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MSc in Interactive Media

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    #32
    titan18
    Registered Users Posts: 11,932 ✭✭✭✭titan18


    So, got an offer for this course, is anyone else doing it here?

    And if anyone sees this who has done it, any thoughts on the course, or any advice on stuff I should know a bit about before going into it?


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    #33
    MoogPoo
    Registered Users Posts: 156 ✭✭MoogPoo


    I got accepted there. Can't wait, should be a laugh


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    #34
    angs77
    Closed Accounts Posts: 81 ✭✭angs77


    Hi

    I have been accepted to do this course this Sept on a Full-time basis.

    Having read all the posts on this thread, I am still unsure if this course is exactly what I want - even though it was recommended to me by a lecturer in my own college.

    This year I completed BA Hons. in Information Systems Management with Multimedia & Education - so I would have experience in the world of coding with languages like ASP (C#), HTML, CSS and Flash Action-Script, and also have a fairly in-depth knowledge of Photoshop as well.

    Like the others that have posted here, I am wondering if the same feelings still apply to this Masters.


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    #35
    starlit
    Registered Users Posts: 12,334 ✭✭✭✭starlit


    angs77 wrote: »
    Hi

    I have been accepted to do this course this Sept on a Full-time basis.

    Having read all the posts on this thread, I am still unsure if this course is exactly what I want - even though it was recommended to me by a lecturer in my own college.

    This year I completed BA Hons. in Information Systems Management with Multimedia & Education - so I would have experience in the world of coding with languages like ASP (C#), HTML, CSS and Flash Action-Script, and also have a fairly in-depth knowledge of Photoshop as well.

    Like the others that have posted here, I am wondering if the same feelings still apply to this Masters.

    I say you have no problem with the coding aspect of the course. Had done some of that in my ISM degree but Multimedia was only a module and the coding was a separate module for me. Would have studied a lot of photoshop too. I haven't done the masters but anyone I know that has done it there is a fair bit of coding in it other than the ones mentioned, there be script writing in photoshop not just the design aspect in it.

    If you have a keen eye, interest and good at coding and multimedia then you should do great in the Masters. What kind of career you looking into? You on the right track from your degree background like.


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    #36
    angs77
    Closed Accounts Posts: 81 ✭✭angs77


    Hi doovdela

    I am looking into a job in web-programming or teaching afterwards.

    From what I could gather from the lecturer that pointed me to this course, ISM's have done it before and got on fine with it - but its more about the calm before the storm with me.


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    #37
    starlit
    Registered Users Posts: 12,334 ✭✭✭✭starlit


    I did a hdip in computing rather than a masters in multimedia have thought about doing it myself but I don't think its the path I want to take. Though I say the Masters be right up your street though.

    If its web programming and teaching afterwards Masters be worth doing if you want to go the teaching route. You could do other courses specific to web programming though if you haven't enough coding done but I think what you have already be enough to get you in the door though experience in web programming is important. I have tried to get into it too but find I haven't enough coding covered so will do some kind of course specific to web programming when I can and take it from there as I am unsure what path to go.

    I know of someone who did the same hdip as myself and did the Interactive Multimedia Masters they found it hard going though they have found job after completing the masters. There is a lot of coding in it from what I gather from the course and that there be more programming languages learnt than what you have learnt already.

    Best of luck with your decision.


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    #38
    angs77
    Closed Accounts Posts: 81 ✭✭angs77


    Thanks doovdela

    Only time will tell I guess. I applied and went for the interview in UL for the HDip but wasn't successful this time. The interview was so late in the evening - it was pretty much impossible to impress the panel.


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    #39
    kmeister
    Registered Users Posts: 1 ✭kmeister


    Hi - I'm thinking of applying for the UCC Interactive Media MSc for September next. First degree in the humanities, enthusiastic enough about technology BUT no experience of coding or the like :(. Particularly in light of some previous posts, could any former students of this course (especially if from arts/non-tech background) recommend the most worthwhile preparation I could do over the coming months? Which modules / topic areas would I be best to focus on and/or are most suited to self-study? Thanks - I'd really appreciate any advice or insight you can offer :).


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    #40
    Solair
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,230 ✭✭✭Solair


    I'd suggest :

    Learn HTML, CSS and Javascript for a start.
    Do as much as you can with Flash and Actionscript too.
    Lots of online tutorials to be found on all of those.

    Familiarise yourself with Adobe CS, especially DreamWeaver & Photoshop.

