Overview

Students enter First Year Engineering and complete a common programme of study. In Second Year students enter separate programmes leading to degrees in Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Energy Engineering and Process and Chemical Engineering.

Note: At the end of Third Year students may register for the BE (Hons)/ME Pathway (Process and Chemical). Students who choose not/are not eligible to register for the BE (Hons ME Pathway (Process and Chemical) will continue to Fourth Year of the BE (Hons) (Process and Chemical).

Second Year - Process and Chemical Engineering

No student may register for Second Year until he/she has passed the First University Examination in Engineering. In order to be admitted to the Second University Examination in Process and Chemical Engineering, a student must have satisfactorily attended, subsequent to passing the First University Examination in Engineering, prescribed modules to the value of 60 credits.

Third Year - Process and Chemical Engineering

No student may register for the Third Year programme in Process and Chemical Engineering until he/she has passed the Second University Examination in Process and Chemical Engineering. In order to be admitted to the Third University Examination in Process and Chemical Engineering, a student must have satisfactorily attended, subsequent to passing the Second University Examination in Engineering, prescribed modules to the value of 60 credits.

Year Abroad (Third Year)

On the recommendation of the Head of the School of Engineering and Architecture and subject to the approval of the College of Science, Engineering and Food Science, a student may be permitted to undertake the Third Year of his/her BE studies at an approved institution abroad following a study programme equivalent to 60 credits. Where a language other than English is the language of instruction at the approved host institution, up to 20 credits of the programme may be dedicated to formal study of the language of instruction, subject to the approval of the Head of School of Engineering and Architecture. The detailed programme of study shall be proposed by the student in consultation with the approved host institution and the Director of the BE (Process and Chemical Engineering) Programme and shall require the approval of the Head of School of Engineering and Architecture.

The student will be examined by the approved host institution. A student who achieves a pass standard, as defined by the approved host institution, will be deemed to have passed the Third University Examination in Process and Chemical Engineering. A student who fails to achieve a pass standard, as defined by the approved host institution, will be deemed to have failed the Third University Examination in Process and Chemical Engineering and will be eligible to undertake the Third Year programme at UCC in a Repeat Year. The detailed transcript of results will be communicated by the host institution to the Autumn Examination Board, UCC, and will form part of the student's formal academic record.

Registered Second Year Process and Chemical Engineering students who have achieved a 2H1 in first year may apply to undertake the Third Year of their BE studies abroad. An application to study abroad must be made to the Head of the School of Engineering and Architecture by 31st January. Permission to undertake the Third Year of study abroad will be conditional on the student achieving at least a 2H1 in the Second University Examination in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the Summer Examination.

The number of students who may be permitted to undertake the Third Year of study abroad will be limited by the number of places available in any given year at approved host institutions.

Work Placement Module in Fourth Year (BE Hons)

A student who wishes to take the elective module, PE4021, in Fourth Year is required to have made final arrangements, as prescribed by the Module Co-ordinator, for the work placement by 31 May of their Third year. The work placement is undertaken during the period, June to September, after the Third Year Summer University Examination. Further information is available from the Module Co-ordinator.

Entry to the ME in Process and Chemical Engineering

Entry to the ME in Process and Chemical Engineering is determined based on student performance during Third Year. Students who pass the Third University Examination in Process and Chemical Engineering, achieving at least a 2H2 will be eligible to register for Fourth Year of the BE (Hons)/ME Pathway (Process and Chemical). In the case of students that have completed one full semester or a full year of studies abroad during Third Year, performance during the Second Year is taken into consideration, with a minimum of 2H1 in the Second Year Examination required for eligibility, in addition to passing the Third Year examination. Students who are eligible to register for the BE (Hons) / ME Pathway (Process and Chemical), but choose not to, will continue to Fourth Year of the BE (Hons) (Process and Chemical). Students passing the Third University Examination in Process and Chemical Engineering who are ineligible to register for the BE (Hons)/ME Pathway (Process and Chemical) will continue to Fourth Year of the BE (Hons) ( Process and Chemical).

Fourth Year - BE (Hons)/ME Pathway Process and Chemical Engineering

In Fourth Year students complete either the BE (Hons) or the ME (Process) Pathway.

