of the results obtained in their school leaving examinations.

Applicants may combine results achieved in different sittings for the purpose of meeting the minimum entry requirements for programmes, with the exception of Medicine (CK701). However, results achieved in separate years of school-leaving exams may not be combined for the purpose of scoring points.

Leaving Certificate applicants compete on the basis of a Points scheme.

Age Limits for Entry
For 2020 entry, CAO applicants for full-time degree programmes should have reached 17 years of age by 15th January 2021. Where a candidate below that age seeks to enter UCC, a special application must be made by the applicant to the Admissions Officer. Such an application should be accompanied by a letter of support from the Principal of the school at which the student is completing their school leaving examination.

Exemption from Irish And/Or The 3rd Language
In certain circumstances, applicants may be exempt from Irish and/or the third language requirement. Please refer to the NUI Handbook, the UCC Calendar or talk to your Guidance Counsellor for further details.

Infectious Diseases Policy
Students enroled on certain courses in the College of Medicine and Health are at increased risk of contracting and transmitting certain infectious diseases as a result of being in the clinical environment as part of their course. It is important, therefore, in order to protect patients and students that healthcare students are screened for, and immunized against, certain infectious illnesses. Students enroling in the School of Nursing and Midwifery are screened and immunized by the Health Service Executive Occupational Health Service and are subject to the HSE policies in this regard. All other undergraduate students in the College of Medicine and Health are subject to the UCC Infectious Disease Screening and Blood Borne Virus Policy. Details will be sent from the Admissions Office once a student has accepted his/her place.

Expand+QQI FET (FETAC) Students
Entry to degree programmes at UCC is available on a competitive basis to students who present with a recognised QQI award. For a full list of linked programmes, and the relevant QQI FET requirements, see www.ucc.ie/ e...

Hide-QQI FET (FETAC) Students
Entry to degree programmes at UCC is available on a competitive basis to students who present with a recognised QQI award. For a full list of linked programmes, and the relevant QQI FET requirements, see www.ucc.ie/ en/study/undergrad/fetac.

Students must meet the requirements and have achieved distinctions in the awards as outlined for each programme.

Due to the competitive nature of the Nursing Programmes, scores will only be calculated when the appropriate award is presented together with all the required modules and grades from a single sitting. For full details of the QQI FET award scoring scheme see www.qqi.ie.

Expand+MATURE STUDENT APPLICANTS
To be eligible to compete for a place as a mature student, you must be 23 years of age on or before 1 January 2021 and apply via www.cao.ie by 1 February. Please check out the CAO website for more information on the applic...

Hide-MATURE STUDENT APPLICANTS
To be eligible to compete for a place as a mature student, you must be 23 years of age on or before 1 January 2021 and apply via www.cao.ie by 1 February. Please check out the CAO website for more information on the application process as a mature student. There is a helpful video for mature applicants.

There are places for mature students on all undergraduate programmes. As a mature student you do not need Leaving Certificate points to enter UCC. However, some degree programmes have specific educational requirements so it is essential that you check the CAO Mature Student Guide, the Mature Student Office website www.ucc.ie/en/mature or contact our Mature Student Advisor for further details mso@ucc.ie. The Mature Student Office will be happy to help you with your application.

If you are a mature applicant, please note that you can also apply to UCC based on Leaving Certificate (LC) or QQI FE results. You may apply under all three pathways, if applicable (LC, QQI FE, Mature). Just ensure to tick boxes 1, 2 & 8, on the Qualifications and Assessment Summary section on the CAO application form, to be assessed under all three pathways.

Expand+Entry 2021

Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2021 at 5:15pm

Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2021 at 5:15pm

Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2021 CA...

Hide-Entry 2021

Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2021 at 5:15pm

Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2021 at 5:15pm

Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2021 CAO Handbook): Fee: €60 Closing Date: 1 May 2021 at 5:15 pm

Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2021 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2021 5:15 pm

Exceptional online late application (see page 21 of the 2021 CAO Handbook): Fee €60 Closing Date: 22 July 2021 at 5:15pm

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 5:15pm on 1 February 2021. The closing date for late applications is 5:15pm on 1 May 2021, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2021 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2021 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €60 applies.

Exceptional Late Applications (Exception to the timetable)
The exceptional closing date of 22 July at 5:15pm applies only to applicants who are registered as an undergraduate student on 1 May 2021 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.

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, Maynooth University and Galway Mayo Institute of Technology 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 six HEIs, you should apply through CAO.

Refer to page 21 of the 2021 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 2021 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:

General Restricitons
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

Expand+Course Outline
The BSc Public Health Sciences offers an integrated learning experience in an interdisciplinary setting. It provides training in the range of skills involved in keeping people healthy and preventing disease, including:

Assessing th...

Hide-Course Outline
The BSc Public Health Sciences offers an integrated learning experience in an interdisciplinary setting. It provides training in the range of skills involved in keeping people healthy and preventing disease, including:

Assessing the health and wellbeing of populations

Investigating complex public health problems such as obesity and HIV/AIDS

Assessing the health impact of policy at local, national and global level

Communicating effectively with colleagues in public health and the wider health system, as well as with society at large.

The BSc Public Health Sciences in UCC is the only undergraduate degree in public health in Ireland. It offers an integrated learning experience in an interdisciplinary environment, to produce graduates who are passionate about public health.

Course Practicalities
Expected lecture/lab/practical hours

Teaching is delivered from Monday to Friday, with approximately 16 hours of scheduled lectures, tutorials and practical sessions per week. Students must undertake a compulsory 12-week work placement in Year 3, outside the university.

Field trips

Field trips are included within the scheduled teaching time.

Student vetting

Garda vetting is carried out by the Admissions Office in UCC once a student has accepted their place on this progamme.

