Program Overview

Pharmaceutical Engineering (PE6010)

Module Goal

To gain an understanding of the product forms, manufacturing processes and unit operations employed in the primary (API) and secondary (final dosage form) production of pharmaceuticals including product packaging.

Module Content

• Production of bulk pharmaceutical chemicals and unit operations used
• Intermediate bulk containers, reactors, purification techniques, crystallisation, separators (filters, centrifuges), dryers
• Pharmaceutical dosage forms and their applications
• Production of solid dosage forms, tablets (content, dispensing, milling, granulating, spheronisation, compression, coating), capsules, semi-solid dosage forms
• Production of liquid dosage forms
• Production of inhalation dosage forms
• Pharmaceutical packaging. Pharmaceutical containment and handling

Additional Teaching Mode Information

• 1 x 4hr(s) lectures
• 1 x 8hr(s) tutorials
• 1 x 12hr(s) problem-based learning

Practicalities

• Continuous Assessment - 100 marks
  • Assignment | Pharma API Plant Design & Operation Questions | 15
  • Project | Pharma API Design Exercise | 35
  • Assignment | Pharma Dosage Form Design & Operation Questions | 15
  • Project | Pharma Dosage Form Design Exercise | 35

Why Choose

On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:

1. Evaluate drug production and delivery techniques and with particular reference to oral solid dosage forms and dissolution modelling;
2. Summarise technological principals and relevant unit operations in a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant and select appropriate equipment types for various manufacturing operations;
3. Identify typical difficulties associated with pharmaceutical manufacturing and suggest methodologies to overcoming these;
4. Describe in detail appropriate primary and secondary packaging and associated equipment;
5. Design a pharmaceutical production plant with a particular emphasis on containment and materials handling.
6. Analyse future trends and drivers for change in the pharmaceutical industry, such as Pharma 4.0

Requirements

Applicants must have a BE (Hons) or BEng (Hons) Degree or equivalent engineering qualification, with a minimum Second-Class Honours Grade II, OR a level 8 BSc degree, with a minimum grade Second Class Honours Grade II, where the BSc graduate has a recognised qualification in process or Chemical Engineering (e.g. Diploma in Process and Chemical Engineering at UCC or equivalent). However, applicants with equivalent academic qualifications and suitable experience may be accepted subjected to the approval of the Programme Director under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), In all cases, the course of studies for each application must be approved by the Programme Director.

Fees and Costs

€1,000

How To Apply

Please select the following options during your online application (once you have created your profile). Start a new Micro-credentials application by selecting as below. In the application level tab select the options below and then select the programme/module you'd like to apply for.