NCI Blog

You might know that there are traditional undergraduate and postgraduate study options available at NCI but did you know that we also offer apprenticeships in both finance and recruitment? Below we share the facts about our IFS Apprenticeships so if you’re thinking about starting a career in financial services, this could be your next step.

Are you beginning your journey to third-level education? If you're thinking about your college choices and filling in your CAO application, then you might be considering joining us at National College of Ireland which means you might have some questions for us!

Describing her experience studying the Certificate in Science in Computing at NCI as transformative and as a key driver in transitioning to a new career path, Monika Franca, shares how this online course allowed her to upskill in an area that aligned with her career goals and directly contributed to securing a role in her desired industry, paving the way for long-term career satisfaction and growth.

Ian Ray grabbed the opportunity to do work placement as part of his business degree at NCI with two hands and discovered the path he wants to follow after college. He looks back on his one-year work placement as a HR Intern with Keelings, sharing two key achievements and what he has learned from this professional experience along with key insights into his studies at NCI. Making life choices such as where to study and what career to pursue can be challenging. Ian shares plenty of tips and advice below that can help those making CAO decisions for September 2025 discover the right path for them.

Being awarded Intern of the Year Runner-Up at L'Oréal was the highlight of the work placement experience for Clodagh Cahill-Turley who is currently completing the final year of her BA (Honours) in Business degree. As the only intern based in Ireland to be nominated for an award, this showcases her contribution to the company and recognises her achievements during her year-long placement.

One thing stood out to Zsuzsanna Nicoli when making her CAO choices. The BA (Honours) in Human Resource Management at NCI included the option to complete a year-long work placement in industry, meaning she would gain real-world experience and have an opportunity to apply theoretical learnings before she even graduates. She shares insights into her work placement with Ryanair and studying HRM as well as advice for those making their CAO choices below.

About to jump into her final year of studies, BA (Honours) in Business student Sophie Sherlock reflects on her experience on the course so far along with her time completing work placement in Human Resources with the Central Bank of Ireland. She also looks back to making her CAO choices and shares advice for anyone who is currently in that position.

Computing has become an increasingly popular choice for third-level study in recent years. Demand for industry professionals in Ireland remains high with companies such as Google, Meta, Microsoft, Indeed and LinkedIn all having EU headquarters in Dublin and requiring top tech talent for positions in cybersecurity, software development, artificial intelligence, cloud computing and related areas.

A believer of continuous learning and growth, Flaviu Vanca has accumulated a diverse set of skills throughout his career that transcend any specific industry. In pursuit of expanding his knowledge and abilities, Flaviu came across the Springboard+ initiative, which offers courses co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union with the aim of filling skills shortages in the workforce. At National College of Ireland, we deliver Springboard+ courses in computing covering Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics, Cybersecurity, Blockchain, Software Development and Web Development.

A strategy many students consider when deciding what to do in college is to join a Level 6 course in an area they are interested in before committing to the Level 8 degree. These courses tend to be shorter, have lower entry requirements and graduates can gain entry to year two of an Honours Bachelor Degree.