Engineering (Common Entry)

Apply CAO

Code SE700
Level 8
Duration 4 years
CAO Points 307
Credits 240
CAO Points Range 307 - 567*

Location Waterford
Campus Cork Road

Leaving Cert 2 subjects: H5 4 subjects: O6/H7 English or Irish: O6/H7 Mathematics: O2/H6
Fee information View details

Work placement options View details
Study Abroad Options View details

International Application Status Open
Application Information View details
International fees Fees Information

What is Engineering (Common Entry)?

This is a new common entry degree programme aimed at giving you a solid foundation in engineering while allowing you a little extra time to decide exactly which area of engineering you would like to study. The degree options from the common entry Engineering degree are:

The Common Entry Scheme is for students interested engineering as a career, but who may be unsure of what exact area of engineering they would like to work in. SE700 is the gateway for the following Level 8 BEng (Hons) degrees in SETU:

BEng (Hons) in Sustainable Energy Engineering
BEng (Hons) in Sustainable Civil Engineering
BEng (Hons) in Electronic Engineering
BEng (Hons) in Electrical Engineering
BEng (Hons) in Automation Engineering

What is Engineering?

There are many types of Engineering, all of which are focussed on making a better world. Studying Engineering can lead to exciting career prospects and top salaries across a wide range of industries.

Engineers are shaping the future by applying their skills to almost everything you can think of, from medical to transport, sustainable energy to food production, robotics to construction, clean water to 3D printing. There really is no limit to what Engineers can do.

Engineering is the power behind innovation and new product developments. Engineers identify a problem and come up with a solution – often creating something completely new in the process.

Take time to choose

The common engineering honours entry scheme is for students interested in engineering as a career, but who may be unsure of which discipline to follow. SE700 is the gateway to four Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) degree options.

Year One, Semester One

In semester 1, students explore each of the different engineering disciplines via the ‘Introduction to Engineering’ module which includes five exciting mini-projects typically lasting two weeks and completed in groups. There will also be a range of presentations from external Professional Engineers explaining how each discipline makes a positive impact on the world.

The other modules in semester 1 concern Maths, Science and Critical Thinking skills, all fundamental to Engineering disciplines. These are ‘Engineering Mathematics 1’, ‘Engineering Computing’, ‘Physics 1’ and ‘Thinking & Learning’.

There are also additional tutorials for Maths to support students and help explain the link between the different Maths topics and the Engineering disciplines

Semester One Student-Mentor Meetings

Each student will meet their mentor on a weekly basis throughout the first semester. These meetings offer the opportunity to ask detailed questions and get individual guidance as to which discipline they should pursue.

Specialising

Students start to specialise in one of the four specialist engineering areas in Semester 2 of Year 1 and further specialise in the next three years.

Leaving Cert: Minimum entry requirements for Engineering (Common Entry):

2 subjects: H5
4 subjects: O6/H7
English or Irish: O6/H7
Mathematics: O2/H6

Advanced and Equivalent Entry for Engineering (Common Entry):

Career Opportunities for Engineering (Common Entry) graduates

Career opportunities will be subject to your choice of specialist exit pathways. Common Engineering Honours Entry is the gateway to four Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) degree options. Students start to specialise in semester 2 of Year 1 and further specialise in the next 3 years. For more information on the career opportunities visit the following courses:

Follow on study for Engineering (Common Entry) graduates

Opportunities for postgraduate study are available at SETU Waterford and other insitutions including Masters of Engineering, Masters of Science or a PhD. The opportunities for postgraduate study will be subject to the course you choose to get your degree in. For more information on the follow on study opportunities visit the following courses:

CourseCast 6 May 2026

Engineering

This episode focuses on the Bachelor of Engineering (Common Entry) at SETU. Lecturer on the programme David Williams outlines how the course is structured, explaining the process of specialisation from Second Year. Current students Bevin Bowdren and Lukas Malik, describe their experiences so far, outlining travel and placement opportunities and the parts of the course they particularly enjoy. Graduate Grace Malone talks about her current role as a Civil Engineer and what that entails.

Listen on podcasts.setu.ie