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
Genetics is fundamental to all areas of biological study, as genes carry the information which largely determines what we are and how we function in the environment.

The BSc Genetics will teach you to understand how genes work in i...

Hide-Course Outline
Genetics is fundamental to all areas of biological study, as genes carry the information which largely determines what we are and how we function in the environment.

The BSc Genetics will teach you to understand how genes work in individuals and populations. There is a particular emphasis on molecular genetics but the course covers a wide range of topics such as classical medical genetics, evolutionary and population genetics, animal breeding and genetic manipulation of animal and plant genomes, etc.

In Year 1 you will focus on foundation knowledge for Genetics, including how genes work in individuals and populations and how cutting-edge programmes such as the Human Genome Project are revolutionising the way we tackle biological questions.

Year 2 is designed to provide fundamental background knowledge in preparation for the specialisation in Genetics in Years 3 and 4.

Year 4 also includes a three-month project in the laboratory, during which time you will receive training in the use of genetic approaches to solving a contemporary question or problem in biology. These projects are based in the departments that contribute to the Genetics course.

Who teaches this course

This is a multidisciplinary course and includes lecturing staff from a number of different departments in the College of Science, Engineering and Food Science and project supervisors from the College of Medicine and Health.

Why Choose This Course
Key facts

Multidisciplinary course team.
3-month lab project.
Small classes.
Versatile and multi-skilled graduates.

Placement or Study Abroad Information
There are some options for undergraduate experience abroad through the ERASMUS programme.

Expand+Year 1 Modules:

Core

Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Mathematics

Year 2 Modules:

Core

Biomolecules
Principles of Metabolic Pathways
Current Perspectives in Genetics
Fundamentals of Modern Chemistry Part 2a
Fundamentals of Microbiolog...

Hide-Year 1 Modules:

Core

Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Mathematics

Year 2 Modules:

Core

Biomolecules
Principles of Metabolic Pathways
Current Perspectives in Genetics
Fundamentals of Modern Chemistry Part 2a
Fundamentals of Microbiology
Principles of Microbiology
Introductory Molecular Biology
Introduction to Plant Biotechnology
Introduction to Biostatistics
Vertebrate Diversity

Electives

Fundamentals of Ecology
Mammalian Cell and Tissue Structure
Ecological Plant Physiology

Year 3 Modules:

Core

Structural Biochemistry
Cell Signalling
Molecular Biology
Principles of Medical Genetics
Bioinformatics
Literature Project on Genetics
Population and Evolutionary Genetics
Genetic Engineering and Molecular Biotechnology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Immunology: Host Response to Pathogens
Genetic Maniupulation of Plants
Biostatistics I

Year 4 Modules:

Developmental Genetics
Research Project
Genomics and Applications
Genetics and Society
Computational Biology
Eukaryotic Molecular Genetics
Molecular Biology and Physiology of Bacteria
Biostatistics II

Electives (specialisation in specific areas is possible)

Medical Microbiology
Advanced Medical Microbiology
Advanced Virology
Advanced Cell Biology
Cancer Biology
Current Advances in Immunology

See the College Calendar for additional information on the Programme and the Book of Modules for further information on the modules.

Course Practicalities
Expected lecture hours

288 per year (may include directed study/reading hours, depending on the module). Lectures and practicals are conducted between 9am and 6pm (Monday to Friday).

Expected lab/practical/tutorial hours

216 per year. Year 4 also includes a three-month project, during which you receive training in the use of genetic approaches to solving a contemporary question or problem in biology. These projects are based in the departments that contribute to the Genetics degree.

Expand+Skills and Careers Information
The following companies have recently recruited students from the course:

Abtran
Advertising Standards Authority
Anulab CUM
Biosciences Institute
Clonakilty Community Hospital
Education and Research Center
Eir...

Hide-Skills and Careers Information
The following companies have recently recruited students from the course:

Abtran
Advertising Standards Authority
Anulab CUM
Biosciences Institute
Clonakilty Community Hospital
Education and Research Center
Eirx Therapeutics
Human Genetics Division, University of Southampton
Kerry Ingredients
Kostal
Lavanagh Centre
Millipore
NASA Space Station
Nottingham Hospital
Quintiles
Science Recruitment Ireland
University College Cork
University of Texas
Vistakon Limerick
Wyeth Biopharma.

Graduates have also been successful in securing a broad range of graduate courses in related and non-related areas including accounting, tax, and human resources.