Process and Chemical Engineering

Program Overview

The Process and Chemical Engineering program at UCC is a four-year degree accredited by IChemE and Engineers Ireland, providing students with the skills to design, modify, and operate processes for various industries, from bio/pharmaceuticals to energy. Emphasizing sustainability, innovation, and industry connections, the program equips graduates for careers in a wide range of sectors, including bio/pharmaceuticals, food and drinks, and energy.

Program Outline

It is recognized as a world-class program in chemical engineering sustainability, having received the ‘Sustainability Teaching Award’ from the UK Institution of Chemical Engineers in 2017. The program aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to design, modify, and operate processes for producing products across a wide range of industries, including bio/pharmaceuticals, food and drinks production, bulk chemicals, and fuels/energy. It also emphasizes the role of chemical engineering in addressing societal needs related to health and wellbeing, energy provision, food production, water supply, waste management, and consumer goods.

Outline:

The program is structured as follows:

Year 1:

• Broad education in engineering fundamentals.
• Electives: Energy in Buildings, Pharmaceutical Engineering.

Year 4 (BE):

• Core Modules: Process Design and Feasibility Analysis, Mechanical Design of Process Equipment, Design Project, Optimisation and Continuous Process Improvement, Entrepreneurial Business Start-Ups.
• Electives: Sustainable Energy or BioPharmaceutical Engineering, plus four from: Work Placement, Biomass Energy, Global Food Policy, Primary Energy Engineering, Materials and Sustainability.

Year 4 (ME):

• Core Modules: Process Design and Feasibility Analysis, Mechanical Design of Process Equipment, Design Project, ME Work Placement.
• Electives: Sustainable Energy, Biopharmaceutical Engineering.

Year 5 (ME):

• Core Modules: Sustainability and Environmental Protection II, Advanced Separation Processes, Research Project, Carbon Geocycles and Capture Utilisation and Storage, Complex Reaction Systems, Process Industry Optimisation, Continuous Process Improvement and Data Analytics, Industrial Process Safety, Applications and Control Systems, Entrepreneurial Business Start-Ups.
• Electives: Pharmaceutical Industry Advances and Developments, Energy Innovation.

Assessment:

• Assessment methods include written exams, continuous assessment, and project work.
• Written exams take place before Christmas and in May.
• Around one-third of the total credits are awarded based on continuous assessment and project work.
• The final BE(Hons) degree grade is based on a weighted combination of marks from Year 3 and Year 4.
• The ME grade is based on a weighted combination of marks from Year 4 and Year 5.

Teaching:

• Classes consist of lectures, tutorials, and laboratory practicals, totaling 20-26 contact hours per week during 24 weeks of the year, divided into two semesters.
• The program is taught by a team of experienced faculty members, including: Professor Edmond Byrne, Dr Kevin Cronin, Dr Maria de Sousa Gallagher, Dr John Fitzpatrick, Dr Jorge Oliveira, Dr Denis Ring, and Dr Elena Tsalaporta.

Careers:

• Graduates of the program are highly sought after by employers in various industries, including bio/pharmaceuticals, food and drinks, energy, environmental and technical services (including engineering consultancy), medical devices, education, finance, and management.
• The program's strong industry links and eight-month salaried work placement provide graduates with valuable hands-on experience and industry contacts.
• The degree is internationally accredited by both the Institution of Chemical Engineers and Engineers Ireland, equipping graduates to work in transdisciplinary teams across a wide range of industry and business sectors on a global basis.

Other:

• The program emphasizes communication and teamwork skills, innovation, sustainability, data analytics, bioprocesses, ethics, and safety.
• Students have the opportunity to participate in a study abroad program.
• The program has small class sizes (40 students), allowing for excellent staff-student interaction.
• The program is dynamic and reflects the evolving industrial environment.