Computer Science
The BSc in Computer Science is a full-time four-year degree course that encompasses all aspects of computer systems (both software and hardware) and ICT (information and communication technology), including software development, database technology, computer networks, operating systems, algorithms, security, web technology and applications.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | National University of Ireland |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | National University of Ireland | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
4 Years
Specific Subjects or course requirements
Leaving Certificate Entry Requirements
At least six subjects must be presented. Minimum grade H5 in two subjects and minimum grade O6/H7 in four other subjects. English and Irish are requirements for all programmes unless the applicant is exempt from Irish.
Applicants will need to meet the following minimum entry requirements:
English O6/H7
Irish O6/H7
Maths O2/H6
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
UCC awards the following points to the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme Link Modules:
Distinction 66 points
Merit 46 points
Pass 28 points
While Link Modules are counted for point scoring purposes they may not be counted as one of the six subjects to satisfy minimum entry requirements.
QQI FET Applicants General Information
Careers / Further progression
Skills and Careers Information
Graduate Study Options
The School of Computer Science and Information Technology has a large and active postgraduate research student community. More details on our research activities can be found on the School's research page. Some of the school's research centres offer internships for talented undergraduates during the summer. Once you graduate, you are well placed to pursue postgraduate studies at Masters of PhD level, at home or abroad.
Programmes taken by graduates of the BSc Computer Science include:
MSc Data Science and Analytics
MSc Computing Science
MSc Interactive Media
PhD programmes in Computer Science
Career Opportunities
IT companies actively seek Computer Science graduates, and we find that the work placement in third year boosts your employability. Our graduates have gone on to work in a variety of jobs including software engineers, software developers, information systems engineers, network engineers, technical analysts, creative designers, app developers and many more.
The technology sector in Ireland directly employs over 105,000 people, with 75% employed in multinational companies and the remainder in the indigenous digital technology sector.
In 2017 92% of graduates from the BSc (Hons) Computer Science surveyed were in employment while a further 6% went on to further study or training. Employers taking people on from this cohort of graduates included Dell EMC, Google, Amazon Web Services, Johnson Controls, McAfee, Teamwork, McKesson, Stryker, and many more.
Ireland is home to:
The top 5 global software companies
9 of the top 10 US technology companies
Top 3 global Enterprise Software Companies
4 of the top 5 IT services companies (Source: idaireland.com)
Further information
Approximate Available Places 8
Find out about the mature entry requirements at https://www.ucc.ie/en/study/undergrad/entryreqs/matureapplicants/
Approximate Available Places Overall 85
Entry 2024
Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2024 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2024 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: €60 Closing Date: 1 May 2024 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2024 at 5pm
Exceptional online late application (see page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee €60 Closing Date: 22 July 2024 at 5pm
Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid making an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all application fees are non-refundable.
LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5pm on 1 February 2024. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2024, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2024 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €60 applies.
Exceptional Late Applications (Exception to the timetable)
The exceptional closing date of 22 July at 5pm applies only to applicants who are registered as an undergraduate student on 1 May 2024 in any year in any one of the participating HEIs (subject to the exclusions listed below). In order to avail of the Exceptional Late Application facility you must have entered the HEI through the CAO system. This is an exceptional late closing date and all steps must be completed by 5pm on 22 July. No changes may be made after this date.
If you did not enter your current course through the CAO system, you must first contact the Admissions Office of the HEI to which you wish to apply and they will inform you if you may submit an application direct to the institution.
Exclusions:
You may submit a late application only for entry to courses other than your existing course. If you wish to repeat the year in the same course you must arrange this within your HEI.
Mary Immaculate College Limerick, Marino Institute of Education, Trinity College Dublin, University of Limerick and Maynooth University have special procedures in place in the case of current or previous students who wish to apply for entry to another course in the same HEI. Such applicants must contact their Admissions Office to determine the application procedure. However, if you are a student in another HEI and you wish to apply to any of these five HEIs, you should apply through CAO.
Refer to page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook on how to make an Exceptional Late Application.
