Will not having a degree hold me back?

The_B_Man

I'm just coming to the end of a level 7 ordinary bachelors degree. I'm sure I'll get a 2:1 out of it anyway.

I'm split now as to whether or not I should go and do the 4th year level 8 bachelors or just try get a permanent job with my level 7 degree.

I suppose what I'm worried about is being denied a promotion later on, or being on less money because of my qualification.

Can anyone provide any advice on what I should do?

Cheers.

Vanbis

The_B_Man wrote: »

I'm split now as to whether or not I should go and do the 4th year level 8 bachelors or just try get a permanent job with my level 7 degree.

Why not do both? Get a full-time job and get your level 8 bachelors degree part-time?

The_B_Man

I looked at a few and they were all stuff like "Electronics with a side of programming". I couldnt find a good part time one that was as good as the final year of this: Hons bsc in programming - IT Tallaght.

There was even one I saw that was 4 years, 3 nights a week!!! :eek:

Skud

I did my degree and masters all together. I would find it hard to go back now to be honest after working a few years. Our company was hiring recently and all the guys being interviewed had masters degrees. I would recommend finishing it off fully and even further, to make yourself stand out. Initially your degree will matter (it will get you interviews, your knowledge will get you the job), less so in later years as experience is what counts more. Getting a good degree can only aide you getting good experience.

That is my two cents and I was in the position where I could do that. If your financial situation dictates otherwise then fair enough but I can only speak from my experiences

StupidLikeAFox

The_B_Man wrote: »

I looked at a few and they were all stuff like "Electronics with a side of programming". I couldnt find a good part time one that was as good as the final year of this: Hons bsc in programming - IT Tallaght.

There was even one I saw that was 4 years, 3 nights a week!!! :eek:

You may get a good lot of exemptions though considering you already have 3 years under your belt, you might be able to finish it in just one year

The_B_Man

Skud wrote: »

I did my degree and masters all together. I would find it hard to go back now to be honest after working a few years. Our company was hiring recently and all the guys being interviewed had masters degrees. I would recommend finishing it off fully and even further, to make yourself stand out. Initially your degree will matter (it will get you interviews, your knowledge will get you the job), less so in later years as experience is what counts more. Getting a good degree can only aide you getting good experience.

That is my two cents and I was in the position where I could do that. If your financial situation dictates otherwise then fair enough but I can only speak from my experiences

Ye I know that once I leave thats it, no more full time education. Though I could still do part time masters or whatever, but you need a level 8 to get into a masters. Also, yeah, I'm sick of being a broke student. If I go on next year, I think I qualify for the grant though.

ColHol wrote: »

You may get a good lot of exemptions though considering you already have 3 years under your belt, you might be able to finish it in just one year

Didn't think of that. If I can find a decent part time level 8 that lets me do that, then that looks like a runner. Although, from the courses I've looked at, there's a lot of non-programming stuff involved so that raises the question, are these part time level 8's going to impress at an interview?

amen

2:1

you can get a 2:1 on ordinary(pass) level degree?

The_B_Man

Ye, I was under the impression you can get a 2:1 type result in anything from "level 7" -> up.

jd83

Level 7 is fail, pass, merit 2 merit 1 and distinction
Level 8 is fail, pass , 2,2 , 2,1 and first class honours.

hobochris

YES DO THE LEVEL 8 DEGREE!!

I know of a few places that don't consider anyone who hasn't done a 4 year level 8 degree.

It is a your ticket in the door, I would even recommend doing a masters as the bar is being pushed up again and many employers expect you to either have or be working towards getting a masters.

OwenM

Do the level 8, you would be mad not to. You might get work now but soon after you will regret it and spend a long time regretting it.

It is only going to get more expensive to go to college in Ireland. In a few years there could be full fees and this could be a substantial amount of money.

