Faculty of Science and Engineering
Introduction
The Faculty of Science and Engineering is home to cutting edge research but traces it’s origins to the nineteenth
century. Faculty consists of the departments of Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Electronic Engineering,
Experimental Physics, Mathematical Physics, Mathematics and Psychology. In addition the Faculty is home to the
Institute of Microelectronics and Wireless Systems, the Institute of Immunology, the Institute of Bioengineering and
Agroecology, the National Centre for Geocomputation, the Hamilton Institute and other research clusters. The Faculty
has almost 1300 students with over 1000 undergraduates and close to 250 students registered for postgraduate
research degrees, including MSc, MEngSc or PhD. The Faculty consists of over 140 full time academic staff and 50
postdoctoral fellows. The disciplines which contribute to faculty have undergone significant growth and development
during the past decade. This has been supported by a major building programme that has provided state-of-the-art
facilities for undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and research.
The Faculty collaborates with the Access office to offer a one-year NUI Certificate in Science and a one-year NUI
Certificate in Engineering as part of a commitment to broadening access and lifelong learning. These are full-time
preparatory courses for students over 22 years of age who are interested in studying at university. The aim of these
courses is to reintroduce adults to study and learning and to give them the background they will need to embark on a
course for a degree in science or engineering.
At undergraduate level, Science and Engineering students at NUI Maynooth can choose to study for a BE honours
degree in Electronic Engineering, Computer Engineering or Communications Engineering, or a BSc (Hons) degree in
any of the major scientific disciplines: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Experimental Physics, Mathematical
Physics, Mathematics, Psychology or Statistics. Different entry and study routes are available to suit different students
and allow maximum flexibility in subject choice.
1. In the broad-based approach, students may begin a first year course that includes Mathematics and three subjects
from Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Experimental Physics and Mathematical Physics. From this
introductory programme it is possible to specialise in over twenty single BSc honours or BSc double honours degree
programmes involving these subjects. Likewise students may enter the BE degree through a common entry stream.
2. Those students who wish to specialise in particular subjects from the outset can opt for denominated entry BSc
(hons) degrees such as Psychology, Biotechnology, Genetics and Bioinformatics, Computer Science and Software
Engineering, Physics with Astrophysics, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, or Theoretical Physics and Mathematics. Most
courses involve either an advanced research project or an industrial placement in later years. Denominated entry to
the BE (Hons) Electronic Engineering, Computer Engineering or Communications Engineering is also offered.
3. In collaboration with the Department of Education, the Faculty offers a four year (concurrent model) BSc (Hons)
Science Education. This integrated course gives students both an excellent Science degree and qualifies them as
Science teachers. Students follow elements combining the broadbased approach described in 1) above, with specific
training to become a teacher. Depending on the options chosen, successful students are qualified to teach two
subjects to Irish leaving certificate level from Biology, Mathematics, Chemistry and/or Physics.
Undergraduate Degree Structures
Module Descriptors
Schools
Within faculties some departments engaged in cognate disciplines are linked as schools. The three principal schools are the School of Celtic Studies, containing the departments of Nua-Ghaeilge and Old & Middle Irish, the School of English, Media and Theatre Studies grouping the departments teaching those subjects and the School of Business and Law. Each School has a head but the relevant departments retain primary responsibility for teaching and other activity in its discipline.