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MEngSc in Biopharmaceutical Engineering  (T015)

MEngSc (NFQ Level 9) · Academic Year 2024/2025
School
School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering
Attendance
Part-Time
Level
Graduate Taught
NFQ Level
9
Award
Master of Engineering Science
Mode of Delivery
On Campus
Programme Director
Professor Niall Barron
Overall Programme Credits:
90
Programme Credits:
Stage 1
Core/Option: 90 Electives: 0
Major/Minor Core & Option Credits:
Stage 1: 90

Curricular information is subject to change.

For more information on this programme, see: MEngSc Biopharmaceutical Engineering PT.

This MEngSc in Biopharmaceutical Engineering programme provides substantial coverage of scientific, technical, management and regulatory issues associated with this industry. This programme offers an internationally recognised high quality flexible curriculum, which follows the latest developments in science and technology. This programme is suitable for Science and Engineering graduates wishing to obtain a qualification which is highly relevant to the biopharmaceutical industry.

Class times for two year part time version: 

Classes are delivered between UCD and NIBRT every Friday afternoon (during UCD term time) between 14.00 - 18.00. Students can attend either in person or online (note: lectures are not recorded and students attending online must do so between 14.00-18.00 on Fridays). The labs that take place during reading week approx 3 days (March) require in person attendance (exact dates to be confirmed each year). 

The MEngSc Biopharmaceutical Engineering programme provides intensive training in the requisite skills for a professional engineer or scientist in the biopharmaceutical or related sector. The programme provides substantial coverage of the scientific, technical, management and regulatory issues associated with this industry. 



The programme's teaching methods are highly interactive and varied and student learning is assessed using a variety of assessment methodology including exams, assignments, case studies and presentations.  Students complete a research project which consolidates their basic knowledge of the course content and provides intensive research experience and training. The course content addresses the principal scientific and engineering challenges involved in the design, operation and management of biopharmaceutical production facilities. 



It is anticipated that graduates from this programme will play an important role in the development, design and operation of biopharmaceutical processes throughout the industry in the coming years.


The programme's teaching methods are highly interactive and varied and student learning is assessed using a variety of assessment methodology including exams, assignments, case studies and presentations.  Students complete a research project which consolidates their basic knowledge of the course content and provides intensive research experience and training. The course content addresses the principal scientific and engineering challenges involved in the design, operation and management of biopharmaceutical production facilities. 

  • Apply their knowledge of biopharmaceutical production processes to design, equip and manage a biopharmaceutical production factility
  • Demonstrate an appreciation of the concept and practice of independent research in specialised topics in biopharmaceutical engineering
  • Demonstrate an integrated knowledge of GMP and the regulatory issues involved in biopharmaceutical production
  • Demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of the challenges involved in the downstream purification of biopharmaceuticals
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamentals of process control when applied to growth of mammalian cells in bioreactors
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the scientific principles involved in the development of a biopharmaceutical production process
  • Demonstrate the ability to work as part of a design team for the development of a new production facility
  • Understand the engineering principles underlying the production of biopharmaceuticals

Graduates from this programme are highly sought after and play an important role in the development, design and operation of biopharmaceutical processes throughout the industry in the coming years.  Ireland is a world player in pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical production. 

The pharmaceutical industry in Ireland comprises a mix of international and local companies. Approximately, 120 overseas companies have plants in Ireland, including many of the largest pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies in the world including AbbVie, Amgen, Biomarin, BMS, Genzyme, GSK, Janssen Biologics (Ireland), Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Regeneron, Roche, Sanofi Shire, and many more. Upon graduation from this programme, you will enjoy an extremely high job placement rate with superlative career opportunities.

Stage 1

T015 MEngSc Biopharmaceutical Engineering PT is a 90-Credit, Part-time Programme. Students must complete 90 credits over the course of their degree. Students register for 30 credits in Year 1 and 60 credits in Year 2.

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 Options - A) Min 6 of:
YEAR 1 CORE MODULES: Year 1 Students must select all 6 modules in the module list
 CHEN40670 Biotechnology & Biopharma Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 6 of:
YEAR 1 CORE MODULES: Year 1 Students must select all 6 modules in the module list
 CHEN40720 Principles of Biopharmaceutical Engineering (PT) Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 6 of:
YEAR 1 CORE MODULES: Year 1 Students must select all 6 modules in the module list
 CHEN40730 Animal Cell Culture Technology (PT) Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 6 of:
YEAR 1 CORE MODULES: Year 1 Students must select all 6 modules in the module list
 CHEN40090 Bioprocessing Laboratory Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 6 of:
YEAR 1 CORE MODULES: Year 1 Students must select all 6 modules in the module list
 CHEN40710 Downstream Processing & Sterile Fill Finish (PT) Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 6 of:
YEAR 1 CORE MODULES: Year 1 Students must select all 6 modules in the module list
 CHEN40850 Cell Therapy Tech & Processing Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 7 of:
YEAR 2 CORE MODULES: Year 2 Students must select 3 modules in Autumn and 3 module in Spring (CHEN40130, CHEN40650 and 1 other module) and the 30 credit project module.
 CHEN40110 Facility Design and Operation Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 7 of:
YEAR 2 CORE MODULES: Year 2 Students must select 3 modules in Autumn and 3 module in Spring (CHEN40130, CHEN40650 and 1 other module) and the 30 credit project module.
 CHEN40120 Biopharmaceutical Industry Regulation and Management Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 7 of:
YEAR 2 CORE MODULES: Year 2 Students must select 3 modules in Autumn and 3 module in Spring (CHEN40130, CHEN40650 and 1 other module) and the 30 credit project module.
 CHEN40630 Bioanalytical Science for Biopharma Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 7 of:
YEAR 2 CORE MODULES: Year 2 Students must select 3 modules in Autumn and 3 module in Spring (CHEN40130, CHEN40650 and 1 other module) and the 30 credit project module.
 CHEN40130 Bioprocess Scale-up and Technology Transfer Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 7 of:
YEAR 2 CORE MODULES: Year 2 Students must select 3 modules in Autumn and 3 module in Spring (CHEN40130, CHEN40650 and 1 other module) and the 30 credit project module.
 CHEN40650 Research Methodologies Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 7 of:
YEAR 2 CORE MODULES: Year 2 Students must select 3 modules in Autumn and 3 module in Spring (CHEN40130, CHEN40650 and 1 other module) and the 30 credit project module.
 CHEN40860 Gene Ther & Vacc Tech & Proc Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 7 of:
YEAR 2 CORE MODULES: Year 2 Students must select 3 modules in Autumn and 3 module in Spring (CHEN40130, CHEN40650 and 1 other module) and the 30 credit project module.
 CHEN40870 GMP Manufact Advan Therapeutic Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 7 of:
YEAR 2 CORE MODULES: Year 2 Students must select 3 modules in Autumn and 3 module in Spring (CHEN40130, CHEN40650 and 1 other module) and the 30 credit project module.
 CHEN40140 Biopharmaceutical Engineering Project Summer  30

See the UCD Assessment website for further details

Module Weighting Info
 
  Award GPA
Programme Module Weightings Rule Description Description >= <=
MTEMP001 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

  • An honours undergraduate degree (NFQ level 8) with a minimum upper second class honours or international equivalence in a relevant Engineering, Science or Technology programme. However, all applicants will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and relevant or extensive work experience will be taken into account.
  • Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 6.5 (no band less than 6.0 in each element), or equivalent. For more information please click here.
  • Students must be working full-time in the Pharma/Biopharma or a related sector.
  • These are the minimum entry requirements – additional criteria may be requested for some programmes 
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