Program Overview

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Engineering in Pharmaceutical & Biopharmaceutical Systems

Course Overview

The Full-Time Master of Engineering Science (MEngSc) in Engineering in Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Systems is a unique offering of the discipline of Process and Chemical Engineering designed to provide participants with an advanced qualification related to pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical processing.

Course Structure

This programme is principally organised to accommodate full-time students (both EU and non-EU) with background in Engineering and Manufacturing Sectors. The programme comprises 60 credits of taught modules, including both mandatory and elective modules and 30 credits of a research thesis.

Mandatory Modules

• PE6009 Pharmaceutical Engineering (5 credits)
• PE6011 Biopharmaceutical Engineering (5 credits) by NIBRT
• PE6023 Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Utilities and Auxiliaries (5 credits) by industry lecturers from Eli Lilly
• PE6024 Process Safety Engineering (5 credits)by industry lecturer from Flemings Professionals
• PE6026 Project Engineering - From Concept to Completion (5 credits) by industry lecturer from PM Group
• PE6058 Contamination Control in Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing (5 credits) by industry lecturer from Pharmalliance

Elective Modules

• PE6007 Mechanical Design of Process Equipment (5 credits)
• PE6056 Pharmaceutical Process Validation (5 credits) by industry lecturer from Eli Lilly
• PE6016 Pharmaceutical Industry: Manufacturing and Optimisation (5 credits)
• PE6019 Process Analytical Technology (5 credits)

Research Thesis

The MEngSc in Engineering in Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Systems comprises a research thesis or work-related research project (PE6051), worth 30 credits, carried out primarily in an industry or academic research laboratory between May and August during one academic year.

Post Graduate Diploma (PGDip) in Engineering in Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Systems

Students who achieve 40% in each individual taught module but fail to achieve the requisite grade of 50% across the taught modules may opt to exit the programme and be conferred with a Postgraduate Diploma in in Engineering in Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Systems.

Academic Programme Catalogue

See the Academic Programme Catalogue where you can search for the complete and up-to-date content for this course. Note that the modules for all courses are subject to change from year to year. For complete descriptions of individual modules, see the Book of Modules.

Course Practicalities

This is a full-time programme comprising both full-time and part-time modules shared with MEngSc Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Engineering and BE and ME Process and Chemical Engineering. The students take a higher number of credits in Semester 1 (35 credits or 7 modules) than the second semester (25 credits or 5 modules). The second semester is a shorter January to March semester to allow the students allocate greater time towards their dissertation and take part in industry placements (if any) counting towards their dissertation.

Attendance Information

All full-time modules are held weekly between 8 am and 6 pm, Monday to Friday throughout the semester.

Each Part-time module has two in-person sessions per semester:

• a start-up lecture session, typically around 4 hours long and occurring over Friday and Saturday at the start of each semester (September in Semester 1 /January in Semester 2)
• a lecture/tutorial session around 6-8 hours long occurring over consecutive Thursday, Friday and Saturday 4 weeks after the start-up session.

Assessment

Full-time modules may either be assessed through a combination of continuous assessments and written end-of-semester exams or continuous assessments only. All part-time modules will be assessed via continuous assessment only and will consist of live end-of-semester assessments or and online Canvas assignments as per UCC Marks and Standards.

Why Choose This Course

The enormous need for Engineers to work in the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and medical devices industries has been well documented in recent years, most recently by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN). The 2024 report suggests the possibility of creation of over 6000 jobs in this sector by 2027, primarily driven by jobs in manufacturing, followed by jobs in the services sector.

Key Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this programme, candidates will be able to:

• Apply an enhanced knowledge and understanding of the mathematics, sciences, engineering sciences and technologies to pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical engineering.
• Identify, formulate, analyse and solve problems related to pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical engineering.
• Design pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical manufacturing facilities and processes, including unfamiliar, ill-defined scenarios, underpinned by a sustainability informed paradigm, taking account of environmental, health and safety and risk factors, and know how to apply relevant codes of practice, industry standards and emerging practices and technologies.
• Effectively design experiments and gather experimental data, apply a range of standard and specialized research tools and techniques and conduct critical evaluation of results.
• Assess and take key decisions towards improving the sustainability of a pharmaceutical/ biopharmaceutical production process.
• Work effectively as an individual and in teams in planning and carrying through on assignments and projects in a lifelong learning context.
• Manage stakeholders and effectively create a baseline project plan.
• Communicate effectively with the engineering community and with society at large.

Who Should Apply

The aim of this (NFQ level 9) programme is to provide a formal qualification in Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing to graduates in the Engineering and Manufacturing sectors.

Placement or Study Abroad Information

There are no structured placement or study abroad opportunities provided directly through programme, however, candidates spend a day at the NIBRT Biopharmaceutical Training Facility in Dublin.

Skills and Careers Information

Over the past two decades, Ireland has established itself as a global leader in biopharmaceutical manufacturing and has been tremendously successful in attracting multinational companies to establish manufacturing operations across the country.

What Sort of Jobs Would This Course Prepare Me For

This programme will prepare candidates for wide range of jobs in the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical sectors including manufacturing roles and roles associated with process and facility design and optimisation and project management.

Will I Get Exposure to the Pharmaceutical/ Biopharmaceutical Industry in This Course

Several modules are delivered by lecturers from leading industries including Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine and PM Group providing direct, up-to-date and highly relevant industrial insight into the pharma and biopharma industries in Ireland and beyond.

Who Teaches This Course

This course provides a unique opportunity to learn from academics and industry professionals alike. Modules are delivered by academics from the Discipline of Process and Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering and Architecture, the School of Chemistry and Cork University Business School.

Requirements

Applicants must have a BE (Hons) or BEng (Hons) Degree or equivalent engineering qualification, with a minimum Second Class Honours Grade I, or a level 8 BSc degree, with a minimum grade Second Class Honours Grade I, where the BSc graduate has a recognised qualification in Process or Chemical Engineering (e.g. the Diploma in Process and Chemical Engineering at UCC or equivalent).

Fees and Costs

See our Postgraduate EU and Non-EU (International) Fee Schedule for the latest information.

How to Apply

1. Check dates
2. Gather documents
3. Apply online