MSc Computer Science Conversion

trendy88

Hi All. Just wondering if this course is being offered this year? The website seems to be down and I cant find any info regarding applications or the likes.

Strawberry Oreo

Hi - The course is going ahead but has been slightly restructured due to difficulties with it last year. I believe you will be able to apply in the next week or so. I'll be applying myself then

OneOfThem Stumbled

It is quite a demanding course: (only 6 weeks holidays over the course of 16 months!) with quite a hectic schedule. This hectic schedule has played silly beggars with the organisation of the course as the School of Comp Sci seemed somewhat unprepared for the sheer scale of material that they had to deliver. More funding would give them more staff; which is really what they want for it - less funding could put it in jeopardy.

Poppy1314

I'll more than likely be applying for this also

Just wondering if anyone has any insight into the fees for this course. The contact person on the web page said they'd be similar enough to last year (€2700 mark), not that I'm complaining, but it seems low enough for an msc in ucd when you compare it to their €12000 p/a for msc in marketing and the likes.. is the €9000 difference purely to do with the business masters coming from smurfit?

OneOfThem Stumbled

Poppy1314 wrote: »

I'll more than likely be applying for this also

Just wondering if anyone has any insight into the fees for this course. The contact person on the web page said they'd be similar enough to last year (€2700 mark), not that I'm complaining, but it seems low enough for an msc in ucd when you compare it to their €12000 p/a for msc in marketing and the likes.. is the €9000 difference purely to do with the business masters coming from smurfit?

Without funding the course would cost students around €12-14k.

There's not a huge amount of difference between the fees for Smurfit EU and non-EU students (which is unusual). I think only Smurfit's MSc in iBusiness is funded in such a manner (fees around 3K iirc)

Strawberry Oreo

I believe this is also the last year of funding so I won't be surprised when UCD bumps it up to 10k in the next few years.

trendy88

Yeah the fact that the fees are part funded by the government accounts for the difference between other MSc's. Still no sign of the application process opening(peppering to get started). Just out of curiosity what background are those of you thinking of applying from? I Myself did my undergrad in business and law and just finished up a masters in the latter.

ucdperson

There's not a huge amount of difference between the fees for Smurfit EU and non-EU students (which is unusual). I think only Smurfit's MSc in iBusiness is funded in such a manner (fees around 3K iirc)

In Smurfit MSc iBusiness and MS in Business Analytics are funded by the HEA, as the MSc Computer Science Conversion and other MSc Computer Science are.

I believe this is also the last year of funding so I won't be surprised when UCD bumps it up to 10k in the next few years.

This funding is being phased out, regular fees will apply in the future and there will be a big jump next year, so enjoy it while it lasts.

Strawberry Oreo

Trendy88 - I did my undergrad in Ag.Science Forestry and then did a Masters in Management in Smurfit.

c4counter

Hi all! I'm also looking to apply for this one when the applications come up. Does anyone know if it's going to be starting September 2013? It just seems a little late to only have the applications opening now if it is, but meh!

I've got a BA degree in Social Sciences...so nothing related to IT in the slightest. Making my way through a few introductory books about computer science and watching a video series (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6U-i4gXkLM) in prep for it.

Would be interesting to hear from some people who were on the course last year??

Amphicoelias

c4counter wrote: »

Would be interesting to hear from some people who were on the course last year??

I`m doing the course this year.

Its very intensive since essentially you are learning about 3 years worth of stuff in a year and a half. You will have to be more productive with your time then I was to do well without sacrificing your social life i.e. get off facebook and boards.ie!

You do a wide range of topics, and then get to choose topics in the final semester (which I haven`t done yet).

The subject I found the hardest was C programming and C++. I would recommend the book C programming in easy steps (the latest edition).

I wish I had got that book during the summer before the course. You could also get the C for dummies if you have time.

You could get the same books for C++, just note that C++ is in the second semester. C programming is worth twice the credits as C++.

In fact I have all of the above books, and some other good ones too. perfect condition, send me a message if you want to get them for a very reasonable price.

The other modules are all quite doable, but a lot of content, so you will be busy.

The introduction to databases courses was a bit of a disaster of us, we had a terrible lecturer.. the exam for it ended up being delayed until today (or September.. we get to choose!). Our replacement lecturer was much better.

Our C programming lecturer was also changed halfway through the course, for the better.

Last year the modules were held in two month/7week blocks; I heard that they may be switching to have double the time studying each module (but modules will be running concurrently).

