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This is a 3 year programme; Year 1 in Mayo College Westport, Years 2 and 3 in ATU. The BSc Industrial Laboratory Science (NFQ Level 7) programme is designed for Level 5 entry students to progress to Level 6/7 and who wish to develop a career in industrial laboratory sciences of direct relevance to Biopharmaceutical, Pharmaceutical, Chemical Manufacturing, Medical Devices, and Independent Testing Laboratories. As detailed above, it is proposed that students undertake this programme anchored in ETB colleges, including existing modules delivered by ATU online. On successful completion of Year 1, students will continue their studies in ATU, when they undertake modules on-campus and online. There is substantive evidence of a pressing need for graduates that can directly meet the growing demand for a range of employees across the evolving bioindustry sector encompassing biopharma, pharma, medical devices, and other allied industries. As evident from the applied syllabus/curriculum, the proposed ETB-ATU BSc Industrial Laboratory Science programme will help directly address this need. The proposed indicative modules within this programme (including Job Readiness and Industrial Professional Practice) would allow employability to be integrated within the curriculum, enabling students to develop a range of skills, including personal/social, communication, literacy/digital literacy, problem solving, creativity, and organisational skills. Importantly, students would be given the opportunity to gain competence in online learning right from the beginning of the programme to empower graduates, provide the flexibility, knowledge, skills, and motivation for both further study and with career progression in mind.
Year 1
Students will attend lectures and laboratory sessions, in person at Mayo College Westport, for modules totalling (40 ECTS). These will cover core fundamental sciences, information technology, and essential skills. Additionally, students will take online modules delivered by ATU covering applied mathematics, measurement and calibration science, and science laboratory skills (supplemented with workshops) (20 ECTS).
Year 2
Students will attend ATU in person for lectures and laboratory sessions for modules (50 ECTS) covering analytical techniques, microbiology, biochemistry, immunology, molecular biology, biomaterials and medical devices, environmental health and safety, plus online modules in job readiness and industrial professional practice (10 ECTS).
Year 3
Students attend ATU in person for lectures and laboratory sessions in more advanced modules (60 ECTS) covering core aspects of industrial laboratory science along with legal and regulatory topics (quality, auditing, compliance, etc.). It is envisaged that the proposed Level 7 Industrial Laboratory Science programme will have an integrated Level 6 (Higher Certificate) exit award. Holders of the Higher Certificate in Industrial Laboratory Science that have secured cognate employment with agreement of their employer could register for entry onto ATU’s one-year workplace-based learning programme, BSc Applied Industrial Sciences (60 ECTS).
Leaving Certificate – Grade O6/H7 or better in five Leaving Certificate subjects. Leaving Certificate must include English or Irish and Mathematics. Maths at F2 is acceptable to meet the minimum Maths entry requirement (other than for the Engineering and Science programmes for which a minimum of 06 in Maths is required). Irish at F2 is acceptable to meet the minimum language requirements.
OR
A Full level 5/6 QQI award (Science and Engineering programmes require a maths module (5N1833, 6N3395, 5N18396, 5N0556 or 5S2246) or 06 in Leaving Cert Maths)
OR
Mature applicants – (aged 23 on or before 1st January of the course commencement year). These applicants do not have to meet the minimum entry requirements listed here and are considered on an individual basis (previous education, work experience, and demonstration of competence to undertake the programme)
OR
Access programme (LCA students can gain access to this programme following completion of an access programme)
OR
An applicant who is a minimum of 17 years of age with at least 2 years post Junior Certificate relevant experience. All applicants must demonstrate that they would qualify for the special rate of maintenance grant under the Student Grant Scheme (SUSI) and/or are in receipt of a Department of Social Protection (DSP) long-term means-tested social welfare payment and/or be from one or more of the priority groups or from any priority group identified as part of the next National Access Plan (2022-2028). See Appendix B.
Applicants must demonstrate competence to undertake the programme.
There are no fees to study this first year of the course in Mayo College.