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Software Design and Development (HDip—Industry Stream)

Changes to programmes next year: We are looking forward to welcoming you to campus in September. We are busy putting plans together for teaching next semester. There will be some changes to the way we deliver some of our course material and some lectures, laboratories and seminars will take place online, with others taking place on campus. We are still finalising our plans but will provide updates here as soon as they are ready. More Information.

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Course Overview

This award-winning programme is aimed at candidates with little or no IT experience. It provides an academic foundation and broad technical training in software design and development. The skills developed in this programme include the core software development tools and techniques as well as a solid grounding in a specific ICT (information and communications technology) domain. The HDipAppSc programe structure is based on a first semester of immersion in computing knowledge, supported by extensive laboratories, followed by a second semester of specialisation and industry placement. Key features of the approach are that it provides a:

  • Solid foundation in key computing knowledge at the level expected by industry;
  • Choice of specialisation allowing participants to focus on areas of strength and interest;
  • Model for industry involvement allowing industry to influence development and training of participants;
  • Significant placement/internship allowing participants to gain relevant experience and giving industry an opportunity to field test potential recruits.

Read/download Frequently Asked Questions about this course here.

Applications and Selections

Applications are made online via the NUI Galway Postgraduate Applications System.

Application requirements:

  • A personal statement
  • A CV
  • University degree transcripts
  • Two references
  • IELTS/TOEFL certificate–if English is not your mother tongue

Who Teaches this Course

Requirements and Assessment

Assessment includes examinations in Semester I and Semester II, continuous assessment, a capstone project in software design and development, and completion of a three-month industrial internship.

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

The programme is open to candidates with Level 8 degrees, preferably with a background in a cognate discipline. Level 7 applicants with relevant industrial experience are also eligible to apply. Students will be assessed prior to being offered a place on the course; assessment includes a formal interview and/or standard aptitude tests.


Additional Requirements

Duration

1 year, full-time

Next start date

September 2020

A Level Grades ()

Average intake

35

Closing Date

Please see offer rounds website.

NFQ level

Mode of study

Taught

ECTS weighting

60

Award

CAO

Course code

1SD3

Course Outline

The programme structure and student engagement is based on three successive phases, and builds on NUI Galway’s lengthy experience in providing software design and development conversion courses for students from cognate backgrounds such as Physics, Maths, Engineering and Science.

A number of proven teaching and assessment methodologies will be employed, including lectures, tutorials, laboratory workshops, rapid feedback from assignments,and project-based learning. The phases of the programme are: 1. Semester 1—General Studies in Computing, which recognises that participants are largely from non-computing backgrounds, and so the material covers key areas of software development, including databases; operating systems; programming; internet programming and software engineering.

Based on industry feedback during the programme design process, and on the key specialisms identified for Semester of the Higher Diploma, a feature of this phase is that students will opt, in consultation with their company sponsor, for an operating systems course in either .NET or Unix. A number of the first semester courses will be shared with cognate taught post-graduate programmes, and the remaining modules are purpose-designed for this new programme. Students on the Diploma Programme will also have access to the HEA-funded DISC facility, which provides daily support for students with programming questions, and is especially important during the early stages of the Semester.

Furthermore, in the first weeks of Semester 1, the student will be introduced to their work placement company, and allocated both a company mentor, and an academic supervisor, and so initial work on the project element can start at an early stage. This will allow scenarios where students can map out their project work plan, which could involve activities to learn a company-specific technology in preparation for their placement. 2. Semester II—specialisation, where students get the opportunity to focus on a specific underlying platform (.NET or Java) and take a set of focused modules that provide a further foundational element in order to bring the candidates to the industry entry standard for students in the discipline of computer science and information technology. The programme has built-in support to facilitate this transition.

First, students will effectively have two taught subjects in Semester II, and an advantage of this is that it will free up the necessary time to achieve the requisite knowledge set. Furthermore, students, after an initial specification of their project in Semester I, can start to apply their learning to progressing the project, and also interact with their placement company over this timeframe. Extensive lab hours will also be a feature of this specialisation effort, with 1 hour of supervised lab for every one hour of lecture. Students will also have access to DISC during this time, which will provide front-line resources and advice for specific programming problems. Tutorial support will also be provided 3. Semester III—Industry Experience and Professional Development, where on completing their Semester II examinations, students begin their work placement with one of our industrial partners.

Because of our strategy of early engagement with their placement company from Semester I, and project identification and initial work in Semester II, students will be familiar with the company settings, and therefore will have a considerable knowledge base to help them quickly settle into their placement. The placement is a key learning and practical element for students, and this is where they can contribute to their company and also reflect on how their practice can illuminate theory. As part of their work placement, they will focus on an individual project, which has an overall weighting of 25% of the Diploma. We have also used this approach and project weighting at undergraduate level, and self-motivated graduates with independent learning, critical analysis and communications skills will excel with this form of evaluation. A clear rubric will be communication to students in relation to the project quality standards, and a flexible and outcome-based approach will ensure that additional studies such as undertaking formal company training and/or achieving accreditation standards with respect to a given technology (.NET or Java) will be recognised and rewarded as part of the student’s final grade.

Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).
Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Glossary of Terms

Credits
You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.
Module
An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.
Optional
A module you may choose to study.
Required
A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
Semester
Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year.

