School of Computing

MSc in Computing (with Major Options)

Course Code:
DC836 Full Time & Part Time
Course Type:
Postgraduate
NFQ Level:
9
Delivery Modes
Full-Time
Part-Time
Duration
FT-1 Year, PT-2 Years
call programme contact
+353 (0) 1
700 5257

Introduction

The MSc in Computing offers a choice of Majors, designed to equip graduates with a range of cutting-edge skills, enabling them to produce high-quality software and systems that deliver solutions to business and the economy.

Watch our course video here.

Major 1 - Natural Language Processing (This Major is available Full Time Only)

Natural Language Processing (NLP) combines computer science, linguistics and artificial intelligence. The aim of NLP is to develop computer programs with the ability to understand and produce text, as demonstrated in recent chatbots like ChatGPT, LaMDA, and BARD. NLP is an exciting field, because it has the potential to transform the way we interact with machines and each other, and to make our lives easier and more efficient. In cutting-edge research, large language models like the one at the heart of ChatGPT are even beginning to be used for increasingly general AI system development. 

Natural Language Processing specialists are in high demand. They are needed to develop and improve technologies such as text classifiers, chatbots, virtual assistants, and language translation systems, which are used by many industries, including e-commerce, healthcare, finance, and more. With the increasing amount of data being generated, the ability to process and understand human language has become crucial for many businesses to make informed decisions. As a result, there is a shortage of skilled NLP professionals, and companies pay highly competitive salaries to attract talent in this field.

This is the first Natural Language Processing master’s degree in Ireland. It has been developed by world-leading academics working in NLP, and is taught by a team of experts from a diverse range of computer science backgrounds including natural language processing, data science, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. An expert panel of industry NLP professionals will deliver a series of guest lectures and engage in practicum supervision. Taught intensively over nine months and building on your background in computer science, this master’s will equip you with the skills you need for a successful career in this fast-growing field.

Major 2 - Data Analytics (This Major is available both Full Time and Part Time)

This exciting new Major, delivered in conjunction with leading industry players, builds on the School of Computing's expertise and its involvement with Insight, Science Foundation Ireland's Centre for Data Analytics and ADAPT, the centre for new Human Centric AI techniques. Technologies such as the internet, sensor nets, social media and cloud computing are generating vast amounts of data. To say we are drowning in information is an understatement. Yet in this vast amount of raw data, there are gems of knowledge that can be used to improve processes and generate value. This Major provides students with a deep understanding of the issues, techniques and tools to examine large amounts of raw data in order to extract meaningful conclusions from the information these contain.

Major 3 - Artificial Intelligence (This Major is available Full Time Only)

There is a strong demand for graduates with the highly specialised multi-disciplinary skills that are required in AI, both as practitioners in the development of AI applications and as researchers into the advanced capabilities required for the creation of next-generation AI systems.  This Major is designed to meet this educational need, by providing a balanced programme of instruction across a range of relevant areas.

Major 4 - Secure Software Engineering (This Major is available both Full Time and Part Time)

In this modern age of increased data usage and ubiquitous computing the security of software is more important than ever. This updated and revised MSc. Major in Secure Software Engineering builds a firm base of advanced software engineering skills and emphasises security from start to finish. It will be appropriate for all those tasked with building and researching secure software systems.

 

Major 5 - FinTech & Technology Innovation (This Major is available Part Time only)

The innovation enhanced by the emergence of Financial Technologies (FinTech) holds the prospect of a shift of power over everyday financial transactions away from those who have hitherto held it (in large Financial Organizations) and towards the general population, leading to a potential ‘democratisation’ of finance in areas such as Aggregation, Micro Investing and Crowd-funding. Other key application areas of FinTech Innovation have been towards empowering companies in the Financial Services sector, predominantly in Payment Services and Regulatory Compliance by simplifying and automating their processes.

In this major we draw a distinction between those who actually develop the products which have the potential to empower and those who would use them in a business context. It has been developed to deliver the requisite FinTech background knowledge in key underpinning areas such as Data Governance and Financial Time Series as well as technologies necessary in developing Innovative FinTech technologies e.g. AI and Blockchain.

Please Note:    Part time lectures are scheduled between 4-7pm two evenings a week  

About this course

The strong practical focus of the programme culminates in a project practicum, carried out over the summer months. Typically, students will develop a prototype software system in their Major area that targets a real-world problem. They may also analyse processes or techniques, and propose and evaluate alternatives. Most projects are individual but, exceptionally, may be carried out as part of a team.

