Software Engineering - Applied Software Engineering - Athlone

Why take this course?
The MSc in Applied Software Engineering is an exciting one-year full-time programme, funded by Ericsson Ireland and ICT Skillnet and delivered by TUS in Athlone, which covers the entire software development lifecycle – from the fundamentals of computing and software design to implementation and testing. The master's is completely free to all participants and offers a stipend to offset living costs. The MSc also includes a three-month paid placement with Ericsson. Upon satisfactory completion of the programme, graduates are offered a permanent job as a software engineer with Ericsson in Athlone.

Screening and selection of candidates takes place every spring, with the programme commencing in late June/early July.

What will I experience?
Programme participants gain an integrated and critical knowledge of the skills and particular technologies used in ICT product development today. This fully funded MSc in Applied Software Engineering covers the fundamentals of contemporary software engineering and the tools, methods and techniques that support its applications.

Course Award: Master of Science
Course NFQ Level: Level 9
Department: Dept of Computer and Software Engineering

Year 1
Object Oriented Programming, Data Architecture and Database Systems, Computer Networks, Applied Mathematics, Agile Design and Testing, Cloud and Computer Architecture, Distributed Systems and Security, Web Technologies, Continuous Build and Delivery, Self Management and Teamwork, Group Project

Minimum Entry Requirements:
The programme is available to graduates with an honours Level 8 qualification who are eligible to work in Ireland. Candidates should preferably have a 2.1 honours primary degree in a relevant discipline. This category includes (but is not limited to) Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Data Networking etc. but qualified applicants from any discipline with problem solving, logic and critical thinking will receive consideration. Each application will be considered on its individual merits.

Please note: Participants will not be entitled to retain any social welfare payments while attending the course as Ericsson is funding a bursary to assist participants with expenses.

Candidates will undertake a course in advance of commencing the Masters to prepare and qualify them in the range of subject areas to be covered on the master's programme. This course will lead to a Certificate in Software Engineering (Level 8) and is a pre-requisite for participation in this master's programme.

1 year full-time.

What opportunities might it lead to?
This master's provides excellent employment opportunities for graduates, leading directly to a full-time job as a software engineer at Ericsson's Software Campus in Athlone. Historically, there has been a significant shortage of graduates in the ICT area. According to the Forfás Vacancy Overview Report, 35% of all difficult to fill vacancies were for the ICT sector, primarily for professional roles in software development, including software developers, database developers (with Oracle/SQL), web, cloud; with skills in Java, JavaScript, C++, and .Net the most frequently mentioned. This MSc in Applied Software Engineering will provide these technical competencies.

Career Prospects
Ericsson Product Development Unit in Athlone specialises in the provision of operations support systems (OSS) to telecom operators using advanced data and event management and visualisation techniques.