DN150 Engineering (NUS1)
School:
Eng & Arch Admin Office This degree programme provides access to a wide range of options in engineering. After a largely common first year, you choose an area of specialisation. Later, you can choose further specialisations and alternative degrees (BSc, BE or ME) – exactly what is available depends on your area of specialisation.
The purpose of the Stage 1 Engineering year is to prepare students for further study in their chosen engineering discipine. The students will be equipped with a fundamental understanding of mathematical and scientific principles required to pursue studies in all fields of engineering and will begin to be introduced to some specialised topics. The teaching and learning environment will include a mixture of lectures, tutorial and laboratory sessions. Students will begin to work collaboratively in groups as well as individually. Assessment will be by a mixture of continuous assessment and examination.
- Students will be equipped with a knowledge of fundamental science, engineering, technology and mathematics necessary to pursue studies in engineering.
- Students will be introduced to concepts of design and experimentation and will learn how to conduct experiments, and analyse experimental results.
- Students will be introduced to concepts of sustainability and the need for engineers to respond to society's needs.
- Students will engage in team work and will learn how to work collaboratively in a number of settings, including laboratories.
- Students will learn about the importance of ethics and responsibility within engineering practice.
- Students will learn how to communicate effectively in a number of formats, including verbal and written.
- Students will learn how to work independently and how to take responsibility for their own learning.
This programme leads to the traditional Bachelor of Engineering (BE) degree, which requires 240 credits, normally four years of study. This is available in Biosystems Engineering, Chemical & Bioprocess Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. If you entered in 2011 or later, you can add Biomedical Engineering and Energy Systems Engineering to the list.
One alternative is the Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Engineering Science, which requires 180 credits, normally three years of study. This can be convenient if you want to continue your engineering studies elsewhere in Europe, or if you want to apply your knowledge of technology in a different field.
Another alternative is the Master of Engineering (ME) degree, which requires 300 credits, normally five years of study. This higher-level degree will become the norm for professional engineering education in the future. To be eligible, you must achieve good grades in your earlier years of study. You will also have to pay some fees. The ME degrees currently available from this programme are in Biosystems Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electronic & Computer Engineering, Energy Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Engineering with Business.
Other Master-level programmes are available through other routes - see below under Other Programmes that may be of Interest.
The first year is essentially common, with no critical decisions to be made. You will study twelve modules, six in each semester. In Semester One there are six Core Modules, common to all. In Semester Two, there are three Core Modules, and you choose one Option Module from the list below and two Elective Modules (from the entire catalogue).
Stage 1 Option Modules:
CHEN10010 Chemical Engineering Process Principles introduces the principles and techniques that are used in the analysis of chemical and biochemical engineering processes. This module is strongly recommended for students heading towards Chemical & Bioprocess Engineering.
MEEN10060 Design and Materials introduces the fundamentals of engineering materials and their selection and use within a specific design project. This module is strongly recommended for students heading towards Civil, Mechanical or Biomedical Engineering and is useful for all Engineering students.
COMP10060 Computer Science for Engineers I teaches you to programme a computer to solve problems, using the "C" programming language. This module is strongly recommended for students heading towards Electrical, Electronic, Computer or Energy Systems Engineering and is useful for all Engineering students.
If you complete the stage successfully, you will be able to choose whichever area of specialisation you want. We will provide plenty of information during the year to help you to make your decision.
To see the curriculum for the later stages, choose one of the Programme Information links at the bottom of the page. Some of these show only stages 2 and 3 – the fourth stage of the BE programme requires further specialisation, and is shown under a separate link. Where stages 2 to 4 are shown, stage 4 is relevant to the BE programme only – you may still choose an alternative route after stage 3.
The omnibus stream (or major) also continues into stages 2 and 3. This is to provide more flexible access to the ME programmes in Biomedical Engineering, Electronic & Computer Engineering, Energy Systems Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. You can choose option modules to prepare yourself for one of these ME programmes, possibly keeping two programmes open in stage 2.
All the ME programmes include options for Professional Work Experience. In some cases this can be a placement of 6 or 7 months, earning 30 credits. Shorter placements are also possible.
All these programmes allow for study abroad, in universities with compatible engineering programmes around the world. The US universities are always popular, and there is competition for places there. The Erasmus programme provides for exchanges with other European universities – this usually means working in the local language. Study in other countries, such as Australia, New Zealand, China or Singapore, is also possible.
Study abroad is normally during one or both semesters of stage 3. If you choose suitable courses in the host university, and achieve good results there, you will be awarded credit for this work as part of your degree programme in UCD.
Please visit the UCD International Office website for more information on exchanges