Students may also be sponsored by external clients or develop their own ideas. Typically, projects commence with a feasibility study, followed by the creation of a project plan and development of a software application or rigorous theoretical analysis.

Over the duration of the programme, students will develop employment-enhancing skills across a number of key areas. These include:

  • Enhancement of proven ability to engineer software
  • Improvement of knowledge of operating systems and networks
  • Development of strong, team-based skills, developed through significant project work during the course
  • Enhanced communication skills through scheduled presentations to lecturers and peers
  • Improved understanding of the business and social context of their work and awareness of new directions
  • Development of research skills to enable contribution of novel ideas, methods and tools to new challenges in their professional careers.
Please Note:  Part time lectures are scheduled between 4-7pm two evenings a week

Major 1 - Natural Language Processing (This Major is available Full Time Only)

- Foundations of Natural Language Processing

- Introduction to Machine Learning

- Professional & Research Practice

- Human Factors in NLP

- Deep Learning for Natural Language Processing

- Advanced Machine Learning

- Data Analytics & Data Mining

- Machine Translation (Elective) 

- Mathematical Methods/Computational Science (Elective) 

(all of the above are 7.5 ECTS each)

- NLP Practicum (30 ECTS)

 

Major 2 - Data Analytics (This Major is available both Full Time and Part Time)

- Professional & Research Practice

- Statistical Data Analysis

- Cloud Technologies

- Data Management and Visualisation

- Mathematical Methods/Computational Science

- Artificial Intelligence, Information and Information Seeking

- Data Analytics and Data Mining

- Machine Learning

(all of the above are 7.5 ECTS each)

- DA Practicum (30 ECTS)

 

Major 3 - Artificial Intelligence (This Major is available Full Time Only)

- Professional and Research Practice

- Foundations of Artificial Intelligence  

- Statistical Data Analysis             

- Data Analytics and Data Mining                       

- Machine Learning                                                

- Artificial Intelligence, Information and Information Seeking                          

- Data Management and Visualization               

- Statistical Machine Translation (Elective)                        

- Mechanics of Search (Elective)                                           

(all of the above are 7.5 ECTS each)

- AI Practicum (30 ECTS)

 

Major 4 - Secure Software Engineering  (This Major is available both Full Time and Part Time)

- Professional & Research Practice

- System Software

- Secure Programming

- Cryptography and Number Theory

- Formal Programming

- Concurrent Programming

- Software Process Quality

- Network Security

(all of the above are 7.5 ECTS each)

 - SSE Practicum (30 ECTS)

 

Major 5 - FinTech and Technology and Innovation (This Major is available part-time only)

- Professional and Research Practice (7.5 ECTS)

- FinTech - Financial Innovation (5 ECTS)

- Data Governance (10 ECTS)

- Blockchain:  Basics and Applications (7.5 ECTS)

- Statistical Data Analysis (7.5 ECTS)

- High Tech Innovation & Entrepreneurship for FinTech (7.5 ECTS)

- Machine Learning (7.5 ECTS)

- Data Analytics and Data Mining (7.5 ECTS)

- FinTech Practicum (30 ECTS)

View the current course structure

Why do this course?

  • Study part-time or full-time for maximum flexibility.
  • A modern, state of the art building with excellent teaching, laboratory, workshop and computing facilities.
  • High graduate employment rate.
  • Provides an excellent preparation ground for Ph.D research.

 

Life on Campus

We have three academic campuses close to Dublin City centre - they are located in Glasnevin and Drumcondra, and can be reached by public transport (Dublin Bus).

Each campus has libraries, study spaces, restaurants, and on-campus residencies. Sports facilities are located on two of the academic campuses. We also have a dedicated sports campus in the form of St Claire’s. 

 

Exceptional facilities

DCU students have access to exceptional teaching and learning facilities across our three academic campuses. 

These include modern learning theatres, research centres, television and radio/podcast studios, classrooms, computer suites and advanced labs in the areas of languages, engineering, physics, chemistry and biotechnology, as well as a sports performance centre and training hospital ward. In 2021, we opened our first virtual reality ‘Leadership Lab’, which is located in our Business School.

