Expand+Please note that the entry requirements for DC190 are under review and may be revised upwards for entry in 2017/18

Course Requirements
Subjects Required
Minimum of H4 Mathematics or H4 Applied Mathematics with H5 Mathematics

General Entry Req...

Hide-Please note that the entry requirements for DC190 are under review and may be revised upwards for entry in 2017/18

Course Requirements
Subjects Required
Minimum of H4 Mathematics or H4 Applied Mathematics with H5 Mathematics

General Entry Requirements
A minimum of six Leaving Certificate subjects at Grade O6 or H7, with at least two at H5, which must include the subjects Mathematics AND either English or Irish.

Leaving Certificate Mathematics Requirements
DCU does not award points for the subject of Mathematics at Leaving Certificate Ordinary Alternative or Foundation Level.

This subject will be accepted for admission purposes for the following courses:

BA in Applied Language and Translation Studies
BA in Contemporary Culture and Society
BSc in Education and Training
BA in Journalism
BA in International Relations
BA in Communication Studies
BA Gaeilge agus Iriseoireacht (Irish and Journalism)
Bachelor of Civil Law (Law and Society)
BSc in Multimedia
Bachelor of Arts (Joint Honours)
Bachelor of Early Childhood Education

Leaving Certificate Subject Combinations
Certain subjects will not be scored separately if they occur in combination with subjects that are similar in content. In each case, the highest individual grade will be scored.

The following six groups of subjects are affected by this:
1 Music and Musicianship, Music A, Music B

2 Economics, Agricultural Economics

3 Physics with Chemistry – if combined with Physics and Chemistry, only two best scored – if combined with Physics or Chemistry, only best scored

4 History, Economics and Economic History – if all three are taken, only the best two will be scored

5 Latin, Classical Studies

6 Greek, Classical Studies

Bonus Points for Honours Mathematics
25 bonus points will continue to be awarded in 2017 for higher level mathematics, at grades H6 and above in the Irish Leaving Certificate or equivalent.

Expand+EU/EEA and Non-EU
DCU has an active mature student body and strongly encourages applications from mature candidates (those aged 23 years or above on 1st January in the year of entry). As a mature student, your wealth of knowledge and experience wi...

Hide-EU/EEA and Non-EU
DCU has an active mature student body and strongly encourages applications from mature candidates (those aged 23 years or above on 1st January in the year of entry). As a mature student, your wealth of knowledge and experience will make a valuable contribution to the university, and we are always working towards widening participation to allow mature students gain entry onto DCU courses.

What are the entry requirements?
Applying as a mature applicant means that you do not compete with Leaving Certificate students for places at DCU. Instead, experience other than examination grades is taken into consideration – this may be work experience, further studies or other relevant experience. For some courses, however, particular Leaving Certificate subjects may be necessary. In all cases, the university will want to know that you have the ability and motivation to make the most of your studies at DCU.

What supports are available for mature students?
There is a wide network of services. The Mature Student Academic Writing Week prepares you for college life through workshops on topics such as academic writing, citing and referencing. Other topics include supports for students at DCU, such as the Mathematics Learning Centre, IT supports and the Mature Student Society. You will also have access to Student Support and Development workshops throughout the academic year for example CV Clinics, Learning Students and Motivational Workshops.

What financial supports are available to mature students?
There are a number of sources, including the Government’s Free Fees Initiative, the Higher Education Grants Scheme, the Back to Education Allowance and the DCU Student Assistance Fund, once a registered DCU student. Information on these schemes is available at www.studentfinance.ie.

Where can I find out more?
For the Mature Student Officer, please contact 01 700 6987. For general and admission enquiries, please contact the Registry on T +353 (0)1 700 5338 E registry@dcu.ie

How do I apply?
All mature applicants for full-time study must apply to the Central Applications Office (CAO) by 1st February in the year of entry.

Expand+There are many different ways to enter DCU. While candidates are primarily assessed on the basis of their second level examinations, other assessments are in place for mature students, students from socio-economic disadvantaged backgrounds, students ...

Hide-There are many different ways to enter DCU. While candidates are primarily assessed on the basis of their second level examinations, other assessments are in place for mature students, students from socio-economic disadvantaged backgrounds, students with disabilities/specific learning difficulties and transfer students. The university is committed to welcoming students from countries worldwide. For Undergraduate Admissions - General Information please go to: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/undergrad.shtml

Expand+Early online application (discounted): Fee €25 Closing Date: 20th January 2017 at 5:15pm

Normal online application: Fee €40 Closing Date: 1st February 2017 at 5:15pm

Late online application - restrictions apply: Fee: €50 Closing Date: 1st May 2...

Hide-Early online application (discounted): Fee €25 Closing Date: 20th January 2017 at 5:15pm

Normal online application: Fee €40 Closing Date: 1st February 2017 at 5:15pm

Late online application - restrictions apply: Fee: €50 Closing Date: 1st May 2017 at 5:15 pm

Change of Mind: Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1st July 2017 5:15 pm

Exceptional online late application - see page 14 of the 2017 CAO Handbook: Fee €50 Closing Date: 22nd July 2017 at 5:15pm

You should avoid submitting an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all fees are non-refundable.

LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5:15pm on 1st February 2017 and will be accepted up to 5:15pm on 1st May 2017, subject to the restricitions listed on page 3 of the 2017 CAO Handbook.

Late Applications (Exception to Timetable)
The exceptional closing date of 22nd of July at 5:15pm applies only to applicants who are currently undergraduate students 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.

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, Trinity College Dublin and the University of Limerick 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 three HEIs, you should apply through CAO.

Refer to page 15 of the 2017 CAO Handbook on how to make an Exceptional Late Application.

Restricted-category Applicants
Mature applicants – most HEIs will require mature applicants, who wish to be assessed on mature grounds, to have applied to CAO by 1st February 2017 at 5:15pm. (This restriction does not apply if the applicant wishes to be considered on the basis of school leaving qualifications only.) For more information about applying to CAO on the basis of mature years go to www.cao.ie/mature.

Applying for the HEAR and/or DARE schemes – to be considered for the HEAR and/or DARE schemes applicants must have registered on the CAO system by 1st February 2017 at 5:15pm and must have completed the HEAR/DARE application form by 1st March 2017 at 5:15pm – supporting documents must be sent to CAO offices before 1st April 2017 at 5:15pm.

Expand+Why DCU?
• In DCU you will be challenged to fulfil your potential as a person and as an engineer in an exciting and innovative environment.
• Six months of work experience in Year Three is an integral part of the course – this is a chance to get a...

Hide-Why DCU?
• In DCU you will be challenged to fulfil your potential as a person and as an engineer in an exciting and innovative environment.
• Six months of work experience in Year Three is an integral part of the course – this is a chance to get a feel for working in an engineering environment and to show your knowledge and talents to a prospective future employer.
• Hands-on experience in labs and on projects is a key feature of the course.
• On graduating from the BEng, you will have a qualification that is in very high demand from both SME and multinational employers, both at home and abroad. The one-year integrated MEng add-on allows you to get further highly-desirable specialist skills and knowledge that will further diversify your options.
• You can invent new technologies in a range of fields, such as sensors, medical devices, communications (wireless, wired, optical…), interface electronics and computers, mobile devices, new interfaces (3D, VR), artificial intelligence, computer vision, robotics, materials, and many more.
• DCU’s engineering programmes have been accredited by Engineers Ireland since their foundation. This is a guarantee of high quality and is your passport to professional engineering recognition worldwide, through the Washington Accord.

About You
An electronic and computer engineer is a problem solver by nature – a person who wonders about how things work and how to make things right. Mathematics is the universal language of engineering, and you will need to be comfortable with logical and methodical approaches to understanding real-world phenomena. Leaving Cert Honours Maths and (where available) Leaving Cert Applied Maths, when well understood, are excellent indicators of ability in the field of electronic and computer engineering. Your thirst for knowledge and drive to contribute to society will lead to constant learning and innovation throughout your career. It’s no surprise then that 33% of the S&P 500 CEOs’ undergraduate degrees are in engineering – higher than any other discipline. For example, only 11% are in business administration.

Understanding: Electronic and Computer Engineering
How can you use technology to improve people’s lives, health, environment and leisure? Electronic and Computer Engineers create and innovate to invent, design, improve and build products and technologies that really matter in people’s lives.

More than ANY other discipline, electronic and computer engineers have been at the heart of generating the technology of our modern society. However, there are still major global and human problems to be solved, and you can be sure that because of their knowledge and skills, electronic and computer engineers will be at the forefront in creating solutions. Whether it is problems of clean water, sufficient energy, global warming or better global nutrition and health, electronic and computer engineers will be developing solutions not only to directly address these problems, but which will complement and coordinate the activities of other disciplines.

Course Structure
This single programme, with four Major options in Year Four, replaces and combines the best of DCU’s previous offerings in Electronic Engineering, Digital Media Engineering and Information and Communications Engineering.

You will be taught through conventional lectures, extensive tutorials (particularly in Year One), laboratory exercises and projects. Through these you will develop the ability to model and analyse the dynamics of a wide range of technological systems, as well as learn a creative and innovative approach to problem solving. The curriculum of the first three years and the 22.5 credits of core modules in Year Four are common to all ECE students. In Year Four, students select a Major option and gain relevant skills through Major-specific modules and an individual undergraduate project. The Major options reflect modern trends in Electronic and Computer Engineering and research priority areas within the School of Electronic Engineering. Currently the course offers the following four majors, which we will adapt over time so that our graduates always have the most relevant and up-to-date technology and expertise.

• ECE with a Major in Systems and Devices – This is a specialisation in core electronics and semiconductor technologies that underpin research priority areas from sensors, diagnostics, medical devices, digital control of mechatronic systems to optical communications and novel materials.

