Biotechnology
Are you fascinated by the idea of controlling, fixing or changing biological systems to benefit humanity and global society? Biotechnology involves applying scientific and bioprocess engineering principles to the production of materials by biological agents. As a graduate, you’ll be highly sought after by biotechnology companies due to your unique skill set. You may end up working in the biopharmaceutical, brewing or medical diagnostics industries.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | Dublin City University |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | Dublin City University | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
4 years, full-time.
Specific Subjects or course requirements
General Entry Requirements
Applicants must present a minimum of 6 Leaving Certificate subjects at Grade O6/H7, which must include Mathematics and English or Irish. In addition, applicants must present at least 2 subjects at Grade H5.
Additional Requirements
Minimum of O3 or H6 in Mathematics PLUS minimum of O3 or H5 in one of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics with Chemistry, Agricultural Science or Computer Science.
Leaving Certificate General Entry Requirements
Applicants wishing to undertake a Level 8 degree at DCU must be at least 16 years of age on 15 January of the year of entry.
Leaving Certificate Subject Combinations
Certain subjects will not be scored separately if they occur in combination with subjects that are similar in content. In each case, the highest individual grade will be scored. The following 6 groups of subjects are affected by this:
1 Music and Musicianship, Music A, Music B.
2 Economics, Agricultural Economics.
3 Physics with Chemistry - if combined with Physics and Chemistry; only 2 best scored - if combined with Physics or Chemistry; only best scored.
4 History, Economics and Economic History - if all 3 subjects are taken; only the best 2 will be scored.
5 Latin, Classical Studies.
6 Greek, Classical Studies.
Candidates who meet the points requirements but not the specific course requirements, for example H4 in English for the BA in Journalism, are permitted to repeat that subject only to meet the course requirements.
Bonus Points for Honours Mathematics
25 bonus points will continue to be awarded for higher level Mathematics, at grades H6 and above in the Irish Leaving Certificate or equivalent.
Leaving Certificate Mathematics Requirements
DCU does not award points for the subject of Mathematics at Leaving Certificate Ordinary Alternative or Foundation Level. However, these courses will be accepted for admission purposes for the following courses:
DC001 - Bachelor of Early Childhood Education
DC009 - Bachelor of Arts: Joint Honours
DC014 - BA in Jazz and Contemporary Music Performance
DC131 - BA in Communication Studies
DC132 - BA in Journalism
DC133 - BSc in Multimedia
DC155 - BA in Applied Language and Translation Studies
DC231 - BA in International Relations
DC232 - Bachelor of Civil Law and Society
DC235 - BSc in Education and Training
DC238 - BA in Social Sciences and Cultural Innovation
DC291 – Bachelor of Arts – Joint Honours (Media)
DC292 – Bachelor of Arts – Joint Honours (Law)
DC293 - Bachelor of Arts – Joint Honours (International Languages)
DC294 - BA in Climate and Environmental Sustainability
DC295 - Bachelor of Arts – Joint Honours (Politics)
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
Distinction 66
Merit 46
Pass 28
Please note that LCVP link modules cannot be used as a subject for general or specific course entry requirements, but can be used for the calculation of points.
QQI FET Applicants General Information
DCU welcomes applicants with appropriate QQI-FET (Level 5/6) qualifications. Applicants who have a full National Framework of Qualifications Level 5 award in appropriate qualifications and modules can be admitted on a competitive basis to certain DCU courses.
QQI-FET (Level 5) entry route is a competitive entry route with a limited number of places. A quota of places are offered based on the CAO ranked order of applicants based on performance. For courses with a QQI-FET (Level 5) entry route, approximately 10% of places are retained for QQI-FET (Level 5) applicants. Application is made through the CAO.
Careers / Further progression
Future Careers
Production and Technical Operations
Quality Management and Process Validation
Research and Development
Technical Sales and Marketing
Teaching
Medicine (Graduate Entry)
In These Areas
Process Scientist
BioPharmaceutical
Biomedical Diagnostics
Fine Chemicals
Medical
Brewing
Food and Dairy Production
Agriculture
Further information
Mature applicants are those aged 23 years, or above, on 1 January in the year of entry. All candidates (presenting with EU/Non EU qualifications) applying on the grounds of mature years should apply ONLY through the CAO by 1 February.
For many DCU courses, mature application assessment is based on the CAO application and in some instances, an assessment and/or interview. ‘Other’ experience, apart from performance in examinations, may be taken into consideration - this may be work experience, further studies, or other such experience deemed to be relevant to the application. Interviews will take place in April either in person or remotely.
