BSc (Hons) Chemistry & Biochemical Engineering

Key Points

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The School of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering BE at the University of Limerick provides an exciting, intellectually challenging and educationally rigorous degree programme leading to a professionally recognised qualification and good employment prospects in any of a variety of stable, sustainable and well-paid careers.

This programme is the only course of its kind in the Midwest and West Country regions. Process engineering is the core area of expertise that underpins many important and sustainable industries and businesses within the Irish and global economies. These businesses include: biopharmaceuticals, fuels, chemicals and drug manufacturing, energy production, food and beverage processing, environmental waste disposal and electronic component manufacturing.

Employability skills of this degree are:

Problem solving and analytical skills
Project Management
Teamwork
Using leadership skills
Attention to detail
Communication and presentation skills
Ability to develop manufacturing processes for a wide variety of products

Program structure

This four-year honours programme comprises formal lectures/studies, practical laboratories, workshops, training in industry standard process engineering software, project work as well as a substantial period of Co-operative Education working on an industrial placement.

YEAR 1

Semester 1

Engineering Mathematics 1
General Chemistry 1
Physics for Engineers 1
Process Engineering Computing
Principles of chemical engineering

Semester 2

Mathematical Engineering 2
Engineered Materials
Organic chemistry 1: functional groups
Physics for Engineers 2
Physical Chemistry 1: Thermodynamics and Kinetics

YEAR 2

Semester 3

Mathematical Engineering 3
Fluid mechanics and heat transfer
Organic Chemistry 2
Biomolecules
Bioprocess Engineering 1

Semester 4

Mathematical Engineering 4
Process technology: instrumentation, control
Physical Chemistry 3: Phase Equilibria
Plant and process management
Chemical engineering design methods

YEAR 3

Semester 5

Design of Experiments
Reaction engineering and reactor design
Mass transfer separations
Process Flow Diagram, unit dimensioning, software
Thermodynamics of Chemical Engineering

Semester 6

Cooperative education

year 4

Semester 7

Sustainable energy processes
Pharmaceutical Formulation
Bioprocess engineering 2
Research project
Design project 1

Semester 8

Batch process engineering (pharmaceutical)
Fluid Process Control
Advanced transport processes
Process troubleshooting
Design project 2

*Module availability may change from year to year.

Admission requirements

Applicants must possess at the time of enrolment the prescribed Certificate of Completion (or an approved equivalent) with a minimum of six subjects which must include: two H5 (Higher Level) grades and four O6 (Ordinary Level) grades or four H7 (Higher Level) grades. Subjects must include Mathematics, Irish or other language and English.

In the case of international candidates, the foreign equivalent is required. In addition, a degree officially translated into English will be required.
IELTS 6.5, with no less than 6 in any component (or its internationally recognised equivalent).