Pharmaceutical HealthcareCúram Sláinte Cógaisíochta

Leaving Certificate Requirements

QQI/FET Requirements

In addition to the QQI minimum entry requirements, QQI quotas and QQI points apply. The max QQI points awarded is 390. Further details at www.tudublin.ie/qqi

Mature Applicants

Applications from mature students (23+) are welcome. Further details at www.tudublin.ie/mature

English Language Requirements

If English is not your first language you will need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency as detailed on our website. Applicants for this course should have a minimum IELTS (Academic Version) English Proficiency of 6 overall (or equivalent) with nothing less than 6 in each component.

The Pharmaceutical Healthcare course provides students with an integrated curriculum of practice and theory focussing on the key concepts in pharmaceutical sciences and technology.

It develops students’ knowledge of the fundamental principles, as well as latest developments and applications, equipping them for employment in a variety of areas within biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical manufacturing, as well as associated industries.

The course also gives students a broad understanding of the biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical industries, to meet the current and anticipated technical and skills needs of these industries. You will primarily learn about how the fundamental sciences are applied to biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Throughout the course, there is a strong focus on the core competencies and skills that will prepare you for the work environment in the biopharmaceutical, pharmaceutical and allied industries, both during the course as part of your work experience and also after you graduate.

The course has two discipline streams in Year 4, which underpin core modules in the area of (bio) pharmaceutical manufacturing. These two streams will allow you to specialise into either small molecule pharmaceuticals or biopharmaceuticals. The course is structured over four years and covers a comprehensive range of disciplines including scientific, technological, manufacturing, developmental and regulatory areas related to the biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical industries. The course includes the options of extended external placement or international placement, and this will allow you to develop independence, confidence and build upon your disciplinary expertise and knowledge you have gained.

Finding employment in an industrial/research environment post-graduation will be aided by developing your key personal and interpersonal employability skills throughout the course. The provision of challenging self-directed learning exercises, culminating in a final year research project, will enable you to become a graduate that is self-reliant, problem-solving, innovative and self- motivating.

Study Abroad Opportunities

You can choose to study abroad for a semester or year where you will undertake a work placement or project.

Work Placement

A period of industrial placement takes place during Year 3.

Since Ireland is home to 24 of the world’s top biotech and pharma companies, there are great opportunities for graduates such as:

• Diagnostic Technician
• Product Technician
• Packaging Manager
• Pharmaceutical Technician
• Product Development Scientist
• Process Technologist
• Project Coordinator
• Quality Assurance/Control Manager
• Research and Development
• Compliance/Regulatory Affairs Manager
• Production Manager/Planner
• Medical Lab Assistant
• Brand Technologist/Specialist
• Operations Manager
• Procurement Manager
• Patent Agent
• Technical Author
• Writer/Journalist
• Technical Recruiter
• Account/Client Manager
• Marketing Executive
• Sales Manager Representative
• Academia/Lecturer
• Business Development Executive
• Recruitment Consultant (Pharmaceuticals/Science)

Graduates have also entered graduate development courses in large multinational companies such as Abbot, where opportunities are expected to expand in the coming years.

Graduate Employers:

• Abbot
• Alexion Baxter
• Hollister ULC
• ICON PLC
• Medtronic
• Mylan
• Newport
• Novartis
• Pfizer
• Servier
• Valient

Advanced Entry applications are accepted to this course. For further information on how to make an Advanced Entry application, please visit our CAO Hub. A full list of courses open for Advanced Entry are listed on the CAO website.

To qualify for Advanced Entry applicants must be currently studying, completing, or have successfully completed, studies at Level 6, 7 or 8 in a Higher Education Institution (HEI) or an equivalent, in a related area. You must demonstrate by providing transcripts of results that you have achieved the learning outcomes for each stage you wish to advance past, for example:

• To enter Year 2 via Advanced Entry, you must demonstrate that you have met the learning outcomes for Year 1.
• For entry to Year 3, you must demonstrate that you have met the learning outcomes for Years 1 and 2.
• For entry to Year 4, you must demonstrate that you have met the learning outcomes for Years 1, 2, and 3.

If English is not your first language you will need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency as detailed on our website.

The BSc Pharmaceutical Healthcare degree provides students with a diverse and thorough background in the pharmaceutical industry. It incorporates a wide range of topics which provide excellent training in scientific principles, self-discipline, practical applications, organisational and computing skills.

I fulfilled my placement in the Immunology Department in the Central Pathology Laboratories, St James’s Hospital, Dublin. I easily transferred theoretical knowledge into practical uses. I am currently working as a QC Analyst performing analysis on Oral Solid Dosage formulations. I now have the option of branching out into multiple fields in the pharmaceutical sector as well as biopharmaceutics.

On graduation, you may continue to postgraduate study at TU Dublin or elsewhere.