Sparks

I've seen people not be considered because they had a PhD. I've never seen someone not considered because they had a level 8. But I have seen some not be considered without one. Quite a few jobs list it as a mandatory prerequisite for even applying.

As to how much it matters when you're actually in the job, that's something that people debate a lot even now, though it's far less prevalent than it used to be. And truth be told, the actual degree itself really only matters for the first few jobs you do, after that it's down more to your experience than to your degree (which will be almost out of date by then anyway).

I would offer two pieces of advice, for whatever they're worth:

1. Don't plan for your first job to be permanent. Or your second or third, or indeed any for your first few years in industry. You might be one of the few who do walk into a permanent job on day one and stay there for the next few decades, and if so, more power to you - but the more usual pattern is to work several jobs over a few years. Myself, I went through four in five years, ranging from six months to two years in each place. Every time you move, you should be looking to see a pay rise of at least 4-5%. And everywhere you go, you're learning new things, both technical and non-technical (like how to negotiate pay levels, what HR really want in a role and so on). After that phase, people tend to settle down a bit more, but by then you're earning a decent wage if all went well.
2. Never stop learning. Continual Professional Development is a pretty vital thing in our industry because things move so fast. The level 8 is a good idea not just because it'll make getting the first job easier than a level 7 would, but because it'll add to your education portfolio, which you're going to spend the rest of your professional life adding to, between formal courses and certifications, and informal learning by working on specific projects or in specific areas or with specific technologies. In a few years, that portfolio will become the most important thing when you interview for a new role. Adding to it now for the cost of only 1 year is a good idea.

murphaph

Maybe a stupid question, but wtf is a "level x degree"? I did a bachelor in electronic engineering (full time in IT Tallaght for 5 years). This was obviously (being 5 years long) an Hons degree but what would that be in this new money?

Sparks

Level 8 would be the "normal" 4-year full-time degree courses from TCD/UCD/NUI/etc. Level 7 would be the equivalent of a pass degree from some of those courses (for example, if you do engineering in TCD, you get a level 8 degree in engineering and a level 7 degree in mathematics (which you were able to convert to a level 8 degree in maths by taking another maths course in year 4, something I've always regretted not doing myself)).

neil_hosey

i would say definately do the level 8. And really aim for a 1st, you have a much better chance at getting a job with a 1st class honours! and its very doable!

dont bother with masters imo (unless specialising in Comp Sci Forensics or something). If you like acedemic research, do a PhD.

Jonathan

Sparks wrote: »

(which you were able to convert to a level 8 degree in maths by taking another maths course in year 4, something I've always regretted not doing myself)

4F1 isn't offered any more. Remains in the college calendar though.

Sparks

It was never really "offered" from what I recall, you had to get up and go chase it yourself

The_B_Man

Ye I was kinda leaning towards doing it anyway, and pretty much everyone here says to do the level 8, so I think thats what I'll do.

There seems to be a lot of work in Java so I'll do my FYP in that as well, or maybe even an Android app. I think I might try start a portfolio over the summer too. I've no commercial experience so need something to show.

Also, if anyone knows of any summer internship going, paid or otherwise, let me know!
Thanks.

Spunog UIE

Anyone have recommendation for part time computer science degree? They seem to be very slim with most colleges just pushing Information Technology courses.

henryporter

Spunog UIE wrote: »

Anyone have recommendation for part time computer science degree? They seem to be very slim with most colleges just pushing Information Technology courses.

Are you looking for evening or day part time and where do you want to go? I'm just wrapping up a H.Dip in Science in Computing which is a one year full time or 2 year part time course in DKiT (Dundalk) which was pretty ok - lots of basic programming (Java), OO Design Principles and Patterns, Databases, html, php, vb - plenty to choose from - I don;t know if anyone else is doing the same kind of course maybe DCU

Spunog UIE

Part time hons degree evening course anywhere in Dublin/Kildare area. There seem to be loads of full time comp science courses that I would like but none of the colleges seem to have a partime equivalent :S