Business Information Systems CIT vs. UCC

SigersonCup

Hi, sitting the Leaving Cert in short number of days.

I have my heart set on doing Business Information Systems, but I'm just not sure where to do the course.

I want to stay in Cork so I'll be going to either UCC or CIT. My problem is that I don't know where would it be better to do the course.

My Career's teacher in school said there's no difference between the courses, she just said that the points difference (UCC- roughly 420, CIT - 350) is down to the "snob-factor".

I also went to a Career Consultant outside of school, and she basically told me the same thing.

The thing I'm worried about is would going to CIT instead of UCC affect my opportunities in the future?

For example, if I was going up against a UCC Graduate, same course etc. , would he get the job over me? Due to the fact I went to CIT instead of UCC?

I've heard mixed opinion's from others, some say the course is better in CIT, whilst others tell me to go to UCC.

I would just like to know your opinions, where should I go?

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and I'd appreciate any advice.

shawki

Ucc has the 6 month work placement in 3rd year. If you do well some employers might offer you a job before you finish your placement. Check the ucc calendar for detailed info on modules. http://www.ucc.ie/calendar/commerce/

JeremyH

SigersonCup wrote: »

Hi, sitting the Leaving Cert in short number of days.

I have my heart set on doing Business Information Systems, but I'm just not sure where to do the course.

I want to stay in Cork so I'll be going to either UCC or CIT. My problem is that I don't know where would it be better to do the course.

My Career's teacher in school said there's no difference between the courses, she just said that the points difference (UCC- roughly 420, CIT - 350) is down to the "snob-factor".

I also went to a Career Consultant outside of school, and she basically told me the same thing.

The thing I'm worried about is would going to CIT instead of UCC affect my opportunities in the future?

For example, if I was going up against a UCC Graduate, same course etc. , would he get the job over me? Due to the fact I went to CIT instead of UCC?

I've heard mixed opinion's from others, some say the course is better in CIT, whilst others tell me to go to UCC.

I would just like to know your opinions, where should I go?

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and I'd appreciate any advice.

Hi SigersonCup,

I am a lecturer in BIS in UCC and would be happy to talk to you about the course in UCC if you like.

I don't know a whole lot about the CIT offering in BIS but we have had many of their graduates come on to do a Master's degree with us and they have been very high quality and I would imagine that is a testament to the course.

It is very difficult to compare courses. Even when they are as similar as these two, it is always like comparing apples and oranges.

What I would suggest is that you talk to academic staff in both courses and, if possible current students/graduates. I could probably put you in touch with some of our own students (though that may be difficult given that some may be away for the summer etc.).

My advice is to do as much research as you can and to pick the course you think will suit you best.

I really dislike the 'which is better? CIT or UCC?' argument that seems to happen frequently. Both are fine institutions with great reputations amongst employers. But whenever you have two third level institutions in one town or city, there will invariably be a rivalry. That kind of rivalry is bogus. All courses and institutions have strengths and weaknesses. You should focus on what you think the right course is for you.

Give me a shout if you want to meet or chat on the phone. I coordinate year 1 of the BIS programme and you can find my email address on the BIS website (my username here should make me pretty easy to find!).

I am travelling at the moment but will be back in the office on Tuesday.

titan18

I'm currently doing the Masters in BIS and am a graduate of the undergrad course in UCC. I can't say much for the CIT course, have a few in the Masters class at the moment and they seem grand with work, but I'd recommend the BIS undergrad in UCC.

Course is well organised, lecturers look out for the students and are able to offer help, placement in 3rd year is a great opportunity to get experience either in Ireland or abroad, and there's a very high rate of employment afterwards. The department have links with a lot of companies through the placement programme and graduates seem to have a good reputation.

There's a wide range of modules available in the course and buy 4th year, there's a wide range of different areas you can go into, with mobile programming, interaction design and payment systems being recently added.

Outside the course, and just going on the college, UCC have a very good selection of Clubs and Societies available to join, and have been praised for the activity of societies on campus and it's one of the reasons why UCC is highly ranked. There are over 90 societies available to join, and BIS has it's own society who've had a very successful year, so there's something for everyone really and an opportunity to meet people outside the course, and do things you might not have considered before such as archery, film making, charity work etc.

