Computer Science - Waterford
If you are interested in computer science or software development, but are unsure as to where you would like to specialise, then Computer Science (Common Entry) is for you. You will learn about the basics of computing/software development, and then decide which of the specialisms you think best suits your personal interests, strengths and plans.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | South East Technological University |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | South East Technological University | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
4 years, full-time.
Specific Subjects or course requirements
Entry Requirements
2 subjects: H5
4 subjects: O6/H7
English or Irish: O6/H7
Mathematics: O3/H7
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
Entry requirements for Honours Bachelor Degrees (Level 8)
This link module can be used in place of a sixth Leaving Certificate subject and will be accepted as meeting the six subject eligibility requirements for entry to honours degree courses.
Entry requirements for Ordinary Bachelor Degree (Level 7) and Higher Certificate (Level 6)
The LCVP link module can also be used in place of a fifth Leaving Certificate subject and will be accepted as meeting the five subject eligibility requirements for entry to ordinary bachelor degree and higher certificate courses
GRADE POINTS
Distinction 66
Merit 46
Pass 28
Leaving Certificate Applied Programme LCAP
The Leaving Certificate Applied Programme was designed primarily to prepare students for the transition from school to working life. It is not intended for direct tansfer into third level. However, students with the LCAP who have completed a QQI FET/FETAC award can be considered for entry.
QQI FET Applicants General Information
Students who have completed a full QQI-FET award at Level 5, and achieved at least three distinctions, are eligible to apply through CAO for entry to Year 1 on to Level 6, 7 and 8 courses. Students who have completed a full QQI-FET award at Level 6 may be eligible to enter Year 2.
The maximum possible points awarded through QQI-FET is 390. The scoring system only applies where all of the requirements for the major award are met i.e. where the named component awards specified have been achieved to a minimum of 120 credits.
Progression Scheme
The Progression Scheme is an additional opportunity for students who successfully complete a QQI FET Award in a partner Colleges of Further Education and Training College/Centre to gain entry to SETU programmes. The list of partner Further Education and Training Colleges/Centres, relevant SETU programmes, linked QQI FET Awards and the criteria for the scheme are available at www.setu.ie/progression.
Careers / Further progression
COMMON ENTRY Computer Science (Waterford)
Career opportunities
Graduates of Computer Science are amongst the most sought-after computing professionals in Ireland today. As well as working directly in the IT industry, graduates are also employed in sectors that have been profoundly changed by technology, such as healthcare, media, finance, logistics, pharmaceuticals and agriculture. There are also opportunities for postgraduate study.
COMMON ENTRY — Bachelor of Science (Honours) Computer Science (Automotive & Automation Systems)
Career opportunities
Roles available to graduates of this programme include:
• Automotive Software Developer
• Embedded Systems Developer in the automation, robotics and medical devices industries
• System integration roles with major car manufacturers and suppliers
• Control systems development for motor sport.
• Process control software developer
• There are also opportunities for follow on study.
COMMON ENTRY — Bachelor of Science (Honours) Computer Science (Cloud & Networks)
Career opportunities
Graduates who are able to configure, manage and troubleshoot applications and services in cloud based systems are in high demand across many domains.
Recent graduates are eagerly sought after by many local companies such as Red Hat, Errigal, Done Deal, Sun Life Financial Services as well as international organisations.
There are also opportunities for postgraduate study.
COMMON ENTRY — Bachelor of Science (Honours) Computer Science (Computer Forensics & Security)
Career opportunities
The domain of computer security and forensics is growing and has become more essential than ever before.
Virtually all organisations now need and use internet technologies in their daily business.
Many companies employ full-time security personnel to fulfil these roles, whilst other organisations outsource them to external firms. There are also opportunities for follow on study.
COMMON ENTRY — Bachelor of Science (Honours) Computer Science (Internet of Things)
Career opportunities
Be a programmer and a maker! Be a hacker and a creator! The skills you acquired from this programme place graduates in a unique position - top class programming abilities combined with a solid understanding of how electronic devices are designed, configured and managed.
There are also opportunities for postgraduate study.
COMMON ENTRY — Bachelor of Science (Honours) Computer Science (Game Development)
Career opportunities
Employment prospects in computing are extremely healthy at the moment, with demand for skilled graduates exceeding supply.
Graduates of this course will have the skills necessary to follow opportunities that present themselves in this growing industry as well as having the freedom to choose their own career path.
There are also opportunities for follow on study.
Further information
September 2026
Mature Student Applications
A mature student is someone who is at least 23 years of age on 1 January of the year of entry to an undergraduate course and who may not meet the normal admission requirements. Applications are made through the CAO before the 1 February or before late application deadline of 1 May 2026. Applicants are assessed based on the information they enter on their CAO application. Note: You must apply for nursing and music courses by 1 February 2026.
Selection Process – Nursing Applications
Mature applicants for nursing courses will receive correspondence under separate cover from the Nursing Careers Centre (Public Appointments Service - PAS). For full details on the application process see www.nursingcareers.ie.
Mature Applicant – Change of Mind
The Change of Mind facility becomes available after 1 May and the closing date is 1 July.
