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Graduate Diploma in Carbon Accounting & Life Cycle Assessment  (T384)

GradDip (NFQ Level 9) · Academic Year 2024/2025
School
School of Biosystems and Food Engineering
Attendance
Part-Time
Level
Graduate Taught
NFQ Level
9
Award
Graduate Diploma
Mode of Delivery
Blended
Programme Director
Professor Nick Holden
Overall Programme Credits:
60
Programme Credits:
Stage 1
Core/Option: 60 Electives: 0
Major/Minor Core & Option Credits:
Stage 1: 60

Curricular information is subject to change.

For more information on this programme, see: Graduate Diploma Carbon Accounting & Life Cycle Assessment.

Course Content and Structure: 

Modules: The Graduate Diploma in Carbon Accounting and LCA comprises 60 credits over a calendar year. In the Autumn students take BSEN30360 Life Cycle Assessment, BSEN40820 Carbon Footprinting and BSEN40720 Carbon and Sustainability (15 ECTS in total), in the Spring, BSEN40400 LCA Applications and BSEN40810 Greenhouse Gas Accounting (15 ECTS in total) and in the summer BSEN40800 Industry Project (30 ECTS).

Delivery: All lectures and tutorials can be completed online, with the option of attending some on campus if desired. 

Course Hours: The programme is delivered over three trimesters, starting in September, January and May. Each trimester is 12 weeks of teaching plus 3 weeks for final assessments. The workload is around 6-9 contact hours plus time to work on assignments per week between September and April. In May a similar amount of time is dedicated to project work.

Application Assessment: Applications may include a short 10-minute interview.

Module Information:

Under the "What modules can I take?" section below you will see general module information, for a more detailed description including module selection rules click here.

Following completion of this Graduate Diploma, students will be able to:

  • Explain and apply the theory of carbon footprinting, GHG accounting and life cycle assessment
  • Compile a data inventory, with calculations appropriate to ISO14044, ISO14064 and ISO14067
  • Interpret the inventory and impact data to identify hotspots and significant issues, and draw conclusions
  • Present a written report summarizing findings, and recommendations in accordance with the relevant ISO standard

Complete one of the following:

  • calculate the carbon footprint, using ISO14067, of an extant product currently in the market, or a new product that is market-ready
  • complete an institutional GHG inventory, using ISO 14064, and identify mitigation options
  • life cycle assessment, using ISO 14044, of an extant product, process or service, considering at least 4 impact categories relevant to the company/sector.

There is an ever increasing demand for employees the with skills that this Graduate Diploma provides. While theoretical knowledge of GHG and other emissions is important, there is a clear demand in Ireland for people with the skills necessary to complete Carbon Footprint, GHG Inventory and Life Cycle Assessment of product and organisations. This skill is transferable across sectors and can be aligned with the different parts of a business, be that process and production, management, health and safety, sustainability or even marketing. This graduate diploma will be ideal for professional development or for reskilling by those looking for a new career opportunity.

Graduates progress into: 

  • Sustainability team member or leader
  • Corporate Social Responsibility
  • Energy management
  • Consulting
  • Sourcing and Procurement

Employers include, Veolia, Arup, Codema and RPS.

Stage 1

T384 Grad Dip Carbon Accounting & Life Cycle Assessment PT is a one-year, 60-credit part-time Masters Programme. All students must take 15 credits of taught modules in the Autumn and Spring Trimesters, and the 30-credit module, BSEN40800 Industry Project in the Summer Term. The Autumn Modules are: BSEN30360, BSEN40820 and BSEN40720. The Spring Trimester modules are: BSEN40810 and BSEN40400.

Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.

Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.

Module Type Module   Trimester Credits
Stage 1 Core Modules
 BSEN30360 Life Cycle Assessment Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 BSEN40820 Carbon Footprinting Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 BSEN40720 Carbon & Sustainability Autumn and Spring (separate)  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 BSEN40400 LCA Applications Spring  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 BSEN40810 GHG Accounting Spring  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
 BSEN40800 Industry Project Summer  30

See the UCD Assessment website for further details

Module Weighting Info
 
  Award GPA
Programme Module Weightings Rule Description Description >= <=
GDENA001 Stage 1 - 100.00%
 Standard Honours Award First Class Honours

3.68

4.20
Second Class Honours, Grade 1

3.08

3.67
Second Class Honours, Grade 2

2.48

3.07
Pass

2.00

2.47

NFQ Level 8 honours degree (or international equivalence ) in a relevant subject or >5 years relevant professional experience.

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