MSc in Applied Software Technology

IrishCule

Anyone on here doing it? It seems ICT Skillnet have set up another in Athlone IT because some would rather be based there, turned that down myself as I have already moved to Dublin.

IrishCule

48 views and no replies, don't be shy.

Neo#

Yep im doing this. Starting tomorrow!

IrishCule

Neo# wrote: »

Yep im doing this. Starting tomorrow!

Phew, I thought I was going to be the only one . Any idea what our "bootcamp" will entail?

Neo#

Ive no idea. We will know a lot more this time tomorrow!

Krooger

I did this course last year (completed the semester 3 internship the end of august there) , it was an interesting experience.. to say the least! If you have any questions about the course or anything gimme a shout

IrishCule

Krooger wrote: »

I did this course last year (completed the semester 3 internship the end of august there) , it was an interesting experience.. to say the least! If you have any questions about the course or anything gimme a shout

Haha care to expand on that?

Krooger

Which part? :pac:

IrishCule

Krooger wrote: »

it was an interesting experience.. to say the least!

This part. Sounds like it was a bad experience haha.

Krooger

IrishCule wrote: »

This part. Sounds like it was a bad experience haha.

Not at all! It was actually a really enjoyable year looking back. After you get over the initial shock at the workload, it becomes quite manageable. None of the content of the modules is overly difficult, there's just a huge volume of assignments/exams/training/projects/etc. Probably the hardest part of the course (for me anyway) was time management.

KizzyMonster

Krooger wrote: »

I did this course last year (completed the semester 3 internship the end of august there) , it was an interesting experience.. to say the least! If you have any questions about the course or anything gimme a shout

Are you working in Athlone now or did you manage to get out of it?!
(I'm on this course btw!)

IrishCule

Krooger wrote: »

Not at all! It was actually a really enjoyable year looking back. After you get over the initial shock at the workload, it becomes quite manageable. None of the content of the modules is overly difficult, there's just a huge volume of assignments/exams/training/projects/etc. Probably the hardest part of the course (for me anyway) was time management.

Ah I see, I'm expecting that alright but I thought you were going to say it was a waste of time or something. How was your internship? What day to day like for that and now?

kieran101

Hey Krooger what kind of project did you end up working on for the internship?
and hi everybody!

mcdbd

Is there anyone on the programme this year, who doesn't have a background in computing? I have a degree in science and a post graduate diploma in IT. Is it hard to get onto this programme?

What computer language do they teach? I can programme in Java. I'd be curious as to the level of difficulty of the course material. Perhaps someone could give an eye opener about this. Thanks.

mcdbd

Anyone?

IrishCule

mcdbd wrote: »

Is there anyone on the programme this year, who doesn't have a background in computing? I have a degree in science and a post graduate diploma in IT. Is it hard to get onto this programme?

What computer language do they teach? I can programme in Java. I'd be curious as to the level of difficulty of the course material. Perhaps someone could give an eye opener about this. Thanks.

Sorry forgot about this. I have a background in Computing myself but there are plenty in the class like you. There is 50 of us and I don't know everyone fully but I would nearly say the majority are like you, they have a degree in some other field and they did a course last year in some type of computing. I think there is about 20 from two different HDips in Computing from Maynooth alone haha. I also think (stress think) that there is about 5 or 6 with no background in Computing at all.

The only language so far has been Java, which I am comfortable with so I can't really give you an accurate description of the difficulty. I personally haven't really found any of the programming difficult (so far) but I know plenty in the class have, some with little to no experience in Java and some who are just out of practice with it. Maybe someone else can give you an answer to that.

I didn't find it hard to get in. There is an aptitude test followed by an interview, the interview was very casual and relaxed and couldn't have been better really. It seems most people had a similar interview to me but there was a few who said theirs was tough, maybe it depends what you have on your CV cause I was comfortable talking about mine and thats all I was asked about really (don't really remember much specifics sorry but the stand out thing was just how relaxed and casual it was).

