Course Summary
This 30 credit project module is typically completed over a 6 month period but may be accelerated depending upon the student’s ongoing workload. It is strongly recommended that a project be chosen by the student in consultation with his/her company that will achieve the module learning outcomes for the student but also will be of added-value for the company.
The project to be undertaken by the student should address a substantive issue in the workplace. The project will test the student's ability to define a real life problem of concern to the company, design a strategy for addressing the problem, gather data, formulate and evaluate options and make recommendations.
The student should bring the learning from other modules covered on any other ongoing course or from their own work experience to bear upon the successful completion of the project. An ATU Sligo project supervisor / mentor will be assigned to each project. The mentor will act as a guide in agreeing the relevance, and scope of the project, and monitor the progress on a regular basis. Online learning tools and technologies will be utilised to facilitate the supervision and assessment of the work-based learning project by the academic supervisor.
The following are the learning outcomes to be achieved through completion of the work-based learning project:
- Work independently on a research project.
- Source literature relevant to the project.
- Plan and organise activities within a limited timeframe.
- Interpret and evaluate research findings.
- Present a report on the research findings.
Key Course Information
The objective of this 30 credit Level 6 ‘Work Based Project’ is to enable students who are work-based to acquire project management skills by undertaking a company-based project in a chosen area within their organisation. Through completion of a specific workplace project the student will develop a range of technical and transferable skills (such as project management, teamwork, oral and written communication and presentation skills), which have wide application in many working environments, and are important attributes of a technical professional.
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
To qualify for entry to this Special Purpose Award a standard applicant must achieve a pass in the leaving certificate (or equivalent examinations) with five grade Ds which must include Mathematics and English or Irish. An E in Higher Level Mathematics is also acceptable, as is a B2 or higher in Foundation Mathematics.
Applicants who may not meet the above minimum entry requirements may have their experiential, work-based learning assessed through the ATU Sligo RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) process https://www.atu.ie/recognition-of-prior-learning-rpl
Career Opportunities
There will be progression pathways for those students who successfully complete this Special Purpose Award and who wish to continue on to undertake a degree in a number of Science-related areas such as Pharmaceutical / Biopharmaceutical / Medical Technologies Quality or other relevant online programmes at ATU Sligo. Students who meet the eligibility criteria to enter the full degree programme can therefore upgrade their skills in specific areas while still earning credits towards a final degree award.
Also the project management skills acquired through the successful completion of this programme are in demand throughout many industries such as Medical Technology, Food and Beverage, Engineering Manufacturing, Pharma/Biopharma etc
Programme Fees
Academic Year 2024/25 Fees
Total Programme Fee: €1,500
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.