NCI Blog

Choosing the right college is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make. While our CAO Hub offers helpful guidance online, NCI’s CAO Open Day lets you explore your options in person - from discovering our Business, Computing, Psychology, and Education courses to experiencing the welcoming NCI community in the heart of Dublin.

NCI's award-winning Young Future Leaders Programme offers Transition Year students in Ireland, as well as international students in high school, a unique opportunity to develop leadership skills, fostering both personal and professional growth. Tailored to inspire the next generation of innovators and leaders, the programme is designed for students who want to experience college-level learning, develop essential skills for their future, prepare for work experience and connect with peers from around the world.

Considering your next career move? Whether you are targeting a promotion, exploring a new industry or simply wish to keep your expertise relevant, a Masters’ programme could be the key you need to unlock these opportunities.

We recently spoke with a former student, Harisankar Kalathil Salim, who graduated from the MSc in Cybersecurity programme. He shared his incredible journey, from being a below-average student with no clear goals to becoming a successful cybersecurity professional. Keep reading below to hear his experience.

Pablo Periañez Cabrero completed his bachelor’s degree in software engineering at the University of Seville, and then continued to study, pursuing a master’s degree in Computer Science at University College Dublin. In September 2025, after completing his master’s degree, Pablo began working as a Technology Consultant at one of the Big 4, as part of the Systems Engineering team. The team is responsible for building, managing, and maintaining mission-critical applications. These transformations are normally meant to increase productivity in different areas of the business.

Data Science is the study of the processes needed to analyse data using statistics, computer science and domain knowledge. Utilising these tools, data scientists can discover patterns and trends leading to deeper meaning and knowledge for areas such as business, healthcare and technology.

Who loves a discount more than students? Attending college is a time when you may be working part-time along with trying to focus on your studies so your time is tight but so too are your finances.

When it comes to choosing the right CAO course for you, it is important to consider what you are passionate about studying. Your values will inform the qualifications you wish to pursue, and the career you wish to work towards. At National College of Ireland, our practical courses are designed to give students the qualifications they need to pursue their passions professionally. Ava is one of our students who felt that she was able to follow her passions by choosing the BA (Honours) in Early Childhood Education and Care. Ava shares her experiences and insights into her CAO choices and study journey below.

We caught up with one of our alumni, Amar, who chose to pursue their Master's in Data Analytics at National College of Ireland back in 2018. From the moment he arrived in Dublin, he was on a journey that would see him transition from an international student to an Irish citizen! Amar spoke to us about what it was really like studying at NCI, his tips for finding a job in Ireland, and what becoming an Irish citizen means to him. Have a read below for more of his insights!

CAO Round 1 offers were released on Tuesday, 27th August at 2pm, and for many students, it’s been a whirlwind of emotions. If you didn’t get the offer you were hoping for, take a deep breath—there are still plenty of options available to you.