The Aptitude test did have hard parts but there is nothing you can do about that really, you can't prepare for them you just need to relax and think WHILE doing them.

loctite

Hi mcdbd,

mcdbd wrote: »

Is there anyone on the programme this year, who doesn't have a background in computing?

there are several that do not have a background in IT. The lack of responses to this thread may indicate the intensity of the course .

mcdbd wrote: »

Is it hard to get onto this programme?

Getting onto the programme entailed applying via ICT Ireland Skillsnets.
the application process involving interviews and aptitude tests with Ericsson.

mcdbd wrote: »

What computer language do they teach? I can programme in Java. I'd be curious as to the level of difficulty of the course material. Perhaps someone could give an eye opener about this.

It's mainly Java so far but as far as I know there will be others, javascript we have been reliably informed.

A lot of people thought that they could "programme in Java" but are discovering that their knowledge is limited. We have gone from complete beginner to Threads in about 7-8 weeks. Developing applications using TDD
(JUnit).

Hope that helps

bizebee

loctite wrote: »

Getting onto the programme entailed applying via ICT Ireland Skillsnets.
the application process involving interviews and aptitude tests with Ericsson.

any information about what the aptitude contains please from people who have been there and have the t-shirt??

Useful.Idiot

(apologies for bumping an old thread but I think its still relevant as some who commented on this thread are still completing the course I think!)

Does anyone have any more info on the module content of the course? some of the course descriptions on the various sites seem to differ on the course outline!

What is the nature of the full-time job with Ericsson after the course? Does every person who completes the course get a job? Is the work placement during the course paid?

Also how does the course assist students in gaining additional certifications in Java, C++, IP Programming etc.?

chancing my arm with so many questions but grateful if anyone could give any info

loctite

Useful.Idiot wrote: »

Does anyone have any more info on the module content of the course? some of the course descriptions on the various sites seem to differ on the course outline!

Where have you been checking out the course description. Here is the official
dit course brochure which is pretty comprehensive in its outline.

Useful.Idiot wrote: »

What is the nature of the full-time job with Ericsson after the course? Does every person who completes the course get a job? Is the work placement during the course paid?

Not quite sure what you mean by nature of job. The job is as a full-time, junior software engineer.
Everyone who completes the course successfully (i.e. min 2.1) is guaranteed a job, yes the work placement part of the course is paid

Useful.Idiot wrote: »

Also how does the course assist students in gaining additional certifications in Java, C++, IP Programming etc.?

There have been several external courses for using java tools, frameworks and other stuff like version control (they currently use git), we are also required to sit the OCJP in May/June sometime and there has also been the ECT-IP certification (An Ericsson equivalent to the fist part of the CCNA).

On a side, I am unsure if there will be a MSc next year, it seems to have been down-graded to a HDip looking at the Skillsnet Website.

regards

L

KizzyMonster

It definitely needs to be downgraded to hDip. There's just too much work to be done in the one year masters when you haven't done much computing before. I'd be surprises if I get a 2.2 out if this

razor2013

KizzyMonster wrote: »

It definitely needs to be downgraded to hDip. There's just too much work to be done in the one year masters when you haven't done much computing before. I'd be surprises if I get a 2.2 out if this

Sounds like real tough going. Was there a thesis component to the course?

KizzyMonster

razor2013 wrote: »

Sounds like real tough going. Was there a thesis component to the course?

No thesis but there is a group project worth two modules, we're working on that at the moment and a placement during the Summer which I think is worth four (I think?!) modules.

razor2013

Anyone at the aptitude tests a few weeks back? How did you get on. Did they mention about the next round yet?

NO91

What did other people wear to this apptitude test? Is it very formal? Are the questions those numerical/verbal reasoning and spacial awareness type things?

Useful.Idiot

NO91 wrote: »

What did other people wear to this apptitude test? Is it very formal? Are the questions those numerical/verbal reasoning and spacial awareness type things?

You can wear whatever you want. When I went there were a few people wearing shirts and ties but others like myself just wearing a hoodie and jeans.

