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 full-time.
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 2025
Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2025 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2025 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2025 CAO Handbook): Fee: €60 Closing Date: 1 May 2025 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2025 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2025 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 2025. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2025, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2025 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2025 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €60 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 2025 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)
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.
Dr Kieran Herley
bsc_coordinator@cs.ucc.ie
+353 (0)21 420 5905
http://www.ucc.ie/en/compsci/