In general you need to have a minimum of 5 passes at ordinary level in the Leaving Certificate or its equivalent. Applications are welcome from students with Leaving Certificate Vocational, Leaving Certificate Applied or FETAC Level 4 qualifications. Exceptions can be made where special circumstances apply on a case by case basis. The Leaving Certificate is not a requirement for mature students and appropriate experience can be considered as meeting the entry requirement for most courses.

We also welcome applications from mature students on all our courses.

A full QQI Level 5 Award is attained on successful completion of eight modules. This must include all mandatory module listed for the programme. You will be assessed throughout the programme by a combination of continuous assessment, assignments and by exams in certain modules. On successful completion of each module, you will be awarded a Pass, Merit or Distinction.

QQI Level 5 Mandatory Modules

• Mathematics Level 5 (5N1833)
• Communications Level 5 (5N0690)
• Personal and Professional Development (5N2985)
• Biology (5N2746)
• Laboratory Skills (5N2751)
• Chemistry (5N2747)
• Microbiology (5N0737)

QQI Level 5 Elective Modules

• Anatomy and Physiology (5N0749)
• Food Chemistry (5N2748)

QQI Science 5M3807 NFQ Level 5

This one-year course is designed to give students an introduction to Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Science and covers a variety of areas related to the sciences. In addition to developing your scientific knowledge, studying Biomedical and Pharmaceutical science enables you to develop a wide range of skills, including problem-solving, teamwork, data handling and analysis, organisation, and communication. This broad skill set will be extremely valuable no matter what career path you choose. The mathematics element allows students to bring their levels up to the competence relevant to their  intended third level course.

This course will allow selected students to take advantage of a work experience programme abroad in another European country. The opportunity to work/study abroad will enhance your college experience and boost your career opportunities. You will receive Erasmus+ funding which will enable you to participate on the work experience programme.

Niamh Gavin - Past Pre-University Science Student 

When I finished my Leaving Certificate in June 2016, I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do and my exam results weren’t enough to get me into a university. I chose to apply to FET College Íde Finglas due to the high praise I had heard about it, and was accepted into the Level 5 Laboratory Techniques course taught there. Just before Christmas, I received the chance to be taught extra modules by my teacher to give me a chance of a place in Veterinary Nursing, in UCD. I was delighted with this kind opportunity. Also, I did two weeks of work experience in a veterinary clinic, which was a fantastic practical element of my course implemented by FET College Íde Finglas. I graduated in May 2017 with eleven distinctions and in August, was offered a place in Veterinary Nursing in UCD. 

There was not a direct route to this degree from the Level 5 award I had earned, and so it was only with the help of the fantastic staff in FET College Íde Finglas, in particular my class teacher, that it was made possible for me. I would very highly recommend FET College Íde Finglas to anyone, especially those wishing to progress to University who didn’t achieve highly in the Leaving Cert. This college and the amazing people working there have shown me through hard work and creativity, anything is possible.  

Laura Hartnett - Past Pre-University Science Student

My name is Laura Hartnett. I got 490 points in my leaving cert and I’m currently studying general science in Trinity College.

While as a student in FET College Íde Finglas I attended the Pre-University Science course which was very important to me and I would recommend it to anyone considering doing science, whether you get the points for your course or not.

It’s a very comfortable, relaxed environment which makes it easy to communicate with teachers and ask questions or get help. The classes were relatively small, which was much better than the 30 student classrooms I was used to in school. The atmosphere was so relaxed, and it was so easy to talk to everyone in the class. There were much less groups and cliques than I had in school, which made for a better learning environment as you don’t feel intimidated or embarrassed about speaking up to ask a question or simply say you don’t understand something.

The course covered a broad range of subjects which prepares you for university, even if you don’t expect them to. All the biology modules and chemistry really make you feel comfortable in a lab, and you learn techniques you don’t get in school so the unilab isn’t terrifying when you first walk in.

I first thought spreadsheets was fairly pointless for science, but when I was doing maths and physics in Trinity we used it all the time for tables, graphs and data collection and having spent a year doing a module using solely spreadsheets I was at an advantage. You really do use the tricks you learn and being very familiar with spreadsheets makes the world of difference when you’re rushing to do up a graph at the end of a lab session.

The topics taught in all the subjects (mainly Biology and Maths) are a good introduction to university science, and don’t cover much more than the leaving cert so it’s at a comfortable level. In fact I used my maths notes from FET College Íde Finglas instead of the ones I got from my lecturer and the same for some of my biology notes.

But for me, the best thing I got out of the course wasn’t just the course content, but the experiences I gained and the friends I made. When I entered the course I was a very quiet and shy person, and while I am still quiet I have noticed a significant difference in my confidence.

I think you spend so long in school simply doing what you’re told and learning what you’re told that you never really get a chance to explore what you’re learning or ask questions which might veer off exam type questions.

In the course I felt comfortable asking questions just for the sake of knowing and interest as opposed to asking because it was on an exam, and I thought the teachers were more than happy to indulge your curiosity. In the labs we were taught to be confident and not to be afraid to do things wrong, while still being taught strict lab safety techniques.

While some of the labs weren’t too interesting, we did get to do some fun stuff like growing microbes from home on agar and attempting to make hand warmers.

I can’t express how important the year was for me mentally. I was so stressed in the leaving cert years, so much pressure on just 7 exams. When I didn’t get the course I wanted in Trinity, I seriously considered repeating the leaving cert. I can’t remember what made me decide to do a FET course instead, but I’ve never regretted that decision.

The year was so much less stressful, and I think the extra year made me more prepared for university. If I’m honest, I’m even glad I didn’t get my course first time around because I’d have been so nervous straight out of school.

I gained a sense of independence and maturity in one short year and I don’t think I’d have made it through first year of Trinity Science without it.

1 Year

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