Masters Degrees in Architecture, Building & Planning, Ireland

In the MEngSc Information Technology in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (Bauinformatik) you will learn how to apply computer science technologies to sustainable design, facilities management, energy management, and construction management.

The course is designed for professionals as well as young graduates from all computer science and engineering disciplines who want to improve their knowledge of customising information and communication technologies to support the design, commissioning and operation of civil engineering systems.

The course addresses the increasing need for engineers and architects with advanced knowledge and skills in the application of information and communication technologies to support sustainable design and operation of buildings and energy systems, facilities management, virtual construction, building information modelling (BIM) and structural engineering.

Lecturers are broadcast through the web, and can be attended either in UCC or from a remote location. Experts from six European universities contribute their knowledge to the course.

Visit the website: http://www.ucc.ie/en/ckr29/

Course Details

You will get hands-on experience in planning, customising, and maintaining state-of-the-art software systems for the needs of the AEC and FM sectors with an emphasis on complex engineering systems such as smart buildings. The course consists of four pillars:

- the acquisition of new knowledge and practical skills in selected engineering disciplines
- the acquisition of knowledge and skills in selected areas of computer science
- the application of the newly-acquired knowledge in two projects
- the development and submission of a minor research thesis.

In the first teaching period students acquire knowledge of:

- Smart Buildings, Facilities and Energy Management
- Software Engineering
- Knowledge Management or Computer Mediated Communication.
- Building Information Modelling (BIM), Data Warehousing, and E-business
- Virtual Construction, Automation in Construction or Finite Element Analysis (electives)

The two projects focus on:

- Software Engineering
- Information Technology for Energy Systems in Buildings.

The course is based on the principle of research-led teaching, ie. project work will be based on practical examples. Researchers and PhD students from UCC will be involved in mentoring and supervising assignments and projects. On completion of the course, you will be extremely attractive to employers who need engineering with a strong IT-background, working in the following areas:

- civil and energy-engineering consultancy
- facilities management
- energy service provision (ESCO)
- construction management
- building operations
- software engineering
- project management.

You will develop skills in:

- applying information modelling
- software engineering
- data processing
- data analysis techniques
- facilities and energy management
- structural analysis
- project and supply chain management in construction.

Format

The course can be taken on a full-time (one year) or part-time (two year) basis with an option to complete at postgraduate diploma level. Lectures are broadcast using web-technology and can be attended either in UCC, in your home, or at your workplace. The majority of lectures are scheduled outside normal working hours. Block seminars consisting of full-day events are available once a month during academic periods. The course requires the completion of two projects, but can be combined with a work placement. A minor thesis contribution begins when all taught modules are completed successfully and involves four months of research work.

Assessment

Modules focusing on the acquisition of new knowledge are assessed by written exams (60%), in combination with continuous assessment (assignments – 40%). Modules focusing on skills-development or knowledge transfer are assessed through the submission of reports or essays in combination with presentations. Projects are usually organised in groups. They are assessed through continuous assessment (team meetings, status review meetings) and a final report complemented by a final presentation. You must pass each module (40%) and achieve an average grade of 50% across all taught modules in order to be eligible to progress with the master’s thesis.

Careers

Recent publications report that a shortage of engineers has been identified by professional bodies across the European Union. In the UK and Germany alone, it is predicted that approximately 2,500 engineering positions need to be filled on an annual basis over the next five years (2012 to 2016). It is expected that employable candidates have an excellent background in how to efficiently exploit IT tools in order to execute engineering tasks in the most efficient but also in an interdisciplinary way. This course addresses the need for interdisciplinary expertise and skills in engineering, energy management and computer science.

How to apply: http://www.ucc.ie/en/study/postgrad/how/

Funding and Scholarships

Information regarding funding and available scholarships can be found here: https://www.ucc.ie/en/cblgradschool/current/fundingandfinance/fundingscholarships/

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Several agencies at a national and international level are required to manage our environment sustainably by implementing policy and legislation. The study of Applied Environmental Science is critical for establishing policies in environmental assessment, evaluating potential change in environmental quality in response to various land use and other activities, and in the development of management and conservation strategies, as well as contributing to policy formulation.

This programme provides graduates with a thorough knowledge of Environmental Science and there is a heavy emphasis on practical training in fieldwork, laboratory analyses, information sourcing, data analysis,planning, reporting and communication. You will work with an interdisciplinary team of experts covering the key aspects of Environmental Science, encompassing marine, freshwater and terrestrial systems, to make this an exceptionally practical multidisciplinary programme.

Key Fact

This Applied Environmental Science course has been running for over 20 years, it’s the only such MSc in Ireland to include a major input from civil engineering, relating particularly to water quality, hydrology and waste treatment processes. This MSc also offers a 2 month work placement in the environmental sector providing relevant work experience.

Core Modules

Samples of modules include:
• Water Resources Engineering
• Vegetation Ecology
• Environmental Impact Assessment
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Data Analyses
• Freshwater Resources Assessment
• Remote Sensing
• Global Change Ecology
• Ecological Modelling
• Wildlife & Resources Management
• Integrated Municipal Solid Waste
• Marine/Coastal Ecology
• Soil Ecology
• Water, Waste & Environment Modelling
• Environmental Geology
• Ecotoxicology & Air Quality Monitoring


The course gives due consideration to key legislative requirements and policy developments. Modules and topics shown are subject to change and are not guaranteed by UCD.

