Program Overview

Process and Chemical Engineering - Cert

Course Fact File

• Code: CPCE
• Duration: 1 year
• Teaching Mode: Part-Time
• Qualifications: Cert
• NFQ Level: Level 7
• NFQ Award Title: Minor
• Fees: €3,000
• Closing Date: General Applications: 29 August 2025
• Next Intake: September 2025
• Venue: UCC Campus
• Start Date: September 2025

Course Outline

This course teaches the fundamentals of process and chemical engineering. You will be given an overview of key aspects of the discipline. It appeals to people from a wide range of backgrounds. This includes those who would like to obtain a formal qualification in chemical engineering, who want to use the course as a step towards a professional degree qualification, who are interested in gaining a formal chemical engineering qualification as part of their continuing professional development and graduates of other disciplines whose work brings them into the sphere of chemical engineering. There is strong support from local and national employers in sectors such as bio/pharmaceuticals, food, drink, water, energy and environmental and technical services.

You will be studying process and chemical engineering. This includes the fundamental principles of process engineering (fluid mechanics, heat transfer, mass transfer, thermodynamics) and also the applications of these principles (pumps and piping systems, flow measurement and sampling systems, heat exchanger design, energy conservation and integration, thermal process engineering, refrigeration, combustion, steam generation, combined heat and power plants, and a range of separation processes involving heat and mass transfer). The important area of powder technology (characterisation, storage, handling, dust control) is also covered, as is process instrumentation and control.

The Modules for the Diploma are as follows:

• Year 1 (Cert)
  • PE1811: Introduction to Chemical Processing Engineering
  • PE1812: Material and Energy Balances
  • PE1813: Fluid Mechanics and Particle Processing
  • PE1814: Heat Transfer and Applied Thermodynamics
  • PE1815: Mass Transfer and Separation Processes
  • PE1816: Process Control and Equipment Integrity

Graduates of this programme may be able to progress to a further year of studies towards a Diploma award.

Course Practicalities

The classes will take place Tuesday evenings (6.15 - 9.15pm), online and face to face. 4 Saturday classes (10am - 4pm) in October, February and March. Commencing 10th September.

• The delivery is on campus, with asynchronous remote following possible
• The course is divided in 2 semesters with 12 weeks of classes in each, followed by 3 weeks for examinations
• During those 12 weeks, 2 of the modules have classes once a week on Tuesdays from 6:15 to 9:15 pm
• One further module in each Semester is run as 2 workshops on 2 Saturdays (10am to 4pm)
• All classes are recorded and made available via the Canvas educational platform, both for whoever cannot attend in person, and also for supporting the studying.
• All modules are assessed via Continuous Assessment submissions (to be made online) and final invigilated examinations that take place on campus (one per week in the 3 weeks following the 12 week teaching period).
• There is a repeat assessment period in August for anyone that fails or cannot attend an examination on the December or April dates.

Assessment:

There is a one-and-a-half-hour end-of-course open book exam for each module. Assignments are also given for each module at approximately three week intervals. Apart from the Design Project module, where there is no exam. Each unit is marked on the following basis; Assignment: 30%; End-of-course exam: 70%. The pass standard for each module is 40%.

Why Choose This Course

• Process / Chemical Engineering is the foundation discipline of manufacturing sectors critical to Irish economic success, namely Pharmaceutical, Biopharmaceutical, Food and Drink industries.
• This is a programme that has been providing educational support to Irish industries since 2002 (with an evolving content of course), during which we have hosted over 500 professionals seeking to upskill or reskill towards engineering roles in these sectors. In the past 5 years we awarded this Certificate to 127 professionals
  • Upskill: you have some (or many) years of experience but no level 7 Higher Education qualification, or you are a level 7 or 8 graduate of a non-engineering degree, requiring a foundation grounding in engineering tools, as you assume more engineering-type functions in the industry.
  • Reskill: you are a professional with some (or many) years of experience in other industries or professions, and have just moved to one of the processing industries or are considering doing this soon, and desire to have a foundation grounding in the most relevant engineering tools for you new job
• This course will give you an understanding of the basic principles of process and chemical engineering and how they are applied in the process industries

Who teaches this course

This course has been developed by the Department of Process & Chemical Engineering. Lectures are provided by staff from the department, and by relevant industry personnel.

Requirements

• In order to be admitted to the programme, candidates will be required to have a Level 6 NQAI qualification or equivalent and relevant experience through working in the process and related industries or other relevant professional activity.
• There are 20 places on the programme per annum for candidates that are eligible to receive Springbord funding, plus up to 5 for others on a self-funding basis. Where the number of applicants exceeds the number of places available, entry will be on a competitive basis. Applicants will be selected for the programme on the basis of the following criteria (in order of importance): Professional experience of applicants and its relevance; ‘Reasons for entering programme’ as indicated by applicants on course application form – please consider providing clear statements of your motivation, expectations and professional objectives; Qualifications and their relevance.
• English Language Requirement: All applicants whose first language is not English must have attained IELTS Level 6 or the equivalent TOEFL score.

Fees and Costs

Springboard+

There are a limited number of places available on this programme funded by Springboard+. Applications are now closed and all places have been offered. There are a limited number of places remaining for fee-paying and company sponsored applicants who can choose to apply directly, see details on how to apply below.

General Applications

€3,000 per academic year

For further information on fees and financial supports please click here.

How To Apply

Springboard+ Applicants

There are a limited number of places available on this programme funded by Springboard+. Applications are now closed and all places have been offered. There are a limited number of places remaining for fee-paying and company sponsored applicants who can choose to apply directly, see details on how to apply below.

General Applicants

To Apply for this course as a full-fee-paying student, or if you are sponsored by your organisation, please follow the steps below:

When you log into the Application Portal:

Click Apply Online

Select Start a new Adult & Continuing Education Application

On the 2nd tab Academic Level

Select the following options:

Academic Level: Adult Continuing Education (ACE at UCC) Course Type: ACE Part-time Courses Academic Programme: The course title you are applying for.

During your online application you will be required to upload the following documents:

• Passport Photo
• Proof of Identity
• CV
• Transcript

You will also be asked to submit the following information:

• Motivation Statement
• Work Experience
• Academic/Professional training