Course Summary
Course Category: PLC (Further Education - FET) - Apply directly to College
This course is designed to provide the learner with a solid foundation in the fundamentals of computer systems, hardware and software maintenance, networking, virtualisation and programming. Surveys have shown serious and increasing shortages of networking personnel in all developed countries, including Ireland. This ensures excellent job opportunities in the ICT areas.
Course Details
This course prepares you for working in the following Career Sectors:
What will you study?
-
Computer Systems Hardware
Networking Essentials
Operating Systems
Mathematics for IT
Programme & Design Principles
Virtualisation Support
Communications
Work Experience
Cybersecurity
Important
- Colleges may add/remove modules to keep the course updated and to meet demands.
- Almost all PLC courses have a Work Experience module, which requires students to find their own placement in an area directly related to their course.
Progression to CAO Courses
Higher Education Links Scheme (HELS)
This course leads to a QQI Major Award, and provides progression opportunities to a number of Higher Education courses, including those in the CAO.
To view CAO courses to which this award provides a possible progression route, click below:
| QQI Code |
| 5M0536 |
To calculate Points based on your QQI award results, use the PLC Points Calculator.
The Student - Career Interests
This course is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:
Investigative
The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.
Social
The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.
Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.
Further Research
National Statistics for this Award (All Ireland)
The following data provides general information about this Award from colleges across Ireland.
Disclaimer: These links are to web sites outside of CareersPortal and we accept no responsibility for the information on them.
Career Progression
Students may progress to a range of degree programmes in:
- UCD
- Maynooth
- NCI
- TU Dublin Blanchardstown Campus
- TU Dublin City Campus
- DKIT
- UCC
- DCU
Students may also progress to the ‘Work and Learn’ programme in TU Dublin Blanchardstown Campus (Higher Certificate in Science in Computing in Networking Technologies).
This course also provides common entry to a range of other courses in Institutes of Technology.
Graduates from this programme will be well positioned to work in technical support and in troubleshooting a range of hardware issues and problems.