Spring 2026 Courses

The Youth Academy is offering Autumn courses for high-ability primary and secondary school students.

Dates and Times

Course Dates	Time
Saturday October 3rd	10am - 12.30pm
Saturday October 10th	10am - 12.30pm
Saturday October 17th	10am - 12.30pm
Saturday October 31st	10am - 12.30pm
Saturday November 7th	10am - 12.30pm
Saturday November 14th	10am - 12.30pm

A graduation ceremony will take place on Saturday November 21st (Evening time)

When to apply?

Applications are open on the 1st of September 2026 and will close on the 10th of September 2026.
Applications are made online via our application portal here
Please note that if selected, all primary age children are required to be signed in and out of class by an adult.
No offered places can be deferred or transferred to another child.

Fees and Scholarships

A fee of €160 applies for all courses. We have a limited number of scholarships, based on economic circumstances. Please see here.

Autumn course descriptions

No prior knowledge is needed to attend any of our courses.

These are our current confirmed course offerings, more to follow.

Découvrons le Français : Over 300 Million People Speak It — Will You?

Did you know French is spoken on all five continents by over 300 million people as a native or second language? Learning French opens countless doors around the world.

Over six weeks, this course invites primary school pupils to explore the French language and begin communicating with confidence at a basic level. Through games, songs, hands-on activities, and collaborative group work, learners will discover French in a fun and natural way while learning about the richness and diversity of French-speaking cultures around the world. By the end of the course, pupils will be able to:
-use greetings and everyday useful phrases
-introduce themselves and share basic information about their family
-count to 20 and solve basic equations
-talk about their food preferences and activities they like and dislike
-read and write short, simple dialogues in French
-show a basic understanding of the Francophonie and the cultures of French-speaking communities

Familiarising yourself or ‘getting an ear for’ a modern foreign language at primary schools helps smooth the path for learning a new language at secondary school, as well as benefiting literacy in general.

Be a Bio-Engineer: Build, Test and Hack the Human Body

Have you ever wondered how doctors use machines to see inside the body or how some people use special limbs to walk and move again? In this exciting course, students will explore the world of biomedical engineering, where science, technology, and creativity come together to improve people’s health.

Students will learn how the human body works and how engineers design tools to help doctors understand and treat it. Topics include the basics of the heart and muscles, simple biomedical devices (such as heart rate monitors and prosthetic limbs), and how images of the body are created using technology. They will also explore how sensors can measure things like heart rate and movement.

Through hands-on activities and guided exploration, students will investigate real-life challenges and design their own solutions. Activities will include building a simple model of a prosthetic limb; measuring and recording their heart rate during different activities; creating models to explore how the body works; and solving real-world “medical mysteries” through teamwork

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

· Describe how parts of the human body work

· Explain how simple medical technologies help doctors and patients

· Design and present simple solutions to health-related problems

· Collect and understand basic body measurements (like heart rate)

Basic Electronics: Understanding electrical circuits

This hands-on course introduces students to the fundamentals of electronics and the principles of electrical circuits. Through engaging, practical activities, students will explore essential components and learn how simple electric circuits function. The course also includes beginner-friendly programming using mBlock and Arduino, leading into the basics of robotics.

Introduction to Electronics and Electrical Circuits

Importance and real-world applications of electronics
Basics of electricity: voltage, current, resistance
Understanding circuit types: series vs. parallel
Key components: LEDs, batteries, resistors, switches, transistors, and more

Introduction to mBlock and Arduino

Overview of mBlock: visual programming for beginners
Introduction to Arduino and its integration with mBlock
Setting up the environment and writing basic programs

Interactive Projects Using mBlock and Arduino

LED Control: Blinking, dimming, and sequencing LEDs
Traffic Light Simulation: Timed control of multiple LEDs
Switch-controlled LEDs
Photoresistor-triggered actions (including building an optocoupler switch)
Temperature sensing (room and body) with visual feedback

Introduction to Robotics

mBot Assembly: Hands-on robot building
Basic mBot Controls: Movement, turning, and obstacle interaction
Advanced Activities: Obstacle avoidance, Line following, etc

Further Exploration and Learning Resources:

Guidance for independent project development
Project ideas to inspire creativity and problem-solving

By the end of the course, students will:

Understand core concepts in electronics and circuits
Gain hands-on experience with mBlock and Arduino
Develop simple but functional electronic and robotic projects
Be equipped with resources to pursue further learning in electronics and robotics

A world that we cannot see - The secret life of microbes

This course teaches you all about microorganisms, the good, bad and evil! Learn all about their secret world through fun and interactive experiments. Some activities include:

Ever wondered about microorganisms in our food?
Uncover how good microbes can be used to make food products.
Carry out your own fermentation experiment at home to learn about the process of bread making.
Let's put hand hygiene to the test! You will carry out an experiment using agar to see how many microbes are killed when we clean our hands.
Discover the dangerous side of microorganisms and how they can cause disease. You will be shown magnified images of different microbes and learn all about the illnesses they can cause.
Find out how we can fight harmful microorganisms. Discover the world of vaccines and antibiotics, but also how microorganisms can fight back. Can you help the scientist figure out which antibiotics will save the patient?
Finally, you will get to be the doctor for a day! Learn about how infection is diagnosed and how to check vital signs when microbes make us sick!