    Try to learn the basics of programming like how to write loops and all that stuff.
    You can learn most of it in the context of Javascript.

    ActionScript is quite like JavaScript, so if you are comfortable with JavaScript, Flash programming isn't all that drastically different.

    Learn PHP.

    Read absolutely everything you can find on current trends in display technology and 3D.

    Eh... Brush up your maths if you plan on taking any of the more visual modules.

    For audio/video stuff:

    Learn how to edit waveforms with something like Audacity (Free to download)

    Try to learn how to digital video edit using something like Final Cut if you have access to it, although I wouldn't go spending lots of money on it. They didn't go into any depth with this, but it would be useful to at least know how to get the concepts of what's going on. There's a lot of stuff online you could read.

    For 3D modeling, familiarise yourself with Blender (also free) http://www.blender.org/


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    #41
    angs77
    Closed Accounts Posts: 81 ✭✭angs77


    kmeister wrote: »
    Hi - I'm thinking of applying for the UCC Interactive Media MSc for September next. First degree in the humanities, enthusiastic enough about technology BUT no experience of coding or the like :(. Particularly in light of some previous posts, could any former students of this course (especially if from arts/non-tech background) recommend the most worthwhile preparation I could do over the coming months? Which modules / topic areas would I be best to focus on and/or are most suited to self-study? Thanks - I'd really appreciate any advice or insight you can offer :).



    Hi Kmeister

    I am currently in the middle of this course, and I would highly recommend that you do a JavaScript (or other language) before embarking on this Masters. The lecturers do start from the beginning with every module, but a bit background in the world of coding will stand to you for the duration of the course.

    If you have time, get some knowledge in the world of 3d animation and maths does play a part in the course, but you can get by with the basics so far.

    I came into the course (as you prob read above) with a degree that gave me a good bit of background in coding, which seems to help.

    That would be my two cents for now, its is early days for the MSc class of 2013, but we just handed in our first javascript project this morning, and we have just received our schedule from here to Christmas.

    If you have any other questions, pop me a line on here and I will gladly fill you in as the course progresses.


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    #42
    Solair
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,230 ✭✭✭Solair


    I'd STRONGLY suggest downloading Blender and just familiarizing yourself with it. Maybe try one of the online tutorials and a basic project.

    It's not a very intuitive application, although it is powerful.

    I wasted a lot of time in class not being able to use the application rather than being unable to understand the concepts.

    Blender isn't at all like an Adobe CS or Apple Pro product, it's horrendously unfamiliar. Nothing works the way you'd expect it to and it's all based around keystrokes. So, it's worth getting the very steep learning curve out of the way before you ever get to the classroom.

    The only other tip I would have is basically move into the lab and live there. You really cannot work on most of these projects on your own and will absolutely need help from other students on the course.

    Also, don't underestimate the time commitment. There's a huge amount to get through in a very short time.


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    #43
    angs77
    Closed Accounts Posts: 81 ✭✭angs77


    This years MSc class are looking for a hand with the current processing project if any of the former graduates from this course are willing to help out.

    PM me on here :)


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    #44
    engrob
    Registered Users Posts: 20 ✭engrob


    So, now the year has ended how do the class of 2012/13 feel about the course as a whole? Would you advise for or against?

    I've just completed the HDip Computing Science at UCC and although I think I've done well, I found the organisation of some modules terrible and the level of teaching for 3 modules very poor, verging on the pointless. It felt like a cash cow for UCC and I was much more productive teaching myself from textbooks and online vids to get the piece of paper at the end.

    I really like some of the topics covered in modules for this MSc course and I like both designing and the limited programming I've done, but I fear a) will the modules I want even be offered, or are the module options severely limited by under-staffing, and b) will I have passionate teachers who actually impart knowledge and skills I can use after the course, or will it just be someone filling in the position and reading from a textbook.

    Many thanks for any feedback


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    #45
    speedytyper
    Registered Users Posts: 25 ✭speedytyper


    Hi Engrob

    The exams are over for us, but we are still waiting to hear if we can do our masters projects/thesis.

