Computing Science

Course Outline
This MSc programme will provide you with the skills required to understand the entrepreneurship and innovation required for the software industry. Many national and multinational companies employ computer science graduates in areas such as software development and engineering, artificial intelligence, systems and networks, database and systems security as well as mobile multimedia, modelling, research and development. You will also get the chance to demonstrate the skills you have learned by completing a substantial research and development project.

Course Practicalities
The MSc is a full-time taught programme running for 12 months from the date of first registration for the programme. Students take taught modules in Semesters 1 and 2, followed by a research/development project from May to September.

The programme consists of 90 credits: taught modules to the value of 60 credits and a research/development project to the value of 30 credits.

A typical five-credit module includes:

two lecture hours per week
one to two hours of practicals per week
outside these regular hours, you are required to study independently by reading and by working on coursework such as assignments.

Why Choose This Course
The aim of the course is to provide you with the skills required to understand the entrepreneurship and innovation required in the software industry.

Placement or Study Abroad Information

You are required to complete a research and development project as part of the course. This project can be industry-led or based giving you an ideal opportunity to apply your knowledge to a real-life industrial problem.

Programme Structure

Students must attain 90 credits through a combination of:

Core Modules (30 credits)

Elective Modules (30 credits) (15 credits from Group 1 and 15 credits from Group 2)

Dissertation (30 credits)

Core Modules

CS6403 Case Studies in Computing Entrepreneurship (5 credits)
CS6408 Database Technology (5 credits)
CS6409 Information Storage and Retrieval (5 credits)
CS6410 Project Development Skills (5 credits)
CS6422 Complex Systems Development (5 credits)
CS6423 Scalable Computing for Data Analytics (5 credits)

Elective Modules Semester 1

CS6301 Design of Cyber-Physical Systems (5 credits)
CS6311 Mobile Network Protocols (5 credits)
CS6312 Mobile Devices and Systems (5 credits)
CS6314 Mobile Applications Design (5 credits)
CS6320 Formal Methods for Distributed Systems (5 credits)
CS6321 Model-Based Software Development (5 credits)
CS6322 Optimisation (5 credits)
CS6326 Applied Computer Simulation and Analysis (5 credits)
CS6420 Topics in Artificial Intelligence (5 credits)
CS6424 Special topics in Computing Science (5 credits)

Elective Modules Semester II

CS6313 Services and Mobile Middleware (5 credits)
CS6315 Mobile Systems Security (5 credits)
CS6316 Cellular Network Services (5 credits)
CS6317 Multimedia Technology in Mobile Networks (5 credits)
CS6318 Advanced Topics in Networking (5 credits)
CS6325 Network Security (5 credits)
CS6327 Internet of Things: Technology and Application (5 credits)
CS6421 Deep Learning (5 credits)
CS6425 Special Topics in Computing Science II (5 credits)
Research Dissertation (After Semester II)

CS6400 Dissertation in Computing Science (30 credits)
Dissertation

Students achieving an aggregate of at least 60% with not less than 40% in each taught module at their first attempt are deemed eligible to proceed to the Dissertation in Computing Science.

Postgraduate Diploma in Computing Science
Students failing to achieve an aggregate of at least 60% across all modules but who achieve a pass in each of the taught modules at their first attempt graduate with a Postgraduate Diploma in Computing Science. Students may also opt to exit the programme and graduate with a Postgraduate Diploma in Computing Science provided they have achieved a pass in each module.

Consult the Academic Calendar (MSc Computing Science) for further course and module content.

Modules

Further details on the modules listed above can be found in our Book of Modules. Any modules listed above are indicative of the current set of modules for this course but are subject to change from year to year.

University Calendar

You can find the full academic content for the current year of any given course in our University Calendar.

Applicants must have obtained either:

A Second Class Honours Grade I in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) in Computer Science or a closely related degree in which at least 50% of the credits must be in the area of Computer Science and IT and must include the following subjects: object-oriented programming and problem solving, data structures, operating systems, computer networks, relational databases and software engineering;

Or

A First Class Honours in a Higher Diploma (NFQ, Level 8) conversion course, such as the Higher Diploma in Applied Computing Technology at UCC; such conversion course applicants must have successfully completed programming modules to the value of at least 15 ECTS credits and have achieved a First Class Honours standard in those programming modules.

Applicants from Grandes Écoles Colleges will be considered if they are studying a cognate discipline in an ENSEA or EFREI Graduate School and are eligible to enter the final year (M2) of their programme.

Consideration under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) may also be given to applicants who do not meet the minimum academic entry requirements as stated above but who can demonstrate five years relevant professional experience (in the form of a detailed job(s) specification) and an interview may also be required.

English Language Requirements
Applicants that are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university-approved English language requirements. Please visit our PG English Language Requirements page for more information.

For applicants with qualifications completed outside of Ireland
Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements. For more information see our Qualification Comparison page.

International/Non-EU Applicants
For full details of the non-EU application procedure visit our how to apply pages for international students.

In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.

Note that not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above. For more information contact the International Office.

How Do I Apply
1. Check Dates: Check the opening and closing dates for the application process in the fact file boxes at the top of the page.

For Irish and EU applicants we operate a rounds system and you can check the rounds closing dates here.
Note that not all our programmes are subject to the rounds system so check the opening and closing dates for your specific programme in the fact file boxes above.

2. Gather Documents: Scanned copies of supporting documents have to be uploaded to the UCC online application portal and include:

Original qualification documents listed on your application including transcripts of results from institutions other than UCC.
Any supplementary items requested for your course if required.

3. Apply Online: Apply online via the UCC online application portal. Note the majority of our courses have a non-refundable €50 application fee.

Any questions? Use our web enquiry form to contact us.
Deposit

Please note that successful EU applicants will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit of €500 on acceptance of their place.

1 year full-time.

Start Date: 7 September 2020

Skills and Careers Information
Companies actively recruiting our graduates:
Accenture, Aer Lingus, Agility M3, Allied Irish Banks, Altada Technology Solutions Ltd, Amazon, Apple, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Bank of Ireland, BT, Central Statistics Office, Cisco, CiTi-Technology, Clearstream, Cloudreach, Dell EMC, Deloitte, Deutche Bank, Enterprise Ireland, Ericsson, Ernst & Young, Ervia, Facebook, First Derivatives, Google, Guidewire, Intel, IBM, Janssen, KPMG, Logitech, Microsoft, Open Text, Paddy Power, Pfizer, Pilz, PWC, SAP Galway, Screendragon, Transverse Technologies, Trend Micro, Tyco, Uniwink, Verizon Connect, Snipp Interactive, Version 1 (Software), VMware, and more.

Starting Salaries
Salaries for this sector are in general higher than many other industries. Consult the Brightwater Salary Survey 2020 for information on salaries across the financial and IT sectors.