No student may register for Fourth Year until he/she has passed the Third University Examination in Process and Chemical Engineering. In order to be admitted to the BE (Hons) / ME Pathway (Process and Chemical) Degree Examination, a student must have satisfactorily pursued, subsequent to passing the Third University Examination in Process and Chemical Engineering, modules to the value of 60 credits.

Work Placement Module in Fourth Year (BE Hons)

A student who wishes to take the elective module, PE4021, in Fourth Year is required to have made final arrangements, as prescribed by the Module Co-ordinator, for the work placement by 31 May of their Third year. The work placement is undertaken during the period, June to September, after the Third Year University Examination. A student who makes arrangements for taking the work placement module and fails to pass the Third University Summer Examination in Process and Chemical Engineering will not be permitted to take the module for examination in Fourth Year. The module is described in the Book of Modules. Further information is available from the Module Co-ordinator.

Fifth Year - ME Process and Chemical Engineering

No student may register for Fifth Year of the ME in Process and Chemical Engineering until he/she has passed the Fourth ME Pathway University Examination in Process and Chemical Engineering. In order to be admitted to the Final ME (Examination in Process and Chemical) Degree Examination a student must have satisfactorily attended, subsequent to passing the Fourth ME Pathway University Examination in Process and Chemical Engineering, prescribed modules to the value of 60 credits.

Programme Requirements

For information about modules, module choice, options and credit weightings, please go to Programme Requirements. 

Programme Requirements

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Some modules may be pre-requisites for elective modules in subsequent years. While there is no upper limit on the number of students who may take a particular elective module, modules may be withdrawn if there are insufficient entrants.

Examinations

Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards Book and for each module in the Book of Modules.

Programme Learning Outcomes

Programme Learning Outcomes for BE (Hons) (Process and Chemical Engineering) (NFQ Level 8, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the sciences (mathematics, chemistry, physics, biochemistry, microbiology and biotechnology) which underpin chemical engineering;
• Recognise, delineate, analyse and solve in a professional and practical way, the problems in processing industries, technical and otherwise, which are susceptible to engineering treatment;
• Apply pertinent knowledge to the practice of Process and Chemical engineering in an effective and professional manner;
• Appreciate the national and global needs for sustainable development, and the professional engineer's responsibility regarding the environment and society at large;
• Appreciate the need for the highest ethical standards in professional engineering;
• Work in multidisciplinary teams;
• Communicate effectively with the engineering community and with society at large;
• Appreciate the importance of continuing professional development.

*** Only for Incoming First Years, Repeat First Years, Second Years and Repeat Second Years 2025/2026 ***
*** Click here for Marks and Standards for all other years ***

Marks and Standards

These Marks and Standards should be read in conjunction with the Programme Requirements and the Book of Modules.

Fitness to Practise

All students on programmes subject to Fitness to Practise in UCC will be required to comply with the Fitness to Practise Policy and meet the relevant Fitness to Practise standards, in order to progress to the next year of his/her/their programme. Click here for a list of programmes subject to the Fitness to Practise Policy.

First Year - Marks and Credits

Students are required to take modules to the value of 60 credits.
Total Marks for year: 1200.

First Year - Pass and Progression Criteria

To pass first year and progress to second year, students must achieve:

1. An aggregate mark of 40% across all modules,
2. A pass mark in modules to the value of at least 50 credits, and
3. A module mark of at least 30% in any remaining modules.

Pass by Compensation: Students who satisfy each of the above criteria are allowed to compensate in modules to the value of 10 credits and pass the year overall.

Second Year - Marks and Credits

Students are required to take modules to the value of 60 credits.
Total Marks for year: 1200.

Second Year - Pass and Progression Criteria

To pass second year and progress to third year, students must achieve:

1. An aggregate mark of 40% across all modules,
2. A pass mark in modules to the value of at least 50 credits, and
3. A module mark of at least 30% in any remaining modules.

Pass by Compensation: Students who satisfy each of the above criteria are allowed to compensate in modules to the value of 10 credits and pass the year overall.

Award of Honours in the Degree Award

Honours are only awarded in the final year of the degree.

Examination Boards

• Provisional marks for Semester 1 examinations are released in January/February of each year. These marks are subject to approval at the University Examination Board.
• Marks for all modules taken in Semester 1 and 2, including those wholly assessed by Continuous Assessment, will be presented to the University Examination Board at the end of Semester 2.

