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Work placements and Field trips

Work Placement: Real Experience, Real Impact

All of our Bachelors of Engineering and some of our Bachelors of Science undergraduate degrees offer a structured work placement, giving students invaluable experience in industry, research, or public-sector settings. Work placements help you:

  • Put course theory into practice
  • Build your CV with real-world experience
  • Develop technical and professional skills
  • Explore career paths and build your network

University of Galway has an excellent placement process and a dedicated work placement team. We are one of the few universities who resource placements specifically, we have dedicated staff who match our students up with industry.

Placements are most often paid, and many students secure graduate roles with their host organisations.

Programmes with Work Placement

Course

Placement Duration

Placement Setting

All Engineering (BE+ME)

8 months (Year 4)

Irish or international industry

Engineering (BE-only exit)

4–8 months (Year 3)

Irish industry

BSc Computer Science

8 months

Irish industry

BSc Biotechnology

3–7 months

Irish industry or EU research lab

BSc Biopharmaceutical Chemistry

3–7 months

Irish industry

BSc Environmental Health & Safety

7 months

Irish industry

Work Placement Companies in College of Science and Engineering

“In third year students spend five months working in industry. This gives a real appreciation of how everything you learn in the classroom can be applied in an industrial setting.” — James Grogan, BE (Mechanical Engineering)

“The work placement really sets you up for your job in industry. ”
— Conor Glennon, BE (Energy Systems Engineering) Graduate 

 

Field Trips: Learning Beyond the Lab

Fieldwork is an essential part of scientific training—especially in environmental, biological, and earth sciences. You’ll gain hands-on experience collecting, analysing, and interpreting real-world data in natural environments.

Courses with Field Trips

  • BSc Environmental Science
  • BSc Marine Science
  • BSc Earth & Ocean Science
  • BSc Zoology (via GY301)
  • BSc Botany and Plant Science (via GY301)
  • BSc Microbiology (via GY301)

Field sites include coastal habitats, freshwater ecosystems, geological formations, and protected biodiversity zones around Ireland and beyond.

Science Field Trips at University of Galway

“The combination of lectures, lab work, and outdoor field trips … provided me with both the knowledge and enthusiasm I need to succeed in my future career.”
— Brendan Canning, BSc (Environmental Science)

“The course also entailed a lot of fieldwork which was very enjoyable. We learned a great deal about Irish habitats (their creation, management and conservation) and the biodiversity they support (e.g. how to sample for and conserve Irish plant and animal biodiversity).”
— Aoife Crowe, BSc (Environmental Science)