Key Info
Engineering (Common Entry)
Are you the type of person that has an inquiring mind and is good at mathematics and science? Do you want to know how and why things work? Do you like to solve problems? Engineering requires each of these personal characteristics, is interesting and varied and has excellent career prospects.
Why study Engineering at UL?
Engineers are concerned with developing economical and safe solutions to practical problems, by applying mathematics and scientific knowledge while considering technical constraints. LM116 Engineering common entry is designed to provide you with a gateway to your preferred engineering discipline. You will complete a broad first year which will introduce you to various topics in engineering. Having gained a better understanding of each subject area, you then choose your preferred pathway to specialise for the remaining years of your degree programme. At UL, you get to try before you decide.
LM116 Engineering is the gateway to a degree in either:
BE/ME in Biomedical Engineering
BE/ME in Mechanical Engineering
BE/ME in Civil Engineering
Bachelor of Engineering in Design and Manufacture Engineering
BE/ME in Digital Mechatronic Engineering
The programmes above start in Year 2.
Having selected LM116 Engineering you will be given time to learn and ask questions about the various options and engineering paths available. During Year 1 you will be requested to rank the various engineering degree programmes in order of your preference. In the event that a programme is over-subscribed, places will be allocated based on UL exam performance. In all these programmes, industrial work experience is provided through a positive and motivating thirty-week period of Cooperative Education. This will provide you with experience of the practice and application of your chosen area of engineering in a suitable working environment. Students are typically paid by employers for this work which will take place during Year 3.
Learn more about our courses and upcoming events
What you will study
Students who choose this programme will experience a common first year which will ensure a broad learning experience and offer the possibility to make an informed decision at the end of Year 1. The first year is designed to ensure that you are well informed and well prepared to enter one of the possible 4 options; topics such as computing, maths, mechanics and materials are covered across Year 1.
There are a number of introductory modules such as Introduction to Engineering, where guest speakers and practising engineers will be invited in to explain potential career prospects and job requirements. In Semester 2, to help make informed decision students will have an elective option where students will choose from either Structural Engineering Design or Introduction to Design and Manufacture. These modules are designed to be project based.
A number of modules uses student-centred approaches such as problem-based learning (PBL) or Conceive, Design, Implement and Operate (CDIO) where students work collaboratively to form solutions to engineering problems. Selecting to study one of these options does not restrict your potential degree option - for example, if you select Structural Engineering Design, you will still be able to choose mechanical or biomedical engineering.
Entry requirements
| CAO points history |
510
|
|---|---|
| Minimum grades |
Applicants are required to hold at the time of enrolment the established Leaving Certificate (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 another language, and English. |
| Subject requirements |
In addition, applicants must hold a minimum grade H4 in Mathematics and grade O6/H7 in one of the following: |
| Additional considerations |
A Special Mathematics Examination will be offered at UL following the Leaving Certificate results for those students who did not achieve the Mathematics requirement. We welcome applications from mature students. Mature applicants must apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO) by 1 February. Application information for mature student applicants (PDF) In the event that a programme is over-subscribed, places will be allocated based on UL exam performance. QQI EntryCertain QQI Awards are acceptable in fulfilling admission requirements for this programme. Visit the UL Undergraduate Admissions QQI site for a full list of modules. |
| Non-EU Entry Requirements |
|
How to apply
| Where are you applying from? | How to Apply |
|---|---|
| Ireland | Irish students must apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found here. |
| The UK | Students who have completed their A-Levels can apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found on the Academic Registry website. |
| The EU | EU students can apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found on the Academic Registry website. |
| Non-EU country | If you are outside of the EU, you can apply for this degree here. |
Fees and funding
Student course fees are broken into three components - Student contribution, Student Levy and Tuition Fees.
A number of illustrative examples of fees for this course based on the current fee levels have been set out in the tables below.
An explanation of the components, how to determine status and the criteria involved is provided below the examples as is a list of possible scholarships and funding available.
EU Students with Free fees status in receipt of a SUSI grant
| HEA pays | Tuition Fees | €4,262 |
| SUSI pays | Student contribution | €3,000 |
| Student pays | Student Levy | €100 |
| €7,362 |
EU Students with Free fees status not in receipt of a grant
| HEA pays | Tuition Fees | €4,262 |
| Student pays | Student contribution | €3,000 |
| Student pays | Student Levy | €100 |
| €7,362 |
Students with EU fee status not in receipt of a grant
| Student pays | Tuition Fees | €4,262 |
| Student pays | Student contribution | €3,000 |
| Student pays | Student Levy | €100 |
| €7,362 |
Non-EU Students
| Student pays | Tuition Fees | €20,900 |
| Student pays | Student Levy | €100 |
| €21,000 |
Student course fees are comprised of the following components:
Student Contribution
Annual charge set by the government for all full-time third level students. All students are liable unless they have been approved for a grant by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). Please refer to https://www.studentfinance.ie to determine your eligibility for a grant and for instructions on how to apply. The current student contribution is set at €3000.
