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Transition Year Programme

Our Transition Year Programme

The School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology’s Transition Year (TY) programme is designed by Dr Sinéad Kerins and has run annually since 2005. The programme is in high demand by transition year students and gives students the opportunity to complete a wide variety of laboratory experiments. and also, provides them with an insight into the research conducted in the School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology.

The programme content comprises lectures that introduce students to the theory of the experiments that they will be conducting subsequently. The students receive one-to-one instruction by our senior technical staff who supervise the students’ work during the week.

The TY programme also allows students to develop their team and presentation skills. The students are assigned into teams during the week and on the final day of the programme each team delivers a PowerPoint assisted presentation of their top three experiments, which is attended by staff in the School. During the week, students also have the opportunity to experience the state-of-the-art facilities available in the Western Gateway Building, explore the grounds and facilities that UCC offers and gain an insight into University life.

The TY programme helps students to make an informed decision on whether to consider a career in Biochemistry.

Our Transition Year students said

I absolutely loved the week!

My experience this week has been really positive. I have enjoyed every experiment and found this week very interesting. I have definitely improved my research writing and analytical skills. I learnt how to isolate DNA, how to use and work agarose gel electrophoresis and make my own agar. I have met loads of new people and worked well as a team with them. My favourite experiment was the experiment ‘how to investigate the function of a buffer’ and creating our own art with bacteria. It was awesome and really enjoyed it.

Most interesting for me was the talk on Sickle Cell Anaemia

I enjoyed my week attending the School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology Transition Year Programme. I learned a lot about what they do in the Biochemistry lab in UCC. I thought growing bacteria was interesting especially the luminescent ones. The most interesting part though was the Sickle Cell Anaemia talk. It was very interesting diagnosing it as well.

Staff are very nice and helpful

I really enjoyed my week at the School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology Transition Year Programme for a few reasons. Staff are very nice and helpful. Gives you a tester of what a career in science is like. Had fun and learnt new stuff along the way. Advice: Have some tasks ready for waiting for the gel to try etc.

The TY course was a highlight of my TY year!

I have found the week at the school of Biochemistry and Cell Biology to be very interesting and informative. We covered a variety of topics this week such as Sickle Cell Anaemia, pH buffers and isolation DNA. I found Sickle Cell Anaemia to be of particular interest, since I knew little on it, but was interested in genetically transmitted diseases. The people we were working with were very friendly and helpful also.

It is a great opportunity to see what college life is like

The School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology Transition Year Programme was a very enjoyable and interesting experience for me. It was a great opportunity to see what college life is like. But also to see if I would like to pursue this type of course after school. The staff were wonderful and it was by far the best part of my transition year

I learnt from my mistakes!

My experience of UCC’s Biochemistry TY programme was a very positive one. I met different people and I felt comfortable around the staff, who were incredibly friendly. Some of the experiments were challenging and I think I made a few mistakes when doing them but I learnt from that! I really enjoyed my time here and I am glad to have had this experience

The course has encouraged me to see Biochemistry as a career option

I found this course very worthwhile. It covers a lot of experiments which will benefit the Leaving Cert. We learned important techniques such as how to use a pipette properly!! It gave a great insight to Biochemistry and has encouraged me to consider Biochemistry as a career option

The TY programme is enlightening, student-friendly and very understandable

I have learned a great deal during the Biochemistry & Cell Biology Transition Year Programme. I would recommend this course very highly to any science or non-science enthusiast alike as it is enlightening, student-friendly and very understandable. Thank you so much for everything. I really enjoyed my week meeting new and interesting people.

The experiments really reinforced the theory we learned

I really enjoyed the Biochemistry & Cell Biology Transition Year Programme. We learned lots of interesting material. My favourite part of the week was doing the variety of laboratory experiments, which really helped reinforce the theory we learned. I also liked meeting new people and making friends. I would highly recommend the programme.

We actually did the experiments ourselves

Amazing week! Very informative! The School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology at UCC really taught us a lot and the whole experience was more hands-on with experiments instead of lecture style. Instead of just showing us, we actually did the experiments and that really gave us an understanding of what we were doing and why we were doing it. There was lot of group work so it really helped in making friends. It was extremely informative and gave me an insight into what college life might be like.The use of PowerPoint was great for presenting and explaining our experiment results as it showed us how to work as a group and helped each of us with our individual skills.

