About This Course
Fact File
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Title
Energy Engineering
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Code
CK600
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College
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Duration
4 Years
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Teaching Mode
Full-time
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Qualifications
BE (Hons)
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Fees
Student Contribution + Capitation: €3,138 See Fees and Costs for full details.
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Entry Requirements
Refer to CK600. See Requirements for full details.
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CAO Points
2022: 510
Course Outline
The first year of the BE is a broad education in engineering fundamentals. At the end of the first year, you can choose to enter Energy Engineering. Your chosen area of specialization in the second year will also offer routes to further branches of engineering at the Masters level. At the end of a successful 3rd year, students enter the 4th year, which is a pathway to either the 5th Year Integrated ME for eligible students or exiting with a BE(Hons). The ME pathway finishes with a Professional Work Placement that takes place during the 2nd semester and the summer break (8 months).
In an era of unprecedented pressure on resources, energy engineering is crucial to address some of the world's greatest challenges, namely how to meet the electricity, heating and transport energy needs of the world's growing population while reducing human impact on the climate with innovative, sustainable engineering solutions.
“A highly respected engineering qualification and knowledge of real-world climate issues and their prospective solutions. If I was to travel back in time, I have no hesitation in saying I would once again choose Energy Engineering!” Rory Geary (2008-2012)
Through a combination of solid engineering fundamentals covered in the first two years of the course (e.g. thermodynamics, fluids, and electrical systems) and advanced energy engineering topics covered in the final two years (including power electronics, control systems, wind, solar photovoltaic and ocean energy, energy demand management and energy policy), graduates of the Energy Engineering course will be well-equipped to source, design, convert, transmit and supply useful energy to meet the world's present and long-term needs.
Modules
Year 1 Modules:
Refer to CK600
Year 2 Modules:
Numerical Methods and Programming; Solid and Structural Mechanics; Fluids; Linear Circuit Analysis; Non-Linear Circuit Analysis; Signals and Systems; Power Engineering; Heat Transfer; Engineering Statistics.
Years 3 Modules:
Construction Project Management; Hydraulics; Introduction to Electrical Power Systems; Introduction to Electric Drives; Control Engineering; Mechanical Systems; Applied Thermodynamics and Work Transfer; Primary Energy Engineering; Energy in Buildings; Energy Systems Modelling; Sustainable Energy; Transportation and Energy
BE Year 4 Modules:
Core
Electrical Power Systems; Entrepreneurial Business Start-Ups; Biomass Energy; Energy Systems in Buildings; Computer Aided Design (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning); Energy Engineering Project
Electives
Energy Systems, Power Electronics and Drives; Wind Energy; Ocean Energy; Photovoltaic Systems; Control Engineering; Industrial Automation and Control; Energy Systems Modelling; Work Placement
ME Year 4 Modules:
The first part of Year 4 consists of six core technical modules, to develop your technical skills and allow access to the more advanced Masters modules in Year 5. From January to August you will have a work placement in Industry or Research Institute to further develop your skills in a practical environment.
Professional lectures are held in the first semester to help support the skills needed to work effectively at an advanced level within a corporate environment.
Core:
Energy Systems, Power Electronics and Drives; Control Engineering II; Electrical Power Systems; Industrial Automation and Control; Wind Energy; Photovoltaic Systems; ME (Energy) Work Placement (30 credits)
ME 5 Year Modules Entry to master’s degree programmes, subject to entry requirements.
Core:
Ocean Energy; Advanced Energy Systems Modelling; Energy Innovation; Data Analytics for Engineering; ME Energy Research Project
Electives:
Entrepreneurial Business Start-Ups; Biomass Energy; Energy Systems in Buildings; Computer-Aided Design VII (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning); Carbon Geocycles and Capture Utilisation & Storage; Smart Grids
See the College Calendar for more detailed information on the Programme and the Book of Modules for a more detailed description of Programme Modules.
Course Practicalities
- Expected lecture hours: Lectures usually take place from 9am to 1pm, Monday to Friday, with a small number of lectures taking place in the afternoon.
- Expected lab/practical hours: Laboratory classes and individual study are normally scheduled for the afternoon.
- Field trips: Fieldwork and site visits are organised as necessary.
- Assessment: Written exams will take place before Christmas and in May. Not all modules will have formal examinations. Many modules use other types of assessment.
Yearly course grades are based on a balanced combination of continuous assessment and written examinations, organised at an individual module level. The final BE(Hons) degree grade is based on a weighted combination of the marks from Year 3 and Year 4, while the ME is based on a weighted combination of the marks from Year 4 and Year 5.
Why Choose This Course
“This is a modern degree for a modern world that urgently needs higher quality design, more ethical engineering decisions and stronger environmental leadership.” Vera O’Riordan (2015-2019)
part of your fundamental engineering education, you will develop mathematical and problem-solving abilities and apply these to open-ended and challenging energy systems design problems, both as an individual and as part of a team.
“The BE Energy Engineering degree has equipped me with the broad range of technical expertise required for my role, namely electrical, mechanical and civil engineering knowledge.” Alan Donovan (2009-2013)
On completion of the degree course, you will have excellent IT skills, effective communication skills and will be prepared for a working environment where there is a strong emphasis on problem-solving. You will also have the 1st BE Energy programme in Ireland that was fully accredited by the professional body Engineers Ireland.