This may be a good idea, especially for the C programming.

The lecturer in the IPA is great, you will be busy though. I also heard the fees may be increasing, so If they are same this year, it may be the best time to do the course.

If you have come from a physics, engineering, or any background like that with mathematical elements to it, you will probably find the programming easier, its just the way these peoples brains work.

By the way, Im pretty sure the course Is going ahead, but they are just changing the format, I agree, they are leaving it very late, maybe they want less people next year. This year there was over 100 at the start of the course! A few have dropped out but still alot.

Strawberry Oreo

Well if anyone hears about registration opening please post it here! I think it'll be available from July 1st.

Also in regards to the course content I believe they are going to put a huge emphasis on Java this year in comparison to C and C++.
They may also be switching up the delivery of the course, so we may have ipa for 2 days of the week and 3days in UCD rather than doing it in full alternating blocks.

Poppy1314

Amphicoelias wrote: »

This year there was over 100 at the start of the course! A few have dropped out but still alot.

Did you find having 100 people a big disadvantage in terms of learning and being able to get the most out of the course? In that, it sounds like a very intense 18 months so does the volume of people limit student-professor interaction/ availability to help?

Also I was just wondering from your experience doing the course.. is there a lot of group work on projects etc? I was told the year was split into groups A & B anyway..

Two days ago the course admin said that the site would be back and running early June, but I'm aware we're very much in mid June now so who knows. She just told me to keep checking the web page.

Why would they switch from C and C++ to Java? I've completed a course in Java and I know it has good fundamentals for learning how to code and that, but surely learning C and C++ would be more practical?

Strawberry Oreo

Well that was just my interpretation from a brief conversation with Damien Dalton (Senior lecturer). The course content hasn't been completely defined yet so C and C++ could easily be covered. From what I gathered they want students to master a language so they can easily learn another one by having a solid base rather than rushing through multiple languages.

I really don't know what will remain on the course and what has changed. I do know they are trying to solve a lot of issues with last years course such as being oversubscribed etc and having issues with part time lecturers.

c4counter

Amphicoelias wrote: »

I`m doing the course this year.

Its very intensive since essentially you are learning about 3 years worth of stuff in a year and a half. You will have to be more productive with your time then I was to do well without sacrificing your social life i.e. get off facebook and boards.ie!

You do a wide range of topics, and then get to choose topics in the final semester (which I haven`t done yet).

The subject I found the hardest was C programming and C++. I would recommend the book C programming in easy steps (the latest edition).

I wish I had got that book during the summer before the course. You could also get the C for dummies if you have time.

You could get the same books for C++, just note that C++ is in the second semester. C programming is worth twice the credits as C++.

In fact I have all of the above books, and some other good ones too. perfect condition, send me a message if you want to get them for a very reasonable price.

The other modules are all quite doable, but a lot of content, so you will be busy.

The introduction to databases courses was a bit of a disaster of us, we had a terrible lecturer.. the exam for it ended up being delayed until today (or September.. we get to choose!). Our replacement lecturer was much better.

Our C programming lecturer was also changed halfway through the course, for the better.

Last year the modules were held in two month/7week blocks; I heard that they may be switching to have double the time studying each module (but modules will be running concurrently).

This may be a good idea, especially for the C programming.

The lecturer in the IPA is great, you will be busy though. I also heard the fees may be increasing, so If they are same this year, it may be the best time to do the course.

If you have come from a physics, engineering, or any background like that with mathematical elements to it, you will probably find the programming easier, its just the way these peoples brains work.

By the way, Im pretty sure the course Is going ahead, but they are just changing the format, I agree, they are leaving it very late, maybe they want less people next year. This year there was over 100 at the start of the course! A few have dropped out but still alot.

Hey thanks for the info! It does sound pretty intense, how many hours a week of work do you think you spent on it roughly? I'd definitely be interested in getting some of the books ahead of time. Even if they do change the course a bit, I doubt knowing a bit more about c programming is going to be a disadvantage!

Riamfada

Hey Im applying for this myself. I just emailed the department administrator looking for any information. If the fees go higher for 2013/14 I wont be able to do it.

Fingers Crossed

OneOfThem Stumbled

c4counter wrote: »

Hey thanks for the info! It does sound pretty intense, how many hours a week of work do you think you spent on it roughly?

Average of about three hours of lectures a day, every week day.

