Course Summary
Course Category: PLC (Further Education - FET) - Apply directly to College
The food and drink industry in Ireland is a very important indigenous industry, providing interesting and well paid employment. Consumers require attractive, convenient and safe food products that also offer health promoting benefits and skilled scientists are required to manufacture and develop these products.
Skills and knowledge in areas such as science and technology, food safety and nutrition are the focus of this course. Throughout the course you will gain insights into the manufacture and the nutritional content of current food products, and how to develop new exciting innovative products.
Course Details
This course prepares you for working in the following Career Sectors:
What will you study?
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Biology 5N2746
Chemistry 5N2747
Food Chemistry 5N2748
Food Processing 5N5245
Laboratory Skills 5N2751
Mathematics 5N1833
Microbiology 5N0737
Nutrition 5N2006
Communications 5N0690
Work Experience 5N1356
Important
- Colleges may add/remove modules to keep the course updated and to meet demands.
- Almost all PLC courses have a Work Experience module, which requires students to find their own placement in an area directly related to their course.
Progression to CAO Courses
Higher Education Links Scheme (HELS)
This course leads to a QQI Major Award, and provides progression opportunities to a number of Higher Education courses, including those in the CAO.
To view CAO courses to which this award provides a possible progression route, click below:
| QQI Code |
| 5M5267 |
To calculate Points based on your QQI award results, use the PLC Points Calculator.
The Student - Career Interests
This course is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:
Investigative
The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.
Naturalist
Not surprisingly, some aspect of the natural sciences will run through the Naturalist's interests - from ecological awareness to nutrition and health. People with an interest in horticulture, land usage and farming (including fish) are Naturalists.
Some Naturalists focus on animals rather than plants, and may enjoy working with, training, caring for, or simply herding them. Other Naturalists will prefer working with the end result of nature's produce - the food produced from plants and animals. Naturalists like solving problems with solutions that show some sensitivity to the environmental impact of what they do. They like to see practical results and prefer action to talking and discussing.
Further Research
National Statistics for this Award (All Ireland)
The following data provides general information about this Award from colleges across Ireland.
Disclaimer: These links are to web sites outside of CareersPortal and we accept no responsibility for the information on them.
Career Progression
The food and pharmaceutical industries are among Ireland’s largest employers and have a large potential for employment.
Job opportunities for students who complete this course include:
- Laboratory assistants.
- Operators in food and pharmaceutical industries.
- Supervisor/manager in food retail outlets.
- Worker/supervisor in food preparation.
- Small food business operators.