MSc Interactive Entertainment Technology

cherrytaz

HI all,

Just got accepted into the above course and wondering has anyone here completed this course or are presently in the course. Delighted I got in as my primary Degree is Civil Engineering.

Any idea of what job prospects are as I suppose the gaming industry in Ireland isn't huge.

Thanks

Cherrytaz

SoldierForce

I got accepted on this course too but don't think I am going to do it. Been in touch with a guy who is doing this course and have been told that it is really tough as there is too much work load. No matter how good you are the work load is same for everyone. I did games programming for my undergraduate degree and I learnt much more than what this course offers. I have a feeling that employers will be happier with what I did in games programming at undergraduate level then this course simply because that is much more relevant to games programming then what this course offers. Other then the projects etc most of it will be theory.

I am a bit surprised that you applied for this course after doing Civil Engineering but I guess you will settle quite well as most of the modules are maths related. Getting a job in games programming will be a problem as I doubt 1 year is enough to get the hang of games programming... but that is what I think.

Last year this course still had vacant places even in September... If this was the only course I was accepted on, I would surely go for it simply because the fees are very low due to the skills conversion program.

cherrytaz

Thanks for the reply.

As you say I will probably only accept if I don't get any other offers (currently waiting on 2 other courses so i'll see what comes off them). Well the Civil Sector is absolutely terrible at the moment and to be honest there are no job prospects. Since graduating I set-up this

www.eiresim.com

So that might be why I got into the course.

Thanks again for the info and i'll see what comes off my other applications.

SoldierForce

cherrytaz wrote: »

Thanks for the reply.

As you say I will probably only accept if I don't get any other offers (currently waiting on 2 other courses so i'll see what comes off them).

Mind tell me what are the other courses you applied for?
I already have offers for another 4 courses... In total I applied for 5 courses of which 2 are the same but one part-time and one full-time.

cherrytaz

I applied for MSc Networks and Distributed Systems in Trinity and also MSc Civil Engineering in Trinity. Also applied for MSc Computer Software in Maynooth but was unsuccessful.

The Civil end of things isn't going to pick up any time soon so at least by doing a masters in the area of I.T. I would hope to have a better chance of employment or at least things might be better in the country 2 years down the line after completing.

Just desperate times we're in job wise.

SoldierForce

Did you not get a status update on your pac application for the "MSc Networks and Distributed Systems in Trinity"!? I got an offer for that as well as the third and last one at TCD being Mobile and Ubiquitous Computing.

SoldierForce

Btw the MSc Networks and Distributed Systems course is better and easier compared to MSc Interactive Entertainment Technology. I think jobs too are better with the Networks course that is if you want to specialize in networks etc...

cherrytaz

Haven't heard anything on the Networks course and thats the one i really want to do so fingers crossed. Bit annoying as I have to decide whether to accept the gaming one within the next week and then pay 500 Euro..

SoldierForce

cherrytaz wrote: »

Haven't heard anything on the Networks course and thats the one i really want to do so fingers crossed. Bit annoying as I have to decide whether to accept the gaming one within the next week and then pay 500 Euro..

I don't see the deposit being a problem! As all your favoured courses are in TCD you can accept the IET course and pay the deposit and wait for an answer on the others. If you get another you can still accept it as the deposit is later adjusted in the fees so as long as it is in the same college you will have no problem.

Btw any reason for only applying to TCD? what about UCD? and to a certain extent DCU? they too have the skills conversion courses and DCU has a good M.Sc. in Security and Forensic course which seems very good for jobs if that is what you are after! While TCD has a name their courses aren't exactly the best or guarantee a job...

Anyway good luck...

snappieT

cherrytaz wrote: »

Haven't heard anything on the Networks course and thats the one i really want to do so fingers crossed.

Be prepared for a hard slog. There's nothing difficult on the course, just far too much of it. (Currently enrolled in this course)

SoldierForce

Have a look at this thread.

snappieT posted very useful info about the networks course which helped me make a decision, hope it helps you too...

cherrytaz

Thanks for the advice.

