We will continue to add to and up-date this page but if there are any queries that are not covered here, please don't hesitate to contact the Marketing Officer with any questions or suggestions you have at or call +353 (0)1 7005237.

APPLICATION AND REGISTRATION

I am doing my Leaving Certificate - what points do I need and how do I apply?

In addition to the General Entry Requirements for admission to the university, these are the Special Entry Requirements:

• OC3/HD3 in Mathematics
• Minimum CAO Points - 300 (points varies from year to year depending on demand)
• NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF COMPUTING NECESSARY!

You apply online though the Central Applications Office (CAO www.cao.ie) by the 1st February or by the late application date of the 1st May.

I am doing my A-Levels - what points do I need and how do I apply?

In addition to the General Entry Requirements for admission to the university, these are the Special Entry Requirements:

• GCE A-Level D or GCE AS-Level C or GCSE C in Mathematics
• Minimum CAO Points - 300 (points varies from year to year depending on demand)
• NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF COMPUTING NECESSARY!

You apply online though the Central Applications Office (CAO www.cao.ie) by the 1st February or by the late application date of the 1st May.

I am an International Student - what requirements do I need and how do I apply?

International candidates are expected to have educational qualifications of a standard equivalent to those outlined in the answers above. In addition, where such candidates are non-native speakers of the English language they must satisfy the university with their competency in the English language.

Apply directly to DCU by 15th February. Applications may also be taken up to the 1st July if places have not been allotted.

Please see DCU's International Office website for more details. There you will find details on fees and finance, applications, criteria needed and there's also a Chinese website.

I am a Mature Student - what requirements do I need and how do I apply?

Candidates applying on the grounds of mature years (23 years and above on the 1st January) must apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO www.cao.ie) by the 1st February. The late application date of the 1st May does NOT apply in the case of candidates applying on mature years.

Mature applicants to DCU (except those applying for Nursing programmes or Non-EU applicants) must also submit a Mature Applicants Supplementary Information Form directly to the University. Copies can be requested from The Registry at Tel: +353 (0) 1 7005338 or email: or Download a copy of our Mature Student Supplementary application form (pdf).

In the case of mature applicants, 'other' experience, apart from performance in examinations, is taken into consideration - this may be work experience, further studies, or other such experience deemed to be relevant to the application. Mature applicants are assessed based on their application details and may be called for interview (typically in late May/early June). The University aims to inform applicants of the outcome of their application as soon as possible afterwards, with official offers issued by the Central Applications Office (CAO) in Round 0 in early July.

I am an EU-student transferring from another course - what requirements do I need and how do I apply?

For full information on transferring, see here

Transfer applicants must apply directly to DCU by the 1st July and are assessed based on their application detail and may be called for interview. Depending on the curriculum of their previous studies a transfer applicant may be eligible for advance placement to year two or year three or may get exemptions from certain modules. To download a direct application form click here.

NOTE: For most registration questions - please see the website of the REGISTRY OFFICE or contact them at or phone: +353 (0) 1 7005338

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STUDYING COMPUTING

Will I be well suited to studying computing?

If you are technically minded, a good problem solver, have a logical mind and have an interest in computers (other than just for Bebo!) then computing may be the way to go for you.

Do I need to know anything about computing beforehand?

You'll be glad to know you don't have to have ANY prior knowledge of computing - we teach you everything you need to know! (well, it might help if you know how to use a mouse but if you don't we'll teach you that too!)

I'm doing Ordinary Level Maths - will I be okay?

I would estimate that about half of our students did Ordinary Level Maths - but the degrees are challenging, as you can imagine - we don't produce high-standard computing graduates on nothing! Most students will tell you that if you did Ordinary Level Maths then to do our IT Mathematics module in 1st year will involve a little elbow grease but we also have something called the Maths Learning Centre here in DCU (see: http://www.dcu.ie/maths/mlc/index.shtml) which most students swear by as it gives them some one-to-one tutoring and helps them with any problem areas.

I'm not sure if I prefer Computer Applications (CA) or Enterprise Computing (EC) - what can I do?

The good news is you can transfer from CA to EC and vice versa within first year so if decide one is not for you, you can move into the other degree!

The general advice for your CAO form is to put the course that you prefer FIRST... follow your own preference rather than be swayed by points or you might end up in a course when you have another lower down that is your real preference.

There's a recession on - what's the situation with jobs for computing graduates?

One can never predict what the situation will be like when you graduate in four years time but all indicators point to there being a glut of jobs for computing graduates. See here: http://www.computing.dcu.ie/prospective/prospects/ for details on jobs in computing - this is up-dated regularly with new jobs that have become available for people with high-level computing skills..

Who are the Chairs of the Programmes?

• Dr David Sinclair is the Chair of the CA degree.
• Dr Rory O'Connor is the Chair of the EC degree.

We have different persons who are head of each year also, for example Dr John McKenna is the First Year Head for CA. Dr Rory O'Connor is also First Year Head for EC.

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GENERAL

When does the academic year start?

DCU's academic year is divided into two semesters, each 12 weeks long. Semester One takes place from September to January (including exams) and Semester Two takes place from February to May (including exams). The exact dates vary every year but you can see a full overview of the current year's dates of importance (lecture dates, holidays, exams, dates of results etc.) here:
www.dcu.ie/timetables/ac_08_09.shtml

How often do we have exams?

There are exams at the end of each semester but most modules also have assessments throughout the year so not everything hangs on one exam result!

I've come to visit - how can I find my way around!?

There are maps here: www.dcu.ie/info/campus.shtml

All DCU Buildings are referenced by a letter e.g. A, B, C etc. Room numbers are referenced by using the building letter, level and then room number.

For example room LG26 is in the School of Computing building [L], Ground floor [G] room number 26 [26].

C201 is in the Henry Grattan Building [C] 2nd floor [2] room number 1 [1].

School Buildings:

• C - Henry Grattan (Communications, Humanities, Languages, Law and Government)
• H - Nursing
• L - Computing
• N - Physical Sciences
• Q - Business School
• S - Research & Engineering
• X - Chemical Science, Biotechnology, Mathematical Sciences

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