• ECE with a Major in High-Speed Communications – This focusses on devices communicating to devices at high speed, for example, optical networks and high-speed wireless technologies. It underpins research priority areas on next generation networks that support evolving demands from devices and applications.

• ECE with a Major in Digital Interaction – This takes you into the realms of humans communicating to devices, and devices communicating to the world. It underpins research priority areas in human-machine interfaces. Key Year Four modules in this area include Human Computer Interface Technology, Web Application Development and Image Processing & Analysis.

• ECE with a Major in the Internet of Things – The Internet transformed the world of human access to knowledge and information in unimaginable ways; the Internet of Things is about to unleash an almost inconceivable transformation of the man-made environment in which we live. It focusses on devices communicating to and through the Internet. This Major underpins research priority areas in smart cities and energy efficient devices and networks.

You will have the opportunity to do an individual Major-relevant project in Year Four and in the optional Year Five. These projects will allow you to work in a specialist area of your choosing and to apply the electronic and computer engineering skills that you will have acquired during your studies.

The six-month INTRA work placement in Year Three is usually a paid engineering internship with a business in Ireland, but some students may go abroad or be placed in research positions within DCU. Some of the biggest companies in the world offer DCU ECE INTRA placements, including IBM, Philips, Google, and Microsoft. Other recent INTRA employers with a global reach included Xilinx, Cisco, Synopsys, AOL, Analog Devices, Mastercard, Deloitte and Touche, Accenture, SAP Ireland, Cypress Semiconductor Ireland, Tektronix Communications and Xerox. DCU engineering students have recently completed INTRA abroad in NVIDIA in Santa Clara and Irdeto in The Netherlands, while more local INTRA employers with well-recognised names include Electric Ireland and the Irish Aviation Authority. Degree-relevant work experience obtained on an INTRA placement can be extremely beneficial when it comes to finding a position as a graduate engineer.

The Year Four project provides a capstone to your undergraduate career where you can demonstrate your innovative capabilities, capacity for independent learning, and technical expertise. The Faculty of Engineering and Computing provides a Year Four project expo as a showcase to bring your expertise to the attention of interested employers.

In addition to the traditional engineering focus on mathematics and design, there is a strong software and programming theme running through our ECE programme. In this you will learn about, C, C++, Java, Embedded Systems, Linux and Windows Operating Systems, Data Structures and Algorithms, Hardware Description Language, Object-oriented Programming, and in two of the Year Four majors, Web Application Development. This thematic strength reflects an enduring need from industry for software specialists who have a strong knowledge base in electronics, systems, signal processing and hardware interfacing.

Expand+What Will I Study?
YEAR ONE
Engineering Mathematics 1 and 2
Statics and Dynamics
Project and Technical Drawing
Materials Engineering
Introduction to Electronics
Fundamentals of Professional Development
Numerical Problem Solving for Engi...

Hide-What Will I Study?
YEAR ONE
Engineering Mathematics 1 and 2
Statics and Dynamics
Project and Technical Drawing
Materials Engineering
Introduction to Electronics
Fundamentals of Professional Development
Numerical Problem Solving for Engineers
Basic Sciences for Engineering
Software Development for Engineers

YEAR TWO
Engineering Mathematics 3 and 4
Circuits
Systems
Data Communications & Networks
New Enterprise Development - Team Project
Object Oriented Programming 1
Digital and Analogue Electronics 1 and 2
Operating Systems
Embedded Systems
Electromagnetism 1

YEAR THREE
Signals
Electromagnetics
(Time-varying Fields)
Electromechanical Systems
Data Structures and Algorithms
Analogue Circuits and Design
Data Communications & Networks 2
Mathematics V
Computation & Simulation
Mobile Robotics - Team Project
INTRA

YEAR FOUR
Computer Architecture and HDL
Object Oriented Programming with Embedded Systems
Control Systems Analysis
DSP-Digital Filters and DFT

YEAR FOUR ECE WITH MAJOR IN SYSTEMS AND DEVICES
Optical Communications System Design
Semiconductor Devices and Solid State Electronics
Mechatronic System Simulation and Control
Capstone Project (Major in Systems and Devices)

YEAR FOUR ECE WITH MAJOR IN THE INTERNET OF THINGS
Mechatronic System Simulation and Control
Web Application Development
Wireless/Mobile Communications
Capstone Project (Major in the Internet of Things)

YEAR FOUR ECE WITH MAJOR IN HIGH-SPEED COMMUNICATIONS
Optical Communications System Design
Communications Theory
Transmission Lines, RF Propagation and Radio Link Design
Capstone Project (Major in High-Speed Communications)

YEAR FOUR ECE WITH MAJOR IN DIGITAL INTERACTION
Web Application Development
Human Computer Interface Technologies
Image Processing and Analysis with Project
Capstone Project (Major in Digital Interaction)

The option to continue to fifth year leading to a Masters in Electronic Engineering or a Masters in Telecommunications Engineering is subject to achieving a H2.2 or above in the four-year BEng in ECE course. Look online for Year Five modules: www.dcu.ie/DC190