Engineering - Road Safety Audit & Engineering - Sligo

Course Overview

This new programme was developed in conjunction with our state industry partners, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), who are responsible for the safe and efficient design and operation of Ireland’s National road network and light rail systems.



This qualification is primarily aimed at practicing Road Safety Auditors who have previous road safety audit and design experience and who wish to become an RSA Team Leader. The course is also recommended to those individuals who have an interest in road safety and persons beginning their journey towards becoming a Road Safety Audit trainee or member.



This Special Purpose Award, at Level 9 in the NFQ, fulfils the academic training that must be achieved to become a RSA Team Leader. (See TII Publication for more information about Road Safety Auditor training and experience requirements). Delivery is on a part-time blended learning basis over 15 weeks. This consists of, on-line lectures and workshops and includes one in-person project workshop. Attendance in-person at this project workshop is compulsory.



The 15 credit programme is made up of a 10 credit and 5 credit module, both of which are delivered over one semester. The delivery of the modules is based on lectures (including asynchronous and tutorial support) delivered live online, and complimented by workshops facilitated by academic staff and external road safety audit experts, for the practical and applied elements of the programme.



One workshop is delivered on-campus at ATU Sligo or other suitable locations by subject matter experts, and will include supervised site visits of road schemes for the demonstration and participation on a group basis of current road safety audit and engineering procedures, collision investigation and analysis and procedural reporting techniques. Another workshop is delivered virtually.



Who Should Apply?

This programme is suitable for Civil Engineering professionals working, or intending to work, in the road engineering sector to develop appropriate professional road safety auditing and road safety engineering skills and learning.

Modules:

Principles of Road Safety Engineering and Audit

Road Safety Projects

The entry requirement for this programme is an honours BEng (Hone) degree (Level 8 on NFQ) in Civil Engineering or equivalent.



Graduates who have not obtained this minimum may incorporate other equivalent qualifications and relevant work experience and apply for assessment via the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process. RPL is a process that may allow you to gain admission to a programme or to receive exemptions / credit from some parts of a programme based on demonstrated learning that you may have achieved through another programme of study or through your work or career. Further information is available through www.atu.ie/rpl which is our dedicated RPL portal.

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 semester part-time, online delivery.



Recommended Study Hours per week

It is recommended that students should try to allow for 5-6 hours per week per 5-credit module to their studies.



On-Campus Attendance Requirement

Compulsory workshops occur once per programme and are delivered on-campus at ATU Sligo or other suitable locations by subject matter experts in Ireland, and will include supervised site visits of road schemes for the demonstration and participation on a group basis of current road safety audit and engineering procedures, collision investigation and analysis and procedural reporting techniques.

Start Date: January 2026.

Careers

Engineers working for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) National Road Design Offices (NRDO), and private sector consulting and contracting engineering companies require up-skilling so that the statutory requirement for the completion of road safety audits of all public road schemes is fulfilled.



Graduates from this programme will be eligible to receive a Certificate of Competence in Road Safety Audit from TII and can become an Audit Team Leader once the following conditions are met:



• They are a Chartered Engineer or equivalent.

• Have at least two years experience of collision investigation and remedial measures for public road networks.

• Have taken part in ten road safety audits as a team member.