For more information, please contact the Mature Student Officer, orla.stafford@dcu.ie or dcu.ie/mature-students
For general and admission enquiries, please visit dcu.ie/registry/ug-admissions
120 (DC180, DC181 and DC168)
Entry 2024
Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2024 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2024 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: €60 Closing Date: 1 May 2024 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2024 at 5pm
Exceptional online late application (see page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee €60 Closing Date: 22 July 2024 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 2024. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2024, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2024 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €60 applies.
Exceptional Late Applications (Exception to the timetable)
The exceptional closing date of 22 July at 5pm applies only to applicants who are registered as an undergraduate student on 1 May 2024 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. This is an exceptional late closing date and all steps must be completed by 5pm on 22 July. No changes may be made after this date.
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 and Maynooth University 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 five HEIs, you should apply through CAO.
Refer to page 34 of the 2024 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 2024 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
Why DCU?
- Longest established biotechnology course in Ireland
- Modern course integrating emerging new technologies
- Multidisciplinary academic staff within the School of Biotechnology
- Opportunities to do a 9-month paid work placement (INTRA) at home or abroad in Year 3
About You
Do you have an inquisitive and analytical mind? Are you interested in the application of the basic sciences? If you have basic competency in mathematics, then you should thrive in Biotechnology.
Understanding: Biotechnology
Biotechnology is making significant contributions to global society. By studying the components of living cells, we can learn how to control, fix and modify them to our benefit. This knowledge is already leading to the creation and manufacture of products that help in the diagnosis and treatment of disease (e.g. the production of antibiotics, insulin and other genetically engineered medicines, such as safer recombinant vaccines). Biotechnology also contributes to services in areas like healthcare, food, agriculture, energy and the environment.
Biotechnologists find new and innovative solutions to problems encountered in society. They need a good fundamental grasp of the biochemistry underlying biological systems and a good knowledge of the exciting innovations occurring in genetics, immunology and bioinformatics. To understand how solutions apply on a commercial industrial scale, they also need a good understanding of the underlying physical and chemical engineering principles pertaining to living cells.
Course Structure
You will study a wide range of scientific and bioprocess engineering subjects, you will gain the necessary skills to succeed in the emerging, technology-driven biotech industry.
In Year 1, you will study the basic sciences and mathematics, with an introduction to bioprocessing. Year 2 develops the biological and engineering aspects of Biotechnology. Year 3 introduces specialist areas of biology, such as immunology, genetic engineering and cell culture. In your bioprocess engineering modules, you will be introduced to bioreactors, primary separations and downstream processing. In addition, in Year 3 you will have the opportunity to do a 9 month paid work placement (INTRA) which ensures you gain first-hand experience during your industrial placement. For more information, please visit dcu.ie/intra.
In Year 4, the underlying biological and engineering principles of biotechnical processes are developed in an integrated manner, and you can choose either a BioPharma specialisation, which includes content focusing on the biopharmaceutical industry, or a research specialisation that includes an 8 week research project conducted in the research laboratory of your project supervisor. Here you will work with postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers on cutting edge problems in biology and bioprocess engineering.
Internship: Yes.
What Will I Study?
Year 1
Chemistry, Biology and Physics Laboratories | Mathematics | Chemistry | Physics | Cell Biology and Biochemistry | Bioprocessing
Year 2
Biomolecules and Metabolism | Cell Structure and Function | Microbiology and Genetics | Bioprocess Engineering | Organic Chemistry | Biotechnology Instrumentation | Statistics | Transport Processes | Laboratories | Scientific Literature
Year 3
Gene Cloning and Gene Expression | Advanced Cell Biology | Cell Biology, Recombinant DNA Cloning and Bioinformatics | Downstream Processing | Bioreactors and Primary Separations | Bioprocess Engineering Laboratory | INTRA
Year 4
Research Stream
Industrial Bioprocessing | Proteins, Proteomics and Biopharma | Genetics and Cell Biology | Immunology and Immunoanalysis | Animal Cell Biotechnology | Literature Review | Research Project | Human Inheritance and Population Genetics | Commercial Biotechnology and Biopharma
Year 4
Biopharma Stream
Industrial Bioprocessing | Proteins, Proteomics and Biopharma | Genetics and Cell Biology | Immunology and Immunoanalysis | Animal Cell Biotechnology | Literature Review | Bioprocessing Laboratory | Advanced Bioanalysis Laboratory | Biopharmaceutical Industry Regulation and Management | Biopharmaceutical Facility Design and Operation | Formulation and Delivery of Biopharmaceuticals
Additional Information
Successful completion of this Honours Bachelor Degree (NFQ Level 8) satisfies the current Teaching Council of Ireland subject curricular requirements for the teaching of biology at post-primary level.
Contact Details
+353 (0) 1 700 5910
E: paula.meleady@dcu.ie
E: studenthelp@dcu.ie
Visit Us Online dcu.ie/DC181