Key Info

Biological and Chemical Sciences (Common Entry)

NFQ Level 8 major Award Honours Bachelor Degree
CAO points history
487*
Course code
LM123
Duration
4 Years
* Not all applicants who scored these points were offered places.
Subject area
Science
Course Director
Dr Hugh Geaney
Email
hugh.geaney@ul.ie
Admissions:
Tel
+353 (0)61 233755

Are you interested in Science? Would you like to understand how living things work, evolve and function at the molecular or cellular level? Are you interested in a career that can really make a practical contribution to helping address the challenges that presently face the world, for example, the discovery of new drugs to fight disease, inventing new materials for biomedical devices, developing greener systems to protect the quality of our environment? Do you want a challenging career and one tailored to meet the needs of a wide spectrum of employers? Then this programme might be for you.

Why Study Biological and Chemical Sciences at UL?

This entry route is designed to provide you with a gateway to better choice if you’re unsure which area you’d like to study. You can avail of a broad common first year which will introduce you to various topics in Biological and Chemical Sciences. Having gained a better understanding of each subject area, you then choose your preferred pathway to specialise for the remaining 3 years of your degree programme. At UL, you get to try before you decide.

Science requires a fundamental understanding of the key areas of biology and chemistry and the LM123 Biological and Chemical Sciences at the University of Limerick offers prospective students an opportunity to develop a core competency in both scientific areas in their first year at University. LM123 Biological and Chemical Sciences is a gateway from Year 2 to a degree in either:

BSc Bioscience OR

BSc Environmental Science OR

BSc Industrial Biochemistry OR

BSc Pharmaceutical and Industrial Chemistry OR

BSc Biomedical Science (after completing years 2 and 3 in Bioscience)

Having selected LM123 Biological and Chemical Sciences you will be requested to rank the 4 degree options in order of your preference during Semester 2. In the event that a programme is over-subscribed, places will be allocated based on UL exam performance.

Choose your preferred degree pathway from one of the following four options;

The B.Sc. Industrial Biochemistry focuses upon the study of living cells (or components of living cells) and the medical/industrial applications of such substances. It is designed to prepare you for a career in biotechnology and allied industries, and has a very strong employment record.

The B.Sc. Environmental Science will provide you with a strong scientific understanding of environmental issues at local, national and global level and will give you a full knowledge of technological and management methods available to help improve the quality of our environment.

In the B.Sc. in Pharmaceutical & Industrial Chemistry fundamental and applied aspects of organic, inorganic, physical, analytical chemistry and materials chemistry are covered as well as key chemical engineering topics. These programmes will qualify you for employment in a variety of professional careers in the pharmaceutical and chemical sectors.

With the B.Sc. in Biosciences degree the emphasis is on cell biology and molecular medicine. Ireland is one of the leading international locations for the Life Science industry, which spans biopharmaceuticals, diagnostics, medical devices and biotechnology. Biosciences is extremely important to Ireland’s economy and its future growth.

The degree would provide an excellent foundation for students considering application to graduate entry medical school or to a post-graduate career in Bioscience/Life Sciences area.

Underpinning the LM123 Biological and Chemical Sciences programme are two very important student facilities. The first is access to the Science & Maths Learning Support Centres which offers all students an opportunity to further enhance their scientific and mathematical knowledge in the core scientific areas. Secondly, in all of the subsequent degree options outlined above, industrial work experience over an eight month period is provided through a relevant work placement as part of the Cooperative Education programme. There are many benefits to this programme for the student including the opportunity to apply academic knowledge to the work environment as well as developing many important skills including teamwork, problem- solving and communication skills. It also provides the student with very valuable work experience which increases their future graduate employment prospects.

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What you will study

Students entering the programme will undertake specific modules in the areas of chemistry, biology, maths and physics. As the subsequent degree programme choices focus heavily on biology or chemistry (or a combination of both), the biology and chemistry subjects taken in LM123 are designed to facilitate students in developing a fundamental competency in these areas. In conjunction with these core scientific modules, there will also be an interesting set of modules designed to give students a clear understanding of the key areas and content of the subsequent degree programme options of industrial biochemistry, pharmaceutical & industrial chemistry, biosciences and environmental science.

Year 1 Semester 1 Credits   Semester 2 Credits

CH4701

General Chemistry 1

6

BY4102

Biology for Biosciences

6

BY4001

Biology 1

6

CH4102

Organic Chemistry 1

6

MA4601

Science Mathematics 1

6

PH4142

Introduction to Physics

6

CH4021

Laboratory Calculations

3

MA4602

Science Mathematics 2

6

ER4011

Introduction to Environmental and Biosciences

3

CH4031

General Chemistry 2 (Inorganic)

3

CH4051

Introduction to Applied Chemistry and Biochemistry

3

CH4041

General Chemistry 2 (Physical)

3

CS4131

Introduction to Scientific Calculations

3      

 

Entry requirements

CAO points history
487*
Minimum grades

Applicants are required to hold at the time of enrolment the established Leaving Certificate (or an approved equivalent) with a minimum of six subjects which must include: Two H5 (Higher Level) grades and Four O6 (Ordinary Level) grades or four H7 (Higher Level) grades. Subjects must include Mathematics, Irish or another language, and English.

