Program Overview

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Computing Science

Course Fact File

• Code: MSCCS
• Duration: 1 Year Full-time
• Teaching Mode: Full-time
• Qualifications: MSc
• NFQ Level: Level 9
• Closing Date: Rolling deadline. Open until all places have been filled. Early application is advised.
• Non-EU Closing Date: 14 February 2025
• Start Date: 8 September 2025

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. In the final part of the degree, you will also get the chance to demonstrate the skills you have learned by completing a substantial research and development project.

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 II)
• 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

Group I

• CS6312 Mobile Devices and Systems (5 credits)
• CS6314 Mobile Applications Design (5 credits)
• CS6322 Optimisation (5 credits)
• CS6325 Network Security (5 credits)
• CS6327 Internet of Things: Technology and Application (5 credits)
• CS6420 Topics in Artificial Intelligence (5 credits)

Group II

• CS6311 Mobile and Wireless Networks (5 credits)
• CS6313 Services and Mobile Middleware (5 credits)
• CS6315 Mobile Systems Security (5 credits)
• CS6317 Multimedia Technology in Mobile Networks (5 credits)
• CS6319 Applied Machine Learning (5 credits)
• CS6405 Datamining (5 credits)
• CS6421 Deep Learning (5 credits)

Research Dissertation (After Semester II)

• CS6400 Dissertation in Computing Science (30 credits)

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.

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

Starting Salaries:

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

Requirements

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;
• 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.

International Applicants

To be considered for an offer, you must provide all the required documents at the time of application:

1. If you are required to present an English language proficiency test, then you must present the certificate that meets the entry requirements at the time of submission for the application to be considered. Applications without a valid English certification will be automatically refused.
2. Check the entry requirements: You must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements. For more information see our Qualification Comparison page.
3. Only then start the application by clicking on the ‘Apply Now’ button at the end of the page.

Fees and Costs

Postgraduate EU and International Fees 2025/2026

See our Postgraduate EU and Non-EU (International) Fee Schedule for the latest information.

Deposits

If your course requires a deposit, that figure will be deducted from your second-semester fee payment in January.

Fee payment

Fees are payable in two equal instalments. First payment is at registration and the balance usually by the end of January.

How can I pay?

See different options on our How Do I Pay My Fees? page.

How To Apply

1. Check dates

Check the opening and closing dates for the application process in the yellow fact file boxes at the top of this webpage. The UCC online application portal usually opens around mid October.

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 by clicking the red 'Apply Now' button below. Note most of our courses have a non-refundable €50 application fee.