Course Summary
Programme Code: SG_SBCQV_E09
Delivery: Online
About this programme:
An objective of this new postgraduate certificate programme in CQV is to help support new facilities and extensions with commissioning, qualification and validation work before manufacturing can commence. This programme presents a pathway for qualified graduates who wish to pursue a career in validation.
This postgraduate certificate is designed to provide students with the knowledge required to be involved in the commissioning of equipment and utilities used in biopharmaceutical plants. It will equip students with the knowledge and skills required to perform commissioning of a bioprocessing plant, and the equipment related to the biotechnology industry.
This course is particularly suited to individuals who are looking to enter the commissioning and validation space in the (bio)pharmaceutical manufacturing sector. Biopharmaceutical processing is a rapidly growing sector within the life-sciences industry, with immense opportunities for graduates. Global manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals has increased significantly over the last decade.
This programme will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges in the commissioning of biopharmaceutical manufacturing facilities. As a result, graduates can look forward to a wide range of career opportunities in a large and growing industry. Upon completion of the programme students will have achieved an internationally recognised qualification which is highly relevant to the biopharma and biotechnology industry.
Award:
Certificate in Science in Commissioning, Qualification and Validation for Biologics Manufacturing – Level 9 (30 credits)
Key Course Information
Course Attendance:
Lectures will be delivered online
Students study 15 credits per semester. Students are required to complete a total of 30 credits for the full award.
Please note: This programme is jointly offered by ATU Sligo and NIBRT (National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training).
Whether you are studying part-time online, blended or full-time online, it is very important that you allocate enough study time to your online course to stay focused, reduce stress and achieve your goals. For part-time online or blended learning, it is recommended that you should try to allow for 5-6 hours per week per 5 credit module to your studies.
Most online courses typically involve 3 x 5 credit modules per semester which leads to an average 15 – 18 study hours per week. Our online courses have about 3 hours of live lectures per week (but this can vary per programme). The rest of your study time consists of independent learning, communicating with your lecturers and classmates and carrying out assignments.
Live lectures normally take place between 6pm and 10pm, Monday to Thursday but this may vary depending on the availability of specific lecturers. If the Live Classroom scheduled times for the live online lectures do not suit you, recordings will be made available through Moodle.
For this Programme- Assessment is 100% CA (Continuous Assessment).
Contact details:
Course Co-ordinator NIBRT: Melissa Hoare
Email: melissa.hoare@nibrt.ie
Course Co-ordinator ATU Sligo: Mary Butler
Email: mary.butler@atu.ie
Online and Part time Admissions
tel: 071 9318511
email: admissions.sligo@atu.ie
Award:
Certificate in Science in Commissioning, Qualification and Validation for Biologics Manufacturing – Level 9 (30 credits)
Application Closing Date : 18th August 2023
Entry Requirements
The programme is open to students who have obtained an honours degree (Level 8) or its equivalent in an appropriate discipline (i.e. Engineering or Life Sciences). Other candidates with alternative honours degrees and relevant experience in the BioProcessing industry (typically 5 years duration in a GMP environment) may apply for consideration through the ATU Sligo RPL (Recognised Prior Learning) process.
RPL
Applicants with other qualifications and with relevant work experience may also be considered through ATU Sligo’s Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) process. RPL is a process that may allow you to gain admission to a programme or to receive exemptions / credit from some parts of a programme based on demonstrated learning that you may have achieved through another programme of study or through your work and career. Further information is available through www.atu.ie/recognition-of-prior-learning which our dedicated RPL portal or by contacting our admissions team at admissions.sligo@atu.ie
English requirement
Applicants whose first language is not English should provide evidence of English language proficiency. For further information on English language requirements click here
Career Opportunities
This course is particularly suited to individuals who are looking to enter the commissioning and validation space in the (bio)pharmaceutical manufacturing sector. An objective of this postgraduate certificate programme in CQV is to help support new facilities and extensions with commissioning, qualification and validation work before manufacturing can commence. The focus will be on facilities and equipment.
Further Study
Upon successful completion of this programme students can progress onto the L9 BioPharmaceutical Science suite of programmes.It is also envisaged that this programme will provide an attractive progression pathway for Level 8 graduates who wish to undertake Level 9 studies with an interest in employment in the biologics industry.
Did you know?
The importance of biopharmaceuticals as a portion of total pharmaceutical revenue continues to expand, with ≥40% of overall pharmaceutical industry R&D and products in the development pipeline being biopharmaceuticals. Nonetheless, significant challenges remain in the sector such as the fundamental complexity of bringing new therapeutics to market, reimbursement and pricing models, Brexit uncertainties and global skills shortages. Notwithstanding these challenges, the Irish biopharma sector has continued its strong performance in attracting foreign direct investment. As validation of the capabilities available in Ireland, companies with existing operations here such as MSD, BioMarin and AbbVie have all made significant new biopharma investments.
Programme Fees
| Academic Year 2023/24 Fees |
|
|
Total Programme Fees: |
€6,000 |
|
Fees per annum: |
€6,000 |
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 |
|---|---|
| FACILITY DESIGN AND OPERATION | 05 |
| Biologics Manufacturing | 05 |
| Regulation, Risk and Compliance | 05 |
Semester 2
| Title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Commissioning, Qualification & Validation | 10 |
| SCALE-UP AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER | 05 |