Career Opportunities

Our graduates are building successful varied careers in environmental resources assessment, management and protection. A considerable number have been employed in consultancy positions and some are also with the Inland Fisheries Ireland, the Department of the Environment and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Some graduates have also continued their studies at PhD level in the areas of fisheries, biomass fuels, soil, water engineering and invertebrate ecology.

Facilities and Resources

The School of Biology and Environmental Science has 14 state-of the-art research laboratories that are equipped to support a very wide range of research activities at the cellular or whole organism level. The UCD Rosemount Environmental Research Station can also support glasshouse or field-based experiments.

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UCC have developed a Masters in Engineering Science in Sustainable Energy, in recognition of the growing international market for sustainable energy systems and the shortage of qualified engineers. This programme is open to Engineering graduates of all disciplines with an 8 month programme option leading to a Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Energy.

Visit the website: http://www.ucc.ie/en/ckr26/

Course Details

In Part I students take modules to the value of 50 credits and a Preliminary Research Report in Sustainable Energy (NE6008) to the value of 10 credits. Part II consists of a Dissertation in Sustainable Energy (NE6009) to the value of 30 credits which is completed over the summer months.

Part I

Students take 50 credits as follows:

NE3002 Energy in Buildings (5 credits)
EE3011 Power Electronic Systems (5 credits)
EE4010 Electrical Power Systems (5 credits)
NE3003 Sustainable Energy (5 credits)
NE4006 Energy Systems in Buildings (5 credits)
NE6003 Wind Energy (5 credits)
NE6004 Biomass Energy (5 credits)
NE6005 Ocean Energy (5 credits)
NE6006 Solar and Geothermal Energy (5 credits)
NE6007 Energy Systems Modelling (5 credits)

Depending on the background of the student, the Programme Coordinator may decide to replace some of the above taught modules from the following list of modules up to a maximum of 20 credits:

CE4001 The Engineer in Society (Law, Architecture and Planning) (5 credits)
EE3012 Electromechanical Energy Conversion (5 credits)
EE4001 Power Electronics, Drives and Energy Conversion (5 credits)
EE4002 Control Engineering (5 credits)
EE6107 Advanced Power Electronics and Electric Drives (5 credits)
ME6007 Mechanical Systems (5 credits)
NE4008 Photovoltaic Systems (5 credits)
PE6003 Process Validation and Quality (5 credits)

In addition, all students must take 10 credits as follows:

NE6008 Preliminary Research Report in Sustainable Energy (10 credits)

Part II

NE6009* Dissertation in Sustainable Energy (30 credits)

*must be submitted on a date in September as specified by the Department

Detailed Entry Requirements

Candidates must have a BE(Hons) or BEng (Hons) Degree or equivalent engineering qualification, with a minimum grade 2H2. However, candidates with equivalent academic qualifications and suitable experience may be accepted subject to the approval of College of Science, Engineering and Food Science. In all cases, the course of study for each candidate must be approved by the Programme Coordinator.
Candidates, for whom English is not their primary language, should possess an IELTS of 6.5 (or TOEFL equivalent) with no less than 6.0 in each individual category.

Candidates from Grandes Écoles Colleges are also eligible to apply if they are studying a cognate discipline in an ENSEA or EFREI Graduate School and are eligible to enter the final year (M2) of their programme.

Assessment

- Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Energy -

Students who pass but fail to achieve the requisite grade of 50% across the taught modules and the Preliminary Research Report will be eligible for the award of a Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Energy. Candidates passing Part I of the programme who do not wish to proceed to Part II may opt to be conferred with a Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Energy.

How to apply: http://www.ucc.ie/en/study/postgrad/how/

Funding and Scholarships

Information regarding funding and available scholarships can be found here: https://www.ucc.ie/en/cblgradschool/current/fundingandfinance/fundingscholarships/

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This one-year postgraduate course is designed to provide a solid knowledge of materials and built fabrics, both modern and traditional, the causes and mechanisms of failure and the traditional as well as the most advanced ways to repair and preserve them. In addition, on completion of the Diploma, the student is expected to successfully complete a research project and produce specifications for conservation work. The student is expected to develop an understanding of how to manage a conservation project. This course has been approved by Engineers Ireland as meeting its requirements for continuing professional development. This course is recognised by the RIAI (Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland) in connection with the RIAI Conservation Accreditation System.

Course Organisation:

The course comprises approximately 86 hours of core lectures, 18 hours of practical lectures and case studies, 18 hours of laboratory work and 9 hours of site visits. These are normally held on Friday 7-10 p.m and Saturday 9.30 a.m.-12.30 p.m. each week throughout the two semesters (September to April). In addition, the student, working individually, shall complete a research thesis.

