Course Summary
The Pharmaceutical Science Level 7 programme aims to prepare participants for this industry from initial drug design and discovery through to formulation of the final product. The two year degree provides students with a comprehensive but thorough introduction to a wide range of chemical and technological disciplines as they relate to the study and production of medicinal products.
ATU Sligo has strong links with the pharmaceutical industry which ensures that our courses offer the vital skills and knowledge that are required in this expanding sector. The programme comprises core pharmaceutical industry subjects with emphasis being placed on modern operations technology. These modules will give graduates an appreciation of Pharmaceutical processes and greatly help them progress in their careers.
Key Course Information
Examinations:
For Examinations, students may have to attend at the ATU campus through which they completed their studies. For some programmes it may be possible for the Exam to be taken remotely via online proctoring. ATU Students resident in the Republic of Ireland will be invited to attend exams at an exam centre located in Ireland. Students’ resident outside of Ireland or with exceptional circumstances may be eligible to attend remotely via online proctoring, where examinations are taken online and supervised virtually, subject to availability.
Application Closing Date : 15th August 2025
Entry Requirements
Level 6 on the NFQ (Higher Certificate) in Science or in a cognate area. Applicants with other qualifications and/or with relevant experience will also be considered through ATU Sligo’s RPL process.
Applicants whose first language is not English should provide evidence of English language proficiency.
Career Opportunities
Graduates from this programme can expect to find employment in the Pharmaceutical sector. Graduates are typically employed in Scientific, Operations and Quality Assurance/Control positions in industry both in Ireland and abroad. Their work may involve the manufacture of novel medicines, process validation and process optimization.
Programme Fees
Academic Year 2024/25 Fees
Total Programme Fee: €6,900
To help make the payment of fees more manageable for students who are self-funding their studies, tuition fees can be paid through payment instalment plans at ATU Sligo. For further information on instalment plans, please visit our Fees and Funding webpage
If you apply and are approved for an online course at ATU Sligo, you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit of €250 to secure your place. Your deposit will then be credited against the course fees once you are registered as a student. Students at ATU Sligo are also eligible to claim tax relief at the standard rate for tuition fees.
For further information and guidance about Fees and Funding for online and part-time courses at ATU Sligo, click here.
If you are seeking to take your exams online, and you meet the eligibility criteria (overseas students and those with extenuating circumstances), an additional examinations fee will apply. For further information, please visit our Examinations webpage.
Course Format
Semester 1
| Title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Scientific Report Writing | 05 |
| Pharmaceutical Chemistry | 05 |
| Introduction to Advanced Pharmaceutical Science | 05 |
Semester 2
| Title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Pharmaceutical Formulation | 10 |
| Pharmaceutical Quality Systems | 05 |
Semester 3
| Title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Introduction to Biopharmaceutical Science | 05 |
| Pharmaceutical Processing and Medical Device Manufacture | 05 |
| Statistics for Scientists | 05 |
Semester 4
| Title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Pharmaceutical Analysis | 10 |
| Active Ingredient Synthesis | 05 |