Study has peaks and troughs as you would expect. It's a bit of a peak at the moment. All day study yesterday, today, tomorrow, etc. till Friday. Two day break (weekend woo!) then another examination, then a month for a research project, followed by the first holiday, in August, since Christmas.

c4counter

OneOfThem Stumbled wrote: »

Average of about three hours of lectures a day, every week day.

Study has peaks and troughs as you would expect. It's a bit of a peak at the moment. All day study yesterday, today, tomorrow, etc. till Friday. Two day break (weekend woo!) then another examination, then a month for a research project, followed by the first holiday, in August, since Christmas.

Eh, by the sounds of things I'd need to be well organised to fit in things like sports, work and the odd social event then!

trendy88

Still no sign of the application process opening!

Poppy1314

Yeah I know. It's getting to be a bit much. Even if they open it in the next few days It'll be pushing July which is only two months before it starts..

Do we know if it's definitely available to do this September?

Anybody know how long it normally takes for Masters positions to be offered after the closing date? Would we not find out until August?

trendy88

I emailed approx 2 weeks ago and the response I got indicated that it was definitely open this year and the delay was due to restructuring the course from last years.

Poppy1314

Yeah I got the same impression a few ago when they emailed me. They also said that the site would be up early June..

It's just difficult to make plans for the coming months with work etc., as we're just sort of in the dark about it all at the moment.

trendy88

Thats exactly it, can't commit to anything fully whilst in this limbo. I'd feel happy if I even had the application submitted tbh. Also want to sort out accom for Dublin next year too.

Poppy1314

Yeah I'd be happy to have submitted the application by now too.

What exactly do we need for the application process besides fully authorized copy of our transcripts from our undergrad? Do people think that we will have big essays to write/submit?

c4counter

I've been compulsively checking the website for updates haha. No idea what the application process will entail at all.

trendy88

Haven't a clue what it will entail! Would love some sort of guidance on the matter. Been checking the website frequently myself also.

c4counter

Hopefully it won't be too complicated. They're cutting it a bit fine without having to wait around for, and then read, essays and such!

Strawberry Oreo

c4counter wrote: »

I've been compulsively checking the website for updates haha. No idea what the application process will entail at all.

Pretty much the same as me! My friend who is in it now got a letter of recommendation from work and one from a lecturer in his undergrad but I have no idea what we will have to do this year (or if those recommendations were needed).

Hopefully they'll open up the course applications any day now...

Riamfada

Does anyone have any idea of the start date for this in September? Trying to cut it with work, holidays ect.

Strawberry Oreo

http://www.ucd.ie/students/documents/201314_td.pdf

I think this masters is offered in three semesters so may be different.

Poppy1314

Do we think that due to the late application process that this course might commence later than early September?

adocholiday

Just want to chime in here on this course. I completed it last year (I started in September 2011, finished in November 2012). I posted in a previous thread on the subject but I'll give you guys the same input. There were 60 in my class, but they since increased the numbers to 100.

1. Workload. Go into this course with the intention of treating it like a full time job, especially if you have no prior experience in HTML, programming etc. You don't have a huge amount of lecture time but if you want to do reasonably well and stay on top of things you have to put in the effort. I did an arts degree prior to this course and I did nothing but still got by. This course was a rude awakening. I would completely discourage anyone from taking the course that isn't willing to give 100% to it. I spent countless nights up until 2 or 3 in the morning doing assignments.

2. Time. Related to workload but different. My social life completely disappeared doing this course. I was a long distance runner and had to give it up. I gave up more nights out and weekend trips away because I had to study/had assignments. You get 6 weeks off in the summer and that's it. The summer assignment was very difficult and time consuming. In the week it was due I reckon I got 2-3 hours sleep per night, the rest of the waking hours were spent in front of the computer. You won't be doing a J1! Give up any notion of an evening job too. I did have a weekend job (Saturday and Sunday 8-8) but spent Saturday and Sunday nights studying.

3. Course detail. I'm not going to go into detail on every module but here's my 2cents on some things.

Programming: We studied C and C++ and I took Java and Android in the third term. For the scope of this course I thought we should have just learned C# or Java. C and C++ are great for learning the core fundamentals of programming but my lack of experience in Java and C# really limited my job opportunities afterwards. It would have been much better spending time on those.

Databases: Had a module on database fundamentals and MS Access, then later had an SQL module that covered more of the db fundamentals. IMO, we would have been better served with a more comprehensive SQL module with the DB fundamentals.

