The STEM sector has been riding a seemingly endless wave of growth. As humankind continues to reach for the stars, the work undertaken in tech, research and design is expanding exponentially. This has led to the creation of new job types and also to immense skills gaps across the sector. Employer demand for STEM qualifications and skills is high and will continue to increase in the future.
STEM is more than just a group of subjects it more closely reflects a skills set. It uses logic to creatively solve problems.
With STEM skills, you can make a big contribution to many of the big challenges facing society today. From designing visual for a new film, to working as a physiotherapist in a hospital, to inventing a new hi-tech health scanner, to manufacturing a new mobile phone, to writing the code for a new software programme or putting new satellites into space, there are thousands of exciting and well-paid opportunities.
There are different routes into STEM careers at different educational levels, from level 5 and 6, through apprenticeships or from relevant degrees and master programmes.
STEM crosses all career sectors and nearly every job in the future will require STEM/STEAM skills. In this page we are bringing together information on some of the more obvious STEM sectors.
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The engineering sector itself is made up of a wide range of companies providing a diverse range of products and services.
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Physical and Mathematical Sciences is a broad sector, with many potential career paths for those with qualifications and suitable skillsets, including medical work, engineering, teaching, finance and technology.
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Sample Courses
Computer engineers play a vital role in the research, design, development and installation of computer hardware and software. Areas where computer...
Mathematics has long played a central role in our quest to fully describe and understand the natural world. Nowadays, it is also a vital tool in...
The aim of this 4-year level 8 ab initio programme is to provide graduates with an Honours degree in Biotechnology with an emphasis on...
This programme provides students with a broad understanding of Mechanical Engineering technology allowing students to enter the job market as an...
The mathematics programme includes several modules in the main branches of pure mathematics: Analysis (calculus in one and in several variables),...
In this course, you’ll study issues such as food safety, environmental pollution, occupational safety and health risk management, and how...
The BSc in Psychology and Mathematics is the first course in Ireland to integrate these subjects, preparing students for a career combining the...
This full time Engineering Technology Level 5 course is designed to meet the needs of a variety of students who wish to explore the field of...
The UCD Science (DN200) course offers 27 degree subjects categorised into streams. Students can study subjects from more than one stream in first...
This unique course allows students to gain the skills required to start them on the path to becoming a chartered surveyor, as recognised by the...
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Sample Occupations
Member of the team of workers required for offshore facilities such as oil and gas rigs or drilling platforms. Roughneck - promotion from roustabout.
Construction Site Managers, also known as Site Agents, oversee the day to day operations of construction sites, ensuring the smooth progression of the various work being carried out. This role takes in preventing delays, planning, ensuring budgets and timelines are met, observing health and safety standards and checking the quality of completed work.
IT Assembly Technicians build computers from parts, such as circuit boards, disk drives, modems, cables and switches.
Industrial radiographers / Non-destructive testing (NDT) specialists test the safety of structures, vehicles and vessels including aircraft, trains, bridges, dams and pipelines.
Designs technologies that specialise in light information or light energy, such as laser or fibre optics technology.
Designs digital or physical products for people. Understands those people, their needs and their problems. Collaborates with others to create solutions that are intuitive, accessible and help people achieve their goals. Shapes the direction of the product at every step of the process.
Identify and resolve equipment malfunctions, working with manufacturers and field representatives as necessary to procure replacement parts.
Improves the performance and features of software that is used to produce video games.
Engineers design, develop, improve and maintain a vast range of the technology that surrounds us, from sports trainers to roads, tunnels and bridges, and from light bulbs to space satellites.
Works under supervision of a lead scientist, and specialises in routine practical tasks essential to research and development in areas such as genetics, microbiology and chemistry.
Works to ensure Good Manufacturing Practice requirements are met and that international standards are adhered to.
Creates mathematical models and computer programmes in order to make large scale calculations that assist in the solution of physical problems.