Energy Conservation & Environmental Services - Galway

Course Overview

The programme aims to afford advanced experience and training to fulfil, in part, the onerous and challenging roles, duties and responsibilities associated with a limited range of Built Environment Regulations in the Irish Construction Industry.



This certificate is designed for a multidisciplinary cohort across the built environment disciplines e.g. Architecture, Engineering, Building Surveying, Architectural Technology, and Construction Management, among others. A multi-disciplinary cohort will be beneficial to the programme as it will provide a cross-pollination of ideas, shared experiences and appreciation for each others roles and responsibilities in the Built Environment.



The programme is designed to meet the postgraduate and continuing professional development needs of these disciplines, to develop competence in the specialist area of Energy Conservation and Environmental Services by facilitating knowledge gained through training and applied experience.



It will be particularly beneficial to new entrant graduates who have recently entered the work force in the last one to three years. It will also be beneficial to lifelong learners and more experienced professionals as Continuing Professional Development, up-skilling, retraining, and as a refresher course. Furthermore, the programme can be undertaken on a module-by-module basis, if so desired, by accumulating credits.



Who Should Apply?

This programme is designed for a multidisciplinary cohort across the built environment disciplines such as Architecture, Engineering, Building Surveying, Architectural Technology, and Construction Management, among others. The programme aims to address current building regulation requirements for nearly zero energy buildings and retrofit of existing housing stock. This is an area of upskilling which is in demand in the construction industry.

Modules:

Energy Conservation

Service

Candidates must hold a cognate Level 8 Bachelor (Honours) degree with a minimum grade classification of H2.2 or equivalent, in an appropriate Built Environment undergraduate programme or equivalent. Candidates who do not meet the H2.2 performance standard in a Level 8 award will be required to pass a qualifying assignment at an H2.2 performance standard as established by the Programme Board for the programme in question and as approved by the Registrar.



In accordance with ATU policy recognition of prior learning can be used to gain access to or exemption from this programme. ATU is committed to the principles of transparency, equity, and fairness in recognition of prior learning (RPL) and to the principle of valuing all learning regardless of the mode or place of its acquisition. Recognition of Prior Learning may be used to:



1. Gain access or advanced entry to a programme at Stage 2 or higher, subject to available places. (Stage 1 entry through CAO)



2. Gain credits and exemptions from programme modules after admission



3. In award years RPL will be considered, to a 50% maximum (30 credits)



Academic Code of Practice No. 6 outlines the policies and procedures for the Recognition of Prior Learning. Guidance for applicants is provided on myexperience.ie .The programme board will be expecting mapping equivalencies to the QQI Awards standard at Level 8.



English Language Requirements will be as determined by ATU and as published in the Access, Transfer and Progression code

This course has closed for applications for September 2025.



Flexible learning courses are popular, and they fill on a first come, first served basis. There are two major intake periods throughout the academic year, September and January.



For January start courses, applications typically open in October, and for September start courses, applications typically open in February. Closing dates for applications are listed on the individual course webpage.

1 year part-time, blended delivery.



Recommended Study Hours per week

4 hours per week in Semester 1. 2 hours per week in Semester 2. Self-directed learning, assessments and project work will be expected to be completed in addition to the timetabled contact hours.



On-Campus Attendance Requirement

Tutorials, project work, and some assessments will be conducted one Saturday each semester.

Start Date: September 2025.

Careers

There are employment opportunities for building regulation practitioners as specialists within their broader discipline areas of Architecture, Architectural Technology, Building Surveying, Consultancy, Consultant Engineering, Civil Engineering, Building Engineering, Building Services Engineering, Quality Engineering, Building Control Engineering, Local Authority Engineering, and Construction Management, to name a few.



By completing this programme, further employment opportunities may present in the much sought-after areas of specialist Building Regulation Engineers, Building Control Engineers, Quality Engineers, Local Authority Engineers, Designers, Builders, Assigned Certifiers and/or Ancillary Certifiers, the roles of each being defined in the Built Environment Regulations and Legislation, and also depending on each candidates’ primary undergraduate degree qualification, their professional body membership and their practice experience in the construction industry.



By completing this programme, it may facilitate partial progression routes into these roles. This qualification and sub-sets thereof will help to meet annual Continuing Professional Development requirements, and to align with professional body requirements. This programme may facilitate employment opportunities in the broad area of Building Regulations and Building Control in the private and public sector, in local authority, and on site in the construction sector.



Progression

This Certificate is offered as a stand alone Certificate as well as an embedded minor award in the MSc in Built Environment Regulation, and the Postgraduate Diploma in Science in the Built Environment Regulation.