Engineering - Pharmaceutical & Biopharmaceutical Engineering

The Part-Time Master of Engineering Science (MEngSc) in Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Engineering is a unique offering of the discipline of Process and Chemical Engineering designed to provide participants with a formal qualification in areas of particular topical interest to the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry. These include 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.



Modules are delivered not only by academics from UCC but lecturers from leading industries including Eli Lilly, Janssen, MSD and PM Group and the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT), Dublin, providing hands-on-training and insights into state-of-the-art pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical manufacturing processes and practices.



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



Part-time (24-months over 2 years); Maximum 45 months over 5 academic years.



Experience hands-on training at the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) providing valuable insight, skills and knowledge that bridge the gap between academic teaching and industry practice.



Learn directly from the industry with guest lecturers from Pharma/Biopharma industries including Eli Lilly, MSD and Janssen.



Balance work and education with blended learning with blocked lectures (elaborated further in course practicalities)



Enhance employability through continuing professional development and access to UCC Careers Services team.



Access a multidisciplinary learning environment and project-based learning combining both individual elements and group work, enhancing learning outcomes and inter-personal skills



The MEngSc in Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Engineering is a part-time programme running for a minimum of 24 months over 2 academic years and comprising 3 modules of 5 credits per semester.



For those willing to study full-time, please refer to the Full-Time Masters in MEngSc Engineering in Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Systems.

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 and 30 credits of a research thesis.



Students must take 9 mandatory modules worth 5 credits each to the value of 45 credits. The remaining 3 modules can be selected from a list of 4 modules worth 5 credits each to make up the final 15 credits of the total of 60 credits.



Year 1, Semester 1 (Mandatory modules)

PE6010 Pharmaceutical Engineering (5 credits) by industry lecturers from MSD

PE6011 Biopharmaceutical Engineering (5 credits) by NIBRT

PE6013 Powder and Particle Technology and Unit Operations (5 credits)



Year 1, Semester 2 (Select 3 out of 4 modules)

PE6004 Biopharmaceutical Support Systems (5 credits) by industry lecturer from PM Group

PE6018 Pharmaceutical Process Validation and Quality (5 credits) by industry lecturer from Eli Lilly

PE6019 Process Analytical Technology (5 credits)

CM6010 Introductory Pharmaceutical Chemistry (5 credits)



Year 2, Semester 1 (Mandatory modules)

PE6012 Pharmaceutical Process Equipment, Materials and Mechanical Design (5 credits)

PE6016 Pharmaceutical Industry: Manufacturing and Optimisation (5 credits)

PE6026 Project Engineering - From Concept to Completion (5 credits) by industry lecturer from PM Group



Year 2, Semester 2 (Mandatory modules)

PE6022 Aseptic Manufacturing Design (5 credits) by industry lecturer from Janssen

PE6024 Advanced Process Design and Safety Engineering (5 credits) by industry lecturer from Flemings Professionals

PE6027 Advanced Biopharmaceutical Engineering (5 credits) by industry lecturer from Eli Lilly

Research Thesis in Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Engineering (30 credits)



The MEngSc in Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Engineering 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 their thesis or decide to exit with a PG-Diploma.



Post Graduate Diploma (PGDip) in Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Engineering

Students who achieve 40% in each individual taught module but fail to achieve the requisite grade of 50% across the taught modules, or students who pass all taught modules and do not wish to complete the Research Dissertation, may opt to exit the programme and be conferred with a Postgraduate Diploma in Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Engineering.



Individual Modules or MicroCredits

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.



Learners on this scheme can take multiple MicroCreds up to 30 ECTS in total to be accounted for towards the MEngSc.

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

For full details of the non-EU application procedure visit our how to apply pages for international students.



In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.



Note that not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above. 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.

Closing Date

Rolling deadline. Open until all places have been filled. Early application is advised.

Part-time minimum of 24 months, maximum of 60 months.

Start Date 11 September 2026

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.