There isn't any verbal reasoning, the aptitude tests are all geared towards IT and are tied to the kind of logic and natural cognitive ability one would use for programming. They're not too bad but each one gets progressively harder.

razor2013

loctite wrote: »

we are also required to sit the OCJP in May/June sometime

Did you have to study for the Oracle Certified Associate programmer exam, or was it just the Oracle Certified Professional exam ?

loctite

razor2013 wrote: »

Did you have to study for the Oracle Certified Associate programmer exam, or was it just the Oracle Certified Professional exam ?

Sorry, should have been more precise....
Oracle Certified Professional, Java SE 6 Programmer 1.6

As far as I am aware, the OCJP does not require you to have the Associate for the 1.6 exam. I think this has changed with the newer (1.7) version which makes the associate a prerequisite (I think that is what you mean by Associate Programmer, that has replaced the 1.6 Associate.)

Clear as mud

L

Atticus Jung

Has anyone asked what would happen if someone decided not to work with ericsson at the end of the program? Do you sign a contract for say two years minimum or would you have to pay back fees and bursary etc. Just curious as id say its a great place to work.

maybug

Atticus Jung wrote: »

Has anyone asked what would happen if someone decided not to work with ericsson at the end of the program? Do you sign a contract for say two years minimum or would you have to pay back fees and bursary etc. Just curious as id say its a great place to work.

Hi, I'm delighted as I got offered a place on this years course! In the contract it says that if you fail to complete the course without their approval (for heath or other exceptional reasons) or if you are offered the two year contract upon satisfactory completion at the end of the internship, you must refund them the entire cost assosiated with the programme along with the Bursary... It's really only for people that actually want to work for Ericsson once they've completed the course... I hope it is a great place to work! -The interview was held there and it looked lovely.

Atticus Jung

maybug wrote: »

Hi, I'm delighted as I got offered a place on this years course! In the contract it says that if you fail to complete the course without their approval (for heath or other exceptional reasons) or if you are offered the two year contract upon satisfactory completion at the end of the internship, you must refund them the entire cost assosiated with the programme along with the Bursary... It's really only for people that actually want to work for Ericsson once they've completed the course... I hope it is a great place to work! -The interview was held there and it looked lovely.

Thanks and congrats on getting your place.

eoinah

i have the apptitude test in the next weeks, just finished a degree in software development. so you have to work for ericsson for 2 years after the masters? not sure if I can spend that much time in athlone to be honest!

razor2013

eoinah wrote: »

i have the apptitude test in the next weeks, just finished a degree in software development. so you have to work for ericsson for 2 years after the masters? not sure if I can spend that much time in athlone to be honest!

Yes, you have to work for 2 years. My first time in Athlone was on the day that I did the interview and I liked it. I travelled out to Lough Ree after the interview and to be honest, it's quite something!

loctite

Hi,
I'm actually working in Ericsson now and would have been part of the second batch of DIT MSc graduates that would have taken up their roles in Ericsson.

From what we have been hearing, some of the first year DIT graduates are no longer there and left to pursue other roles with other companies and they were not pursued for the repayment of the course. I don't know how true this is, as the information has not come from any of the aforementioned past graduates. Perhaps if there are any previous graduates of the program who fall into that category and who are following this thread perhaps clarify the situation.;);)

leo2a6

whats the bursary and salary during first 2 years like ?

bombay1982

leo2a6 wrote: »

whats the bursary and salary during first 2 years like ?

+1

KizzyMonster

The bursary is €1,500 every three months and the salary is €24,000 during the internship (3 months) and €29,000 afterwards.

doranusan

I was on the first year of this course and am still in Ericsson now.

I know of a few different cases where people have left during the 2 years. In general if you choose to leave they pursue for the full course fee and bursary + the cost of any extra training. They don't itemise this, and it's hefty (18k+)

• I Don't know how people who dropped out at MSc stage got on with fees.
• People that got let go at any stage during employment didn't have to pay fees.
• Not many people have chosen to leave early but in all cases those that did were pursued and most payed out.

