UCD College of Science

I was attracted to UCD and this MSc by the fantastic research output of the faculty and the great facilities available on campus. A particular strong point of this course is the range of modules available. During my undergraduate degree I took a lot of molecular biology modules, but this MSc really broadened my horizons by allowing me to take modules from several disciplines including environmental science, zoology and of course botany. My time at UCD has provided me with a number of skills, both lab and desk-based, that I employ in my work as a lab analyst for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

RPS Environmental

The course was an eye-opening experience with a great mixture of lab sessions, field work and lectures. The highlight was the opportunity to gain professional work experience and I would encourage anyone interested in following a career in the Environmental sector to seriously consider this course.

Global Regulatory Intelligence Specialist at Alexion Pharmaceuticals

My time during the MSc in Regulatory Affairs & Toxicology gave me the skills and knowledge to step into the global world of regulatory affairs. I now work in regulatory intelligence and policy, where I must understand and communicate important regulatory updates from around the world, and this MSc gave me the foundation to build these skills. This MSc also raised my awareness and understanding that there is a much wider world when working in regulatory affairs and that there are huge opportunities for me to grow and develop in my career.

I chose to undertake the MSc Chemistry (Negotiated Learning) course as a pathway to both refreshing and improving my chemistry knowledge with hopes that it would lead to further career and postgraduate opportunities. In my time at UCD Chemistry, I was challenged by a broad range of topics in organic, inorganic and physical chemistry, whilst interacting with lecturers and professors and gaining insight to the requirements of further postgraduate study in a PhD. The climate in UCD Chemistry was welcoming and supportive, with the ChemSoc society providing a way to meet peers and colleagues that are still in my life to this day. The final lab project is an important aspect of the course and helped to reintegrate me into a research environment and eventually led to undertaking a PhD in UCD Chemistry.
This has helped me in my career by allowing me to travel to France and Germany in a research capacity and find an exciting role as a Process Development Scientist here in Ireland.

I have an academic background in astrophysics and knew I wanted to have a career in the space industry, but was not sure how to get my foot in the door. The MSc Space Science & Technology course at UCD gave me the opportunity to learn about the different sectors of the space industry and how many different kinds of jobs there are.
In my position as Mission Operations Engineer at Goonhilly, I work as part of a team that operates GHY-6, a 32-meter deep space antenna, to track satellites for NASA and ESA missions such as Mars Express and Artemis 1. I use my project management skills in my secondary role managing the development of procedures and other projects.

I was initially attracted towards an MSc in Synthetic Chemistry at UCD because of the particular focus on modern research and the emphasis on learning new skills that can be carried into industry. This course has allowed me to complete a variety of subjects outside the range of my undergraduate degree which is beneficial for new future career possibilities.
The structure of the course is extremely flexible and the lectures provide an even mixture between individual and team-based work. This was important for me as I wanted to develop my ability to learn independently but also be able to make friends during the process.

I found the degree throughout engaging. I enjoyed the broad range of topics covered in the degree from pure mathematics to behavioural economics and game theory. I was heavily involved with the Chess Society, serving as Secretary and then Auditor during my time at UCD and I still compete with the UCD chess team in the Leinster leagues. I have since graduated and am now working in Quantitative Risk at Grant Thornton.

This MSc had a strong theoretical foundation and gave me an education in how to apply statistics. My research project inspired me to go into the area of medical statistics after graduation. The course served as a launch pad for my career in pharmaceutical statistics where I now work as a project lead, overseeing the quantitative aspects of several drugs in development.