School of Business and Social Sciences

Level 6 Award

Applicants who hold a full award in a business level 6 course may be eligible for advanced entry to some School of Business programmes provided they have completed and passed modules in specific subject areas.

These programmes include:

• BA (Hons) in Business
• BA (Hons) in Marketing Practice

Advanced entry applicants to these programmes must have completed standalone modules in each of the following areas: Business Management, Human Resource Management, Accounting/Finance, Economics and Marketing.

The following minor awards are examples of the standalone modules accepted:

• Business Management: 5N610 or 6N4106 or 6N4310 or 6N4105
• Human Resource Management: 5N3586 or 6N3750
• Accounting/Finance: 5N1348 or 6N20867 or D6N20929 or 6N20931 or 6N3911 or 6N3911 or 6N4165 or 6N4166
• Economics: 5N1350 or 6N4091
• Marketing: 5M2069 or 6N4370 or 6N4188 or 5N1400 or 6N3613 or 5N1364 or 6N3613 

If you have studied a standalone module in one of the above areas but it is not included in the above listing, please email admissions@ncirl.ie and we will advise if the module you completed can be accepted.

Education

Applicants with a major award in Early Learning and Care/Early Childhood Education and Care at NFQ level 6 may be eligible for advanced entry into Year 2 of the daytime or evening BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Education & Care.

• Daytime Delivery Course Information - Click Here
• Evening Delivery Course Information - Click Here

The minimum Entry Requirements are as follows:

1. Applicants must hold a Major Award in Early Learning and Care/Early Childhood Education and Care at NFQ level 6 (Full award, a Component Certificate will not suffice) and must have obtained an overall Merit grade. 
2. Applicants will be invited to attend an interview with a member of the programme team for the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Early Childhood Education & Care at which their further suitability for the programme will be assessed.

Jordan Dreelan - Class Representative for Computing Year 2

The path to NCI

"My path to NCI included two previous PLC courses. Since I did the Leaving Certificate Applied instead of Leaving Certificate Examinations, I didn't have the Maths requirement for the Computer Science PLC in my college, so I needed to complete the first year of Computer Networking Technologies to get the Maths requirement to transition into Computer Science year 2."

Aspirations and motivations

"Growing up I was a person who wanted to do a lot of different things and even still I want to do a lot, so my current goal is to get my bachelor's degree in Computer Science and then perhaps a master’s degree in another branch of science such as Neuroscience or Gene & Cell biology."

"I feel motivated by the future and everything that becomes possible everyday especially with the innovation of Artificial Intelligence as it has opened so many possibilities for the industry and the industry is continuously evolving and I am excited to be a part of that."

What advice would you give to a student on a similar pathway?

"My biggest advice is to persevere as it can be a long road and there will be times when you want to give up because you’re tired and it might seem easier, but you need to find a way to motivate yourself to keep going. Find the part of the course that really interests you and apply it as much as possible. For example, I’m interested in game development and whenever I’m given a brief for a project, I do my best to try and find a way to make a game fit the brief so I can focus on a project that truly interests me. I’ve found that doing this really helps to make sure that I don't get burnt out or struggle with completing the assignment."

Craig Reddin - Current BSc (Hons) in Computing Student

The path to NCI

"I started studying software development in Coláiste Dhulaigh, Coolock. I studied Java/ OOP concepts, Web Development, Software Engineering, Databases, Communications, and Project Management. All modules were relevant and did help me when starting my path at NCI. I found the content was relevant and could be applied in second year at NCI. This did make the transition from one educational institution to another very pleasant."

"If people are not sure if they would like to pursue a career in software/IT and are afraid to commit to a 4- year course and worrying about the college tuition, they could possibly find a route like the one I took very helpful."

"After working as a Chef for eight years, I began studying on the software development course and I felt unsure about whether I had the ability to understand software and develop the new skills required to complete a degree and enjoy myself while studying. Completing the Level 6 in Coláiste Dhulaigh allowed me to access additional help as the learning environment was more personal and assistance was more available compared to a college or university setting."

Aspirations and motivations

"I aspire to create helpful and useful technology to assist with people's daily lives; while trying to minimise the ways it can be leveraged to cause damage."