Who teaches this course

The BSc Public Health Sciences is a multidisciplinary degree led by the School of Public Health. In addition to core teaching from staff in their home department, students will also benefit from the range of expertise relevant to Public Health which is available in the university as a whole.

Why Choose This Course
The BSc Public Health Sciences in UCC is the only undergraduate degree in public health in Ireland. Students study across the spectrum of health-related disciplines, which opens up a wide range of career opportunities or further study on graduation.

The 12-week work placement is an essential element of the course and placement options are available for students across all public health practice areas, both in Ireland and abroad.

The School of Public Health is involved in major national research focusing on nutritional epidemiology, looking at causes and prevention of obesity, Type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disesase, tobacco control and health services research. As such, the degree programme is facilitated to prepare graduates for the complex working world.

Placement or Study Abroad Information
Students undertake a 12-week work placement at the end of Year 3, providing them with the opportunity to experience the working world and apply theory to practice. The BSc Public Health Sciences has built strong relationships with national and international organisations including HSE Public Health Departments, Safefood, Public Health England and the WHO in Copenhagen, all of which accept UCC students on placement. The work placement opens doors to future work opportunities with a larger number of employers recruiting graduates for positions in Ireland, elsewhere in Europe and in other economically developed or developing countries.

Alternatively, a limited number of students may be permitted to undertake the Third Year of their BSc Public Health Sciences studies abroad, at an approved institution.

Expand+Year 1 modules

Core (50 credits):
EH1004 Epidemiology I (10 credits)
EH1006 Perspectives on Public Health (5 credits)
EH1007 Introduction to Health Information Systems (HIS) (5 credits)
EH1009 Determinants of Health (5 credits)
EH1010 Introd...

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Core (50 credits):
EH1004 Epidemiology I (10 credits)
EH1006 Perspectives on Public Health (5 credits)
EH1007 Introduction to Health Information Systems (HIS) (5 credits)
EH1009 Determinants of Health (5 credits)
EH1010 Introduction to Public Health (5 credits)
EV2002 The Environment and Human Health (5 credits)
MB1003 Microbiology in Society (5 credits)
SC1011 Sociology of Health, Public Health and Health Promotion (5 credits)
ST1002 Introduction to Health Statistics (5 credits)

Electives (10 credits):
Students select modules from the following:

BC1001 Introduction to Biochemistry and the Biological Basis of Disease (5 credits)**
FE1006 Poverty and Development (5 credits)*
FE1013 Introduction to Development Studies I (5 credits)*
FR1105 Threshold French (5 credits)***
FR1107 French for Reading Purposes I (5 credits)***
GE0005 German Language (CEFR-Level A2.1) (5 credits)#
GE0008 German Language (CEFR-Level A2.2) (5 credits)#
GV1218 International Politics (5 credits)
HS0028 Spanish Language (Beginner Level) (10 credits)##
HS1009 Spanish Language (Post Leaving Cert) (10 credits)###
MX1004 Introducing Medical Students to Irish as a Spoken Language (5 credits)
MX1007 Special Study Module – Advanced Irish Language (5 credits)####
PL1025 Fundamentals of Physiology (5 credits)

*Students may take either FE1006 or FE1013 but not both | **BC1001 must be taken if planning to take BC modules in Second Year | *** Both FR1105 and FR1107 must be taken together if planning to take FR modules in Second Year. Otherwise either FR1105 or FR1107 can be taken. | #GE0005 and GE0008 must be taken together | ##HS0028 must be taken if planning to take HS0128 in Second Year | ###HS1009 must be taken if planning to take HS2101 in Second Year | ###MX1007 must be taken if planning to take MX2009 in Second Year.

Year 2 modules

Principles of Social Research; Epidemiology II; Public Health Research Report; Introduction to Theories and Practices of Health Promotion; Public Health Issues; Introduction to Food and Industrial Microbiology; Management and Planning of Public Health Systems; Fundamentals of Nutrition Part 1; Critical Perspectives on Irish Health Policy; Social Research and Survey Methods; Cities of Diversity; Sociology of the Body, Health and Illness.

Year 3 modules

Epidemiology III; Work Placement; Public Health Practice; Data Analysis for Public Health Research; Medical Microbiology; Transmission and Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases; Nutrition in Growth, Development and Ageing; Professional Ethics; Health and Scientific Deviance; Global Urbanism; Medical Microbiology.

Year 4 modules

Health Economics; Health Protection; Health Services; Final Year Project; Public Health Advocacy; Primary Health Care; Science, Technology and Public Controversy; Advanced Applied Epidemiology; Gender and Development; Global Health Issues and Perspectives; Humanitarian Action in Development.

See the College Calendar for more detailed information on the programme and the Book of Modules for a more detailed description of programme modules.

Expand+Skills and Careers Information
Public Health is a rapidly expanding field both at home and internationally. The degree will open up a range of career opportunities with our graduates employed in Ireland and further afield in diverse public health ro...

Hide-Skills and Careers Information
Public Health is a rapidly expanding field both at home and internationally. The degree will open up a range of career opportunities with our graduates employed in Ireland and further afield in diverse public health roles including:

Public Health Research
Health Promotion
Health and Nutrition
Community Work
Media and Public Relations
Health and Safety.

BSc Public Health Sciences graduates have a solid foundation for further study to Masters and Doctorate level in a wide range of disciplines including health research, health promotion and global health. The School of Public Health offers graduates a Masters in Public Health (MPH) and Masters in Occupational Health.

Some students have completed accredited two-year Masters programmes in related health disciplines such as Occupational Therapy, Nursing and Dietetics. The BSc can also facilitate graduate entry to other undergraduate degrees such as medicine.