Download or Print

1. Study
2. Postgraduate
3. Taught Courses
4. Postgraduate Diploma
5. Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Engineering

Course Fact File

Code	PDPBE
Duration	9 months Full-time; 18 months Part-time (over 2 years)
Teaching Mode	Full-time, Part-Time
Qualifications	PG Dip
NFQ Level	Level 9
Closing Date	Rolling deadline. Open until all places have been filled. Early application is advised.
Non-EU Closing Date	We are now closed for applications for this course.
Start Date	6 September 2024

Course Outline

The Postgraduate Diploma in Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Engineering is a full-time programme running for 9 months or a part-time programme running for a minimum of 18 months over 2 academic years (maximum 45 months over 5 academic years) from the date of first registration for the programme.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Engineering is a unique offering of the Discipline of Process and Chemical Engineering, UCC, designed to provide participants with a formal qualification in areas of particular topical interest to the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry such as product containment, powder/ particle technology, design of API and secondary production facilities, current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP), design of classified facilities, aseptic processing facility design, utilities and services, data analysis and process validation.

This programme has been designed specifically for working professionals in the Engineering and Manufacturing Sectors, where participants will have the opportunity to:

• Gain a formal Level 9 qualification in Engineering
• Upskill/ Re-skill for the fast-growing pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical sectors
• Avail of flexible study options - Part-time (18-months over 2 years) /full-time (9-months in 1 year); Maximum 45 months over 5 academic years.
• Balance work and education with blended learning with blocked lectures (elaborated further in course practicalities)
• Learn directly from the industry with guest lecturers from Pharma/Biopharma industries
• Experience hands-on training at the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT)
• Enhance employability through continuing professional development

Course Structure

This programme is principally organised to accommodate part-time students who are working in industry. The programme comprises 60 credits of taught modules, comprising both mandatory and elective modules.

Mandatory Modules

Students must take these 9 modules worth 5 credits each to the value of 45 credits.

• PE6010 Pharmaceutical Engineering (5 credits)
• PE6011 Biopharmaceutical Engineering (5 credits)
• PE6012 Pharmaceutical Process Equipment, Materials and Mechanical Design (5 credits)
• PE6013 Powder and Particle Technology and Unit Operations (5 credits)
• PE6016 Pharmaceutical Industry: Manufacturing and Optimisation (5 credits)
• PE6022 Aseptic Manufacturing Design (5 credits)
• PE6024 Advanced Process Design and Safety Engineering (5 credits)
• PR6026 Project Engineering - From Concept to Completion (5 credits)
• PE6027 Advanced Biopharmaceutical Engineering (5 credits)

Elective Modules

Students should select any 3 out of the following 4 modules worth 5 credits each to make up the final 15 credits of the total of 60 credits.

• PE6004 Biopharmaceutical Support Systems (5 credits)
• PE6018 Pharmaceutical Process Validation and Quality (5 credits)
• PE6019 Process Analytical Technology (5 credits)
• CM6010 Introductory Pharmaceutical Chemistry (5 credits)

MEngSc in Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Engineering

The MEngSc in Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Engineering is a similar programme to the PDip in Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Engineering, but comprises a research thesis or work-related research project (PE6021), worth 30 credits, carried out primarily in an industry or academic research laboratory between May and August during one academic year.

Students who pass all modules with an average grade of 50% or higher will be eligible to proceed to Masters (MEngSc) in Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Engineering or exit with a PG-Diploma.

Eligible graduates will be contacted by the course director to confirm their interest to continue to the MEngSc in Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Engineering. Further details regarding registration to the MEngSc will be provided at that time. The cost for the 30-credit MEngSc thesis component is €4,000.

Individual Modules or Micro-Credits

Candidates who satisfy the programme eligibility criteria may, subject to the approval of the Programme Coordinator, be permitted to take individual modules, as part of UCC's commitment to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and be provided with a relevant transcript of marks.