Subject requirements

In addition, applicants must hold a minimum grade O3/H7 in Mathematics and a Grade H4 in any one of the following: Agricultural Science, Applied Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Physics with Chemistry.

Additional considerations

A Special Mathematics Examination will be offered at UL following the Leaving Certificate results for those students who did not achieve the Mathematics requirement.

We welcome applications from mature students. Mature applicants must apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO) by 1 February.

Application information for mature student applicants (PDF)

QQI Entry

Certain QQI Awards are acceptable in fulfilling admission requirements for this programme. Visit the UL Undergraduate Admissions QQI site for a full list of modules.

Non-EU Entry Requirements

How to apply

Where are you applying from? How to Apply
Ireland Irish students must apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found here. 
The UK  Students who have completed their A-Levels can apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found on the Academic Registry website. 
The EU EU Students can apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found on the Academic Registry website.
Non-EU country If you are outside of the EU, you can apply for this degree here.

Fees and funding

Student course fees are broken into three components - Student contribution, Student Levy and Tuition Fees.

A number of illustrative examples of fees for this course based on the current fee levels have been set out in the tables below.

An explanation of the components, how to determine status and the criteria involved is provided below the examples as is a list of possible scholarships and funding available.

EU Students with Free fees status in receipt of a SUSI grant

HEA pays Tuition Fees €4,262
SUSI pays Student contribution €3,000
Student pays Student Levy €100
€7,362

EU Students with Free fees status not in receipt of a grant

HEA pays Tuition Fees €4,262
Student pays Student contribution €3,000
Student pays Student Levy €100
€7,362

Students with EU fee status not in receipt of a grant

Student pays Tuition Fees €4,262
Student pays Student contribution €3,000
Student pays Student Levy €100
€7,362

Non-EU Students

Student pays Tuition Fees €20,900
Student pays Student Levy €100
€21,000

Student course fees are comprised of the following components:

Student Contribution

Annual charge set by the government for all full-time third level students. All students are liable unless they have been approved for a grant by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). Please refer to https://www.studentfinance.ie to determine your eligibility for a grant and for instructions on how to apply. The current student contribution is set at €3000.

Student Levy

All students are liable to pay the Student Levy of €100. Please note the Student Levy is not covered by the SUSI Grant.

Tuition Fees

These are based on Residency, Citizenship, Course requirements.

Review the three groups of criteria to determine your fee status as follows

  1. Residency
    • You must have been living in an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland for at least 3 of the 5 years before starting your course
  2. Citizenship
    • You must be a citizen of an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland or have official refugee status
  3. Course Requirements (all must be met)
    • You must be a first time full-time undergraduate (Exceptions are provided for students who hold a Level 6 or Level 7 qualification and are progressing to a Level 8 course in the same general area of study).
    • You must be undertaking a full-time undergraduate course of at least 2 year’s duration
    • You cannot be undertaking a repeat year of study at the same level unless evidence of exceptional circumstances eg serious illness is provided (in which case this condition may be waived)

Depending on how you meet these criteria your status will be one of the following -

  • Free Fee Status: You satisfy all three categories (1, 2 and 3) and therefore are eligible for the Higher Education Authority’s Free Fees scheme.
  • EU Fee Status: You satisfy both the citizenship and residency criteria but fail to satisfy the course requirements and are liable to EU fees.
  • Non EU Fee Status: You do not meet either the citizenship or residency criteria and are therefore liable to Non EU fees.

More information about fees can be found on the Finance website

These scholarships are available for this course

Title Award Scholarships Available
BD Bursaries for Women in STEM €5,000 for one year 4
BD Science and Engineering Undergraduate Scholarship €2,000 for one year 6
The Roibeárd Thornton Memorial - Janssen Biologics Scholarship €2,500 1

These scholarships are available for all courses

Your future career

The career opportunities will depend primarily on the BSc course chosen by you, typical careers are:

B.Sc in Industrial Biochemistry

Biochemist, Teacher, Quality Assurance Manager, Scientific Researcher, Patent Agent

B.Sc. in Environmental Science

Environmental Officer, Environmental Laboratory Scientist, Environmental Consultant, Environmental Auditor, Water Conservation Officer, Water Quality Scientist

B.Sc. in Pharmaceutical and Industrial Chemistry

Chemist, Industrial Chemist, Environmental Chemist, Chemical Process Engineering, Quality Assurance Manager.

B.Sc in Bioscience

Graduates of the programme will be well positioned to gain employment in Ireland’s rapidly growing high tech Life Science industry.​

BSc in Biomedical Science

Graduates of this programme will be well positioned for careers across Biomedical Science and BioPharma, including areas such as disease diagnosis, disease intervention and treatment monitoring.