Institute of Technology Carlow Launches Degree Course in Cybercrime and IT Security

Institute of Technology Carlow today launched the country’s first Bachelor of Science Honours Degree programme in Cybercrime and IT Security. The move, according to the Institute, is a response to the global talent gap for cyber professionals and one that will assist Ireland’s development as a world-class cyber security practices, solutions and investment hub.

And with cyber security being one of the fastest-growing sectors in the global technology industry, graduates of the programme will be highly sought after and have their choice of job offers, according to international experts Niccolo Alicandri, co-founder and chief business officer of global security monitoring specialists CipherTechs Inc. and CipherTechs EMEA Ltd. general manager Laurence Conroy, who launched the degree course today.

“When we studied the planned programme for this new degree course at IT Carlow it was apparent that graduates would achieve specialised in-depth expertise in the essential areas of proactive cyber threat detection and mitigation. CipherTechs recognises that the Institute of Technology Carlow’s new Bachelor of Science Honours Degree programme in Cybercrime and IT Security will be an ideal template for the security analysts and engineers of the future that we would like to hire”, commented Laurence Conroy, General Manager, CipherTechs EU Ltd.

The first Cybercrime and IT Security undergraduates will begin their four-year course this September. They will acquire specialist knowledge from a comprehensive syllabus that includes: advanced programming; software engineering; networking; cybercrime legislation; computer forensics; reverse engineering and malware analysis and penetrating testing (ethical hacking). Year three of the four-year programme will also include a six-month placement in industry. Career options include roles in ethical hacking, secure application development, secure network management and digital forensics.

The World Economic Forum in Davos has identified cyber related threats as one of the highest of all global risks in terms of impact of events and likelihood of events occurring. According to the Centre for Strategic Studies, the annual global cost of digital crime and intellectual property theft is US$445 billion. In response, the global IT research and advisory firm Gartner estimates the global IT security spend will soar to $101 billion in 2018, and hit $170 billion by 2020, leading to a rapid growth in the cyber security sector worldwide.

Ireland’s digital economy contributes 5% of national GDP and provides employment for over 100,000 people. Protecting personal data, sustaining investment and ensuring the continued reliable functioning of information and communications technologies, and of the Internet, are priorities for Ireland.

“Responding to the current and future needs of industry, ongoing collaboration with corporate partners and an experienced and dedicated faculty are central, we believe, to demonstrating best practice as educators and to providing an engine of growth for the region and country. One of the biggest factors in meeting industry needs is higher education and training. In order to capitalise on the opportunity to become a global cyber hub, we must ensure Ireland has a talent pool of cyber professionals. This degree programme will deliver for the digital technology sector, nationally and internationally. I thank and congratulate all who have and will continue to contribute to this”, commented Dr. Patricia Mulcahy, President of Institute of Technology Carlow.

Application for the programme will be via the CAO under the code CW258. Graduates with a relevant Bachelor of Science Degree are eligible to apply for advanced entry onto the programme. Mature applicants will be assessed on an individual basis and may be interviewed. ICT is an area in which Institute of Technology Carlow has excelled for many years. The Institute was the first in the country to offer a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Computer Games Development, developed with the assistance and support of Microsoft. The Institute has a strong collaborative partnership with UNUM at both undergraduate and postgraduate research level across a wide range of activities.

Institute of Technology Carlow offers degree courses in Computer Games Development, Software Development and Computing Systems Management, via its department of computing and networking.

About IT Carlow

The institute has three campuses: the main campus is located in County Carlow, the second smaller campus is located close by overlooking Wexford town and the third is in Rathnew, County Wicklow.  All three campuses are between 1 hour and 1 hour and a half hours from the capital, Dublin.

Together there are approximately 4,000 students whose courses focus primarily on business, science, technology; these three disciplines are reflected in the institute’s seal. At the turn of the millennium the institution completed the £11.5 million Learning Resource Centre and Catering Services which won the first prize of the Irish Concrete Society in 2000.

An interesting aspect of the institute is that it is the only third level institute in Ireland to have a Computer Games Development course which was actually developed in conjunction with Microsoft. It is also one of the few Irish third level institutes to offer a “higher” degree in Industrial Design, generally seen as a continental European and American subject of study.

Institute of Technology, Carlow Canadian College Transfer Programs Overview

Convert your Canadian Community College Diploma into a Bachelor’s Degree at IT Carlow in Ireland, in as little as just 1 year through KOM Consultants. Every application that is made is assessed on a case by case basis but we can promise a quick decision turnaround time, so get applying!

IT Carlow offers Canadian College students a broad choice of Bachelor or Honours Bachelor Degree completion opportunities across the Schools of Business & Social Sciences, as well as Engineering and Science. Bachelor Degrees are 3-year programs and Honours Bachelor Degree programs are 4-year programs.

Generally speaking 3 yr Canadian College Advanced Diploma graduates can complete an Honours Bachelor Degree with one further year of full-time study, whilst 2 yr Canadian College Diploma graduates can complete either a Bachelor Degree with one further year of full-time study OR an Honours Bachelor Degree with two further years of study. IT Carlow are giving you credit for credit for your college studies. (exception is ECE program – requires full 2 years completion at IT Carlow)

An Honours Bachelor Degree from Ireland is Internationally recognized under the Bologna Agreement and is equivalent to an Honours Bachelor Degree in North America. Both typically take four years to achieve.

IT Carlow is located in the vibrant, bustling town of Carlow with a population of over 20,000. The town enjoys a thriving arts and crafts community, and exciting nightlife, a strong Irish culture and festivals as well as a superb range of shops, boutiques and restaurants.

Study Cost

• Tuition fees for the academic year at IT Carlow are €7,500. This covers tuition registration and pick-up at the airport on first arrival.
• Accommodation: €3,000 for September to May.
• Additional Costs:
  • Food and incidentals are estimated by IT Carlow at €3,000 per year.
  • The GNIB immigration registration costs €30

Total cost for one year: Approximate €13,800 or $20,000 Canadian (excluding flights).