Currently, the programme is offering PE6010, PE6012, PE6016, PE6022, PE6024, PE6026, PE6027 and CM6010 as microcredentials. Of these, PE6016, PE6024, PE6026 and PE6027 have been subsidised under HCI Pillar 3 Micro-credential Learner Fee Subsidy funded by Higher Education Authority (HEA) and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

Candidates willing to take individual modules within the programme should apply for the respective modules via the separate microcredential platform at UCC.

Course Practicalities

Course Structure and Lecture Schedule

Fundamentally, the modules are aggregated in blocks of 3, so for those taking the programme in part-time mode a candidate takes no more than 3 modules or 15 credits per semester. If taking the course in full-time mode, a candidate will take two blocks or 30 credits per semester.

Each module has two in-person sessions per semester: 

• a start-up lecture session, typically around 4 hours long and occurring over Friday and Saturday at the start of each semester (September in Semester 1 /January in Semester 2)
• a lecture-cum-tutorial session around 6-8 hours long occurring over consecutive Thursday, Friday and Saturday 4 weeks after the start-up session.

This model has been designed to allow working professionals, especially those who are based outside Cork, or even Ireland, to effectively participate in the programme availing of both online materials and in-person lectures facilitating peer-learning and professional networking.
 
All other lectures or tutorials or problem-solving sessions are arranged online by individual lecturers in consultation with the students. To try and accommodate people in employment, these live online sessions are generally after 6pm on weekday evenings.

All lecture materials, course notes, videograms and lecture recordings (if available) will be made available online via Canvas, UCC’s online student learning portal, giving students the flexibility to cover the material at their own convenience during the week.

Assessment

All modules will be assessed via continuous assessment and will consist of live end-of-semester assessments or and online Canvas assignments as per UCC Marks and Standards.

Details of the assignments including submission dates will be communicated by the Programme Director and individual lecturers at the start of term in September.

Why Choose This Course

Why study Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Engineering?

The enormous need for Engineers to work in the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and medical devices industries has been well documented in recent years, most recently by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN). The 2024 report suggests the possibility of creation of over 6000 jobs in this sector by 2027, primarily driven by jobs in manufacturing, followed by jobs in the services sector. This will require significant upskilling of the existing workforce in the Pharma/Biopharma sectors, and development of industry-academia collaborations fostering re-skilling.

Many graduates working in the pharmaceutical industries with a scientific background find themselves working in areas which increasingly overlap with engineers and engineering. Many would like to develop an engineering-based understanding of processes and production in a formal manner. This course offers you the opportunity to do this, developing your skill set and employability across a wider range of roles.

The course also presents the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry with an opportunity to enable greater cohesion and understanding among inter- and multi-disciplinary teams as graduates with science backgrounds receive a formal qualification in engineering.

Who should apply?

The aim of this (NQAI level 9) programme is to provide upskilling/re-skilling opportunities for working professionals in the Engineering and Manufacturing Sectors. It is also aimed to fill the need for the Continuing Professional Development and Postgraduate Education of Engineers working in the Pharmaceutical Industry.

To date many Engineering graduates (including Chemical & Process Engineering graduates) do not have formal educational qualifications relating specifically to the pharmaceutical industry. This is because many undergraduate Chemical Engineering courses, which are generally broad in nature, do not cover issues of particular concern to the pharmaceutical industry; issues such as product containment, powder/particle technology, design of API and secondary production facilities, current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP), design of classified facilities, aseptic processing facility design, validation, etc. This is the case to an even greater extent the case for graduates of other Engineering disciplines.

Parallelly, many graduates working in the pharmaceutical industries with a scientific background find themselves working in areas which increasingly overlap with engineers and engineering. Many of them would like to develop an engineering-based understanding of processes and production in a formal manner. This programme offers these graduates with significant benefits both to themselves and their companies by developing their skill set and employability across a wider range of roles through the enhanced continuing professional development that this programme offers. This programme also offers the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry with an opportunity to enable greater cohesion and understanding among inter and multi-disciplinary teams as graduates with science backgrounds, but relevant experience in Engineering, receive a formal Level 9 qualification in engineering.

Who teaches this course?

