Eve Gibney, far right, is pictured at our CAO Open Day in November 2023
Studying computing or computer science at college means you have the opportunity to develop skills which are highly in-demand in the workforce. These include software development, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and data analytics.
Currently studying the BSc (Honours) in Computing at National College of Ireland, Eve Gibney shares her reasons for choosing the course, what she has learned from her studies so far as well as advice for anyone considering their CAO options at the moment.
Read Eve’s story below to get an insight into studying this course.
1. Why did you choose to study the computing at NCI?
I chose to study the computing at NCI because I have always been interested in anything tech-related, especially as an avid gamer myself. When I was choosing my subjects for my Leaving Certificate, I saw that computer science was an option and it seemed interesting and new to me.
Through studying computer science, I realised that I wanted to pursue it further in college. As I researched different courses, the computing course at NCI stood out to me because of the variety of modules offered and the opportunity to complete work placement within industry in the third year of the degree. As a result, I put this course (NC003) as my first choice on my CAO list.
2. Which modules have you enjoyed most and why?
I have enjoyed all the modules I have studied so far, but if I had to pick a few favourites, they would be Problem Solving and Programming Concepts, Security Fundamentals and Development, and the Team Project module.
Problem Solving and Programming Concepts was helpful as a refresher class to learn the basics again. I am currently studying Security Fundamentals and Development and have found it interesting especially as one project involved creating a presentation on a security breach which we were able to choose ourselves. I also enjoyed developing a cryptography solution to a problem which was also of our own choice. The Team Project module also stood out to me because of the freedom given to us to work as a team under strict deadlines.
3. What skills and abilities have you developed as a result of studying this course?
Studying this course at NCI has allowed me to develop and improve various skills and abilities. While I had prior programming experience, I was able to further develop this skill through the various modules I joined as part of the BSc (Hons) in Computing.
I have learned various technologies such as Python, Java, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and SQL. In addition to coding, I have also had the opportunity to improve my leadership and communication skills through team projects.
4. What are your future career and study plans?
I am considering applying for a master’s programme at NCI when I finish my undergraduate studies as I love the environment in the College and feel like my time isn’t finished here just yet.
Following this, my career plan for the future is to work in either the software or web development fields. As part of the work placement module which I am completing at the moment, I received valuable advice in relation to improving my CV and LinkedIn profile and I feel confident that the skills I have developed at NCI will enable me to pursue these career paths.
5. What advice would you give to anyone considering their CAO choices?
My advice to anyone making their CAO choices is to start by thoroughly reviewing the information available on the CAO website; look through the courses and see what interests you. After shortlisting courses, your next step should be checking the entry requirements, the duration of each course and potential job prospects after graduation.
Try to reach out to someone who has studied or is currently studying a course you are interested in to ask questions and gain insights into what the course is like to see if it would be a good fit for you.
If you are considering NCI, I recommend attending one of the upcoming CAO Open Days. This will give you a chance to attend a sample class and tour our campus including our new building, Spencer Dock. You can also meet current students such as myself and chat to a lecturer to ask any questions you have about specific courses offered through the CAO.
My last piece of advice is to make your decision based on your own interests rather than choosing what someone tells you to do or following what someone else has decided to study.
Eve Gibney is currently studying the BSc (Honours) in Computing at National College of Ireland. If you are interested in this course, register for a CAO Open Day to meet our team and explore our campus.
