BSc Hons Biotechnology

at University College Cork

Year 1 Modules:

Comprises core modules in the four main branches of science: Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Maths. Biology modules include Microbiology, Biotechnology and Biochemistry.
 

Year 2 Modules:

You will begin to specialise but you will still be able to choose modules that will leave you with 3 or more degree choices at the end of the year. Core biology modules include Molecular Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry.
 

Year 3 Modules:

You commit to your degree choice. In the BSc Biotechnology you will take a dedicated course of lectures and practical laboratory modules encompassing Microbiology, Biochemistry, Process Engineering and Pharmacology.
 

Placement:

At the end of year 3 you will carry out a 5 month (from May to October) work placement in an industry and/or laboratory that is relevant to biotechnology. The placements are organised with the support of the Careers Office in UCC.
 

Year 4 Modules:

You will take a dedicated set of courses in Microbiology, Biochemistry and Process Engineering. You will also undertake a supervised research project in a research laboratory in UCC.
 

Course Practicalities
Expected lecture hours: Lectures are conducted between 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. You will have approximately 288 lectures hours per year and these may include directed study/reading hours on the module.
 

Expected lab/practical hours: Your laboratory practical/tutorial hours will amount to approximately 216 per year. In Year 4 you will also complete a 6 week lab-based project in the area of Biotechnology. This will be performed under the supervision of a member of staff. The project aims to enhance your laboratory skills and critical abilities in identifying, analysing and solving problems in scientific research and to develop your skills in communicating your research.
 

Costs for lab manuals/lecture hand-outs vary from year 1 through to year 4 but on average costs about €15 per year. Textbooks: students typically spend between €50-100 per year on books.
 

Assessment
Written exams will take place before Christmas and in May. Not all modules have formal examinations. Some modules use other types of assessment.
 

Modules that contain practical components also assess this aspect by reviewing laboratory reports. Some year 3 and year 4 modules include assignments, dissertations and reports as part of the assessment. The placement and the final year project will be assessed using a combination of laboratory/placement performance, written report and oral presentation.

Non-EU Candidates
Non-EU candidates are expected to have educational qualifications of a standard equivalent to the Irish Leaving Certificate. In addition, where such candidates are non-native speakers of the English language they must satisfy the university of their competency in the English language.
 

Minimum Requirements and Accepted English Language Tests & Examinations The minimum English language entry requirements for admission onto a postgraduate programme at UCC are outlined below. These requirements are for postgraduate applicants whose first language is not English. If Gaeilge (Irish) is your first language these requirements do not apply to you.There are a small number of programmes with a higher minimum English language entry requirement and we list these below under Programmes with a Higher Minimum English Language Requirement.IELTS*  
 

• 6.5 Overall
• 6.0 Individual Skills (academic version)
   

TOEFL iBT  

• 90 Overall
• Listening 20
• Reading 19
• Speaking 21
• Writing 20

The fees for BSc Hons Biotechnology may vary from €20,000 to €35,000 anually for tuition fees. The fee's prices may get higher for international students.

What can I do after I graduate with a BSc Biotechnology?

The BSc Biotechnology is ideal for you if you have a broad interest in the application of life science. The BSc Biotechnology will also equip you with a skillset that is very popular with employers e.g. critical thinking, data analysis, the ability to communicate ideas and independent thinking. These transferrable skills are useful in a wide range of career fields, even outside of science.
 

Occupations associated with BSc Biotechnology

The biotechnology industry is a major source of employment in Ireland and particularly in the Cork region. Indeed most of the worlds top companies in Pharma and Biotechnology (e.g. Janssen, DePuy, Pfizer, GSK, MSD, Novartis) have research/manufacturing facilities in the Munster area.
 

Industry: quality control/assurance, project leaders, research and development
 

Academia: research (towards MSc and/or PhD), lecturer
 

What are our graduates doing?

The BSc Biotechnology is a new programme in UCC (starting 2016) and we have worked closely with our industry partners to ensure that our graduates will be very attractive to the Biotechnology sector in Ireland and abroad. BSc Biotechnology graduates will also have an excellent degree in the life sciences and will therefore be well-equipped to undertake post-graduate research (either MSc or PhD).