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2. Adult Continuing Education
3. Study At ACE
4. Certificate
5. Validation Science - CPD Cert

Course Fact File

Code	CCPDVS
Duration	1 year
Teaching Mode	Part-Time. See Additional Teaching Mode Information for more info.
Qualifications	Cert
NFQ Level	Level 7
NFQ Award Title	Special Purpose
Fees	€1350 (80% Funding Available) See Fees and Costs for full details.
Closing Date	31 July 2026
Venue	UCC
Start Date	16 September 2026

Course Outline

This programme in Validation Science provides a level 7 qualification in Validation Science over one year for individuals who are seeking to up-skill or cross-skill in order to gain suitable employment in sectors such as biopharmaceutical, pharmaceutical and medical device industries. This programme targets employment roles in production/manufacturing, quality assurance, regulatory affairs, commissioning, qualification, validation and operation roles within pharmaceutical/biotechnology/medical device manufacturing companies. This is an industrially focused course where students gain valuable knowledge and key skills in subject areas pertinent to working in highly regulated manufacturing environments such as GMP, Quality and Validation. The importance of validation of equipment, plant, utilities, processes and procedures in industry will be shown to be an essential approach to consistently producing products of the intended quality

This one-year programme is delivered over two semesters. The first module, Introduction to Validation, introduces key concepts related to working within a GMP environment and the second module (Validation Science) gives the learner a critical understanding of all aspects involved in process validation. Both modules are delivered through a blended approach of online delivery of material content, industrial supported seminars, industrial led webinars and industrial championed workshops. The course is examined through a mixture of continuous assessments which includes industrial themed case studies, individual-based assignments and online examinations of material content.

The modules for the Certificate are as follows:

• CM2011: Introduction to Validation
• CM2012: Validation Science

Course Queries

For Academic Queries and Course Content Queries please contact the Programme Coordinator Dr Eric Moore at e.moore@ucc.ie.

For Online Application Support please click here. 

If you require further assistance with your online application please contact the Programme Administrator Louise Fleming at l.fleming@ucc.ie. 

Additional Teaching Mode Information

One evening per week from October to May.

Course Practicalities

• The course consists of two 5 credit modules.
• All lectures are delivered online with each module containing six units of lecture topics.
• On completion of each unit the student will be required to complete a series of multiple choice questions (MCQ).
• Progression to the next unit of lectures is based on achieving an 80% grade in the MCQ.
• In addition, a series of workshops delivered by industry will be provided and the student will be required to submit an assignment for these.
• Finally, several industry webinars will also be delivered as well as further reading material and directed study.

Why Choose This Course

Skills and Careers Information

At the beginning of the course the 1st workshop that the students takes is a career professional development (CPD) workshop. This aims to highlight the skills required on completion of the programme in the recruitment and selection process for employment in the sectors identified. In addition, the industrial partners offer advice on career prospects and pathways in the validation field. Networking opportunities are given as part of the workshop/seminars held throughout the programme. Extensive careers services, guidance and support services to the students on the course are available to help in all aspects of employability.

Requirements

Candidates are required to have a minimum of a Level 6 qualification or equivalent, in an engineering or science discipline.

Fees and Costs

Course fees are €1,350.

• This is payable on application (unless you are sponsored/funded)
• This fee is fully refundable if the programme does not run or you are not offered a place on the programme

For information on fees payments and financial supports please click here.

• Those eligible for funding will receive an 80% fee subsidy.
• Jobseekers and returners will be given priority.
• If awarded HEA funding, these applicants will need to pay the remaining 20% fee (€200) on registration (non-refundable). 
• If an applicant's organisation wishes to pay their fees in part or in full, the applicants must pay the 20% on registration and any arrange any reimbursement with their employer/organisation directly. 

Apply now here: https://springboardcourses.ie/details/15987/certificate-in-validation-science 

How To Apply

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

Direct applications are not yet open.