    Personally, I would advise against doing this course for your Masters. It is the most frustrating year you will ever spend and a bit like your own story, it is badly organized and has some pointless subjects that sound good initially, and their are only two 'teachers' on the course, and by that I mean, two lecturers who actually take the time to teach the course material, help out when they can, the rest show you a two hour power point presentation and assume you know how to work the programs or write code as a result.
    I've just completed the HDip Computing Science at UCC and although I think I've done well, I found the organisation of some modules terrible and the level of teaching for 3 modules very poor, verging on the pointless. It felt like a cash cow for UCC and I was much more productive teaching myself from textbooks and online vids to get the piece of paper at the end.

    Your experience on a HDip, and our experience of this course are pretty similar by the sounds of it. Although this course is billed on the website as a conversion course that you can come into with any background, you will spend the majority of your time online with Google, Wikipedia and my new best friend Youtube.
    I really like some of the topics covered in modules for this MSc course and I like both designing and the limited programming I've done, but I fear a) will the modules I want even be offered, or are the module options severely limited by under-staffing, and b) will I have passionate teachers who actually impart knowledge and skills I can use after the course, or will it just be someone filling in the position and reading from a textbook.

    The outline on their website sounds fantastic - that is what drew me to the course as well, but it isn't what it says on the tin.

    Graphics and Graphic Design has nothing got to do with Graphic Design, it is JavaScript for Photoshop and Action-script for Flash (that lecturer is great). Multimedia Authoring (depending on the year) is nothing got to do with authoring websites (something I done for my BA), it was Processing (a bit like Java) for us this year. Digital Publishing and Hypermedia Systems is a mixture of PHP, JavaScript and HTML 4 - their is no software available to cover HTML 5, even though they cover it in the power-points and Human Computer Interaction is both theory on how the human visual system perceives stuff and then the labs are the complete opposite, they cover HTML again. That is just a small sample of the subjects.

    You would have 12 modules on this course (most of the electives aren't offered) - 6 per semester, 24 projects, two per subject (which run heavily into study month and forget about Christmas - you will need that time to work on an animation project and others), as well as 12 final exams.

    We have posted some comments here as well if you are interested in reading further http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056931748

    Please feel free to PM me if you want more details.


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    #46
    engrob
    Registered Users Posts: 20 ✭engrob


    Hi

    Thanks for your quick reply. Damn, I knew I had to treat UCC with caution after this last year of disaster (and I'm nowhere near the most annoyed of the class, with complaint letters being drafted back and forward between our class rep and the head of student union for the last 2 months!).

    I'm really glad I decide to check, as on paper it sounds fantastic. I started to smell something fishy when the online module descriptions didn't commit to details of software and languages involved and the timetable indicated only 7 of the 12 'optional' modules.

    Have you met anyone actually doing a similar course elsewhere that is better delivered and you may recommend? or can I expect everywhere to be of a similar standard? We had a lot of hearsay and speculation in our class about other courses being so much better than ours last year, but no real solid references.

    I'm not scared of programming or expecting a course to be mainly creative-designing things visually, but I do want modules with actual applications and skills for use in the workplace. And assignments to be difficult but engaging, producing a portfolio of visually attractive demonstration pieces. My current course has left me totally unprepared for any serious IT job, just highlighting what I don't know and what I would need to to learn to move into certain streams of CS careers.

    If it helps in your response, the areas I think I like the most and hope to expand on for career specialisation (very diverse at the moment) are: advanced web design, mobile app development, graphic design, 3D imaging and video post-production/SFX.

    Also, would the easier workload of part-time still be a waste-of-time?

    Cheers!


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    #47
    Cordo
    Registered Users Posts: 44 ✭Cordo


    engrob wrote: »
    Have you met anyone actually doing a similar course elsewhere that is better delivered and you may recommend? or can I expect everywhere to be of a similar standard? We had a lot of hearsay and speculation in our class about other courses being so much better than ours last year, but no real solid references.


    If it helps in your response, the areas I think I like the most and hope to expand on for career specialisation (very diverse at the moment) are: advanced web design, mobile app development, graphic design, 3D imaging and video post-production/SFX.

    Hi Guys, I am still subscribed to this thread as I was looking in to doing this course about a year ago. However, after reading all the awful reviews of the course on Boards, I decided I would either do the Masters in Multimedia course in DCU or the Masters in Creative Digital Media in DIT. I ended up doing the Creative Digital Media Masters in DIT and I have loved it. I wrote out a whole list of things I did in the course on another thread here: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=84763076

    Some of the modules in my Masters similar to what you mentioned are:
    Mobile Web App Design
    Digital Screen Tools: (Essentially Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro and After Effects)
    Game Production
    User Interface Design
    HTML5, JSON and AJAX

    You can see some of the things we've done and if you want any info on it, feel free to give me a shout back! Cordo


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    #48
    starlit
    Registered Users Posts: 12,334 ✭✭✭✭starlit


    I agree with previous posters said about course i know a few who did it and expressed same issues. Id avoid this one from ucc and recommend ul im masters instead.

