As an engineer, you will make a real difference in the world and be responsible for leading the way in finding solutions to real problems. Will you develop alternative or new sources of energy, invent life-saving medical devices or create new modes of communication? UCD Engineering offers a particularly wide range of engineering specialisations,from Mechanial, Electrical, Electronic, Civil, Materials, Chemical & Bioprocess, Biomedical Engineering, Biosystems and Food to Structural Engineering with Architecture.
At UCD, we provide a first-class education across our engineering disciplines, which are variously accredited by Engineers Ireland, the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) and the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IoM3). Whatever the specialisation, we place considerable emphasis on the mastery of analytical skills and the use of quantitative methods. Study is based on solid mathematical, scientific and engineering principles. Essentially, these are the fundamentals of engineering and they will enable you to navigate successfully through the challenges you will face in your future career.
We work with industry to ensure that our programmes produce graduates who are highly skilled and trained to address the problems that organisations and society face. We also pride ourselves on being research intensive and our curricula engages students in a culture of academic excellence and inquiry. This, coupled with the fact that our lecturers are experts in their fields, makes UCD the first choice for anyone interested in engineering.
As a UCD Engineering student, you’ll enrol in a common first year, which allows you to gain an understanding of the many different engineering disciplines available, before being offered an unrestricted choice of specialisation (subject to health and safety based capacity constraints). We have the widest range of degree choices in Ireland and, after completing this common first year, you can choose from one of the following:
Biomedical Engineering
Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering
Civil Engineering
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Structural Engineering with Architecture
This degree programme provides access to a wide range of options in engineering. After a largely common first year, you choose an area of specialisation. Later, you can choose further specialisations and alternative degrees (BSc, BE or ME) – exactly what is available depends on your area of specialisation.
What Will I Study?
Your first year in Engineering at UCD will see you immersed in a completely new life from both an educational and a social perspective. Educationally, the first year is a common year which allows you gain an understanding of the many engineering disciplines available, before you specialise.
This year will be spent intensively learning and discovering how to solve problems through physics, chemistry, mathematics and computing, as well as gaining exposure to engineering subjects such as mechanics, energy engineering, creativity in design and electronic and electrical engineering. Throughout the year, you will be presented with information about the various specialisations, and given advice to guide you in making the right decision when choosing your engineering pathway at the end of first year.
International Study Opportunities
All these programmes allow for study abroad, in universities with compatible engineering programmes around the world. The US universities are always popular, and there is competition for places there. The Erasmus programme provides for exchanges with other European universities – this usually means working in the local language. Study in other countries, such as Australia, New Zealand, China or Singapore, is also possible.
*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please check with institution
Expected October 2025
More details
Start date
1 September 2025
UCD College of Engineering and Architecture
Room 122 & Room 126,
UCD Engineering and Materials Science Centre,
BELFIELD,
Dublin,
Republic of Ireland
Students must have completed their secondary level/high school studies or have never studied at university before are eligible to apply bachelor’s degree at UCD. Requirements vary from country to country.
There are minimum entry requirements that all applicants, applying based on school leaving results, must meet.
IELTS - An average score of 6.5 over all components and a minimum of 6.0 in each band on the Academic Version;
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): A minimum score of 90 is required in the Internet based TOEFL (iBT) with no less than 21 in writing and at least 19 in every other section;
English language examinations administered by the University of Cambridge: 176+ on Cambridge English scale (with no less than 169 in each skill and use of English), Acceptable Examinations:
Proficiency Certificate, Grade C (i.e. CEFR Level C1 or C2).
Advanced Certificate, Grade C (i.e. CEFR Level C1 or C2)
First Certificate, Grade A (i.e. CEFR Level C1)
Pearson English Language Text: Minimum of 63 and at least 59 for each item in the Communicative Skills section.
Duolingo English Test (DET) - The minimum requirement will be a DET score of 120 is required with at least 110 in each subscore.
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.
UCD is the most international and diverse university in Ireland, and is the destination of choice for over 10,400 international students.