Higher Education Systems - Ireland

In Ireland, the Bologna style degree has not been implemented, but the ECTS is used to define course load. Presently degrees are typically four years long. Some universities offer three-year degrees but these are normally classed as ordinary level degrees and are less common for computer science and technical degrees.

Public higher education institutions (HEIs) are regulated by national legislation. There are following types of institutions offering higher education programs, Universities, Technological Universities and Institutes of Technologies. The Universities are governed by the Universities Act. Their role is explicit "to advance knowledge through teaching, scholarly research and scientific investigation". Institutes of Technology (IOT) are governed by Institutes of Technologies Act. Their principal function is "to provide vocational and technical education and training for the economic, technological, scientific, commercial, industrial, social and cultural development". IOT do engage in research and many are also PhD granting institutions, differently than the universities of applied sciences (UAS) in the other countries presented in the Data Portal, to which IOT have comparable profile. Since 2019 new Technological Universities (TU) have been created under reforms set out in Ireland’s National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030 which recommended the consolidation of IOTs to create amalgamated institutions – TU. Technological Universities should address the social and economic needs of their region, engage in industry-focused research and focus on science and technology programs that are vocationally and professionally oriented. These institutions are governed by the Technological Universities Act [IR2].

Students who wish to enter a University, Technological University or an IOT must normally hold a secondary school degree. In order to obtain a place on a particular course, candidates must obtain sufficient 'points' in the Leaving Certificate examinations. The 'points' for various courses vary based on demand and number of places. There is also some constraint for most Informatics degrees in Universities on the grade obtained in secondary school Mathematics. There are some small caveats: if a student fails to obtain the requisite grade in mathematics, some Universities provide a special entrance exam.

There is also an alternative route (known as the access program) for students from non-typical educational backgrounds, or those who did not obtain the required number of points, who can, based on an application and interview process, enter into a one-year preparation course; if requisite scores are obtained, they can progress to the first year of a degree program.

A Bachelor’s program typically includes a final year project and report performed over seven months (taken in parallel with coursework). A practical internship in a company during their studies available for some programs (typical duration: 5-9 months, depending on the University).

There are examinations and continuous assessments every year. If a student fails to pass the examinations and assessment, they may repeat examinations in the autumn. Failure to pass the examinations as a whole in autumn warrant repeating the year (or component thereof). The rules for compensation vary across universities. If a student fails to complete examinations for a particular year in a requisite time (normally four attempts in two years), they may have to leave the course. Permission to try to pass the examinations again is usually at the discretion of the Department or Faculty.

A Master’s research program includes a thesis, performed over 18-24 months. A taught Master's program usually has course work for 60 ECTS and then a mini-thesis worth 30 ECTS. There are some exceptions to the above. Students are not expected to have a practical internship in a company during the Master’s studies. Progress in taught Master’s is evaluated every year, either through continuous assessment and/or or through end-of-semester exam), with possibility of being expelled from the program if failing. For Master’s by research evaluation is done at the end of the Master’s program.

Normally, to start a PhD, candidates must hold a first class or second class honours Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related discipline. Candidates may be accepted under circumstances, e.g., a primary degree and sufficient relevant experience. A candidate will also be accepted with a Master’s degree in a relevant discipline. A PhD leads to a dissertation which is subject to a private defence currently restricted to the external examiner(s), internal examiner(s), supervisor and usually Professor of the discipline (or nominee) as chair. Publications are not a formal requirement to conclude a PhD, but the candidate is expected to publish papers in well ranked peer reviewed conferences and/or papers in well ranked journals.