Restrictions
As a CAO applicant you may experience one or more of the following restrictions based on your course choices, your category of application, or restrictions imposed by the HEIs that you wish to apply to. Please read the section on 'Restrictions' on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:
General Restrictions
1. Making a late application
2. Making changes to your course choices
Restricted Courses
3. Applying for a restricted course
Mature Applicants
4. Mature applicants
Supplementary Admissions Routes
5. Applying for DARE and/or HEAR
Course Outline
Graduates of Computer Science at UCC understand how computer-based systems work and how we can harness their potential to develop sophisticated computer applications upon which our modern world depends. The BSc in Computer Science is a full-time four-year degree course that encompasses all aspects of computer systems (both software and hardware) and ICT (information and communication technology), including software development, database technology, computer networks, operating systems, algorithms, security, web technology and applications.
Year 1 Modules
CS1106 Introduction to Relational Databases (5 credits)
CS1110 Computer Hardware Organisation (5 credits)
CS1111 Systems Organisation (5 credits)
CS1112 Foundations of Computer Science I (5 credits)
CS1113 Foundations of Computer Science II (5 credits)
CS1115 Web Development I (5 credits)
CS1116 Web Development II (5 credits)
CS1117 Introduction to Programming (15 credits)
Plus 10 credits from the following:
CS1130 & CS1131 Irish Language for Computer Science I & II (5 credits per module)
CH1001 Chinese Language (Mandarin) I (10 credits)
EC1202 Economic Reasoning for Business & EC1203 Macroeconomic Context and Business (5 credits per module)
FR0105 Introduction to French & FR1005 French for Near Beginners or FR1105 Threshold French & FR1107 French for Reading Purposes I (5 credits per module)
GE0005 & GE0008 German Language (CEFR-Level A2.1 & A2.2) (5 credits per module)
HS0028 Spanish Language (Beginner Level) (10 credits)
IT1102 Non-Beginners’ Written and Spoken Italian (10 credits) or IT1109 Introduction to Written and Spoken Italian (10 credits)
MA1001 & MA1002 Calculus for Science Parts 1 & 2 or MA1059 Calculus & MA1060 Introduction to Analysis (5 credits per module)
BSc Computer Science (Software Entrepreneurship)
There are two degree streams within the Computer Science intake. All students follow the same programme in first year but, at the beginning of the second year, may choose either to follow the main BSc in Computer Science route, which focuses exclusively on computer science, or opt instead for the BSc in Computer Science (Software Entrepreneurship) programme. The Computer Science (Software Entrepreneurship) degree has more of a niche profile and is taught in conjunction with the Department of Economics. It comprises a 50/50 blend of computing and business-oriented modules that aims to equip graduates with both computing and business skills. Students opting for this programme need to choose the Economics elective in first year.
Placement or Study Abroad Information
Work Placement
At the end of third year, you will undertake mandatory work placement which provides real-life experience of the workplace. The placement can be for 6 months (March to September) or 12 months (from March).
Working in a company setting provides you with additional skills that cannot be taught through lectures or in the laboratory. Most students rate this as one of the most valuable and rewarding aspects of their degree course and many return to work with their placement company after graduation. Typically, you will be attached to an existing team within the organisation and involved in the work of that team within the company.
Our students have been placed in SME’s, national and international companies. Companies that repeatedly employ student on placement include DELL EMC, Amazon, Intel, Pilz, Teamwork, Tapadoo, Workday, EMBL, Laya Healthcare, McAfee, CoreHR, Fidelity Investments, JLR, Johnson Controls, KPMG, Accenture, Tyco, IBM, Janssen, Microsoft, Netgear and others.
Study Abroad
Opportunities to study abroad are available under the Erasmus programme. UCC also has a range of links with institutions outside Europe that provide further opportunities for study abroad on a competitive basis.
Academic Programme Catalogue
See the Academic Programme Catalogue (https://ucc-ie-public.courseleaf.com/programmes/) for the complete and up-to-date content for this course. Note that the modules for all courses are subject to change from year-to-year. For complete descriptions of individual modules, see the Book of Modules (https://ucc-ie-public.courseleaf.com/modules/)
Dr Aisling O’Driscoll
bsc_coordinator@cs.ucc.ie
+353 (0)21 420 5919
http://www.ucc.ie/en/compsci/