Engineering (Common Entry) - BEng

Program Overview

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Engineering (Common Entry) – BEng

Course Overview

Our common first year has been developed to give our students sufficient time and experience to come to an informed choice on which mechanical engineering course they wish to pursue at TUS Midlands. This broad experience of some of the major areas in mechanical, energy, polymer, and automation and robotics will better enable the individual to carry on to the second year, knowing they have an interest and aptitude for a particular field.

Important Information for Engineering (Common Entry) Level 7 – US773

This is a one-year common entry course to the below level 7 degree courses. Successful completion of this Common Entry Year will entitle the student to progress into Year 2 of the following courses:

• BEng in Mechanical Engineering
• BEng in Mechanical Engineering with Energy
• BEng in Polymer & Mechanical Engineering
• BEng in Automation & Robotics

Why study this course?

This programme provides a common entry year 1 to the following Level 7 programmes:

• BEng in Mechanical Engineering
• BEng in Mechanical Engineering with Energy
• BEng in Polymer & Mechanical Engineering
• BEng in Automation & Robotics

Further details about each programme can be found in the College Prospectus or on each module's webpage.

What will I experience?

At TUS Midlands, Engineering education is very practical. Almost 50% of your time will be spent in state-of-the-art laboratories developing your practical engineering skills, and the other 50% will be spent on engineering theory and its application.

While studying on this course students will:

• Visit some of our industrial partners to experience the role of a mechanical engineer.
• Gain valuable work experience by completing a six-month work placement in industry.
• Operate high-end technical engineering equipment in our cutting-edge engineering laboratories.
• Improve their teamwork and communications skills by working as part of small teams on problem-solving and projects.
• Develop their problem-solving skills and reasoning techniques.
• Work on topic-specific problems, both as part of a team and as an individual, and develop their lifelong learning skills.
• Develop an ethical awareness with regard to the engineering profession, the environment, and society.

What are the entry requirements?

Leaving Certificate

Grade 06 at ordinary level in five subjects in the Leaving Certificate examination. Two of these subjects must be Mathematics and a language (English or Irish).

QQI

Any QQI level 5 qualification is acceptable. Applicants to this programme are required, however, to have one specified mathematics module included in their award either module mathematics (5N1833) or Maths for IT (5N18396) or Maths for STEM (5N0556) or alternatively have Leaving Certificate mathematics.

Mature Applicants

Candidates applying as mature applicants (23 years of age on 1st January prior to admission) must apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO). As a mature applicant, you have the opportunity to provide additional information about yourself which may help with your application. You can provide details on your employment history, your hobbies and interests, any voluntary work you have done, etc.

International Applicants

International applicants should apply directly to the International Office at TUS, allowing plenty of time for completing the visa process. Applications for September start should be made by 1st June at the latest to ensure visas are processed in time. You should familiarise yourself with visa processing times for your country of origin to ensure you make a timely application.

Course Modules

Year 1 – Semester 1

• Communications for Manufacturing 1.1 (Credits: 5)
• Engineering Science 1 (Credits: 5)
• Mechanics 1.1 (Credits: 5)
• Engineering Materials 1.1 (Credits: 5)
• Processing of Engineering Materials and Engineering Workshop and Graphics 1.1 (Credits: 5)
• Mathematics (Credits: 5)

Year 1 – Semester 2

• Communications for Manufacturing 1.2 (Credits: 5)
• Electronics Technology 1 (Credits: 5)
• Mechanics 1.2 (Credits: 5)
• Processing of Engineering Materials 1 (Credits: 5)
• Engineering Workshop and Graphics 1.2 (Credits: 5)
• Mathematics 1.2 (Credits: 5)

What can you do after this programme?

Further Study

This course provides a common entry year 1 to the following Level 7 courses:

• BEng in Mechanical Engineering
• BEng in Mechanical Engineering with Energy
• BEng in Automation and Robotics
• BEng in Polymer and Mechanical Engineering

It has been developed to give students sufficient time and experience to come to an informed choice as to which specific mechanical engineering course they wish to follow. This broad experience of some of the major areas in mechanical, renewable/sustainable energy, automation, and robotics will better enable the students to carry on to the second year, knowing they have an interest and aptitude for a particular field.

Career Opportunities

Mechanical engineers are responsible for the design, manufacture, and operation of the mechanical systems and processes that are all around us. Upon completion of this programme, graduates can expect to find employment at the technician level in high-tech manufacturing industries, mechanical industries, building services, and design. Engineering graduates at this level will work in design, manufacturing, and production, quality control, automation, planning logistics, and supply, technical sales support with contracting and technical service industries. The course equips students with the theoretical knowledge and hands-on practical expertise demanded by leading global employers to work in this constantly evolving field.

