Software Development, Cloud Computing and DevOps (PDip)

Get the Edge with a Postgraduate Degree from NUI Galway Grainne McNamara - MSc Enterprise Systems Gordan Sands - MSc Medical Physics Biomedical Engineering at NUI Galway Mohammed Hasan – Occupational Health & Safety (MSc)

Course Overview

Who is this course for?  
This programme is designed for looking to change direction in their careers and fully immerse themselves in a conversion course to enable them to take up the opportunities in cloud-based software development and DevOps, all while taking advantage of the personal engagement with and support of our award-winning Computer Science school and staff. 

What will I study?  
The programme has a number of core elements (immersion in computing knowledge, deepening and specialisation, and industry experience and professional development): 

• A foundation in software development, including extensive experience with programming languages such as Java, JavaScript (NodeJS), SQL all at the level expected by industry.
• A Full-Stack approach to application development, in line with current best practice and industry demand.
• Immersion in Enterprise Computing, DevOps and Cloud Computing, enabling participants to build critical knowledge of cloud-based enterprise application development, as well as cloud infrastructures and platforms such as Firebase and AWS.
• A proven structure for industry collaboration, through an upgraded internship programme.

Why Choose This Course?  

Employability:  
Working with industry partners, such as HP and IBM,  the course is well aligned with current skills demand in cloud computing and DevOps. 

Unique Course:
Delivery is full-time and on-campus, providing a fully immersive and supportive environment for students to achieve their goals. Block delivery over 2 days per week (Thursday and Friday). 

Work placement:
Students can  either apply for an industry internship/placement or undertake a capstone group project.  

Practical training 
Modules include significant hands-on practical laboratory sessions, assignments and group work,  supported by tutors. 

Unique Features of this Course  

Block delivery:
Course delivery will take place on Thursday and Friday every week during term, allowing students the option to continue employment the rest of the week. 

Dedicated workspace:
Lectures and hands-on practical work will be delivered in-person in a blended fashion in a dedicated classroom, facilitating teamwork and peer learning.

Industry placement: 
In collaboration with our industry partners and supported by dedicated staff in our Career Development Centre, students will be supported in applying for placements with companies such as Fidelity Investments, Siren, Schneider Electric, Broadridge, Overstock, Transitions Optical, Joulica, HP, IBM, Channel Mechanics. Students will be provided with training and support in CV preparation and interview skills. 

Industry-relevance:
This programme is unique in offering training across the 3 key areas of Software Development / Engineering, Cloud Computing and DevOps. Content is based on engagement with and feedback from our industry partners. 

Team working and collaboration: 
Students collaborate on joint projects using modern code-sharing, version management, and collaborative project management techniques.

Improve communication skills:
Learn to effectively present and articulate findings to a range of audiences, from stakeholders to decision-makers. 

Progression to Higher Qualifications 
Our graduates are also eligible to continue to Master’s level through entry to the 2nd year of the Master’s in Software Design & Development degree.

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Additional Requirements

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Course Outline

Overview 

The course academic content is delivered over Semesters 1 and 2. In Semester 3 (after the exams at the end of Semester 2) students will either embark on their industry internship / work placement of a group project.  

In collaboration with our industry partners and supported by dedicated staff in our Career Development Centre, students will be supported in applying for placements with companies such as Fidelity Investments, Siren, Schneider Electric, Broadridge, Overstock, Transitions Optical, Joulica, HP, IBM, Channel Mechanics. Students will be provided with full training and support in CV preparation and interview skills. 

Assessment 

Continuous Assessment is performed using a combination of practical assignments, group projects, lab exams, and quizzes. At the end of semester 1 and 2 there are written exams.  

Assessment of the work placement is by means of fortnightly log entries, with a final report, presentation and supervisor appraisal towards the end of the placement (typically around end June). 

Assessment of the group project is by means of a number of deliverables (e.g. project proposal, design specifications, etc.) and a final report and presentation. 

Course Content 

SEMESTER 1 

CT5167 CLOUD WEB APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT: This module covers the fundamental building blocks of modern web applications such as HTML, CSS and JavaScript and other technologies (e.g. Bootstrap, REST API’s, AJAX) required to build modern day web apps. Deployment of the applications onto a major cloud provider is also covered, as are technologies required to build and deploy applications onto cloud providers.  

