Program Overview

Applied Plant Biology

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

Course Outline

• The course is four years long and is taken full-time.
• It leads to a BSc (Hons) qualification.
• The course code is CK404/CK402.
• The NFQ Level is 8.

Modules

• Refer to Biological and Chemical Sciences (CK402) and Biological, Environmental and Geological Sciences (CK404) for more details on Year 1 module options.
• For the complete and up-to-date content, including current core and elective module options for Years 2, 3, and 4, see the Academic Programme Catalogue (Applied Plant Biology).
• Note that the modules for all courses are subject to change from year to year.

Course Practicalities

• Students will take a combination of laboratory, glasshouse, and field practicals.
• In Year 2, students visit various sites in Co Cork.
• In Year 3, there is a residential field course in London.
• In Year 4, students can go to the Burren in Co Clare.
• Students will also carry out an independent research project in Year 4, working alongside research groups in the laboratory or the field.

Assessment

• Written exams take place before Christmas and in May.
• Not all modules have formal examinations; many use other types of assessment, including:
  • Continuous assessment
  • Essays
  • Assessed practical exercises
  • Field reports
  • Multiple-choice questionnaires
  • Assessed presentations
  • Project work
• In Year 4, students undertake a six-month research project.

Why Choose This Course

The APB degree is invaluable and has opened doors for graduates in academia and industry. Throughout the APB degree, students learn skills such as tissue culture and genetic manipulation, as well as experimental design, data analysis, and reporting.

Placement or Study Abroad Information

• Many students obtain work experience in plant-based companies and research groups in Ireland and abroad during the summer.
• 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

APB graduates have excellent career prospects and have entered a wide range of careers, reflecting the breadth of the course and the emphasis on transferable skills and practical experience. Graduates work directly with plants, as plant breeders or crop protection scientists, and are also employed in broader scientific areas, such as the environmental sector, biotechnology, food, pharmaceutical, agricultural support, and health industries.

Requirements

Refer to CK404 or CK402 for requirements.

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.

Fees and Costs

• Whether you are an EU or Non-EU student will affect the course fees applicable to you.
• 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.
• 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 for application information.

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