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1. Study
2. Adult Continuing Education
3. Study At ACE
4. Higher Diploma and Postgraduate Cert/Dip
5. Offshore Renewable Energy

Course Fact File

Code	PCORE
Duration	1 Year (Sep - May)
Teaching Mode	Part-Time
Qualifications	PG Cert
NFQ Level	Level 9
NFQ Award Title	Postgraduate Certificate
Fees	€5,000 (90%-100% Springboard+ funding available) See Fees and Costs for full details.
Closing Date	General Applications (Round One): 26 July 2026 Springboard+ Applications: 16 July 2026
Next Intake	September 2026
Start Date	September 2026

Course Outline

A limited number of Springboard+ Funded places are available for this programme. Please see Fees and Apply Now sections below for full details.  

The Postgraduate Certificate in Offshore Renewable Energy is a part-time Level 9 course that provides the knowledge-base required for engineers and engineering practitioners to develop their skills in the area of offshore renewable energy, with a particular focus on offshore wind. The programme content covers cutting edge technologies in the renewable energy sector, as well as instructing students in the underpinning theory. There is a strong industry focus throughout the course, in the form of industry-informed content, and direct access via guest lectures.  Graduates will thus emerge from the course up to date with the status of the offshore wind and renewable energy sector and the skills to make a successful entry and contribution to the industry.

The programme is part-time, and delivered in a blended format across two Semesters: September to December, and January to May. Students have the option of attending in-person lectures which will be recorded or doing the course entirely online in their own time. The objective of the programme is to provide a suitable route for engineering practitioners  (non-engineers undertaking engineering roles), either in full-time employment or jobseeking, to transition to the offshore wind and renewable energy sector.

 

The course consists of six taught modules delivered across two semesters. For full details, please refer to the UCC Book of Modules.

• NE6003 Wind Energy (5 credits, Semester 1): Introduces students to wind energy theory and technology, resource assessment and wind farm site development. It covers data analysis and energy production estimates, turbine design and control, wind energy storage technologies and wind energy forecasting. It is an essential precursor to its offshore wind counterpart.
• NE6013 Sustainable Energy (5 credits, Semester 1: Introduces the concept of sustainable energy, renewable energy technologies, energy policy and economics as well as the interaction between cost competitiveness, security of supply and environmental responsibility. The module provides students with the tools to assess energy trends and their policy implications.
• NE6203 Ocean Energy (5 credits, Semester 1): This module covers wave and tidal energy. It introduces students to the background theory as well as the lastest technological developments in the marine renewable energy sector. This module is fully online and 100% continuous assessment. The students undertake an ocean energy project that looks at all aspects of offshore renewable energy site development in Irish waters.
• NE6010 Offshore Wind Energy (5 credits, Semester 2): Offshore wind educates students in the advanced engineering and non-engineering issues relevant to offshore wind energy systems design, construction, installation, operations, finance and governance, with a particular focus on these developments in Irish waters. The module covers both fixed and floating technologies. This module is fully continuously assessed with a large focus on project work. The module includes significant input from industry experts through several guest lectures.
• NE6212 Clean Energy Futures (5 credits, Semester 2): Clean Energy Futures teaches students about real-world complex energy systems and how to model them using PLEXOS, the industry-standard software.
• NE6004 Sustainability, Bioenergy and Circular Economy Systems (5 credits, Semester 2): Introduces students to sustainability concepts associated with circular economy systems with a particular emphasis on hydrogen and other advanced renewable fuels that can be produced using offshore wind energy.

 

Course Practicalities

The course will be delivered using a blended model: modules where lectures are delivered in-person will be recorded, and the recordings uploaded onto Canvas, the learning platform used across UCC, where they can be watched asynchronously by the students. The students thus have the option of either an in-person experience, a fully online experience or a combination of the two (blended). In-person attendance is only mandatory for formal written exams at the end of each semester.

Why Choose This Course

This course is aimed at engineers or engineering practitioners of all types who want to gain skills and employment in the offshore renewable energy sector. Students will benefit from up-to-date content, industry-relevant assessments and guest lectures from experts in the energy sector. 

 

Who teaches this course: 

The course is delivered by the School of Engineering and Architecture. Modules are taught by Dr Frances Judge, Dr Paul Leahy, Dr Paul Deane and Prof Jerry Murphy, as well as a range of guest lecturers from industry and academia. A teaching assistant will provide regular tutorial sessions (online).

Skills and Careers Information

By doing this course, students gain employer exposure through UCC-organised recruitment fairs and employer-led events. Our graduates have gone on to avail of local, national and international opportunities in renewable energy project development, engineering consultancy, resource analysis, project financing, operations and management, surveying, and energy policy development. 

Requirements

Programme Entry Requirements: 

• A minimum Second Class Honours Grade II (or equivalent) in a primary honours degree in any discipline of Engineering (NFQ - level 8);
• or A minimum Second Class Honours Grade II (or equivalent) in a honours degree (NFQ - level 8) in areas of science that included mathematical subjects deemed equivalent to those of engineering (e.g. Physics, Mathematical Sciences, some Computing Science degrees), pending assessment by Programme Director via Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL);
• or A pass in any accredited level 8 Engineering degree followed by professional experience deemed of sufficient added value, pending assessment by Programme Director via Recognition of Prior Learning.

English Language Requirement: 

All applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence of English language proficiency. See our English language proficiency requirements. 

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):

Applicants who do not meet the above academic entry requirements may be considered for admission via RPL. See information on RPL here. 

Springboard+ Eligibility Requirements 

If you wish to apply as a Springboard+ funded applicant for this programme, you will need to meet the Springboard+ eligibility criteria. 

Springboard+ funded applicants will also need to meet the programme entry and English language requirements listed above. 

Fees and Costs

Springboard+ Funding

There are a limited number of places available for this programme funded by Springboard+.  

• Jobseekers and returners may be eligible for a 100% fee subsidy. These applicants will be given priority.
• Those in employment may be eligible for a 90% fee subsidy.  
  • If awarded Springboard+ funding, these applicants will need to pay the remaining 10% fee on registration (non-refundable).  
  • If an applicant's organisation wishes to pay their fees in part or in full, the applicants must pay the 10% on registration and any arrange any reimbursement with their employer/organisation directly. 

Direct Applications

There are a number of places available on this programme for those applying directly to UCC as fee-paying applicants. 

The fee for this programme is €5,000.

• Applicants pay 50% of this fee on application.
• This fee is fully refundable if the programme does not run or you are not offered a place on the programme
• The remaining 50% programme fee is due by 31 Jan. 

Sponsorship

If your fees are fully or partially covered by your organisation, this is called sponsorship. You will need to apply as a sponsored applicant.

Springboard+ funded applicants are not eligible to apply with sponsorship and must arrange any reimbursement directly with their organisation (see above).

How To Apply

Those applying for Springboard+ funding may check their eligibility HERE.

If you wish to apply for Springboard+ funding for this course, you must do so via the Springboard+ website HERE.

You must choose one application route: 

• Apply for Springboard+ funding, or 
• Apply directly to the programme as a fee-paying applicant 

Please note that applicants who have already applied via the direct (fee-paying) route are not eligible to subsequently apply for Springboard+ funding. 

If your application for Springboard+ funding is not approved, you may have the option to apply as a fee-paying applicant, subject to availability of places.