Course Summary
Precision engineering is a specialist branch of mechanical engineering which involves the design and manufacture of complex products, machines, tools and instruments, whose parts must be precisely correct in size and shape, have exceptionally tight tolerances and be produced, usually in very large quantities, to exact specifications.
The BEng (Hons) in Precision Engineering & Design, Level 8, is a two-year full-time, add-on programme which builds on the practical skills and applied theory developed at ordinary degree level. The overall aim of the programme is to enhance skill levels and ensure a deeper understanding of more complex precision engineering concepts and technologies. This programme will provide graduates with the knowledge and skills needed to gain employment as engineers in precision engineering, tool design and advanced manufacturing industry.
It is envisaged that graduates will be employed in roles involving:
- Product design and development
- Tool, mould and machine design
- Metrology
- Validation
- Lean manufacturing & quality assurance
- CNC programming and machining
- Automation and computer integrated manufacture
- Polymer processing
- Project management
- General mechanical and precision engineering activity
WORK PLACEMENT:
Work placement is an integral and essential element of this programme and students will spend 12 months working in a company in industry. Placements take place from January of Year 1 to January of Year 2. The work placement may be a 12-month placement in a single company or two 6-month placements in two different advanced manufacturing companies.
PROGRAMME STRUCTURE:
The course has a unique structure with the 12-month work placement sandwiched between two academic semesters. While on work placement online modules are also delivered which address specialised, industry-relevant material. The structure of the programme is as follows:
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Year 1 |
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|
Semester 1 (IT Sligo) |
5 Modules – full-time delivery 1 Module – online delivery |
5 Credits each |
30 Credits |
|
Semester 2 (Industry) |
Work Placement 1 – Jan to July 2 Online Modules |
20 Credits 5 Credits each |
30 Credits |
|
Year 2 |
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Semester 3 (Industry) |
Work Placement 2 – Aug to Jan 2 Online Modules |
20 Credits 5 Credits each |
30 Credits |
|
Semester 4 (IT Sligo) |
4 Modules 1 Mould Design Module/Project |
5 Credits each 10 Credits |
30 Credits |
INDUSTRY REQUIREMENTS:
Ireland’s manufacturing companies, both multi-national and indigenous, now typically design and make sophisticated, high value-added products, almost always in high volume and with high levels of precision. These companies are found in the medical devices, pharmaceutical, ICT hardware, polymer (plastics), automation, precision engineering and specialist mechanical engineering sectors. In these high-volume advanced manufacturing companies it is an essential requirement that products are manufactured repeatedly to precise size, geometry and specification.
Companies in these sectors are becoming increasingly knowledge intensive, flexible and digitally driven as increased levels of knowledge and skill are required due to:
- Advances in manufacturing practice
- Rapidly evolving scientific and technological developments
- New materials
- Increased product sophistication
- Ever more stringent regulatory conditions
- Modern quality management methods
- The competitive manufacturing environment
The BEng (Hons) in Precision Engineering & Design has been developed to provide graduates with the knowledge, skills and experience now needed to meet the demands encountered in modern manufacturing and engineering companies.
Entry Requirements
Entry requirements for CAO courses at ATU Sligo are available for download below:
- Download Entry requirements for just Level 8 programmes
- Download Entry requirements for all programmes
Entry Requirements: Over 50% average grade at level 7 in BEng in Precision Engineering & Design or related discipline. Applicants with other qualifications and/or relevant industrial experience will also be considered.
Career Opportunities
Graduates will be employed in design and manufacturing roles involving product design & development, mould tool & machine design, tool procurement, metrology, validation, lean six sigma & quality, project management, CNC programming and polymer processing Engineers with these skills are in demand in companies in manufacturing industry, particularly in companies involved in high-performance, advanced manufacturing and precision engineering.
Did you know?
IT Sligo, as the National Centre for Training for the Toolmaking Industry, has consulted widely with industry to develop this new, nationally unique programme in Precision Engineering & Design. This course has been developed in response to skill shortages which have been identified in national studies of the skills requirements for manufacturing industry in Ireland. This will be the only course in Ireland concentrating on the design of precision plastic and metal products, mould and die design, polymer processing, metrology and validation, six sigma and advanced manufacturing technologies.
Course Format
Semester 1
Semester 2
| Title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Work Placement 1 | 20 |
| Validation & Six Sigma 2 | 10 |
Semester 3
| Title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Advanced Manufacturing Technologies and CAM | 05 |
| Injection Mould Design | 10 |
| Project/Thesis | 05 |
| Design, Analysis and Simulation 402 | 05 |
| Polymer Processing and Mould Analysis | 05 |
Semester 4
| Title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Work Placement 2 | 20 |
| Metrology & Six Sigma 3 Project | 10 |