The Change of Mind facility affords mature applicants an opportunity to change the order of preference only of their course choices. If applicants introduce a new programme to their list of choices by way of Change of Mind, they will compete for a place on that programme based on their Leaving Certificate or equivalent results only. They will not compete as a mature applicant.
Non-standard application
A non-standard application is one that does not meet the definition of a standard application.
The special categories are:
• GCE/GCSE
• Other school leaving exams
• NCVA Level 2/3
• FETAC Level 5/6
• Further Education (other than QQI)
• Mature
• Higher/Third Level Education
Applicants wishing to make a non-standard application must select the relevant category when applying to the CAO.
Entry 2026
Early online application (discounted): Fee €35 Closing Date: 20 January 2026 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €50 Closing Date: 1 February 2026 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2026 CAO Handbook): Fee: €65 Closing Date: 1 May 2026 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2026 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2026 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 2026. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2026, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2026 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2026 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €65 applies.
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 2026 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
COMMON ENTRY Computer Science (Waterford)
About the course
This is a four year full-time programme which prepares students for an exciting career in the fast-paced world of technology. Students are introduced to the fundamentals of computer science and over the four years, build up their knowledge of software development, computer systems, networking and data science. Students choose a specialist stream from Year 2 onwards.
Computer Science — COMMON ENTRY Degree Options
SE600 Automotive & Automation Systems BSc (Hons) Level 8
SE600 Cloud & Networks BSc (Hons) Level 8
SE600 Computer Forensics & Security BSc (Hons) Level 8
SE600 Internet of Things BSc (Hon) Level 8
SE600 Game Development BSc (Hons) Level 8
FOLLOW ON STUDY
Postgraduate Study — MSc or PhD
COMMON ENTRY — Bachelor of Science (Honours) Computer Science (Automotive & Automation Systems)
About the course
This is a specialism within Computer Science. Advances in automotive technology have resulted in a rapid growth in innovative features such as driverless cars and collision avoidance. These features require sophisticated software that can sense and interpret the environment around them.
COMMON ENTRY — Bachelor of Science (Honours) Computer Science (Cloud & Networks)
About the course
This is a specialism within the Computer Science (Common Entry) programme. The stream is designed to equip students with a practical understanding of Operating Systems and the tools required to deploy, manage and troubleshoot the underlying infrastructure supporting networked systems.
COMMON ENTRY — Bachelor of Science (Honours) Computer Science (Computer Forensics & Security)
About the course
The course is designed to equip graduates with the skills and knowledge needed to secure, monitor and examine electronic crime scenes and digital environments.
Criminal prosecutors have used computer forensic evidence to form the backbone in cases through the use of technologies such as smartphone forensics. The course covers programming, computer networks, operating systems and web technologies.
COMMON ENTRY — Bachelor of Science (Honours) Computer Science (Internet of Things)
About the course
This is a specialism within Computer Science (Common Entry) programme. Internet of Things (IoT) refers to everyday objects which have the ability to harvest and process information and the connectivity capabilities to communicate the results.
IoT enables and facilitates smart cities and smart agriculture as well as improvements in industrial applications, emergency operations, health and home automation.
COMMON ENTRY — Bachelor of Science (Honours) Computer Science (Game Development)
About the course
This is a specialism within the Computer Science (Common Entry) programme. Students develop a portfolio of playable games and game prototypes using high-level game development tools such as Unity, Unreal, C# and JavaScript.
Students also develop skills to enable them to create games ranging in technical complexity from indie and casual games up to AAA high-end commercial games.
COMMON ENTRY — Bachelor of Science (Honours) Computer Science All Streams
Year 1 Modules
Semester 1
Programming Fundamentals 1
Computer Systems 1
Website Development 1
Physics 1
Discrete Mathematics
The Computer Industry
Semester 2
Programming Fundamentals 2
Computer Systems 2
Web App Development 1
Physics 2
Applied Calculus
Choose one elective:
Automotive & Automation Systems
Cloud & Networks
Computer Forensics & Security
Game Development
Internet of Things
COMMON ENTRY — Bachelor of Science (Honours) Computer Science (Automotive & Automation Systems)
Programme Director
Robert O’Connor, MSc
E: robert.oconnor@setu.ie
Brendan Jackman, MTech
E: brendan.jackman@setu.ie
COMMON ENTRY — Bachelor of Science (Honours) Computer Science (Cloud & Networks)
Stream Lead
Robert O’Connor, MSc
E: robert.oconnor@setu.ie
Richard Frisby, MSc
E: richard.frisby@setu.ie
COMMON ENTRY — Bachelor of Science (Honours) Computer Science (Computer Forensics & Security)
Stream Lead
Robert O’Connor, MSc
E: robert.oconnor@setu.ie
Dr John Sheppard, PhD
E: john.sheppard@setu.ie
COMMON ENTRY — Bachelor of Science (Honours) Computer Science (Internet of Things)
Stream Lead
Robert O’Connor, MSc
E: robert.oconnor@setu.ie
Dr Frank Walsh, PhD
E: frank.walsh@setu.ie
COMMON ENTRY — Bachelor of Science (Honours) Computer Science (Game Development)
Stream Lead
Robert O’Connor, MSc
E: robert.oconnor@setu.ie
Brendan Lyng, MSc
E: brendan.lyng@setu.ie