The Secret Life of Physics: A rollercoaster ride through Life, Energy, and Cosmic Wonders!

From our toes to the sky: Physics is everywhere!

Calling all young scientists:

Ever wondered why things fall when you drop them? Or how our planet stays floating in space?

From the smallest atom to the depths of the ever-expanding universe, there is so much to explore.

Welcome to The Secret Life of Physics, where we’re going to explore the wild science that makes our world, and the whole universe, go round!

Explore the secrets of matter, density, and forces!
Dive into electricity and electromagnetism!
Blast off into astronomy!
Study waves (not all of them are in the sea!)
Uncover the mystery of radiation!

This course will open your mind to the possibilities an understanding of physics can give you. Who knows where it will take you!

Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof: A brief introduction to the German language

While the German language may be rather notorious for its complex grammar and propensity towards seemingly endlessly long words – Mark Twain once famously claimed that one would need an eternity just to learn German -, getting started with the language is actually much easier than it seems!

In six weeks, this course aims to familiarise students with the German language and to get them comfortable with basic communication in a foreign language. To achieve this, this course is intended to make beginners interact with the language organically (through games, crafts activities, and group work) and to introduce them to various aspects of German culture.

By the end of this course, students will have learned how to

introduce themselves and talk about their family
count to 20 and solve basic equations
talk about food, hobbies, and daily routines
read and write simple German texts
use some common German idioms

Foundations of Marine & Coastal Engineering: Oceans Unleashed!

Dive into the dynamic world of Marine & Coastal Engineering! This course empowers young learners to explore how engineers tackle real-world challenges, from safeguarding coastlines to building resilient structures in ocean environments.

Topics covered include:

Overview of what marine and coastal engineers do and why Ireland needs them!
Understanding waves, currents and tides and why they matter in engineering
Coastal protection structures
Engineering for rising sea levels
Underwater engineering and marine ecosystems
Observation techniques including remote sensing, buoys and satellite data

Perfect for budding engineers, each session combines theory with interactive experiments. Through hands-on activities, students will engage with wave mechanics, construct model coastlines and design protective structures.

Join us and 'seas the day'!

Bio-Builders: Can we fix it? Yes, we can! - An Introduction to Biomedical Engineering

Calling all young innovators and problem solvers! Are you curious about how science, engineering, and imagination come together to solve real challenges in healthcare and medicine? In this 6-week journey into the world of biomedical engineering, we’ll explore how living systems inspire groundbreaking technologies — and how engineers create tools that help people live healthier, better lives.

From exploring how our bodies move and communicate, to designing devices that support or even replace our body functions, you’ll dive into hands-on activities that combine biology, mechanics, and creativity. Whether we're tinkering with model organs, designing assistive devices, or experimenting with bio-inspired materials, you'll begin to see the human body as a fascinating blueprint for innovation.

Get ready to think like a biomedical engineer — and discover how you can help build a better, healthier future! Topics Include:

Think Like an Engineer: Solving Problems with Purpose
What Is Biomedical Engineering?
Bio-Inspired Design: Learning from Living Systems
Tools That Heal: Prosthetics, Implants, and Devices
Signals and Sensors: Communicating with the Body
Bioengineering the Future: What Will You Create?

Becoming the Business Leaders of Tomorrow: An Introduction to Business

Do you ever wonder how businesses make money, why your favourite brands become popular or how businesspeople structure and run companies? This six-week course will investigate different aspects of business, providing students with the chance to learn how creativity, problem-solving, teamwork, and innovation can turn business ideas into reality.

Using real-world case study examples such as Apple, Disney and Ryanair, students will gain an introduction to business, with each week covering a different topic, including human resources and leadership, marketing, economics and sustainability. They will also have the opportunity to form their own business team and work together to produce an innovative new business plan.

Each week students will have the opportunity to engage in hands-on activities to explore how businesses are created, attract customers and what it takes to become a profitable business. Activities will include creating and branding their own business, designing a fun marketing campaign to attract customers, managing a business budget and making decisions about pricing and profit, and building a business team by solving workplace challenges through teamwork and creative problem-solving. Towards the end of each class, students will work in their designated teams to put together their business plan to be presented in the final class.

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

Describe the roles of marketing, finance, and people in a business
Create and present their own business idea
Understand simple business decisions about pricing, economics and profit
Work as a team to solve real-world business challenges

Fundamentals of Computer Programming

This introductory course offers a fun and accessible way for students to begin their journey in computer programming. We start with Scratch, a visual, block-based programming tool that simplifies core programming concepts, making it ideal for beginners. In these first sessions, students will develop a foundational understanding of programming basics by building interactive games and animations.

We then transition to Python, a versatile text-based language, which empowers students to create small projects and further explore programming. The course covers essential topics such as:

Introduction to Programming

What is programming and why is it beneficial for young people?