IPA modules: Web design, systems admin & hardware/software. Great lecturer, great course material, great experience. Would have loved to have the lecturer for every module and spent all my time in IPA. Learnt the most in these modules due to the teaching. Expects a lot from you though.

Summer project: A lot of self learning involved with this. We were given the brief in March. I would advise trying to start with it as soon as possible to make things easier.

Third term: We were severely restricted in our module choice which was a big problem for our class (possibly why they are restructuring). A few of the options are good (Android in particular) but I didn't enjoy one module and couldn't change due to timetable clashes. Won't ever use any of the material I covered in that module.

4. Future employment: There are no internships with this course so you won't get any work experience. I wanted to get into software development after but it was impossible to get a job. Most of the programming jobs out there are Java or C#. I wasn't anyway experienced enough with either to even get an interview. The course material wasn't comprehensive enough and a lack of an internship meant that most applicants were ahead of me. On a positive note however I did get a great software testing job which I'm hoping will lead to a development role eventually and a good majority of the people that finished my course are now working in the IT sector. If you want a software development job, I recommend that you spend time working on a lot of your own projects or contributing to Open source stuff so that you can be competitive later. I wish I knew that at the start!

If anyone has specific questions PM me and I will be happy to answer them for you. The above might seem like scare mongering or whatever but I guarantee that the majority of my classmates would echo the above sentiments.

Strawberry Oreo

Thanks for the comprehensive post Adocholiday! I believe they are putting a huge emphasis on Java this year to tackle some of the issues you had!

Strawberry Oreo

Poppy1314 wrote: »

Do we think that due to the late application process that this course might commence later than early September?

I doubt it - despite there being late registration.

OneOfThem Stumbled

adocholiday wrote: »

The above might seem like scare mongering or whatever but I guarantee that the majority of my classmates would echo the above sentiments.

I can concur with most of that.

Interestingly there isn't any course in UCD that covers C# at all; proprietary language and all that. Also I think they wanted to make sure that you understood the languages that led to Java before coving Java.

In the BSc they used to teach Java before any other language (Java is hip!) but it wasn't the best idea, and they now start with C.

I found some of the elements easy enough to begin with in this course as I came from a programming background. However, the scope of the course is very testing. Sure I knew HTML, CSS, etc for the web development course; but my knowledge of PHP and integration with online databases was fairly shaky - meaning the assignment that was still fairly tough. PL/SQL, Active Directory, among other topics, gave me sleepless nights. Just starting the summer project - thinking about learning Python for Borda-fuse and clustering; for the lols, you know?

Strawberry Oreo wrote: »

I doubt it - despite there being late registration.

It started the first week of September last year (a week earlier than other courses)

adocholiday

OneOfThem Stumbled wrote: »

Just starting the summer project - thinking about learning Python for Borda-fuse and clustering; for the lols, you know?

Fair enough about learning C for the basics but C++ was definitely not the right choice. The reality is most people are doing the conversion course to get a job and for every graduate C++ job out there, there are 30 Java positions, and even then the level of Java covered by the course at the minute (an elective online module that doesn't have any class time or assignments) is not near enough to secure a job in it.

With regard to the summer project, I taught myself Python and used a Markov Chain algorithm (MC4) for sorting the results. The big challenge with Python is having to use a framework and figuring out the integration. The clustering was a nightmare for me in the end I have to say and I ended up just looking for common words minus stop words and grouping them, it was less than effective :P

I think this post may deter some people from taking the course lol!

Good luck with the project, if you need any help with something give me a shout!

c4counter

Well if it's true that they're going to switch the focus to java for this year, to anyone thinking of applying who wants to get a bit of a head start, I've heard good things about this video series from Stanford about programming with java http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkMDCCdjyW8. If you have the itunes university app thing you can download them there as well.

I also found this link (somewhere on the boards, can't think where now sorry!) that lists free ebooks about programming if anyone wants to have a look through those: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/194812/list-of-freely-available-programming-books

Still no sign of the applications opening today

DoD22

I email the course coordinator in May and they said it would be open for applicants in early June. The site is still under construction.

http://www.csi.ucd.ie/content/msc-computer-science-conversion

trendy88

Do we still think its going to be offered?. Being as today is the start of July. Im beginning to wonder.

Poppy1314

Yeah, I was starting to wonder the same thing. I thought the site would be back by now. Given that the course would ordinarily start this time two months, surely that's not enough time to allow for applications and offers etc.?