    How you find the one in dit?

    Im still looking into a masters myself did the act hdip. Bis or multimedia only ones im interested in. Bis in ucc im else where. Still undecided might avoid web programming and go down cloud socisl media or digital marketing before a masters.


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    #49
    Cordo
    Registered Users Posts: 44 ✭Cordo


    doovdela wrote: »
    How you find the one in dit?

    I loved it. Honestly just check out my response on this thread about what we did and you'll see why I loved it.

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=84763076

    Also, here's the courses showreel with all our projects:
    http://istory.ie/projects/showreel


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    #50
    trimitron
    Registered Users Posts: 5 ✭trimitron


    Hello,

    I am new around here. I'd like to thank you about this thread. It really helps to gather some information about the course!

    I plan to relocate to Ireland and I signed up for the part-time version of the course. Does anyone know/have any experience with if it will be OK to work in the meantime (full-time)? I need to work so I can fund myself while doing the Masters. The course looks OK on paper, like everyone said, and given the fact that I really know my way around with programming (I also worked on some video games) I think I won't encounter any problems related to my programming experience.

    Also, does anyone know when the "results" will be dispatched?

    PS: I am mainly interested on how/if it will work a combination of: full-time job + part time Interactive MSc.

    Thanks.


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    #51
    speedytyper
    Registered Users Posts: 25 ✭speedytyper


    Hi trimitron

    I had programming experience myself going into this masters and still ended up getting together in groups to work on projects and exam prep.

    It's not confined to just one programming language, if it was, it would make sense. Here are some of the languages we used:-
    • ObjectiveC
    • HTML4
    • CSS
    • PHP
    • Processing
    • C-Sound (the language is close to java)
    • Javascript
    • ActionScript
    • XCode
    and they are just the ones I can think of.

    On the subject of Part-time, some of my fellow class mates were part-timers and in their words they may as well have been doing the course full-time because of the time required for course work and the 24+ projects (12+ projects for part-time students).


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    #52
    mingushead
    Registered Users Posts: 1 ✭mingushead


    Hi,

    I read some of these posts about the Interactive Media course in UCC and I made an account just to share my own experiences in this course.

    I am currently enrolled, just finishing up semester one as we speak, 3 exams left. I don't think the opinions expressed here are a fair representation of the opinions of an average student enrolled in the course at all, so here's what I have to say.

    This course is very tough. We've had about 5 dropouts so far, (out of 30 who started) despite everyone showing up to all labs, classes, putting in the time doing assignment work in the evenings etc. I'm coming in most weekends (both Saturday & Sunday), but I am in the minority, I don't usually see a lot of others doing the same. From speaking with my classmates, I can say that while there are some organizational issues with the course, everybody who is still here is really enjoying it and getting a lot from it. Personally I still don't believe how far I have come in such a short space of time. As a rule you will not be given enough time for assignments, although for every assignment that we felt we had an indefensibly short amount of time to complete, we were given extensions. (Our two toughest assignments for example, have been pushed back from the start of December, to early January.) The lecturers are all decent lads, are aware of the immense workload, and of the fact that we are all noobs, and will do their best to ensure everybody does the best he/she can.

    I would definitely recommend to everybody coming into this course to do some prep work beforehand in any programming language, as I did. I studied music as an undergrad, and so had next to no programming experience coming into the course, but I did a couple of internet courses during the summer months before starting this course, which were invaluable. For anyone interested in starting the course, here's what we did so far, and here are the things I would recommend doing some prep work in:

    Languages we covered:

    HTML, CSS {
    These are both web-based, and handy enough to pick up. I did about 6 hours overall on codeacademy.com with these languages, which was more than enough imo to get through everything we did with ease.

    PHP, MYSQL {
    The other two web-based languages, used with databases. These two are a bit tougher, we don't do a lot with them though, so there's not a lot to learn. I had no previous experience with these.

    JavaScript, Processing {
    These are the two toughest from semester one. I had done a fair bit of work on processing.org for processing and codecademy.com for javascript before starting this course, about 15-20 hours each. This was invaluable, as almost all cases where someone was having difficulties with an assignment were a result of these two bad boys. I had no real difficulties with these two, but I had done a lot of work on them.