Well I done my undergraduate Degree in Trinity and would like to go back but i've also talked to a few of the computer science lecturers and so on so just decided to pick trinity. As said above I also applied to maynooth but was unsuccessful

Its basically just a back-up if I dont get a job between now and October.

SoldierForce

If I was in your place I would have taken up the IET offer and paid the deposit. I am 70% certain that you will also receive an offer for the networks course based on the previous years intake which was very bad... It is strange but Trinity masters in computer sciences courses were the only ones which had vacant places till after the course registration started.

cherrytaz

Thats the thing, I want to try and hold out to see if I get an offer on the networks course but If I accept the IET can I still be offered the networks one and if so would I be able to use the same deposit (500 Euro) instead of paying another 500 Euro? Bit annoying that all offers for the same College (even department ) aren't out at the same time

SoldierForce

cherrytaz wrote: »

Thats the thing, I want to try and hold out to see if I get an offer on the networks course but If I accept the IET can I still be offered the networks one and if so would I be able to use the same deposit (500 Euro) instead of paying another 500 Euro? Bit annoying that all offers for the same College (even department ) aren't out at the same time

From what I understand you will only have to pay the deposit once for any course at TCD. When you register for the course in september the TCD fees office will adjust the fees with the deposit. So if you accept IET now you can still be offered a place for the networks course and accept that one.

I did get all my offers at almost the same time - give or take a day or two.

You can email Elaine Noone at TCD and ask her any questions about your application for the other courses. To be honest with you, while the networks course is good, I am not too happy with the administration for that course.

cherrytaz

OK so I got an email there confirming that I have a programming exam and interview for the Networks Masters course on 31st May. Any idea of what this consists off or any preparation I should do?

To be honest I haven't done much programming since c++ in 1st and 2nd year in Engineering in Trinity (the exam is based on java) and would not be confident of doing this exam at all.

snappieT

cherrytaz wrote: »

OK so I got an email there confirming that I have a programming exam and interview for the Networks Masters course on 31st May. Any idea of what this consists off or any preparation I should do?

Well that's new, afaik. It won't be anything major at all. A vague understanding of object oriented techniques, some basic Java syntax, threading/synchronisation, and (probably) an understanding of how to use the socket libraries will certainly get you though.

SoldierForce

cherrytaz wrote: »

OK so I got an email there confirming that I have a programming exam and interview for the Networks Masters course on 31st May. Any idea of what this consists off or any preparation I should do?

Haven't heard of this before although I know of something similar to this.

Coming back to your question about the exam and interview. I think this is merely a formality. Most likely you will meet the director of the course and will be asked why you want do to this course and about your knowledge in computer programming. I think they also had a 1 week java course last year or the year before for those who needed to do the course so I guess they want to see if you require that course.

Will be a good idea to mention to them that you have a place in IET but want to do the networks course.

cherrytaz

Thanks lads for the replies. Yes I was thinking of mentioning the IET acceptance. Although the IET course seems good it appears that the jobs market is very specialised and not exactly huge..I'll brush up on my c++ skills (was told by course director that exam answers can be given in c++)

Hopefully I get it as its the course I really want to do.

I'll keep the thread informed as to how I get on..

SoldierForce

cherrytaz wrote: »

I'll brush up on my c++ skills (was told by course director that exam answers can be given in c++)

Good luck for the exam today!

cherrytaz

Thanks for that. I did the exam/interview and got an offer today which is great news so I have a few options now anyway. I've also been offered this in The University of Leicester so im in a bit of a pickle as to what to do..

http://www.tte-systems.com/node/149

Its an area I didnt know a huge amount about but have researced it it seems to be an excellent opportunity to get into an area of IT that is pretty big.I did my interview for it last week and was delighted to get an offer, it seems to good to turn down.