Higher Diploma in Software Development - University of Limerick

Hmm, no replies to this yet. I'll step in. First though, a preface: I'm definitely not one of the H.Dips (as they are colloquially known!) Rather I'm in the 4-year BSc Computer Systems and I've just finished 2nd year, so I'm not in a position to tell you everything you need to know. HOWEVER, last year the HDips shared two or three of our five modules in a given semester so I've some experience with them.
A few things: I have no idea what they career prospects are like, but I know they're really, REALLY good - in terms of quantity at least. One guy quit the course 2/3rds of the way through because of a job offer he got just for doing it! To be honest it makes us CS students a bit jealous - we're here for four years!
In terms of demographics, I would estimate somewhere between 20-30 people did it last year, with a wide range of ages - 28-55 perhaps, with some outliers. More or less they're a friendly folk. Almost certainly more friendly than the rest of us! The workload for the courses I've shared with them is... well, tough. Very practical, it'll require long hours after lectures, and many of the HDips won't have had a CS background so it can be a rough start, but there's plenty of support both in the course itself and outside it. Plus there's nothing stopping you from doing learning on the side to help level the difficulty curve.

Go in with the right attitude, though. Most of the friction I've seen to do with the HDips (take this with a grain of salt please, I only have an outsider's perspective) is down to some of them thinking that they have the right to argue with the lecturers, or to not do the work, or to claim ignorance in the face of a lack of work done. It doesn't fly with anyone, you are there to learn, and learn fast - excuses are noticed, moreso because you don't get them with the post-leaving cert students (who have learned better at this stage. Sadly, it seems to be a lesson that is forgotten with age sometimes.) But give everyone a bit of due respect and credit and CSIS is a lovely place to upskill, with great help on offer (I HIGHLY recommend the use of the ICT learning center. It had a small number of HDips visiting regularly and I have to say their final projects were astounding. Mine looked downright shoddy in comparison).

I wish I could find someone else that could speak with you with more personal info but the nature of the course means people are in and out pretty quickly, I only vaguely know some of last year's graduates first names and after that I couldn't tell you where they've gone.

MooShop wrote: »

Just thought I'd bump this up, as I'm looking to apply for the April intake of this course.

My question, if anybody can help, is that I come from a Computing background, having done my BSc in Computing; graduating back in 2005.

However, I only have a level 7 certification. As per the specs of this course, it states applicants must have a level 8 degree, though unrelated to IT.

Does anybody know if I qualify for this, although I don't have a level 8 degree I have relevant experience, though it was a long time ago!

Contact the course director

Hi for anyone there who applied for and did this course and did it just 2 questions.
How long does the application take to be processed and what kind of jobs have people gone into since?

Thanks

Yeah, was hoping to have heard back about my application by now, any idea as to when they'll be offering places?

So, we're looking at probably the middle of next week before we hear anything, doesn't give us a lot of time to prepare. I was considering calling them up I I hadn't heard anything this week.

Gotcha, well best of luck anyways, let us know if you get an offer.

Has anyone heard anything yet its stupid how long it is taking well have no time to get set up in Limerick if we get it.

Offered a place today. Hopefully there are no hold-ups!

Got an offer too, been looking at some places to live, most have filled up and the rest are filling up fast.

Hey I applied for this course too and was also accepted... looks like there will be a good crowd... I'm under no illusions as its a tough year... I do know people who did this hdip and got successful jobs outside of it so looking forward to the opportunity. ..

I'm starting the graduate diploma in computing. Looks like we'll be sharing the Development of Information Systems and the Information Modelling and Specification modules.

W86indow wrote: »

How do you know that do u have timetable access yet??

If you go to the CSIS site and search for the course, it gives you a list of all the modules.

Nobody has timetable access yet but the course timetables are up. So if you go to http://www.timetable.ul.ie/ and put in your course code and year 1, the course timetable comes up. It'll show everything since it has all lab and tutorial groups so it's better to use the "first year lecture only" timetable.

Oh I got it LM710... ouch looks rough already I'm sure it will change again

Is there anyway to see how long we are off for xmass?

Did you do your undergrad in ul? I did mine in lit... its all new to me.. will we just start on the 8th sept or will we have some mini induction do you think?