    Actionscript {
    This has huge similarities with javascript. I had never used Actionscript before, but knowledge of javascript made this one easy.

    Programs/Environments:

    Logic, Photoshop {
    These are both handy enough, noone had any problems with these as far as I could see.

    Blender {
    This one is definitely worth downloading before you start also. I had never used it, but if I had a month to myself right now, you can bet I would spend it getting comfortable with and learning how to be efficient using Blender.

    Well, that's my two cents anyway. I was pretty well-prepared for the course, so I know I'm biased in that respect, but I did all that prep myself, just teaching myself on the internet. Anyone could do the same. I knew absolutely nothing about coding before last summer and now at the end of semester one my average assignment grade is about 87%.

    In conclusion: Not for everyone, but highly-recommended from this poster. If you go for it, do some prep.


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    #53
    speedytyper
    Registered Users Posts: 25 ✭speedytyper


    I have finished this course and had a great background knowledge in coding before I started.

    From being there every week, week in, week out - u are not the average student. The average student on this course is the student who has to leave at six o clock in the evening to go to work or take care of family commitments. The average student can't come in the weekends like you say cause they can't afford to be on the course with earning a living with it!

    When I was doing the MSc, one student out of a class of 30+ had your position of being able to stay late at night and the privilege of using the labs the weekend. None of the rest of us could due to external commitments.

    Yes the course is tough, it is a Masters programme at the end of the day. Yes you will be thrown in the deep end with coding many languages all at once, but u will survive if u can create a team of people around you to work on projects together! Many hands make light work!

    Many years down the line - I still wish I had chosen a different Masters, not because of the course itself - I have amazing friends as a result of it, but because of its lack of teaching! UCC didn't teach me my 'taught masters' - I did!

    What I would now say is - for the average student who has those external commitments - you will get there! You will achieve the M.Sc. it's disorganised, they won't teach you, but Google and Wikipedia are your best friends until October 2015, don't give in to the stress the course will put you under - it is achieveable!


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    #54
    pronoP2
    Registered Users Posts: 6 ✭pronoP2


    Hello,

    I was looking between this course and MSc in Digital Games which is been taught at DIT.
    Which one would you guys recommend. What the practicality for both the courses. What kind of job opportunity i can expect with this course .

    Regards.


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    #55
    speedytyper
    Registered Users Posts: 25 ✭speedytyper


    A good 90% of the students that finished this course with me do have jobs - but they are based on their primary degrees not their Masters
    pronoP2 wrote: »
    Hello,

    I was looking between this course and MSc in Digital Games which is been taught at DIT.
    Which one would you guys recommend. What the practicality for both the courses. What kind of job opportunity i can expect with this course .

    Regards.


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    #56
    texanman
    Registered Users Posts: 449 ✭✭texanman


    Hi Everyone.

    I am really considering studying the Interactive media course & just looking for some recent feedback on the course material & the lecturers.

    From the reviews I've seen its a really difficult course over 1 year. Considering doing the course over 2 years.

    If anyone has links on useful material or past papers please do let me know or send me a pm.

    Many thanks,

    Pat


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    #57
    omathum2
    Registered Users Posts: 4 ✭omathum2


    Hi Guys,

    I'm considering the Interactive Media Masters in UCC, and some of the historic feedback on the course on here is really mixed. I'd love to hear a more recent perspective on what the course was like -

    How did people find it? Is it still overwhelmingly technical?
    Are they still teaching a lot of the Adobe stuff like Flash which would seem a little out of date?
    How is the teaching ethos; is it still very much figure it out yourself, or have they improved the tutoring / taught part to help students out more, particularly those not coming from a coding background?
    Is there much of a design emphasis, given the increased importance of UI / UX in this field?

    I'd love to hear people's thoughts.

    Thanks


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    #58
    CorkRebell
    Registered Users Posts: 23 ✭CorkRebell


    Hi All,
    I’ve been offered a place on the MSc in Interactive Media in UCC however I have read very mixed reviews from students of previous years in this forum and i’m having second thoughts. Can anyone that has done the course in the last year or two say if the issues with course have been resolved and if they would recommend it? Thanks a million!


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    #59
    texanman
    Registered Users Posts: 449 ✭✭texanman


    I did some modules from it, Its a great course but expect a lot of work.


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