US773 Engineering Common Entry at TUS Athlone

US773 Engineering Common Entry at TUS Athlone

https://tus.ie/courses/us773/

The US773 Engineering Common Entry at TUS Athlone is specifically designed to feed Ireland’s high-demand MedTech and manufacturing sectors. Ireland is a global hub for these industries, and this course is one of the few that provides the specialized "polymer" toolkit companies are looking for.

Here is a summary tailored for someone entering the Irish polymer industry:

Course overview:

This is a Common Entry route leading to a Level 7 Bachelor of Engineering degree.

Year 1: Common Entry

You start with Engineering Common Entry (US773). This allows you to build a foundation in math, science, and mechanics before committing to the Polymer stream in Year 2. It’s perfect if you know you like "making things" but aren't yet sure about the specific material science. At the end of year 3, you will graduate with a Level 7 Bachelor of Engineering degree in Polymer & Mechanical Engineering.

By completing an additional year (year 4 add-on), you will graduate with a Level 8 Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Polymer & Mechanical Engineering.

Key Skills & Curriculum

The program moves from general engineering to highly specialized industry skills:

  • Polymer Processing: Deep dives into injection moulding, extrusion, and blow moulding.
  • Product Design: Using CAD (Computer-Aided Design) to create plastic components specifically for the medical and automotive sectors.
  • Material Science: Learning how to select the right polymer for high-performance environments (e.g., a heart valve vs. a car bumper).
  • Industry 4.0: Exposure to automation, robotics, and "Smart" manufacturing.

 

Why take this course?

Ireland's polymer industry is currently booming, particularly in the Midlands and West.

Feature

Impact for You

Paid Work Placement

In Year 3, you complete a 6-month industrial placement. This often serves as a "long interview," with many students securing job offers before they even graduate.

MedTech Connection

Over 45% of employees in Ireland’s medical device sector are graduates; this course is a direct pipeline to companies like Medtronic, Boston Scientific, and Teleflex.

High Employment

TUS currently boasts the highest graduate employment rate in Ireland.

Sustainability Focus

You will learn about "Green Polymers" and reducing environmental loads—a top priority for Irish manufacturers in 2026.

Career & Salary Outlook for Level 8 Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) (2026)

  • Entry-Level Roles: Process Engineer, Polymer Technologist, Quality Assurance, Product Designer.
  • Earning Potential: Entry-level polymer engineers in Ireland currently start at approximately €48,000, with senior roles (8+ years) reaching €79,000+.
  • Location: While jobs are nationwide, there is a massive cluster of polymer activity in Athlone, Galway, Sligo, and Limerick.

Entry Requirements Engineering Common Entry (US773)

  • Leaving Cert: Grade 06 at ordinary level in five subjects, including Mathematics and English/Irish.
  • CAO Points (2025): Approximately 223 points.
  • QQI Route: Any QQI level 5 qualification with mathematics (5N1833) or Maths for IT (5N18396) or Maths for STEM (5N0556) or alternatively Leaving Certificate mathematics.