Very useful course for preparing for the Leaving Certificate

I thoroughly enjoyed the School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology’s Transition year programme. The week was extremely informative in allowing me to make an informed decision on what to study when I leave school. I also learned a lot about various scientific methods and experiments along with different scientific phenomenon's which will be of great assistance to me when preparing for the leaving certificate. Overall I got a great feel for the field of Biochemistry and Cell Biology along with what college life is like in general.”

The TY programme is well-organised

The Biochemistry & Cell Biology Transition Year Programme was very well organised. I liked how we covered a lot of areas and each area was explained clearly so we knew what we were doing and why we were doing it. I am very interested in science, so this was a great course for me. I really enjoyed doing all the different experiments as they were all relevant for real life. I found the lectures so absorbing, and it has made me consider pursuing a career in that field of research. Thank you

Thinking about doing science in college?

CK402 Biological and Chemical Sciences degree programme is the most flexible entry route for you in science, with many choices of degree stream available — one of which is the BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry.

All of the degree options are available to you in First Year, and you don't have to decide upon your degree stream until 2nd or 3rd year.

Professor John Morrissey

Director of CK402 Biological and Chemical Sciences

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My video explains your options after First Year CK402 Biological and Chemical Sciences and the route a BSc in Biochemistry at UCC

Jordan O'Donoghue

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In Second Year, I am studying Biological Sciences, and I hoping to study Biochemistry in Third Year...

Ailbhe Woods

Student in Second Year Biological Sciences

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Welcome to Biochemistry and Cell Biology at UCC—Your future in science

Dr Tom Moore

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Our staff talk to you

Biochemistry is essential for understanding all life, human biology and diseases.

Professor Rosemary O'Connor speaks...

As well as core technical skills, you will develop qualities in curiosity, analysis, critique, honesty and integrity, teamwork, communication, global awareness, assimilative ability.

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Welcome to Biochemistry and Cell Biology at UCC—Your future in science

Professor Tommie McCarthy speaks...

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Our graduates say

Our graduates describe their personal journey to and from the BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry

Because of my final year research project, I developed an interest in research and subsequently decided to apply for a PhD.

Dr Kathy (Barriscale) Walsh

Kathy is a first class honours graduate of the BSc in Biochemistry at UCC. She also graduated with a PhD in Cancer Biology from our School.

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The Biochemistry degree gave me an amazing advantage over other degrees...

Jamie Byrne

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I went on to secure a graduate position in the biopharma industry where I now work as a production specialist in one of the leading biopharmaceutical companies in the world...

Laura Fine

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The course content is delivered by an expert faculty who are experienced and active members of the international scientific community...

Colm Doyle

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With its mix of genetics, microbiology and chemistry as well as the core aspects underpinning biochemistry itself, the degree equips students with a good knowledge for a career in...

Martina Foudy

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I wanted to fuse my two passions of science and business and build a career around that...

David Hardwicke

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It is often the case that people will shape our experiences and both my classmates and the excellent teaching staff in the School made my four years at UCC fun, exciting and rewarding...

Elizabeth Hinchy

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The research conducted during my fourth year research project was published in the Biochemical Society Transactions...

Aonghus McCarthy

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At UCC open day, after speaking to lecturers in the Biochemistry & Microbiology departments, who were so passionate about their research, I knew that I wanted to share that same passion for science...

Elaine O'Brien

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I wanted to pursue a career which allowed me to work with people in a more hands-on manner...

Daniel Nyhan

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Career Insights

Career and postgrad options after the degree in Biochemistry are diverse. Hear from some of our graduates.

Tanya has over 30 years’ experience in the start-up, pharma, product development and research industry in Ireland and the US.

Dr Tanya Mulcahy

Director of Health Innovation Hub Ireland (HIHI)

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Programme Director

School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology

Scoil na Bithcheimice agus na Cillbhitheolaíochta

University College Cork

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