I wouldn't take the 2 year thing lightly. There is a potentially great opportunity with this course if Athlone suits you and you are keen to get into software engineering, but you'd be wasting time, a lot of hard work and someone elses opportunity if you go in with your eye on the exit door.

The MSc itself is tough, but from a coding perspective I'd say far better than the conversion courses in most other dublin colleges (ucd and dcu) in terms of what you're intended to be able to do afterwards. I came from a science background then did a hdip in IT. I felt that this course covered similar areas to the hdip but in more detail. You're expected to be much more technically competent at the end of this.

Athlone is what you make of it, I'm from Dublin but in general I like it. Good nightlife, know loads of people because of the MSc. Cheap rent.

The job in Ericsson is different depending on where you work. It's a big facility, and different people will have different experiences. I have no idea how they decide where to place graduates/interns. In general not everyone will be coding or working with new technology. Some jobs would be in testing, documentation, customer support, maintenance of legacy systems and administration. This can be disappointing to some people, but suits others.

There's a lot of team work, collaboration, discussion, meetings etc. You are listened to, so if you are confident you can make an impact.
Very well suited to a family life, flexible hours and they put a fair bit of time into training. Overtime is paid well but isn't excessive, neither is stress, but then again pay is fairly low.


Just regarding one of the comments there, to be honest if you already have a degree in computing / software, I doubt you'd get enough from this masters to justify doing it. I'd expect you to be well able for it technically, but the hardest part of this course is the time management. The number of projects on the go at once is at least very annoying and at worst infuriatingly stressful, especially once the project starts. Yeah you get a piece of paper at the end, but you won't learn much over what you did on a degree and it takes an extra college year. If you've a degree in Computing and are struggling to get a foot in the door somewhere, there's no reason not to consider job bridge as a viable alternative to this MSc unless Ericsson and/or Athlone are especially attractive to you. (Dole + job bridge allowance even for 6 months would be more than the bursary here and you have much greater flexibility).

engrob

doranusan, you say you did science then a HDip. I did a bioscience degree and the the HDip Applied Comp Sci at UCC. I did well but had little programming or systems knowledge prior to it - would I need to do the prep course to be granted a place?

I can't find details anywhere on when that course starts or how long it runs for? I'll need to move back to Ireland in time for doing it! Thanks for any advice you can offer.

Also it seems like a helpful old thread about the course was removed, but I'd love to know things like the application time-scales, what to expect in the aptitude test and the interview format. Sent my CV in yesterday and it'll cost me a lot of time and cash to go through applying, so I'd like to go a bit prepared!

Cheers lads

engrob

Just got through to second stage - aptitude test some time soon. Any advice on what to expect, eg. an example of a typical type of question that would be on the test, would be fantastic. Hate going in totally blind with so much importance riding on it!



Thanks

Rob

IrishCule

KizzyMonster wrote: »

The bursary is €1,500 every three months and the salary is €24,000 during the internship (3 months) and €29,000 afterwards.

€1,900 for the bursary, €5,700 total. At least it was for me.

engrob wrote: »

Just got through to second stage - aptitude test some time soon. Any advice on what to expect, eg. an example of a typical type of question that would be on the test, would be fantastic. Hate going in totally blind with so much importance riding on it!



Thanks

Rob

You can't prepare for an aptitude test really. I only remember two of the sections (4 total), one was geared towards coding. It had code with mistakes in it and you had to find the errors but the rules of the "code" (it wasn't actually a real programming language) are defined at the start and then you have to find things that break these rules.

The other part was the last section which was kind of a combination of shapes and logic gates to from a puzzle. The shapes pass through a gate and change to another shape, this tells you what that gate does and then you use that information to figure out the rest of the puzzle or another puzzle. This one was really difficult.

I did mine two years ago now so it might have changed.