Even if they do intend on offering the course this year, it's somewhat ridiculous that they haven't released any info on whether or not it is even going ahead. We need to make plans with jobs etc. I have to give at least a months notice in work if I am to leave. So that literally gives me one month to apply and potentially get offered a spot before I'd need to hand my notice in, and the site isn't even up.

Strawberry Oreo

It is a bit worrying alright - I really thought it'd be up by now! I finish my contract in September so pretty much banking on this

Amphicoelias

I wouldn`t give up just yet,

They are probably on their holidays. They are a bit ridiculous though to be leaving it this late.

I think they were having meetings a few weeks ago about the potential structure of the course next year.

There are other conversion courses in Maynooth and DCU you should also consider. They are Hdip/Graduate Diplomas and they are supposed to be good.

If you really wanted and did very well in the above courses you could probably then do a masters or else secure some sort of job (you would hope).

Poppy1314

I emailed the course admin again last night asking if she could confirm whether or not the course will be going ahead this September. She just replied saying
that she cannot confirm yet whether the course will definitely be going ahead. and that they hope to have the online applications open shortly, but they're waiting for the go-ahead from Head of School.

Not really sure where this leaves it. Very disappointing.

steveLFC24

My brother did a conversion course in Griffith college, Higher Diploma in Computer Science I think it was. I also think there is one in Blanchardstown IT. He did it though springboard, so it was completely free. So for anyone that's currently not working that course is another option. The good thing about the one in Griffith is its 3 full days a week, so my brother actually managed to get an internship for the other 2 days he was off. As for the course he said he loved it. Everything was in Java, as well as a module in C#, Database module with SQL and a web design module.

We have a guy working with us that did the MSc in UCD, and he said the course is great

Strawberry Oreo

Yikes Poppy thanks for the info - I got this message from the course admin today in response to an email I sent:

"I am very sorry, but I don’t have any further updates. We had hoped to have the online applications process open this week, but we are still finalising some details."

Poppy1314

Yeah it's all very ambiguous.. I sent another email asking if the site were to re-open, is it their intention for the course to begin this side of the year or would it be 2014, or nothing at all until next Sept.. Will keep you posted!

DoD22

I got this email this morning from the course coordinator

"Thank you for your recent email regarding the M.Sc. in Computer Science (Conversion) Course.



As you will have seen from our website, this course is currently being updated, and we hope to have the online applications process open shortly. This is the only means of applying, so I can only advise you to check the website regularly, and apply online as soon as possible. For further information on the process, please go to http://www.ucd.ie/apply/howtoapply.html, and http://www.ucd.ie/graduatestudies/prospectivestudents/thinking-of-applying/. The closing date for applications will probably be one month from opening the applications process.



The course will be full-time only, and will run from September 2013 until December 2014. The fees were €2,750 last year for EU eligible students. I attach a copy of last year’s schedule which will give you an idea of what is involved, although some modules are being changed. The modules are divided between the Institute of Public Administration and UCD, and used to be in 6-week blocks, this will probably change to 3 days/2 days in UCD/IPA this year."

Strawberry Oreo

Thanks for that DoD22!

Poppy1314

DoD22 wrote: »

I got this email this morning from the course coordinator

"Thank you for your recent email regarding the M.Sc. in Computer Science (Conversion) Course.



As you will have seen from our website, this course is currently being updated, and we hope to have the online applications process open shortly. This is the only means of applying, so I can only advise you to check the website regularly, and apply online as soon as possible. For further information on the process, please go to http://www.ucd.ie/apply/howtoapply.html, and http://www.ucd.ie/graduatestudies/prospectivestudents/thinking-of-applying/. The closing date for applications will probably be one month from opening the applications process.



The course will be full-time only, and will run from September 2013 until December 2014. The fees were €2,750 last year for EU eligible students. I attach a copy of last year’s schedule which will give you an idea of what is involved, although some modules are being changed. The modules are divided between the Institute of Public Administration and UCD, and used to be in 6-week blocks, this will probably change to 3 days/2 days in UCD/IPA this year."

I got this exact email, almost word for word a month ago. This was the response I got back today "Yes, if and when the course is advertised, it will be for September 2013 until December 2014."

DoD22

Poppy1314 wrote: »

I got this exact email, almost word for word a month ago. This was the response I got back today "Yes, if and when the course is advertised, it will be for September 2013 until December 2014."

When did you get that response?

Poppy1314

DoD22 wrote: »

When did you get that response?

Early this afternoon.