"Not understanding things motivates me. I don’t like when I don’t understand what I am reading or even if my code is working but I don’t understand why or how it is working. I try to always understand concepts and even when I think I understand them, I still question if my current knowledge is correct."

What advice would you give to a student on a similar pathway?

"To students who wish to pursue a career in Software Development of any kind e.g. Cyber Security, Data Analytics, or Web Development, I would say to refrain from using Learning Language Models to create your code when learning concepts or completing projects. Some students become reliant on them and don’t understand how or why their code works. This will not help you in the future when seeking a job as you will have poor understanding of concepts and earlier implemented technology that you should be knowledgeable about."

"Learning to become a software developer takes a lot of time and patience, especially if you are coming from a similar background as myself. So, be patient and strong, especially in year one and two. Take one day at a time, one piece of code at a time and you will see by the end of your first semester that you are understanding things more than you thought you ever could."

Roko Matanovic - Current BSc (Honours) in Computing Student

The path to NCI

"I moved to Ireland three and a half years ago, and I had a cosy office job, but I felt that my progression had stalled due to a lack of qualifications. One day I saw a banner advertising Rathmines College’s courses and I was offered a place after applying. The company did not want to support my further education, so I quit with what little savings I had and scrambled for part-time work. Luckily, the gamble was a success, and my studies have led me to NCI."  

Aspirations and motivations

"I want to be a productive citizen that contributes to society. I believe that the best way to accomplish such an objective is to study hard and compete with brains rather than participate in an economic race to the bottom."  

"My Da was a working-class person for much of his life. At some stage, he was able to avail of an education, which provided him stability and a way out of precarious work. He believed that school was the ultimate investment one could commit to, so I am following in his footsteps."  

What advice would you give to a student on a similar pathway?

"Most things in Dublin are fleeting, whether it be housing, work, or friends. You can lose everything in the space of a day and sometimes it can feel as though Dublin will eventually grind you up and spit you out. Knowledge on the other hand is not as ephemeral. If you seek out the wisdom this city has to impart, it will follow you just as a faithful companion would."

Iga Walczynska - 2nd Year BSc Computing student

The path to NCI

"Honestly, I wasn’t always sure what I wanted to do. Since I was a kid, I’ve loved anything to do with computers and gaming. I could easily spend hours playing. Eventually, I decided to give IT a proper shot, and I enrolled in a PLC course in Computer Science, where I completed both QQI Level 5 and 6."

"At that point, I found my true passion for technology, and I knew it was the right path for me. I worked hard and got strong results, which opened the door for advanced entry into NCI. I was able to skip first year and go straight into second year."

Aspirations and motivations

"One of my main goals is to develop a career in data management and eventually become a data analyst. At first, I wasn't sure what part of IT I liked the most, but studying at NCI helped me discover my interest in how data can be used to identify patterns, help with decision-making, and solve real-world problems. I'm especially interested in working with datasets, organizing and cleaning data, and using tools to make sense of it all."

"In the long run, I would love working with a team that helps businesses or organizations properly utilise data so that it helps them make better decisions."

"What really motivates me is seeing the results of my hard work. Whether it's achieving positive outcomes, resolving a challenging issue, or improving a skill I've been working on, the feeling of accomplishment keeps me going. My time at NCI has had a significant impact on this way of thinking. The course provided me with a suitable level of challenge, and it was rewarding to see my efforts be reflected in my results."

"The idea of constantly learning is another thing that motivates me, especially in the field of computer science where there is always something new to learn. When I reach goals that I put a lot of effort into working towards, I feel a true sense of accomplishment that inspires me to keep going."

What advice would you give to a student on a similar pathway?

"My advice would be to stay curious and keep an open mind. You might not have everything figured out at the start and that’s completely okay. I didn’t either, but once you find something that you enjoy, give it your best and full effort."

"Make the most of every chance to learn, whether it be through projects, lectures, or even just doing things on your own. Don't hesitate to seek help or ask questions, your classmates are probably experiencing the same things. It is true that hard work pays off, and the more you work, the more you will gain."