Darith

Does one have to get a 2.1 overall across both semesters to get a job or is that 2.1 overall including the internship? I got a 2.1 in the hdip computing in Dit Kevin st. I found it hard work. Plus i see the bursary is what 1900 per three months, so one has to live off 2800 from September to May?

connollyboy

Howere ya lads, wondering does anyone have any example questions that came from the interview section? I've an interview scheduled on the 31-7 and would love some last minute pointers? As I studied physics in college so my programming knowledge is limited Would be much appreciated!

jimmyendless

Darith wrote: »

Does one have to get a 2.1 overall across both semesters to get a job or is that 2.1 overall including the internship? I got a 2.1 in the hdip computing in Dit Kevin st. I found it hard work. Plus i see the bursary is what 1900 per three months, so one has to live off 2800 from September to May?

2.1 overall is what is required. Saying that, if the placement goes badly you might not be offered the full time position even with a 2.1.

If you are not on the dole the bursary is the only financial support available.

jimmyendless

connollyboy wrote: »

Howere ya lads, wondering does anyone have any example questions that came from the interview section? I've an interview scheduled on the 31-7 and would love some last minute pointers? As I studied physics in college so my programming knowledge is limited Would be much appreciated!

There was a bunch of senior/master engineers doing the interviews I think, so the questions didn't stick to any format afaik. Re-read your CV and maybe your undergrad thesis as I was asked about mine in detail.

Emer29

Hi. Does anyone know if they are going to run this course in AIT in 2015/16 and when does the application process start??

kevinmcinerney

I'm very interested in applying for the 2015 MSc in Applied Software Engineering. However, I'm finishing an MSc Conversion in Computer Science at UCD atm and I've been offered a scholarship to study abroad for 6 extra months. I'm worried that this will prevent me from getting an interview for the course. Will DIT/Ericsson allow me to do a skype interview do you think? Also, isn't being on the dole one of the qualifications for entry? If I'm still a student when i apply will i be passed over in favour of other unemployed candidates?

I'm considering hanging around ireland so I don't miss the interview. The placement with Ericsson is very nice.

IrishCule

I was a student when I applied had no problem. Went straight from finishing my BSc into the MSc (after a summer off :pac: ). Unless its change since 2012.

Fakman87

kevinmcinerney wrote: »

I'm very interested in applying for the 2015 MSc in Applied Software Engineering. However, I'm finishing an MSc Conversion in Computer Science at UCD atm and I've been offered a scholarship to study abroad for 6 extra months. I'm worried that this will prevent me from getting an interview for the course. Will DIT/Ericsson allow me to do a skype interview do you think? Also, isn't being on the dole one of the qualifications for entry? If I'm still a student when i apply will i be passed over in favour of other unemployed candidates?

I'm considering hanging around ireland so I don't miss the interview. The placement with Ericsson is very nice.

I'm really interested in the MSc in UCD and wondering if it's good for jobs. The fact you're interested in doing another MSc has me wondering.

Shotgun Sister

kevinmcinerney wrote: »

I'm very interested in applying for the 2015 MSc in Applied Software Engineering. However, I'm finishing an MSc Conversion in Computer Science at UCD.

Hi Kevin,

Why would you want to go from one conversion course straight into studying another conversion course?

Would it not make more sense to apply for a graduate job at Ericsson, if it's the job part you're particularly interested in?

Genuine question from someone considering both of those courses.

mayo23

Emer29 wrote: »

Hi. Does anyone know if they are going to run this course in AIT in 2015/16 and when does the application process start??

The course is run in both AIT and DIT. The 10 week mandatory preparation course starts in July for DIT and September for AIT (this could change), meaning the other stages begin 3 months later in Athlone than in Dublin. The closing date to apply is the 30th of April 2015


The application process takes place at the same time for both locations. There are 3 stages: CV screening, aptitude tests and an interview. You will be asked for your preference of Athlone or Dublin, but you may not get your preference if there are no places available in that location. As the DIT course begins sooner, I would expect that would fill quicker.

Hope that answers your question.