Supplemental Examinations and Assessment

• Students who fail to achieve the progression standard for the year at the Summer Examination Board must complete Supplemental Examinations and/or Continuous Assessment for those specific module(s), where there is provision to do so.
• Please refer to the Book of Modules for requirements governing the Supplemental Examination and Assessment for individual modules. Note: For some modules there is no Supplemental Examination and Assessment.
• The marks achieved in the Supplemental Examinations and/or Continuous Assessment of a repeat module are considered at the Autumn Examination Board.
• The actual mark achieved by the candidate in the Supplemental or Repeat Year Examination will be recorded on the student record (Academic Transcript).
• The maximum mark that will be taken into account for aggregation and progression purposes is a pass level, unless the student has been granted a cap waiver or deferral by the University Mitigation Committee, or a University Examination Board, or has been approved to defer the previous attempt by the University Mitigation Committee.
• At the Autumn Examination Board, marks from all passed modules approved at the Summer Examination Board are carried forward and are combined with the marks achieved in Supplemental Examinations and/or Assessments. The pass and progression criteria are applied to the aggregate mark achieved.

Note: The mark achieved at the last examination/assessment attempt is the mark that is included in the calculation of the aggregate mark for pass and progression purposes.

Study Abroad

• When students study abroad as part of his/her/their degree programme, they will be assessed by his/her/their host university.
• To pass the study abroad period and progress to the subsequent year, a student must achieve a pass standard as applied by the host institution.
• A Pass/Fail judgement will be presented to the UCC Examination Boards:
  • At the Summer Examination Board for students spending Semester 1 abroad.
  • At the Autumn/Winter Examination Board for students spending the full academic year abroad or Semester 2 only.
• For students failing to achieve a pass mark, Supplemental Assessment will be prescribed by the School in UCC, and these results will be presented at a Winter Examination Board.

Exemptions

All passed modules carry an exemption, which is limited to a period of five academic years (or two in the case of Computer Science modules) subsequent to the award of the exemption.

Repeat Year Examinations

Students repeating the year may do so choosing one of the following mechanisms:

1. Students retain module exemptions, if any, and must repeat all failed/absent modules, including those modules where the failing mark previously achieved was greater than the level of compensation (≥ 30%) but who failed to achieve the progression standard for the year (see above). The pass and progression criteria are then applied to the combination of full marks achieved in modules passed at the first attempt, plus capped marks achieved in modules in the Repeat Year Examinations.​

Note: For students selecting different modules not previously taken, there are no restrictions on the marks awarded for those modules at the first attempt in a repeat year. The selection of different modules by the student means that the student foregoes any previous marks achieved in the original modules (including previously passed modules).

2. Students may forego all module exemptions achieved and repeat the year choosing modules to the value of the full 60 credits. In determining pass and progression, there is no restriction on the marks awarded for modules taken at the first attempt of the Repeat Year. Modules taken at the subsequent Supplemental Examination and Assessment are capped at the pass mark.

Subject to capacity, all students - whether they have failed or passed - are allowed to choose this second option, in an attempt to improve his/her/their grade.

Students repeating the final year are eligible for the award of Honours in the first Repeat Year only. Final year students wishing to repeat the year with a view to improving his/her/their degree result may do so only if they have not been conferred.

Three Year Rule

Students must pass/progress within three academic years of the date of first registration for a year, otherwise they cannot continue in the programme.

Terms and Definitions

Programme Description

• The programme description is outlined in the Programme Requirements tab.

Module Descriptions/Assessment

• Module descriptions, including the pass standard for a module, special requirements to pass a module, and assessment elements and their weightings, are contained in the Book of Modules.

Marks and Credits

• A maximum of 100 marks may be awarded for every five credits of a programme.
• Some modules are assessed on a Pass/Fail basis only, i.e. marks are not awarded.

Pass and Progression

• Progression is defined as the permission granted to a student to register in the subsequent academic year for the next set of modules within his/her/their programme of study.
• Compensation is defined as the process by which a student, who fails to satisfy some of the regulations for credit in a specific module, is nevertheless recommended for credit to be awarded on the grounds that the failure is offset by his/her/their performance in the other modules on his/her/their programme of study.