Assessment Information

At TUS Midlands, we provide candidates with a set of transferable skills with a strong focus on practical experiments, problem-solving, and case study work. We place emphasis on candidate support and aim to provide a learning environment that is both stimulating and academically challenging, whilst also supporting your learning. You will encounter a range of teaching methods that include but are not limited to:

• Lectures
• Practical classes
• Projects and case studies
• Group work
• Guest lectures
• Examinations
• Portfolio work
• Integrated assessments

Additional Information

• CAO Points: 231
• Location: Athlone
• Years: 3
• Course Code: US773
• Level: 7
• Course Type: Undergraduate
• Study Mode: Full Time
• Department: Mechanical, Polymer Engineering & Design

Program Outline

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Engineering (Common Entry) – BEng - TUS

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Degree Overview:

This program is a common first year for students interested in pursuing a BEng in Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering with Energy, Polymer & Mechanical Engineering, or Automation & Robotics. The first year provides a broad experience in these areas, allowing students to make an informed choice about their specialization in the second year. The program aims to equip students with a core set of mechanical engineering skills while offering distinct streams that target specific discipline areas.

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Outline:

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Year 1 - Semester 1:

• Communications for Manufacturing 1.1 (Credits: 5): Develops interpersonal skills, focusing on conversation, active listening, and body language.
Improves knowledge of learning and develops skills for lifelong learning. Includes theoretical, practical, and empirical material.
• Mechanics 1.1 (Credits: 5): Introduces basic concepts of engineering mechanics related to simple engineering systems.
• Processing of Engineering Materials and Engineering Workshop and Graphics 1.1 (Credits: 5): Introduces drawing, machining, and safety.
Develops skills to draw, read, and interpret engineering drawings. Introduces CAD software for drawing templates. Covers current standards in engineering drafting practice in both manual and computer-aided drawing. The workshop component develops safety skills, safety awareness, machine tool milling and turning skills, and assembly of engineering components.
• Mathematics (Credits: 5): Provides a foundation in mathematics required for the study of Mechanical Engineering, Polymer Engineering, and Automation & Robotics.

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Year 1 - Semester 2:

• Communications for Manufacturing 1.2 (Credits: 5): Continues to develop communication skills, focusing on presentation skills, academic writing styles and structures.
Includes extensive work with Excel, including creating and manipulating formulae and graphs. Introduces basic statistics in Excel.
• Electronics Technology 1 (Credits: 5): Introduces electronics theory through lectures and lab-based activities.
Students acquire skills to identify components, perform calculations, build, and test simple circuits.
• Mechanics 1.2 (Credits: 5): Expands knowledge of solid mechanics with work on friction, simple machines, work power energy, linear and angular motion.
• Processing of Engineering Materials 1 (Credits: 5): Introduces modern engineering processes, covering the processing of polymers, metals, ceramics, and glasses.
Students gain hands-on experience using a range of polymer processing equipment.
• Engineering Workshop and Graphics 1.2 (Credits: 5): Provides hands-on experience with safe mechanical workshop practices, emphasizing safety within a workshop environment.
Covers machine tools associated with workshop practices. Develops skills in computer-aided design and current standards in engineering drafting practice.
• Mathematics 1.2 (Credits: 5): Provides a foundation in mathematics required for the study of Mechanical Engineering, Polymer Engineering, and Automation & Robotics.

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Assessment:

• The program utilizes a variety of assessment methods, including:
• Lectures
• Practical classes
• Projects and case studies
• Group work
• Guest lectures
• Examinations
• Portfolio work
• Integrated assessments

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Teaching:

• The program emphasizes practical learning, with almost 50% of the time spent in state-of-the-art laboratories developing practical engineering skills.
• The remaining 50% is dedicated to engineering theory and its application.
• Students will:
• Visit industrial partners to experience the role of a mechanical engineer.
• Gain valuable work experience through a six-month work placement in industry.
• Operate high-end technical engineering equipment in cutting-edge engineering laboratories.
• Improve teamwork and communication skills by working in small teams on problem-solving and projects.
• Develop problem-solving skills and reasoning techniques.
• Work on topic-specific problems, both individually and as part of a team.
• Develop lifelong learning skills.
• Develop ethical awareness regarding the engineering profession, the environment, and society.

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Careers:

• Graduates can expect to find employment at the technician level in various industries, including:
• High-tech manufacturing industries
• Mechanical industries
• Building services
• Design
• Graduates will work in roles such as:
• Design
• Manufacturing and production
• Quality control
• Automation
• Planning logistics and supply
• Technical sales support
• Contracting and technical service industries

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Other:

• The program provides a common entry year 1 to the following level 7 courses:
• BEng in Mechanical Engineering
• BEng in Mechanical Engineering with Energy
• BEng in Automation and Robotics
• BEng in Polymer and Mechanical Engineering
• The program is designed to give students sufficient time and experience to make an informed choice about their specialization.
• The program equips students with the theoretical knowledge and hands-on practical expertise demanded by leading global employers.