BA Arts - Computer Science

At UCC, Computer Science is much more than lectures alone—you'll gain hands‑on experience in real-world settings. You'll have access to modern teaching laboratories with dual-boot Windows/Linux setups and specialist hardware suites right from Day 1. The Western Gateway Building houses purpose-built facilities for Arduino, FPGAs, VR, multimedia and GPU-accelerated computing to get you ready to tackle demanding projects. In your third year, mandatory work placements (6 or 12 months) with leading tech companies place classroom theory in workplace situations, and a supervised final-year capstone project draws together everything you have learned:

Year 1 & 2 lab-based practicals:Dual-boot Windows/Linux labs (80+ seats) support modules including Introduction to Programming, Web Development, Database Concepts and Computer Systems

Specialist labs & equipment:Hardware lab with Arduino kits and FPGAs VR lab and HCI devices Multimedia facilities (video/audio editing) GPU workstation lab for deep‑learning and data‑intensive computing

Software suite:Visual Studio Code, DBeaver (SQL), lpsolve Canvas VLE for lecture/tutorial coordination UCC's SSH gateway and remote CS servers for off-campus access Help support: On‑site CompSci Helpdesk for software installation for courses, password reset, and general troubleshooting

Work placement (Year 3):Compulsory 6‑ or 12‑month placement (e.g., Dell EMC, Amazon, Microsoft, Intel, IBM, Accenture, and others)

Final capstone project (Year 4):Supervised by academic staff; apply your skills to a substantial technological problem through design, development, and implementation

Research & internship opportunities:Links with UCC research centres; summer internships for high-performing undergraduates

Graduates of this course repeatedly go on to become Software Developer, Systems Analyst, Data Engineer, and IT Consultant roles, ready with the knowledge and self-assurance to thrive in Ireland's thriving tech industry. Graduation surveys indicate that around 93% of UCC graduates are working or studying further within nine months of graduation—demonstrating high career readiness

Here's how UCC prepares your future

Careers Service: UCC's dedicated Careers Service offers personalized workshops, mock interviews, CV reviews, and an online system with internships and job postings—even offering Computer Science students direct access to graduate schemes.

Industry Partnerships: Close links exist with top employers such as Dell EMC, Amazon, Microsoft, Intel, IBM, and Accenture, particularly via the third-year work placement

Salary pay-offs: UCC computing graduates have excellent starting salaries well above the national average (usually €30–40 k), with steady career progression to mid-career levels.

Value of accreditation: The BSc (Hons) is NFQ Level 8 accredited and mapped against professional IT standards in Ireland, ensuring long-term recognition of your degree.

Graduate pay-offs: When you graduate, you'll not only be ready for employment but also perfectly placed for high-pressure, tech-intensive careers—thanks to rigorous academic and practical training.

Further Academic Progression

After completing CK101, the majority of our students choose to take their learning further at UCC or other institutions. Options include postgraduate qualifications like the MSc in Computer Science, MSc in Data Analytics, or research streams (MSc/PhD) in areas of interest like AI or cybersecurity—taking that solid foundation and lab work forward.