Placement or Study Abroad Information
The five-year integrated ME programme includes an eight-month salaried work placement in an industry based in Ireland or abroad (the four-year BE programme has a corresponding three-month optional work placement). During this placement, you will gain excellent hands-on experience as a chemical/process engineer, as well as make valuable industry contacts. Opportunities also exist for academically strong students to spend a period in an institution abroad, receiving full credits for the work done there towards your degree.
“There are few other undergraduate engineering courses out there that can offer such a comprehensive education” Paul Crowley (2009-2013) Grid Controller, Gas Networks Ireland
Opportunities also exist for a small number of academically strong students to study abroad in Year 3 with full credit. Past students have spent a year at the University of California at Berkeley and Notre Dame University, USA.
“The highlight for me was studying abroad during 3rd year in UC Davis, Los Angeles, California. UCC has great links overseas” Rory Geary (2008-2012) Business Analyst, State Street International, Kilkenny
Skills and Careers Information
“When I was choosing my CAO preferences it was clear Energy would be a hot topic for my generation. This has held true with the security of job opportunities.” Sean Hayes (2008-2012)
Many graduates progress directly to the Energy Engineering profession, working in renewable energy engineering with e.g. Airtricity, Eirgrid, Bord Gais, ESB and ESBI. A significant number of graduates also work in energy management and intelligent efficiency in energy consultancy firms and the pharmaceutical sector. Other graduates make use of the valuable acquired skills to embark on careers outside of engineering, in areas including software design and development, management consulting, accountancy and industrial management.
“The wide spectrum of jobs that Energy Engineering graduates can carry out is something that I find particularly appealing. The only downfall is choosing your favourite!” Colm Gallagher (2011-2015)
Postgraduate degrees, including MEngSc (e.g. in Electrical Engineering; Mechanical Engineering;) and PhD, can be pursued by research in any one of a number of UCC’s active research groups. UCC hosts the world-leading MaREI Centre, a research and innovation hub focussing on the energy and marine sectors www.marei.ie. Areas of particular strength include marine renewable energy, biogas, energy systems modelling, wind, power electronics, renewable power systems, intelligent energy use in buildings and industry.
Since 2013, engineering graduates with a BE require an additional one-year Masters-level qualification (or equivalent) as well as relevant professional experience to be eligible to apply for Chartered membership of Engineers Ireland. The integrated ME facilitates this.
Requirements
Leaving Certificate entry requirements:
At Least six subjects must be presented. Minimum grade H4 in one subject, minimum grade H5 in one subject and minimum grade O6/H7 in four other subjects. English and Irish are requirements for all programmes unless the applicant is exempt from Irish.
The following are considered Lab Science subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Physics with Chemistry (Joint) and Agricultural Science. Technology can be substituted for a Lab Science subject.
Applicants will need to meet the following minimum entry requirements:
English |
Irish |
Maths |
Lab Science or Technology |
O6/H7 |
O6/H7 |
H4* |
O6/H7 |
*If the H4 is in Applied Mathematics, a H6 in Mathematics is also required.
Students presenting with a 2016 (or previous) Leaving Certificate must present with a HC2 in Mathematics or Applied Mathematics; if the HC2 is in Applied Mathematics, a HD3 in Mathematics is also required.
Mature applicants: Mature applicants should apply directly through the CAO (www.cao.ie) for CK600.
Non-EU Candidates
Non-EU candidates are expected to have educational qualifications of a standard equivalent to the Irish Leaving Certificate. In addition, where such candidates are non-native speakers of the English language they must satisfy the university of their competency in the English language.
To verify if you meet the minimum academic and language requirements visit our qualification comparison page.
Refer to our International Office page for more information on how to apply to UCC.
Fees and Costs
The State will pay the tuition fees for students who satisfy the Free Fees Criteria. In 2022/23 the Student Contribution Fee will be €3,000 and the Capitation Fee will be €138. Full-time EU/EEA/Swiss State undergraduate students may be exempt from paying tuition fees.
For International Fees see our Fees Schedule page.
How Do I Apply
EU Applicants: Application to Year 1 of the degree programme is made directly through the Central Applications Office (CAO). Applicants should apply online at www.cao.ie. The normal closing date for receipt of completed applications is 1st February of the year of entry.
Mature Applicants: Application is made through the CAO (www.cao.ie) and the closing date for receipt of completed applications is 1st February of the year of entry.
EU Applicants: The Central Applications Office (CAO) processes applications for undergraduate courses in Irish Higher Education Institutions. Refer to the CAO page for further information.
Mature Applicants (age 23 or over): See the CAO Mature Applicants page and the Mature Students Admissions Pathway (MSAP) page for essential information on the application process for mature students.
QQI FET: See our QQI FET Applicants page.
Non-EU Applicants: Non-EU applicants apply online via the UCC Apply portal. See our International Office page.
All Applicants: Please note that the modules listed are indicative of the current set of modules for this course and are subject to change from year to year. Please check the College Calendar for the full academic content of any given course for the current year.
- In UCC, we use the terms programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.