Overview
This specialised Qualifier Course serves as a transformative pathway to bridge the gap between your current knowledge base and the essential expertise required to study the MEng in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering. It is a one-year part-time course that students can take on-campus or remotely.
Students who do not have the entry requirements to enter directly onto the Master’s programme may be offered entry via this route. It is ideally suited to students who have an NFQ Level 8 H3 qualification in Mechanical and/or Manufacturing Engineering.
It contains the same modules as our Master’s Degree and students may transfer onto the Master’s programme, subject to the transfer requirements and without loss of accumulated credits. A Graduate Certificate exit award is potentially available if a transfer to the Master’s Programme is not possible or desirable; however, a minimum of 4 advanced (Level 9) modules must be successfully completed in order to exit with a Graduate Certificate.
DCU People
Careers & Further Options
Careers
This Qualifier programme offers an entry route to the Postgraduate programmes in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, which opens up many opportunities to its graduates.
Some students have launched a new career in design and manufacturing, often based on new skills they have developed and nurtured during the Master’s project. Part-time students have found that their career progression has been more rapid, or that new roles have opened up with their employers. Others have progressed to PhD research and gained further advancement and recognition.
In a competitive time for positions, the extra qualifications provided by this programme are a valuable addition to your CV.
Find out more about our MEng in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
Entry Requirements
The normal entry requirement for the Qualifier B programme is:
H3 level 8 (NFQ level 8 qualification) Honours degree in Mechanical and/or Manufacturing Engineering
• Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) applicants are required to submit a cover letter along with their application under the Transcripts section of the portal, affirming their intent to apply for RPL. For more information on RPL see here.
Please note if you are a non EU student and require a study visa, you are not eligible to apply for part-time programmes as study visas are only granted for full-time programmes.
Programme Structure
Standing as the only programme of its kind to currently exist on the island of Ireland, this exceptional offering not only grants students the freedom to engage in part-time, remote learning for unmatched flexibility but also presents a transformative gateway for those looking to embark on a new career journey.
This course offers you a solid foundation in Mechanical and Manufacturing knowledge, a vital stepping stone towards the MEng programme, and simultaneously acts as a transformative journey, converting your existing skills into powerful assets for a successful career in this dynamic field.
Students can undertake some of the following modules:
- Manufacturing Process Analysis & Tool Design
- Entrepreneurship for Engineers
- Finite Element Analysis
- Product Design, Development & Value Analysis
- Advanced FEA
- Manufacturing Systems Simulation
- Computational Thermo-Fluid Dynamics
- Heat and Mass Transfer
Fees and Funding
How To Apply
All Applicants must submit:
All Applicants must apply through DCU's Student Application Portal which is available here.
Here's a quick step by step guide if you need help with your application
• Please provide academic transcripts for each and every year of study to date with English translation if applicable
Application Deadlines
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the programme is full or until the following dates:
- Closing date for EU applicants is 30th August 2025
All entry requirements should be met before the commencement of the programme.
Application Queries
For EU applicant queries, please visit https://www.dcu.ie/registry/eu-postgraduate-taught-admissions or email postgraduateadmissions@dcu.ie
Commencement of Programme
The programme commences in September 2025.
Life On Campus
At DCU, our students can expect a unique campus experience. We are known for our excellent teaching and learning facilities, our active clubs and societies, and our great social and sporting facilities. All this makes DCU an exciting place to be.
DCU has three academic campuses; Glasnevin, St. Patrick’s and All Hallows (both in Drumcondra), all close to Dublin City centre.
They can be reached by public transport, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann, with our Drumcondra campuses a ten minute walk from Drumcondra Train Station. Glasnevin is a 20 minute walk from St Patrick’s and All Hallows. They are also linked by Dublin Bus.
Each campus has a library (O’Reilly, Cregan and Woodlock Hall), study spaces, restaurants, and on-campus residencies. There are sports facilities on Glasnevin and St. Patrick’s, and there is a dedicated sports campus, St Claire’s, located near Glasnevin on the Ballymun Road.
DCU’s 19,000 students have access to exceptional teaching and learning facilities across our three academic campuses.
These include modern learning theatres, research centres, a new media and TV studio, radio/podcast studios, computer suites and advanced labs in the areas of Languages, Engineering, Physics, Chemistry and Biotechnology, as well as a Sports Performance centre and a training hospital ward. In 2021, we opened our first virtual reality ‘Leadership Lab’, which is located in our Business School.
We continue to improve and update our facilities. For example, construction of a new world-class STEM facility is underway on the Glasnevin campus. With capacity for an extra 3,000 STEM students, this facility will advance DCU’s international reputation for excellence in science and health, computing and engineering disciplines.
Studying in DCU isn’t just about course work. The university is rich in student life and activities.
There are more than 140 clubs and societies for students in DCU, with ‘Clubs & Socs’ days taking place on both the Glasnevin and Drumcondra campuses at the start of the academic year. They span everything from rugby to rock climbing, anime to jazz.
For many students, sport is an important part of the DCU experience. DCU’s Sports Complex boasts a 25 metre swimming pool, fitness centre gym, all-weather pitches and squash courts, as well as soccer, GAA and rugby pitches. DCU Dóchas Éireann, the university’s GAA club, is the largest third level Gaelic Games club in the country. Meanwhile, DCU Athletics has been Ireland’s highest achieving university club for many years. And DCU has dozens of other clubs to get involved in, from Archery to Weightlifting.
The Glasnevin campus is home to our purpose built, state-of-the-art student centre, The U, which serves the needs of a rapidly growing student body. Here, you will find the Student Leadership and Lifeskills Centre, performing arts and cultural spaces for students and the wider community, and the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Hub. Also located on our Glasnevin campus is The Helix, our renowned performing arts centre.
On our St Patrick’s campus, we have the Java Student Hub, a vibrant, warm and welcoming space where students can meet for coffee, play music, use the projector to watch events, or just relax. The walls of the Java Hub were designed based on the cultural history of St Patrick’s Campus, including the special references to the notable sporting history and history of the arts.
We have a number of academic, professional and social supports for students.
Student Advice Centre - Offers a wide range of supports and services to students and advice
The Writing Centre - drop-in writing workshops for students through the academic year
Maths Learning Centre - provides maths support for students of all ability levels with maths modules
Student Learning - facilitate the transition from passive to active learning for students at DCU, by teaching study skills, nurturing critical thinking and building student confidence.
Careers work with students to help them on their professional journey into graduate employment.
Our student support team offers a comprehensive support programme, helping students make that all important transition into university life and focusing on building confidence and skills which are key to success at third level.
DCU Glasnevin Campus
FAQs
Is DCU all one campus?
DCU is a multi campus university - the Glasnevin, St Patrick's and All Hallows campuses. The St Patrick's campus is where the Education courses are taught and some of the subjects from the BA Joint Honours degree. There is a 20-25 minute walk between the campuses but there are buses and bikes available to go between them also.
Click here to see maps of all of our campuses
If I'm studying on the St Patrick's campus, can I use the library and sports centre on the Glasnevin campus?
Yes, all facilities such as sports and accommodation are open for all DCU students to avail of.
Are there libraries in DCU and if they have wifi and work stations?
We have a brand new state of the art four floor library on our St. Patrick's Campus which complements the existing library on the Glasnevin campus. There is free wifi, work stations as well as desktop computers.
Does DCU provide accommodation?
DCU does have on-campus accommodation for undergraduate and postgraduate students, and you can find out more and apply via the Accommodation Office webpage.
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