Student Levy
All students are liable to pay the Student Levy of €100. Please note the Student Levy is not covered by the SUSI Grant.
Tuition Fees
These are based on Residency, Citizenship, Course requirements.
Review the three groups of criteria to determine your fee status as follows
-
Residency
- You must have been living in an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland for at least 3 of the 5 years before starting your course
-
Citizenship
- You must be a citizen of an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland or have official refugee status
-
Course Requirements
(all must be met)
- You must be a first time full-time undergraduate (Exceptions are provided for students who hold a Level 6 or Level 7 qualification and are progressing to a Level 8 course in the same general area of study).
- You must be undertaking a full-time undergraduate course of at least 2 year’s duration
- You cannot be undertaking a repeat year of study at the same level unless evidence of exceptional circumstances eg serious illness is provided (in which case this condition may be waived)
Depending on how you meet these criteria your status will be one of the following -
- Free Fee Status: You satisfy all three categories (1, 2 and 3) and therefore are eligible for the Higher Education Authority’s Free Fees scheme.
- EU Fee Status: You satisfy both the citizenship and residency criteria but fail to satisfy the course requirements and are liable to EU fees.
- Non EU Fee Status: You do not meet either the citizenship or residency criteria and are therefore liable to Non EU fees.
More information about fees can be found on the Finance website
These scholarships are available for this course
| Title | Award | Scholarships Available |
|---|---|---|
| Arup Access Scholarship | €1,500 a year for 4 years | 1 |
| ARUP Integrated Design Project Awards in Civil Engineering | €1,500 | 4 |
| ARUP Scholarship for Women in Civil Engineering | €5,000 | 1 |
| BD Bursaries for Women in STEM | €5,000 for one year | 4 |
| BD Science and Engineering Undergraduate Scholarship | €2,000 for one year | 6 |
| Innovative Student Engineer of the Year Awards | €1,500 and a trophy | 1 |
| Stryker Scholarship | €2,500 | 3 |
| The Ei Electronics Women in Engineering Scholarship | €2,500 for 3 years | 1 |
| Women in Engineering Bursary Awards | €500 | 8 |
These scholarships are available for all courses
| Title | Award | Scholarships Available |
|---|---|---|
| All Ireland Scholarships - sponsored by J.P. McManus | €6,750 | 125 |
| Brad Duffy Access Scholarship | €5,000 for one year | 1 |
| Bursary for my Future Scholarship | €2,750 one off payment | 4 |
| Cooperative Education Award | 1 medal per faculty | |
| Elaine Fagan Scholarship | €1,500 | |
| Financial Aid Fund | ||
| Hegarty Family Access Scholarships | €5,000 for one year | 2 |
| Higher Education Grants & VEC Grants | ||
| Paddy Dooley Rowing Scholarship | €2,500 | |
| Plassey Campus Centre Scholarship Programme | ||
| Provincial GAA Bursaries Scheme | €750 | |
| Stuart Mangan Scholarship | ||
| The Michael Hillery and Jacinta O’Brien Athletics Scholarship | Various benefits equating to over €7,000 in value | |
| UL Sports Scholarships | Varies depending on level of Scholarship | Multiple |
Your future career
The career opportunities will depend primarily on the BE course chosen by you. Typical career areas include:
Biomedical Engineering
Design and manufacture of Medical Devices such as vascular stents, hip and knee replacements, neurological based surgical tools. Development of biomaterials using tissue engineering approaches such as 3D printing.
Mechanical Engineering
Engineering component design, Design and Control of Energy Utilisation Equipment, Safety and Reliability, Automobile Design, Materials Development, Mechanical Design in Aerospace, Biomedical, ICT, Process, Pharmaceutical and Manufacturing Industries, Gas turbine design.
Civil Engineering
Civil/Structural Engineer, Design Engineer, Environmental Engineer, Traffic/Motorway Engineer.
Design and Manufacture Engineering
Mechanical Design for Biomedical, ICT Process, Pharmaceutical and Manufacturing Industries, Project Management, Materials and Structural Analysis, Consultancy, Design Engineering, Quality Engineer, Automation Engineer, Computer Aided Engineering.