On the programme itself, I found that the majority of lecturers are excellent, and have a strong knowledge of the module. The course is coordinated well, so that as long as you turn up to the lectures and labs, you never fall behind, or have clashing deadlines for project work and exams. The lecturers space out submission deadlines (other than the shortened 3rd year since that only goes to February/March) so that assignments aren't falling due together which you hear about in other courses. Class is pretty big, with about 150 coming into the course in 1st year, although you'll get a few dropouts in the 1st year. I finished last year with just over 100 graduates I think, and about 140 came in 1st year. Coming from secondary school, it might seem like a large class, but it's small enough in comparison to some of the Arts modules and Commerce, but larger than a lot of courses. In my masters class, there's 24, and I find that the larger class size is better.

BIS have their own labs too, although can be shared between an undergrad and a masters class, so can get crowded with labs and stuff going on, but it might only get really bad two or three times a year, and that of course depends on the numbers per year. I never noticed it as a problem other than 3rd year and bits of this year as I was tutoring other classes, so finding a computer to work from is never a huge issue.

There's a lot of small things the course does really well too. On the first day, they bring the whole class together for coffee so people get to know each other and the staff get to know you. For 1st year and 2nd year, they continue that with as in groups, so about once every 5 or 6 weeks, you'll meet with heads of the department and the year coordinator, which helps you get to know people in your class and for the staff to get to know you, which is important for placement. In other courses, there's more of a disconnect between staff and students, but BIS through the coffee mornings, having 4th years as tutors for the modules bridge that so students are never afraid of talking to the lecturers about things. Having 4th years as tutors is quite nice too, and as someone who's been a tutor for a lot of modules, and been tutored in my earlier years, it's good as 4th years are able to give extra help and talk about placement companies and give advice.

Another small thing is the BIS Anthology, where students submit poetry, short stories, photography, art, music etc and BIS publish that and send it out to companies. I don't know of any other course that does it, so having that on a CV even if no one else looks at it is pretty nice and something extra.

Aswell with BIS having their own society, the society organise a soccer tournament every year, they organise the BIS Ball and they bring in speakers (used to be a series of three sessions, but was done as a conference day this year), and do work with CoderDojo. It's a small thing, but helps add to the course imo.

I'd recommend the course to anyone as long as you're willing to sit and work at a computer and not get frustrated or annoyed. It's a great course, just need to be willing to put a bit of work into it.

Jade.

I've also been looking for information on the two colleges aswell as I'm also interested in this course.

Thanks a lot for your detailed answer titan18 you've really helped a lot

Ronaldinho890

Hi I am hoping to do this course in UCC next year but I'm worried I won't get the points needed as I have heard there may be a dramatic points jump for this course.Could this be true and should about 430 points Secure me a place?Thanks.

Salty

Ronaldinho890 wrote: »

Hi I am hoping to do this course in UCC next year but I'm worried I won't get the points needed as I have heard there may be a dramatic points jump for this course.Could this be true and should about 430 points Secure me a place?Thanks.

I don't do BIS, but as a second year student in UCC I think I can speak for anyone on this forum by saying that there is no way of predicting the points for any course. Points are determined by applicant demand, they cannot be predicted at all. If I were you, I would ignore everything in the media about the leaving cert and the points of courses. It only serves to heighten anxiety and self-doubt. Keep the head down, do your best, and good luck!

starlit

The points likely shoot up if there is demand for bis. When did the leaving, points were 380 for bis in ucc didnt meet points but got it for bis for cit cut off 355 or 360 i think when i did leaving cert in 2004. I got into it but barely. Applied to both courses but went for a cert similar to them ittralee instead then did degree but do regret nit going for bis instead of ois/ism.

Tommyrawr

Ronaldinho890 wrote: »

Hi I am hoping to do this course in UCC next year but I'm worried I won't get the points needed as I have heard there may be a dramatic points jump for this course.Could this be true and should about 430 points Secure me a place?Thanks.

haha! I was thinking 430 points and I should be grand too xD Great minds think alike as they say ;D I've my fingers crossed that there wont be a significant jump in points.

I was also wondering is there any opportunity to study abroad (excluding work placement abroad) with this course, like during 2nd year?

Hector122

is it half and half between IT modules and business modules?

JeremyH

Hector122 wrote: »

is it half and half between IT modules and business modules?

It's roughly half and half in 1st year, with years 2 and 3 more skewed towards IS rather than business. Year 4 has a number of elective (free choice) modules so that can be more techy or business-based depending on the ones you choose.

Hector122

JeremyH wrote: »

It's roughly half and half in 1st year, with years 2 and 3 more skewed towards IS rather than business. Year 4 has a number of elective (free choice) modules so that can be more techy or business-based depending on the ones you choose.

JeremyH do you do the course

JeremyH

Hector122 wrote: »

JeremyH do you do the course

No but I work in BIS and I answer questions about the course that people have on boards.ie from time to time.