Construction on our FutureTech building on the Glasnevin campus will get underway in 2022. Once completed, this facility will advance DCU’s international reputation for excellence in science, computing and engineering disciplines. It will have the capacity to accommodate an additional 3,000 STEM students on the university’s Glasnevin campus.

 

Campus life

Among the student facilities in DCU are a sports complex with a 25 metre pool, three libraries and The Helix, our renowned performing arts centre.

In 2018, a purpose-built state-of-the-art new student centre - The U - was opened. This centre serves the needs of a rapidly growing student body of 18,500 and is home to the Student Leadership and Lifeskills Centre, performing arts and cultural spaces for students and the wider community, and an Entrepreneurship and Innovation Hub.

There are more than 140 clubs and societies for students in DCU, with ‘Clubs & Socs’ days taking place on both the Glasnevin and Drumcondra campuses at the start of the academic year.

 

Student Supports

We have a number of academic, professional and social supports for students.

Student Advice Centre: Offers a wide range of supports and services to students

The Writing Centre - drop-in writing workshops for students through the academic year 

Maths Learning Centre - provides maths support for students of all ability levels with maths modules 

Student Learning: facilitate the transition from passive to active learning for students at DCU, by teaching study skills, nurturing critical thinking and building student confidence. 

Careers work with students to help them on their professional journey into graduate employment.

Our student support team offers a comprehensive support programme, helping students make that all important transition into university life and focusing on building confidence and skills which are key to success at third level.
 

Careers

The MSc in Computing aims to help meet the demand from industry for recruitment of personnel with significant exposure to relevant, advanced topics in computing. This programme is suitable for both experienced professionals and recent graduates. It enables software professionals with a number of years' experience to improve proficiency across a range of key disciplines in the field and to update skills beyond the narrow remit of training courses. It also supports recent graduates of computing and cognate disciplines to gain specialised knowledge and skills for higher-level industry entry at an early stage in their careers.

The focused nature of the majors on our MSc in Computing will ensure that you are in a pole position to gain employment in a wide range of jobs in Ireland and overseas. Graduates of this course have gained employment as a:

  • Software Engineer
  • Computer Programmer
  • IT Project Analyst
  • Performance Engineer
  • Python/Java Developer
  • Web Applications Developer
  • Business Analyst
  • Technical Analyst
  • Technical Consultant
  • Data Analyst

Our graduates have gone on to successful careers in leading companies including Google, Facebook, Hubspot, Intel, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft and much more. 

Others have progressed to PhD research and gained further advancement and recognition.

For more information on DCU Careers click here.

Requirements

• For entry onto this programme, candidates must hold, a second class honours degree or higher in Computer Science, Computing or Computer Applications.

• International candidates who are non-native speakers of English must satisfy the University of their competency in the English language. More information about DCU's English language requirements can be found here.

Please note if you are a non EU student and require a study visa, you are not eligible to apply for part-time programmes as study visas are only granted for full-time programmes.

 

Fees

Full time

EU Status Fee
€7,500
Non EU Fee
€25,000

Part time

EU Status Fee Part-time
See Modular Fees

Next Steps

To apply for this programme:

All applicants should apply here.  

Here's a quick step by step guide if you need help with your application:

• Please submit certified academic transcripts for all years of study at college or university in original language*, with certified English translations. Where an applicant is in their final year of their undergraduate degree, please submit certified transcripts for all years completed to date.

Programming Language Experience - Please upload a statement about your experience with a programming language. You should provide an example of an occasion when you wrote a piece of code, how you approached the task and what the code delivered. Please also include a sample of your own code.

• If applicable, evidence of competence in the English language as per DCU entry requirements.  Please see link http://www.dcu.ie/registry/english.shtml

• Where an applicant is in their final year of their undergraduate degree, please submit certified transcripts for all years completed to date.

Application Deadlines

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the programme is full or until the following dates: 

  • EU Applications are open until 31st July 2024.
  • Applications are now closed for Non EU Applicants for part time study

Note applicants who require a study visa for the purposes of studying at DCU, are advised to apply as early as possible.

Application Queries

For EU applicant queries, please visit https://www.dcu.ie/registry/eu-postgraduate-taught-admissions or email postgraduateadmissions@dcu.ie

For non EU applicant queries, please visit https://www.dcu.ie/registry/international-admissions-undergraduate-and-postgraduate or email internationaladmissions@dcu.ie

 

Commencement of Programme

The programme commences in September 2024.