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The SLC Drop-in Centre is a place where students can come without appointment or cost on a first-come first-served basis to receive individual or small group support from our experienced postgraduate tutors.
Our tutors are specialists in chemistry, physics, engineering and biology and are present to address any queries that you may have regarding science-based modules. You do not have a time limit when you visit the SLC, and you can come individually or in groups.
Commonly Asked Questions
The Drop-in service does not consist of formal tutorials or classes; rather students bring any questions they have regarding their studies to experienced tutors who have often completed this module in the past. Students come to the Drop-in Centre for a wide variety of reasons, but common examples include:
- getting help with lecture materials
- getting help with a particular concept covered in a lecture that you are struggling to understand
- getting help with laboratory report analyses
- students who have not studied a particular subject at Leaving Cert level and would like some extra support regarding new and unfamiliar concepts
- students who have returned to education after a career break and would like to refresh their scientific knowledge
General Opening Hours
The Drop-in Centre is typically available from Weeks 3-13 each semester. We organise for tutors from a range of scientific subject specialties to be present throughout the week for two-hour sessions either in the morning or afternoon.
Examination Opening Hours
In addition to normal semester drop-ins throughout the year, we also organise for additional drop-in centre availability beyond week 13 each semester, and before August Repeat Examinations.
Our tutors are not assigned to cover a remit of specific modules, but rather are general subject specialists in either the fields of Physics, Engineering, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering/Process Technology, or Biology. As such, depending on the content covered in your module, you pick a session where tutor who is a specialist in that field will be present. See the table below for common examples of which specialism is most appropriate to attend depending on the module you need help with (please note, some modules can cover multiple fields, such as Physical Chemistry modules, due to the nature of the content covered in those modules).
| Subject Field | Examples of Relevant Module Code Prefix(es) |
|---|---|
| Physics | AU, some CH (Physical Chem), PH |
| Engineering | AS, AU, some BC, CE, some CG, DM, EE, EN, ES, ET, ME, MF, MT, PT, some WT |
| Chemistry | AU, BC, some BY, CE, some FT, some HS, some MT |
| Process Tech/Chemical Engineering | BC, CG, CH, some PH, PN |
| Biology | AU, BC, BY, some CH, ER, FT, some ME, MT, NG, NM, NS, PY, SS |
The Drop-in Centre will be open between weeks 3-13 of each semester, and the timetable below shows you what days/times various fields will be covered at the Drop-in Centre.
| Day |
AM (10:00-12:00) |
PM (14:00-16:00) |
| Monday |
General Physics/Quantum Mechanics/Properties of Matter/Optics
General, Physical, Inorganic, Organic & Analytical Chemistry |
Process Tech/Chemical Engineering
Engineering Science/Statics/Dynamics/ Mechanics of Solids |
| Tuesday |
CLOSED |
CLOSED |
| Wednesday |
General, Physical, Inorganic, Organic & Analytical Chemistry
Biology, Biochemistry, Biomechanics, Food Science topics |
General Physics/Quantum Mechanics/Properties of Matter/Optics
Biology, Biochemistry, Biomechanics, Food Science topics |
| Thursday |
General Physics/Quantum Mechanics/Properties of Matter/Optics
Engineering Science/Statics/Dynamics/ Mechanics of Solids |
General, Physical, Inorganic, Organic & Analytical Chemistry
Process Tech/Chemical Engineering |
| Friday |
CLOSED |
CLOSED |
The Drop-in Centre can be found on the "Our Location" page
The SLC has saved me on numerous occasions. Lovely tutors and excellent facility overall. If you are struggling, please go to the SLC.
The Science Learning Centre is absolutely brilliant. They help with anything you need. It’s always there so I highly recommend them.
