Program Overview

Applied Plant Biology

Course Fact File

Course Outline

Applied Plant Biology (APB) addresses important environmental issues including climate change, biodiversity decline, dwindling natural resources and food insecurity. It also involves using plants to generate new products, such as foods, pharmaceuticals, or biofuels.

You enter Applied Plant Biology from the Biological and Chemical Sciences (CK402) or Biological, Environmental and Geological Sciences (CK404).

Modules

• Year 1: Refer to Biological and Chemical Sciences (CK402) and (CK404) for more details on Year 1 module options.
• Years 2, 3, and 4: See the Academic Programme Catalogue (Applied Plant Biology) for the complete and up-to-date content including current core and elective module options.

Course Practicalities

You will take a combination of laboratory, glasshouse, and field practicals.

• Year 2: Visit various sites in Co Cork.
• Year 3: Residential field course in London.
• Year 4: Visit the Burren in Co Clare and undertake an independent research project.

Assessment

• Written exams before Christmas and in May.
• Not all modules will have formal examinations.
• Many modules use other types of assessment including continuous assessment which involves essays, assessed practical exercises, field reports, multiple-choice questionnaires, assessed presentations and project work.

Why Choose This Course

The degree is invaluable and has opened doors for me in academia and industry.

• William Organ, BSc Applied Plant Biology

Throughout the APB degree I learned skills such as tissue culture and genetic manipulation, as well as experimental design, data analysis and reporting. I am a researcher at NUIG where I convert plant biomass to biofuel. The degree is invaluable and has opened doors for me in academia and industry.

Applied Plant Biology (APB) involves using living organisms to deal with environmental problems and food security, or to generate new products such as pharmaceuticals or biofuels. Plants form the basis of all food systems and are the ideal living organisms to use in biotechnology.

APB can contribute to a more sustainable future, e.g. by developing more sustainable agriculture and forestry systems that capture carbon from the atmosphere, by breeding higher-yielding or nutrient-rich crops, or by decontaminating land and wastewater.

Placement or Study Abroad Information

Many of our students obtain work experience in plant-based companies and research groups in Ireland and abroad during the summer, for example as part of the work experience module available to Year 4 students. In Year 3 of the APB degree, Study Abroad opportunities through Erasmus, allow students to spend a semester or full academic year at universities in other EU countries or beyond.

Skills and Careers Information

Our APB graduates have excellent career prospects and have entered a wide range of careers. This diversity reflects the breadth of the course and the emphasis on transferable skills and practical experience.

• Plant breeders or crop protection scientists.
• Broader scientific areas such as the rapidly expanding environmental sector, as well as biotechnology, food, pharmaceutical, agricultural support, and health industries.
• Scientific research, science management, education, journalism and computing.
• Several have set up their own companies.

Requirements

Refer to CK404 or CK402.

Non-EU Applicants

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

To verify if you meet the minimum academic and language requirements visit our qualification comparison page and refer to our International Office page for more information.

Fees and Costs

• Whether you are an EU or Non-EU student will affect the course fees applicable to you. See more information on EU Fees, Non-EU Fees, or Free Fees Status.
• The State will pay the tuition fees for EU students who are eligible under the Free Fees Scheme. The annual student contribution and capitation fees are payable by the student.
• See the Fee Schedule to find out the course fee.
• Check out scholarships that may be available to you.
• Explore our Nurturing Bright Futures free online course (Module 5) to learn about managing your money as a student and budgeting for university life.

Students will be expected to pay for some small laboratory items such as lab coats and contribute towards the cost of field trips.

How To Apply

Refer to CK404 or CK402.

Irish and European (EU/EFTA/UK) Applicants

Apply via the CAO. See the CAO Handbook for useful information on applying through the CAO.

Mature Applicants

Apply via the CAO by 1 February. To apply for a place as a mature student, you must be 23 years of age on or before 1 January of the year of entry.

QQI/FET Applicants

Apply via the CAO. See our QQI/FET Applicants page for information on the Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) Further Education and Training (FET) application process and whether there are routes available to this course.

Non-EU Applicants

If you are from outside the EU/EFTA/UK, apply online via the UCC Apply portal. See our International Office page for more information.