This course provides a unique opportunity to learn from academics and industry professionals alike. Modules are delivered by academics from the Discipline of Process and Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering and Architecture and the School of Chemistry. A number of modules are delivered by lecturers from leading industries including Eli Lilly, Janssen, MSD and PM Group. The course also features a module on Biopharmaceutical Engineering delivered by the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT), Dublin, designed to provide hands-on-training and insight into state-of-the-art biopharmaceutical manufacturing processes and practises.

What are the key learning outcomes?

Upon completion of this programme, candidates will be able to:

• Apply an enhanced knowledge and understanding of the mathematics, sciences, engineering sciences and technologies to pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical engineering
• Identify, formulate, analyse and solve problems related to pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical engineering
• Design pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical manufacturing facilities and processes, including unfamiliar, ill-defined scenarios, underpinned by a sustainability informed paradigm, taking account of environmental, health and safety and risk factors, and know how to apply relevant codes of practice, industry standards and emerging practices and technologies.
• Gather experimental data, apply a range of standard and specialized research tools and techniques and conduct critical evaluation of results
• Effectively design experiments and gather experimental data, apply a range of standard and specialized research tools and techniques and conduct critical evaluation of results
• Work effectively as an individual and in teams in planning and carrying through on assignments and projects in a lifelong learning context;
• Communicate effectively with the engineering community and with society at large.

Placement or Study Abroad Information

There are no structured placement or study abroad opportunities provided directly through the PG Diploma, however, candidates spend a day at the NIBRT Biopharmaceutical Training Facility in Dublin.

MEngSc participants can perform their work-based research project in any location internationally deemed suitable by their academic mentor.

Skills and Careers Information

What is the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry like in Ireland and Cork?

Over the past two decades, Ireland has established itself as a global leader in biopharmaceutical manufacturing and has been tremendously successful in attracting multinational companies to establish manufacturing operations across the country.

The Irish pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry remains highly advanced, employing latest technology, state-of-the-art techniques and equipment and following strict quality control procedures. The pharmaceutical industry in Ireland is a world leader in offering products and services, from research and development for new medicines to the manufacturing and marketing of new medicines for humans and animals.

Ireland is now home to more than 85 biopharmaceutical sites and 9 of the top 10 global pharmaceutical companies have substantial operations in Ireland. Around 60% of all exports from Ireland is contributed to the Biopharmaceutical industry which is directly employing over 25,000 people. Ireland is now the largest net exporter of pharmaceuticals in the EU accounting for over 50% of all exports from the country.

Cork has established itself as a thriving industrial hub, boasting a resilient and diverse economy with more than 190 multinational firms operating in clusters across the technology, financial services, cybersecurity, pharmaceuticals and life sciences sectors. Cork’s Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences sector continues to grow rapidly, exemplified by the investment of over €10 billion in new facilities over the last decade. Seven of the ten of the world’s top pharmaceutical companies including Janssen, AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Merck/MSD, Novartis, and Thermo Fisher Scientific are based in Cork, more specifically around the Cork Harbour Region. In total there are now over thirty pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries operating in Cork with a workforce of over 10,000.

The 2024 EGFSN report on Skills for Biopharma suggests the continued expansion of this sector, primarily driven by jobs in manufacturing, followed by jobs in the services sector.

What sort of jobs would this course prepare me for?

This programme will prepare candidates for wide range of jobs in the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical sectors including manufacturing roles and roles associated with process and facility design and optimisation and project management. On successful completion of the programme, the candidate should able to work in a highly regulated pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical sector taking account of environmental, health and safety and risk factors, and know how to apply relevant codes of practice, industry standards and emerging practices and technologies.

Will I get exposure to the pharmaceutical/ biopharmaceutical industry in this course?

Several modules are delivered by lecturers from leading industries including Eli Lilly, Janssen, MSD and PM Group providing direct, up-to-date and highly relevant industrial insight into the pharma biopharma industries in Ireland and beyond. Candidates will also require participating in an on-site practical training at the state-of-the-art facility at the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT), Dublin.

