Higher Diploma in Science in Computing

Course Summary

About this Programme

The Higher Diploma in in Science in Computing is a nationwide initiative which aims to re-train graduates with backgrounds in disciplines other than computing and give them the skills they need to pursue a career in an IT related field.

It was developed in conjunction with regional and national employers and a core component of the programme is an industry-led project or placement. Past graduates have often obtained full-time employment in the companies where they have undertaken their placement.

The programme is fully online so enable learners to undertake studies when it suits them. Companies such as Amazon Web Services, Overstock, Codec Ireland, Cora Systems, Live Tiles, CBE, Bank of Ireland both support and contributed to the development of this programme.

 

 

Key Course Information

Study hours: Whether you are studying part-time online, blended or full-time online, it is very important that you allocate enough study time to your online course to stay focused, reduce stress and achieve your goals. For part-time online or blended learning, it is recommended that you should try to allow for 5-6 hours per week per 5 credit module to your studies.
   
Live Lectures: Live lectures normally take place between 6pm and 10pm, Monday to Thursday but this may vary depending on the availability of specific lecturers. For the Higher Diploma in Science in Computing, students are expected to attend live lectures 2/3 evenings per week. Each live lecture will last approximately 1 hour per 5 credit module and 2 hours per 10 credit module. If the Live Classroom scheduled times for the live online lectures do not suit you, recordings will be made available through Moodle. 

Elective Information:

Work Placement (Elective)

The work-placement/ internship component is an integral part of the academic programme of the Higher Diploma in Computing. The aims of the component are to: Offer the student the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills gained throughout the course in a relevant work-place setting; Facilitate the student in developing the practical competencies and communication skills necessary to function as an effective team member in the work environment.

OR

Project  (Elective)

In this module, students will undertake a significant piece of independent work under supervision with the objective of preparing students for the demands of the workplace and/or further research. The module aims to encourage innovation, exploratory learning and to act as an integrating module to allow the student to draw on knowledge learned and developed across the programme. The module exposes the student to the application of research, current design and development methodologies, and aims to develop critical thinking and analysis skills.

Application Closing Date : 18th August 2023

Entry Requirements

Students interested in this programme should have completed a Level 8 qualification in an area other than Computing. Applicants may be asked to attend for interview and/or assessment to determine their suitability for the programme.

 

 

Career Opportunities

On successful completion of the programme graduates can pursue a career in any one of the following fields: object oriented software development, database design and development, systems analysis, testing and project management, web application and user interface design, architectures and networking.  Students that have completed this course are currently employed in a variety of different companies for example Pro Cloud, Primerica, CBE Software Development , Cora Systems and Profile 

Testimonials

Faron Coyne | QA Manager | Bank of Ireland

We’re very pleased with the quality of applicants that we interviewed from this course. The successful candidate has brought a new dimension to the role and a different way of thinking/approach to how we conduct our testing. The skills he developed while in this course has brought more efficiencies to his role and we very pleased with how quickly he has up-skilled from a manual tester to a more technical automation test engineer inside 10 months.

We will certainly recruit candidates from this course for future roles.

 

James McGloin | Eointech Solutions, Sligo 

One of the reasons Eointec Solutions moved to the Innovation Centre IT Sligo was to have greater links with the college, it is vital for our business to have a source of local software engineers with well-developed skill sets and IT Sligo's conversion course gives us a great way to assess their graduates. 

 

Clement Byrnes | Gortnor Abbey, Crossmolina, Mayo

I very much enjoyed doing the H. Dip at ATU Sligo. The online nature of the course allowed me flexibility around the working day. I found the course both engaging and challenging with the lecturers always on hand to guide and help if needed. The course builds skills and confidence  for anyone that wants to a pursue a career in ICT. I found it to be invaluable for introducing and  teaching the new Leaving Certificate Computer Science course.

Programme Fees

Academic Year 2023/24 Fees

€7,500

 

To help make the payment of fees more manageable for students who are self-funding their studies, tuition fees can be paid through payment instalment plans at ATU Sligo. For further information on instalment plans, please visit our Fees and Funding webpage. 

If you apply and are approved for an online course at ATU Sligo, you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit of €250 to secure your place. Your deposit will then be credited against the course fees once you are registered as a student. Students at ATU Sligo are also eligible to claim tax relief at the standard rate for tuition fees.

For further information and guidance about Fees and Funding for online and part-time courses at ATU Sligo, click here.

If you are seeking to take your exams online, and you meet the eligibility criteria (overseas students and those with extenuating circumstances), an additional examinations fee will apply. For further information, please visit our Examinations webpage. 

Course Format

Semester 1

Title	Credits
Object Oriented Software Development 1	10
Information Systems	05
Web and UI Design	05

Semester 2

Title	Credits
Object-Oriented Software Development 2	05
Web Applications Development	10
Advanced Databases	05

Semester 3

Title	Credits
Computer Architecture, Operating Systems & Networks	05
Systems Analysis and Testing	05

Semester 4

Title	Credits
Cloud Computing	05
Secure Networks	05
Project [E]	10
Work Placement [E]	10