Advanced Polymer Materials - Postgraduate Diploma

Program Overview

The Advanced Polymer Materials Postgraduate Diploma is a Level 9 online program tailored for individuals seeking to advance their careers in industries reliant on polymeric materials. Offered through Springboard+ funding, the program emphasizes recyclability and leverages Ireland's thriving polymer technology industry, equipping graduates with in-demand skills for roles such as Process Engineers and Material Scientists in sectors like Medtech and Automotive.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Advanced Polymer Materials Postgraduate Diploma is a Level 9 program designed for individuals seeking employment or advancement in industries that utilize polymeric materials, such as the medical device, automotive, and aerospace sectors. The program highlights the growth of the polymer technology industry in Ireland, with over 230 companies generating an annual turnover of €2.1 billion. This growth has led to significant job creation, with 7,000 individuals currently employed in the sector across Ireland. The high-tech polymer industry plays a crucial role in driving innovation in various sectors, including medtech, ICT, biopharma, agri-food, and automotive.

Outline:

The program is delivered through an online learning approach, combining online lectures/tutorials (webinar style) with online labs. Students have access to continuous support through the Institute's virtual learning environment, Moodle, which provides lecture and tutorial content, additional resources, and forums for interaction. The program structure includes:

• Semester 1:
• Polymer Processing I: Topics include materials performance during injection molding.
• Polymer Characterisation I: Topics include analysis of polymers using thermal and mechanical methods.
• Polymer Chemistry and Physics I: Topics include synthesis of polymers.
• Research Methods: Delivered by Dr. Jeff Buckley.
• Semester 2:
• Polymer Materials II: Topics include composites, additive manufacturing.
• Polymer Processing II: Topics include materials performance during extrusion and blow molding.
• Polymer Characterisation II: Topics include analysis of polymers using rheological and spectroscopic methods.
• Polymer Chemistry and Physics II: Topics include structure-property relationships and degradation.

Teaching:

The program utilizes a flexible online delivery approach, allowing for greater participation, particularly for employed individuals. Lectures are delivered online each week, and students are required to complete lab work over two separate blocks in semesters 1 and 2 to gain hands-on experience with advanced material characterization and processing data.

Careers:

Graduates of the Advanced Polymer Materials Postgraduate Diploma are well-prepared for employment in advanced manufacturing industries across Ireland and internationally. Typical roles include:

• Process Engineers
• New Product Development Engineers
• Material Scientists
• Research and Development Engineers
These roles are commonly found in companies within the Medtech, Pharma, Automotive, and Aerospace sectors.

Other:

The program is Springboard + funded.

Full time:

€6,900 EU applicants; €12,000 non-EU

Part time fees:

€5,980