Are there any career workshops included as part of this course?

No formal career workshops are included as part of this course. However, as UCC students, all candidates will be able to access career-related trainings, workshops  and guidance offered by UCC’s Career Services.

What are recent graduates saying about the programme?

• ‘This course has an excellent structure allowing participants to carry out further education whilst still working full-time. The structure of this course should be used as a baseline for other educational institutions, as an excellent means of providing further education for full time working professionals.’
• ‘Overall, enjoyed the course, found it relevant to my work in the pharma industry. Would recommend to colleagues.’
• ‘The thesis element of the course I found the most satisfying as I chose a subject closely related to my work and as a result the level of understanding achieved will stand to me and be a source of encouragement/confidence to continue to learn long after the ink has dried on the parchment.'
• ‘I have recommended this course to colleagues and friends – I hold this course and its content in high regard’.

Requirements

Applicants must have a BE (Hons) or BEng (Hons) Degree or equivalent engineering qualification, with a minimum Second-Class Honours Grade II, or a level 8 BSc degree, with a minimum grade Second Class Honours Grade II, where the BSc graduate has a recognised qualification in process or Chemical Engineering (e.g. Diploma in Process and Chemical Engineering at UCC or equivalent).

Under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) applicants who do not meet the above academic entry requirements may be considered for admission and will be assessed on a number of factors including:

• Academic achievement
• Prior work experience relevant to any Engineering discipline
• Personal statement

In all cases, the course of study for each candidate must be approved by the course coordinator.

For Applicants with Qualifications Completed Outside of Ireland

Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements. For more information see our Qualification Comparison page.

International/Non-EU Applicants

This course is designed to be taken by working professionals. For professionals applying from outside the EU, they must visit our how to apply pages for international students and ensure the possibility to avail relevant visas to be able to travel to Cork. In all circumstances, it is expected that each candidate travels to Cork at least two times per semester to take part in the programme.

For more information contact the International Office.

English Language Requirements

Applicants who are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university-approved English language requirements. Visit our PG English Language Requirements page for more information.

Fees and Costs

How To Apply

1. Check dates

Check the opening and closing dates for the application process in the fact file boxes at the top of the page.

2. Gather documents

Scanned copies of supporting documents have to be uploaded to the UCC online application portal and include:

• Original qualification documents listed on your application including transcripts of results from institutions other than UCC.
• Any supplementary items requested for your course if required.

3. Apply online

Apply online via the UCC online application portal. Note the majority of our courses have a non-refundable €50 application fee.

Any questions? Use our web enquiry form to contact us.

Documentation that you will need for your application

1. Applicants who meet the Academic Entry Requirements will need:

• Copies of transcripts from all previous relevant educational qualifications. A parchment may also be required in some instances
• A Personal/Motivation Statement: In 500 words or less, please state why you wish to study this programme
• An up-to-date CV

Where English is not your first language you are required to submit a copy of a UCC approved English Language Test/Exam.

2. Applicants who apply under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), will need:

• Copies of transcripts from all previous relevant educational qualifications. A parchment may also be required in some instances
• Personal / Motivation Statement - In 500 words or less, please state:

- Why you wish to study this programme
- How your experience, professional and educational is based around engineering, providing you with the fundamental engineering knowhow and equips you for admission to the course despite not meeting the academic entry requirements.

• An up-to-date CV
• References where applicable

Where English is not your first language you are required to submit a copy of a UCC approved English Language Test/Exam.

Additional Requirements (All Applicants)

Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. This will include the following questions:

• You may enter the details of professional or voluntary positions held. We strongly encourage you to complete this section with all relevant work experiences that will support your application.
• Please describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.
• Please upload your CV.

Applicants are advised to apply early as high demand is anticipated and places are limited. Non-EU applications will remain Open until all places have been filled or no later than 30 June. Early application is advised.

Applications cannot be assessed until all supporting documentation has been received.

The closing date for non-EU applications is We are now closed for applications for this course.

Apply Now