Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering (NQS2)

First Year

Engineering students follow a common first year. Modules include:

• Chemistry
• Creativity in Design
• Electrical/Electronic Engineering
• Energy Engineering
• Engineering Computing
• Mathematics
• Mechanics
• Physics

Second to Fifth Year

Sample modules for Chemical & Bioprocess Engineering students include:

• Organic Chemistry for Engineers
• Inorganic & Physical Chemistry for Engineers
• Chemical & Bioprocess Engineering Measurement
• Biotechnology for Engineers
• Computing in Chemical & Bioprocess Engineering
• Chemical & Bioprocess Reaction Engineering
• Chemical & Bioprocess Engineering Thermodynamics
• Commercial Pharmaceutical & Bioprocessing Technology
• Chemical & Bioprocess Engineering Design
• Professional Engineering (Finance
• Environmental Engineering
• Advanced Separation Processes
• Advanced Experimental Design

A student’s week includes attending lectures and tutorials, as well as participating in laboratory-based workshops and undertaking independent study. A combination of end-of-semester written examinations and continuous assessment is used, culminating in the submission of advanced research and design projects.

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.

Students have the opportunity in their third year to spend either one or two trimesters studying abroad in a partner University, there are options to study in countries such as France, Spain, China, Australia, Canada, USA, Singapore, New Zealand. 

Recent opportunities have included a year in:

• University of California, Santa Barbara, USA
• University of Connecticut, USA
• ENSIACET, Toulouse, France
• McGill University, Canada

See our UCD Global exchanges page for more information

UCD has the oldest, largest and most research-active School of Chemical & Bioprocess Engineering in Ireland, and is benchmarked competitively against the top schools in Europe and abroad. In addition, our programme is professionally accredited to master’s level by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE). All of this translates to our graduates being among the best-paid engineering professionals and sought after for employment in sectors from chemical to (bio)pharmaceutical and from energy to consultancy and design. We offer taught and research master’s and PhD opportunities, and our graduates also enter master’s and PhD programmes in leading international universities.

Professional Work Experience (PWE) is incorporated in the ME Chemical & Bioprocess Engineering programme. Six- to eight-month internships (the majority of which are paid) have included the following employers: AbbVie, Alexion, APC, BMS, GSK, Irving Oil, Jacobs, Lilly, MSD, Pfizer and PM Group.

Also check out the UCD Career Networks career guide for the College of Engineering & Architecture for details on the career supports available to UCD students.

By joining the UCD College of Engineering and Architecture, you will be part of a vibrant community of students and faculty who are committed to creating a more sustainable and equitable future. The mission of the College of Engineering and Architecture is to affect a just transition to a more sustainable and equitable future through our education of professionals in engineering, architecture, planning and policy, and our research in technology, design, and policy.  The College, in our engineers and architects, brings together the technical expertise to deliver and create infrastructure and technologies that can create a more sustainable future and, uniquely, the College, in our planners and environmental policy researchers, also brings together the research and professions required to create the policies and the regulatory environment that supports technological and infrastructure development, and that can also scrutinise and investigate the behavioural changes affected by our technologies.

The programmes at UCD are designed to equip students with the best education in their chosen field, while at the same time embedding the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDG’s) in their education where most relevant.

Engineering: 

The college offers a wide range of engineering disciplines, ensuring that our students are educated in the fundamental principles of engineering, while also embedding sustainable practices and principles. The goal is to educate engineering professionals who can play an active role in developing innovative, engineering-based solutions to the challenges of sustainability and equity.

• Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6):


• Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7): 


• Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (SDG 9): 


• Climate Action (SDG 13):