Year 1 (60 Credits)

Required CT870: Internet Programming


Semester 1 | Credits: 5


(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Design and implement web pages
  2. Connect a website to a database
  3. Create dynamic web content
Assessments
  • Written Assessment (85%)
  • Continuous Assessment (15%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
The above information outlines module CT870: "Internet Programming" and is valid from 2017 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Required CT861: Computing Architecture & Operating Systems


Semester 1 | Credits: 5


(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Understand and describe the basic organisation and types of computer systems
  2. Understand and describe important processor architectures
  3. Understand and describe the basic structure and operation of microprocessors
  4. Understand and describe key features and operations of digital circuits and memory systems
  5. Understand and describe input/output operations and components
  6. Understand and describe the purpose, organisation and main features of an operating system
  7. Understand and describe the main requirements and operations of operating systems
  8. Understand and describe foundational process management (including scheduling and concurrency)
  9. Understand and describe memory-, file system-, storage- and I/O device-management
  10. Understand and describe basic security requirements in the context of operating systems
Assessments
  • Written Assessment (100%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
The above information outlines module CT861: "Computing Architecture & Operating Systems" and is valid from 2015 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Required CT874: Programming I


Semester 1 | Credits: 5

Introduction to Object Oriented Programming using the Java programming language.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Write & resolve programming problems using the Java programming language
Assessments
  • Written Assessment (80%)
  • Continuous Assessment (20%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
The above information outlines module CT874: "Programming I" and is valid from 2016 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Required CT853: Algorithmics & Logical Methods


Semester 1 | Credits: 5

Assessments
  • Written Assessment (100%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
The above information outlines module CT853: "Algorithmics & Logical Methods" and is valid from 2014 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Required CT511: Databases


Semester 1 | Credits: 5

This module will provide the student with the information and technical know-how to establish, manage and optimally use databases. This will be essential information for those interested in Clinical Research administration.
(Language of instruction: English)

Assessments
  • Written Assessment (100%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
The above information outlines module CT511: "Databases" and is valid from 2017 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Required CT537: Software Engineering 1


Semester 1 | Credits: 5

This module is concerned with the methods, tools and procedures of software engineering. It takes a three-pronged approach to the study of the development of software systems: namely process, product and project.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Elicit and represent user and system requirements.
  2. Represent a software project's schedule, size, resources, risks,and communications using standard Project Management techniques.
  3. Analyse user and system requirements using standard structured systems analysis techniques.
  4. Evaluate the success of a software process, product and project using standard models and metrics.
Assessments
  • Written Assessment (80%)
  • Continuous Assessment (20%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
The above information outlines module CT537: "Software Engineering 1" and is valid from 2015 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Required CT544: Industrial Development Project


12 months long | Credits: 15

For this module students will undertake a significant software development project in conjunction with an industry partner. On completion of this first phase, they will then complete a industry internship over 12 weeks where the application of technologies used during the project are utilised. Within the marking structure, 10 ECTs are awarded with respect to the project deliverables, 5 ECTS are awarded on successful completion of the internship period. Recognition is also given for specific company training and/or certification. This internship is evaluated through weekly learning journals and completion reports. The module is compulsory, and must be passed to pass the programme. The internship must be completed in order to pass the module.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Development of a Project Definition Document in line with the requirement of the academic supervisor and an industry partner.
  2. Design and development of a significant software project.
  3. Comprehensive evaluation and testing of the software development project code.
  4. Good communication through both written and oral presentation of the project content.
  5. Professional engagement in a team software development environment with an industry partner while on internship.
Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
The above information outlines module CT544: "Industrial Development Project" and is valid from 2019 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Required CT548: Object Oriented Software Design & Development


Semester 2 | Credits: 5

Assessments
  • Written Assessment (100%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
The above information outlines module CT548: "Object Oriented Software Design & Development" and is valid from 2014 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Optional CT546: .NET Programming


Semester 2 | Credits: 10

Assessments
  • Written Assessment (100%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
The above information outlines module CT546: ".NET Programming" and is valid from 2014 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Optional CT545: Enterprise Java Programming


Semester 2 | Credits: 10


(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Understand and describe the architecture and components of Enterprise Java software systems
  2. Understand and apply selected tools, frameworks and concepts for the development of Enterprise Java software systems
  3. Analyse, create and debug Enterprise Java software
  4. Understand and describe advanced Java concepts (such as polymorphism, collections, complex class relations and types, generics, networking and client/server, I/O, concurrency, GUIs)
  5. Create and analyse Java programs involving concepts such as polymorphism, collections, complex class relations and types, generics, networking and client/server, I/O, concurrency, GUI frameworks
Assessments
  • Written Assessment (70%)
  • Continuous Assessment (30%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
The above information outlines module CT545: "Enterprise Java Programming" and is valid from 2016 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

It is projected that there will be 900,000 job vacancies in the ICT sector throughout the EU by 2016. This programme is designed specifically with the needs of industry employers in mind. In addition to providing paid internships, our industry partners assist in interviewing candidates and mentoring the students through to final completion of the programme.

Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning Outcomes

 

Work Placement

19 industry partners have joined with NUI Galway in making paid internships available to the successful applicants

Study Abroad

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€5,550 p.a. 2020/21

Fees: Tuition

€5,326 p.a. 2020/21

Fees: Student levy

€224 p.a. 2020/21

Fees: Non EU

€20,750 (Year 1 - 2020/21) & €5,550 (Year 2 - 2021/22)

Find out More

Dr Enda Barrett
T: +353 91 493 332
E: enda.barrett@nuigalway.ie

WINNER

Postgraduate Course of the Year (IT) 2015

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Downloads

  • Postgraduate Taught Prospectus 2020

    Postgraduate Taught Prospectus 2020 PDF (21 MB)