CT5175 ALGORITHMICS & LOGICAL METHODS. This module provides students with an introduction to thinking like a programmer, applying logical methods to the design of algorithms and programmes to solve increasing complex problems. The module will give the learner a proficiency in topics such as pseudocode, flowcharts, recursion, complexity, sorting and search.  

CT5177 PROGRAMMING. Introduction to Object Oriented Programming using Java, covering the principles of object-oriented analysis, design and development (such as variables, classes, objects, inheritance, and polymorphism), as well as build tools (Maven, Gradle) and how to run, test and debug applications.  

CT5176 DATABASES. This hands-on module will provide students with the knowledge and skills to design and manage relational databases. Topics include Entity Relationship Diagramming, Normalisation, and SQL programming. It will also include important non-relational database, concepts and tools.  

CT5178 COMPUTING ARCHITECTURE & OPERATING SYSTEMS. This module provides a comprehensive introduction to the fundamental concepts of modern computer architecture and operating systems. The module will provide an overview of the key hardware components (CPU, memory, and peripherals) behind modern computer systems and how they are integrated, as well as the architecture of a processor including data representation and assembly language. Additionally, the module addresses the fundamental aspects of operating systems (OS). Students will learn about the role of an operating system as the interface between users and hardware, facilitating seamless interaction and resource management. 

SEMESTER 2 

CT5221 FULL STACK APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT. This module allows students to build on what they have learnt in semester 1 to develop full-stack web applications using popular industry-strength frameworks such as Spring Boot and React. Students will learn and implement the principles of back-end development and database integration, building robust, scalable, and maintainable enterprise applications using frameworks and technologies such as Spring, JPA, RESTful web services, and more. The module also emphasises the design patterns and best practices used in enterprise software development to ensure code maintainability, reusability, and scalability. Students will master front-end frameworks technologies such as React to create interactive microservices-based applications. There will be a strong emphasis on quality, testing and the use of professional tools such as Github for version control. 

CT5169 FUNDAMENTALS OF CLOUD COMPUTING. Students will construct cloud computing environments and use them to host cloud applications, while comparing strategies for cost-effective provisioning, scaling, and decommissioning of resources based on workload demands. Core concepts such as Load Balancing, MapReduce, Storage Area Networks will also be examined, while the module also emphasises the design patterns and best practices used in enterprise software development to ensure code maintainability, reusability, and scalability.  

CT5209 CLOUD DEVOPS. This module is designed to equip students with the essential skills and knowledge required to seamlessly integrate development and operations processes in a cloud computing environment. DevOps, a cultural and professional movement that emphasizes collaboration and communication between software developers and IT operations, is crucial for achieving continuous delivery and faster time-to-market in cloud-based projects. Students will design and implement CI/CD pipelines for cloud applications and apply Infrastructure as Code (IaC) principles to provision and manage infrastructure in a consistent and repeatable manner. 

CT5210 MODERN SOFTWARE ENGINEERING. Software Engineering is a constantly evolving discipline, but one which is essential to producing effective, fully rounded professional developers / engineers. Topics to be covered include Software Development Processes (such as Agile, Scrum, Kanban), Systems Analysis and Design, and Human-Computer Interaction (developing the knowledge and skills necessary to analyse, design and evaluate good quality interactive systems). Current topics such as the role of AI in software development will also be covered. 

SEMESTER 3 

CT5222 INTERNSHIP OR CAPSTONE GROUP PROJECT. This is a dedicated internship with our industry partners which aims to give students the opportunity to apply knowledge and skills developed during their postgraduate diploma programme and to gain valuable industrial experience. Students are hosted by an organisation and work on projects assigned by the organisation.  

Students who do not obtain a placement or prefer not to apply (for example they may want to remain in their current employment), will do the capstone group project. This is an industrially relevant project supervised by an experienced member of the course academic staff.

Further Education

Graduates who achieve a 2.1 honours degree or better are  eligible to continue to Master’s level through direct entry to the 2nd year of the Master’s in Software Design & Development degree

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning Outcomes

Transferable Skills Employers Value

Work Placement

Study Abroad

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

Fees: Tuition

Fees: Student levy

Fees: Non EU

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