Application details are available here.

The closing date for completed applications is the 8th September 2016. Late applications may be accepted beyond this date but this depends on availability of places on the programme.

Applications for this programme are now closed and will re-open in April or May, 2017.

The total cost of the programme is €9,000. Typically, a 5-credit module costs €500, a 10-credit module costs €1000 and the fee for the 30-credit project is €3000.

No. At the beginning of each Semester, the student will pay for the modules that he/she is taking that Semester.

Yes, fees change every semester/year, depending on how many modules the student registers for. All module fees are subject to increase from year to year.

If a student begins the programme in September 2017, and takes 20 credits per Semester for 3 Semesters and the project in their final Semester, their fees schedule would look like this (using the module fees as they exist in 2016):

•     September 2017 :  €2,000
•     January 2018 :  €2,000
•     September 2018 :  €2,000
•     January 2019 :  €3,000

As a student there may be additional fees or charges for services, fines, appeals or late fees. Please see the CIT Website for details.

Students are billed per semester. (Semester 1 is from September to December and Semester 2 is from January to May). The invoice is sent to the students mycit email account. Students must activate this account for all CIT communication. Each semester is billed as per the number of modules that students register for.

Payment is due before the start of every Semester.

•     Semester 1: Payment is due in September
•     Semester 2: Payment is due in January

All students (EU and non-EU) are welcome to CIT.

Note: Non-EU students living in Ireland, and who have a valid GNIB S4, and provide documentary evidence of having lived in an EU country for any 3 out of the 5 years prior to entering 3rd level education, may qualify for EU fees.

If you are a non-EU student and the above note does not apply to you, please contact the CIT International Office (international@cit.ie) for information on the non-EU student fees for this programme.

The only other significant costs involved are for books. Text books cost on average about €60 per module but this cost can vary.

Any specalised software will be made available to you via online access or to download if required. You may need to download and install some free software to your computer such as plugins and file viewers. A modern computer with Internet access is all you will need.

Candidates should have a good knowledge of networking, in particular the main networking protocols such as IP, TCP, UDP and ICMP. However, note that these and others will be reviewed in the module COMP9046.

Applicants should hold a Level 8 honours degree in Computer Science or in a cognate discipline. However, an applicant with a Level 7 degree in Computer Science or in a cognate discipline and industrial experience will be considered on a case by case basis. As this programme is designed specifically for computing professionals working in the industry only graduates with significant experience will gain direct entry into this programme.

Please see the RPL section of this website for detailed information.

If you have a level 7 award and many years of relevant experience, including possibly some industrial certifications, then you will be considered for admission. A decision is made on each such applicant individually.

CIT has a process whereby formal recognition can be given for prior learning regardless of where or how it was gained. Learning can be gained formally from previously certified coursework, informally or non formally through the workplace, involvement with community groups or voluntary activities. Further information about RPL is available here.

Check the International Qualifications Database : Go to http://qsearch.qqi.ie/ and click ‘NARIC’

In CIT we already had a MSc in Networking & Security which was running on a face-to-face delivery basis.  We discovered that Security had become such a wide and an important area that it requied a MSc on its own. In order to reach a wider audience, we decided that we would offer the programme online. Initially, we assembled a proposal and presented it at a meeting of over 20 experts involved in Information Security locally, and to some academics in Ireland. As a result of this, we modified our proposal to arrive at the present structure.

It is most definitely more on the applied side. Most modules involve extensive hands-on lab work.

No, some are fulltime academics, and some are what we call ‘Adjunct Faculty’. These are experts who work fulltime in industry and lecture a module on the programme.

Lectures are recorded so you can view them anytime. In 2016-17, Semester 1, the online timetable was as follows:

•     Tuesday  18:00-20:00  COMP8037
•     Tuesday  20:00-22:00  COMP9046
•     Wednesday  18:00-20:00  COMP9035 (Elective)
•     Wednesday  20:00-22:00  COMP9047 (Elective)
•     Thursday 18:00-20:00  COMP9046

Yes. In the environment that we use for online lectures, there is a ‘chat’ section where questions may be posed.

Yes. All lectures are recorded, and you can view them as often and whenever you choose.

Click here and search using the module code (e.g. COMP9046)
 

The electives are listed on the web page associated with the programme. We cannot guarantee that all electives will run. It depends on student demand and CIT’s resources. In 2016-17, COMP9035, COMP9033, COMP9047 and COMP9048 were offered.

The MSc in Information Security has one built-in 5 credit free elective. You can take any CIT module in any programme as this elective. In the past, some students have taken other online modules from other MSc programmes.

In the below vApp, you can see 4 virtual machines, which can interact with each other.

The project is an individual effort. Typically the student proposes a project and this proposal is reviewed by CIT. The student is assigned a supervisor, who can communicate with the student via phone, Skype, email etc. The project should be related to Information Security. On completion, the student submits a project document and presents the project to a panel of assessors. This can be done using Skype for example.

In recent years, some students have completed projects in which they examined the security of Software Defined Networks. Another project implemented an audio and visual representation of IDS alerts. Another dealt with IoT Security. In most cases, students propose a project that they are interested in or one that is in some way related to their work place.

No.

The programme is delivered completely online and all modules are assessed using 100% continuous assessment. There are no formal exams.

If a student successfully completes all modules, that student can expect to complete the MSc programme in a 24 month period. This would involve taking 20 credits per Semester to 3 Semesters, and a final Semester devoted to the 30-credit project.

Yes, but within reason. When you sign up for the programme, we can guarantee that if you follow the proposed schedule, you will finish within 2 calendar years. You can take the modules at a slower pace, but note that CIT cannot guarantee that the programme will always look the same or even exist into the future.

Yes, you don’t have to attend CIT for lectures or exams. Everything is online. In our online programmes, we have had students from many countries, including countries outside of Europe. Indeed, we have also had lecturers who reside outside of Ireland and Europe delivering modules, because they were known to us and were experts in their fields.

Yes. Note that the only difference between the programmes is that the MSc has a 30-credit project and the PGDip does not.  It is also possible to receive the PGDip, and, at a later stage, revoke it, complete the project and then receive the MSc. Note however, that it is not possible to leave CIT with both awards. We emphasise that the PGDip must be revoked in order to receive the MSc.

The programme is being delivered through online distance learning. This will enable you to view your lectures live over the Internet wherever and whenever you want. Normally live online lectures take place on week nights between 6pm–10pm during each semester. You will also have the option of logging in at a later time to watch a recording of your lecture. The lecturer will normally provide you with lecture notes, a recommended text book and a reading list. Using our Learning Management System (Blackboard) you will have access to multimedia elements (slide shows, interactive elements, video clips, mini lectures etc.) to aid your study. You will also be able to upload completed assignments through Blackboard and access the CIT library to search for books, articles and journals to assist your study.

All online degree programmes offered by CIT are the same as our full-time programmes. Our awards are recognised both nationally and internationally. CIT offer online programmes at Levels 8 and 9 under the national framework of qualifications. More information on the national framework of qualifications is available on their website.

No. The degree is awarded based on your knowledge, skills and competency, not upon your geographic location. Remote students sit the same examinations as the full time students and are awarded the same degree.

Yes. The orientation programme will take place the week before Semester 1 starts. On that day you will be given an overview of the online learning system and how to access your lectures online. You will also have an opportunity to meet staff and ask any questions you may have about each module.

Yes it is optional. If you can’t attend we will place all presentations and a summary of all topics covered during the orientation programme on our learning management system for you to access over the web.