Getting Started with Scratch (emphasizing programming fundamentals over character animations)

How to create and structure a new project
Using blocks to build simple programs
Implementing loops, conditions, sounds, and graphics in interactive games

Introduction to Python

Why Python? Exploring its strengths as a beginner-friendly language
Navigating error messages and debugging
Understanding variables, data types, operators, and expressions
Working with input and output functions
Applying conditional statements and loops

Final Project

Students put their skills to the test with a hands-on project.

Each topic includes tailored exercises, with additional tasks provided based on each student's pace and understanding.

Beyond the Wild: The World of Exotic Animals

Step into the fascinating world of exotic animals! In this hands-on course, young zoologists will discover some of the world's most unusual species and explore the incredible adaptations that help them survive. From camouflage, venom and super senses to strange diets and behaviours, students will investigate what makes these animals so unique.

We'll also journey behind the scenes of the exotic pet and wildlife trade, exploring where exotic pets come from, how they travel around the world, what they need to thrive in our care, and why responsible ownership and conservation matter.

Through interactive challenges, investigations, games and real-world examples, students will discover the amazing connections between animals, people and the wild.

From Tiny Worlds to Big Life - A Journey Through Biology

This course explores the levels of biological organization, from tiny cells to the complexity of the human body. Students will discover how different types of cells give rise to diverse organisms, from simple life forms such as bacteria and fungi to more complex living systems.

Through hands-on experiments, including microscope investigations of bacteria and human cell slides, students will explore cell structure and learn to identify key organelles, as well as remarkable molecules such as DNA and RNA. Additional activities include using a forensic kit and gel electrophoresis to visualize DNA bands, introducing students to the fundamentals of molecular biology in an engaging, practical way.

In the final session, students will focus on the different systems of the human body, with special attention to the nervous system and its role in movement and coordination. Interactive activities, such as building or exploring a robotic hand and playing educational card games, will make learning both entertaining and memorable. Throughout the course, students will gain a deeper understanding of how living organisms function while exploring biology through fun, interactive, and educational experiments.

Becoming a bug scientist – Introduction to Entomology

This course introduces students to the study of insects, and their relationship with humans, the environment, and other living beings.

Students will learn how to identify insects, explore their unique characteristics and behaviour, and understand the different roles they play in our daily lives and as an integral part of the ecosystem. There will also be a focus on the different threats to insect populations and efforts for insect conservation, using examples from local surroundings. Through interactive sessions, group tasks, outdoor and indoor activities, students will explore key aspects of studying insects and build the skills of observation and scientific inquiry.

Across the 6 weeks, students will learn the basics of insect anatomy and classification, explore insect biodiversity and behaviour, and think more critically about human-insect interactions. Activities will include nature walks, creative projects, insect sampling and identification techniques, and more, helping students develop skills to begin their journey as an entomologist.

This course is suitable for students with an interest in insects or the natural world. No prior knowledge is required.

The Chemistry of You: Exploring the Science Inside and Around Us

Have you ever watched your mum cooking in the kitchen, mixing ingredients together to make a meal? Or seen chemists in a laboratory combining chemicals to create new materials and medicines?

Did you know that something just as amazing is happening inside your body every second?

Inside your cells, tiny chemical reactions are constantly taking place. These reactions give you the energy to run, play, think, grow, and stay healthy.

Join us to discover the chemistry happening inside your body and how it connects to the world around you. Students will learn the basics of chemical compounds, how molecules bond and interact, and how these interactions make life possible. They will also explore the structure and function of cells and discover how they work together to keep our bodies alive and healthy.

Through fun, hands-on experiments, students will create, observe, and visualise science in action. Students will also have the opportunity to visit the University's Biomedical Research Building and explore the Museum's Superhuman exhibit, discovering how scientists study the human body and develop new ways to improve health.

Big ideas in action: Exploring Life’s Big Questions

In this course, participants will engage in philosophical inquiries into the biggest questions about how to live well. They'll learn about how great philosophers have thought about ideas like: friendship, justice, beaty and reality, and build their own answers to these enduring questions through games and story-telling, exploring what engaging philosophically with the world can mean in a modern, digital world.

This course offers a caring and democratic space for children to think critically together and discover how a philosophical approach to the world can be an important companion to everyone’s every day life.

Imagination in Action: An Introduction to Creative Writing

Unleash your creativity and let your ideas take form. Writing is more than words on a page. It is a chance to explore new worlds, meet unforgettable characters, and bring your imagination to life. This six-week course invites young writers on an exciting journey to discover the art of storytelling and learn how to craft their own original tales.

Over the six weeks, students will explore the key elements of fiction, including setting, character development, and narrative design. Each session includes fun exercises and creative activities designed to help children shape their ideas into engaging stories. Through group discussions, imaginative prompts, and individual guidance tailored to each child’s needs, participants will also learn that inspiration can be found anywhere. It might be in everyday life, in books, or even in the smallest moments around them. By the end of the course, each student will have completed a full short story, which will be printed. They’ll leave the course with a story in hand, ready to share it with the world!

Imagination in Action is perfect for children who want to explore storytelling in a supportive, inspiring, and fun environment. Students will leave the course with practical writing skills, greater confidence, and a story that is entirely their own.