Science & Technology Studies (Diploma)

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Course Overview
Key Facts
Course Outline
Why Choose This Course?
Course Fees
Find Out More

Course Overview

The Diploma in Science & Technology Studies is a part-time course which focuses on the knowledge and skill requirements of high-tech industries. The modular structure is designed with flexibility in mind, enabling students to balance study with work and other commitments and to accumulate credits over a time frame that suits their lifestyle. Learning is delivered via a blend of distance and online resources, on-campus tutorials and labs, and company-based projects.

This course aims to:

provide students with a comprehensive grounding in the theoretical foundations of Science and Engineering
introduce students to areas of applied and specialist knowledge found in today’s high-tech environments
develop important managerial skills such as problem solving, decision making and advanced communication skills

Applications and Selections

Online Applications open on March 1st, 2021.

Please visit our How to Apply page for Application tips and Supporting Documents information.

Who Teaches this Course

Requirements and Assessment

Assessment is through assignments, written exams and in some cases practical laboratory sessions. Exams take place at the end of each semester. All modules from the programme will be individually assessed.

The course is delivered by blended learning on a part-time basis. Candidates will receive learning materials in both online and in hard copy format for each module. Materials will be specifically designed for independent study and will be supplemented by supporting reading material and interactive learning resources where appropriate. The course requires attendance on campus for approximately 10 hours per module, mainly on Saturdays.

Awards: Diploma in Science & Technology Studies - on successful completion of 20 modules or 120 ECTS.

Notice: with the ongoing challenges posed by the COVID-19 coronavirus, we have decided to move classroom-based courses and blended learning seminars to a fully online teaching mode for the academic year 2020/21. The teaching schedule for the 2021/22 academic year will be reviewed over the coming months in line with government restrictions and social distancing guidelines. This decision has been made to ensure the safety of students & staff and our desire to continue to provide upskilling and professional development opportunities for all. If you have any queries regarding the format of online delivery mode, please contact your course administrator for further details.

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Applicants under 21 years of age on January 1 in year of entry must meet the following minimum entry requirements: A minimum of HC3 in two subjects and passes in four other subjects at H or O level in the Leaving Certificate (or equivalent) including; English, Irish, Mathematics, a laboratory science subject i.e. Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Physics with Chemistry (joint) or Agricultural Science and any other subject recognised for entry purposes.

Applicants aged 21 years and older by January 1 in year of entry may enter as mature students. In this case a pass standard in Leaving Certificate Mathematics or equivalent is required. Apart from the requirement in Mathematics assessment of applicants will be on an individual basis to determine suitability to successfully undertake the course.

Applicants without a leaving certificate are encouraged to first complete the Foundation Course in Science, Engineering and Technology. Graduates of the Foundation Course are automatically eligible for entry to the Diploma.

Additional Requirements

Duration

2-4 years

Next start date

19th September

A Level Grades ()

Average intake

25-30

Closing Date

Closed

NFQ level

Level 7

Mode of study

Blended learning

ECTS weighting

120

Award

CAO

Course code

Course Outline

The Diploma consists of 20 modules to be completed over a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 4 years. The modules on offer include:

Core modules which cover the foundations of Science, Engineering, Management and IT
Electives which allow students to specialise in an area of particular interest to them
Company-based projects to help students apply their learning in the workplace

Students who have successfully completed the Diploma can automatically progress to the Degree or the Specialist Diplomas.

Download Science and Technology Studies‌ brochure.

Specialist Diplomas

Each specialist diploma consists of four inter-related taught modules and a project to allow individuals to upskill in a particular area or study in a highly focused area of interest.

Exemptions: Applicants who have completed accredited study in a relevant area may apply for exemptions. Credit may also be granted for demonstrable experiential learning. Exemptions may be granted up to a maximum of 5 modules in the Diploma cycle. Exemptions are considered by the programme board on a case-by-case basis.

Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).
Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Glossary of Terms

Credits: You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.
Module: An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.
Subject: Some courses allow you to choose subjects, where related modules are grouped together. Subjects have their own required number of credits, so you must take all that subject's required modules and may also need to obtain the remainder of the subject's total credits by choosing from its available optional modules.
Optional: A module you may choose to study.
Required: A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
Required Core Subject: A subject you must study because it's integral to that course.
Semester: Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year, so a three-year course will have six semesters in total. For clarity, this page will refer to the first semester of year 2 as 'Semester 3'.

Year 1 (120 Credits)

Year 2 (120 Credits)

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

Management roles in the following sectors: medical devices, biotechnology, scientific services , high-end and specialist manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, food science, etc.

Who’s Suited to This Course

The course is primarily intended to support those seeking career advancement in a variety of high tech industries such as medical devices, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and manufacturing. It will also appeal to those with a personal interest in Science and Technology.

Learning Outcomes

Work Placement

Study Abroad

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€3,915 p.a. (€380 per module)*

Fees: Tuition

€

Fees: Student levy

€

Fees: Non EU

€4,415 p.a. (€380 per module + €500 p.a.)

*Next Level Skillnet funding (40% fee subsidy) is available for this course. You also may be eligible for the Adult Learning Tuition Scholarship, find out more...

Find out More

Course Administrator

Centre for Adult Learning and Professional Development
NUI Galway
Tel: 091 494060
Email: sciencetech@nuigalway.ie
http://www.modularbsc.ie/

Adult Learning Prospectus PDF (3.4 MB)

Technology Managment Courses PDF (590KB)

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