Course Content:

Research and Documentation
Introduction. The Built Heritage. Legislation and Economics.
Research and Documentation. Building Surveying and Recording.
Building Stone. Ceramics. Metals. Timber. Thatch and Mudwall.
Building Limes and Cements. Concrete.
Construction Technology and Project Management. Management Case Studies.
Structural Damage and Repairs to Masonry Fabrics and Building Elements. Structural Case Studies
Research thesis

The award of a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Building Repair and Conservation is based on a combination of the results of two examination papers and a research thesis. Each paper constitutes one third and the thesis the remaining third of the overall assessment. Students must pass each paper and the thesis. There is no system of compensation. The pass mark for the examinations and the thesis is 40%. A Distinction is awarded to those who obtain an overall average mark of 70% or more in both the thesis and two papers combined at the summer examinations. The annual examination will be held in May and June, with a supplemental examination in September. All students are required to sit the annual examination in May/June, unless permission to defer is received from the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Recommended texts:

Please refer to the Course website.

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The Master of Architecture Degree is a joint course between University College Cork and Cork Institute of Technology, and operates as a full-time course extending over 12 months. The course has been designed to provide a qualification in architecture under Article 46 of Directive 2005/36/EC, the Building Control Act 2007, and is required by the RIAI before starting a minimum period of post-qualification supervised practical experience in preparation for the RIAI Examination in Professional Practice, Registration and/or RIAI Membership.

This MScis a distinctive design-based course that is intelligently paced. You are expected to display a comprehensive set of skills and abilities, and an understanding of the role of architecture in the urban context. You are also expected to appreciate broader cultural and theoretical ideas, past and present societies and wider global issues.

Visit the website: http://www.ucc.ie/en/ckr42/

Course Detail

The course will consider the complex conditions and multiplicities of the contemporary city. We will speculate on the patterns of organisation, the accretion of historical strata, and the network of infrastructural connections, political and economic frameworks that define the twenty-first-century city. Our aim is to form architectural scenarios based on sets of contextual (mnemonic) outputs that bear witness to these strands of development, whilst at the same time defining something new, unexpected and ultimately challenging.

The course is intelligently paced and driven by a thematic framework. You will acquire a comprehensive set of skills that will help you to understand the role of the architect in shaping the modern city.

Each year we will adopt and visit a majorEuropean city. Specific scenarios or narratives for investigating these cities will be established at the beginning of each year, and will be explored under the direction of full-time academic staff, with contributions from practicing architects, guest critics and other contributors.

Format

The course is arranged over three teaching periods during the academic year (September to September). You will take modules to the value of 90 credits. The MSc is made up of a range of 5, 15, 20 and 30 credit modules. Each of the taught modules will be examined by continuous assessment. The pass standard for passing each module is 50%. Each module must be passed.In order to progress to teaching period 3, you must have reached a 50% pass in all modules in periods 1 and 2.

Further information on the modules taken can be found on our postgraduate calendar - http://www.ucc.ie/calendar/postgraduate/Masters/engineering/page09.html

Assessment

Full details of regulations governing examinations for each module can be found in the UCC Book of Modules: http://www.ucc.ie/modules/

How to apply: http://www.ucc.ie/en/study/postgrad/how/

Funding and Scholarships

Information regarding funding and available scholarships can be found here: https://www.ucc.ie/en/cblgradschool/current/fundingandfinance/fundingscholarships/

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This is a one-year postgraduate course designed to provide graduate engineers and other suitably qualified graduates with a sound basic knowledge and awareness of the role of all professional bodies involved in planning the physical infrastructure. In particular this course is suitable for civil engineers in local authorities, planning offices and consultancies| but is open to all those holding other relevant qualifications.The topics covered include: planning theory and practice; legal aspects and planning legislation; rural and urban planning; economic planning; transportation and land use planning; environmental aspects including environmental impact assessments and studies; geographical information systems; sociology and psychology in planning. Lectures are normally held on Friday evening and Saturday morning each week throughout the two semesters (September to April).

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This programme is at NQF Level 9 and it has been designed for participants who want to develop their Construction Project Management knowledge and skills at postgraduate level. While it is open to NQF Level 8 degree holders from construction related disciplines (e.g. Civil Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Architecture, Architectural Technology, Construction Management), it is also open to those with either NQF Level 7 qualifications or Professional Body qualifications in addition to relevant work experience.

Applicants for this one-year full-time programme are a mix of recent graduates as well as others who are returning to higher education. Completing this programme and gaining the MSc qualification will enable the successful participants to obtain employment in the dynamic Engineering and Construction Industry (Irish and International) and generally enhance their overall career prospects.

Full-time over one year

The full-time programme is of interest to recent graduates as well as others who are returning to higher education in order to improve their skills and employment prospects. The full-time version of the MScCPM involves approximately 12 hours of class contact per week in each of the first 2 semesters (S1: September to December and S2: January to May).
These classes are typically held on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The third semester (S3: May to September) is used to complete the Research Dissertation/Thesis.

Part-time over two years

The part-time programme has been designed primarily to suit those who are in employment and who wish to gain the MScCPM qualification while continuing to work. Attendance at WIT is normally required for 18 days per year in 6 x 3 day sessions (Thursday, Friday and Saturday).

There is significant use of the Institute’s online Learning Management System ‘Moodle’ on this programme.

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