Following on from last year’s hugely successful Creative Week, Griffith College Dublin will be holding a week-long exhibition to highlight the high calibre of work produced by Griffith College students.

Creative Week 2013 will be launched on Wednesday 29^th of May at 6.30pm at the Griffith College Campus on South Circular Road, Dublin 8. This evening offers you the chance to experience the best of our creative faculties - computing, interior design/architecture, fashion, film and photography.

Take a look at our Facebook where you will see more information on what we have planned. The event is free and there will be a wine reception on opening night so be sure to pop along!

It is a great event for you to come along too especially if you are considering studying with us this year. You will get to see the graduate work and get a good insight into what you could achieve if you decide to study here in Griffith College.

If you would like any more information on any of our courses here in Griffith College, don’t hesitate to contact the admissions office on 01-4150415 or come along to one of our Open Evenings.

Here are some study tips for those dreaded exams in June…at least it’s raining, that makes the task easier!

1. Get out of your house to study.  Sign up for after-school study or go to a library. The distraction of home comforts won’t be there and it will get you into a working mindset.  Also it’s nice to go home to relax, rather than having your room clogged up with notes and reminders of school.

2. Make a study group. A problem shared is a problem halved. Sometimes the best way to remember things is to discuss them with a friend. You can make the study group as big or small as you wish. Nominate someone to direct the conversation so as not to go off topic,  you will find it is a great way of sharing information and filling gaps in your knowledge.

3. Think of the future. When it is all getting a bit too much think of those choices you put down on your CAO.  Imagine yourself doing those subjects and taking part in college life. The next phase of your life is going to be so much fun, you just need to get these exams done and dusted.

4. Relax. What makes the run up to the beginning of exams so dreadful is the hysteria and pressure teachers and the media create. Try and ignore them. The Leaving Cert is important but it’s not life or death.

5. On to the academic stuff – Do lots of past exam questions! Hand them up to teachers to be corrected and base your notes on those as this is much more effective than learning off reams of notes. If a question is going to be asked chances are it has already been asked, in different phrasing.

6. Now to contradict myself at point number 4! Use the two weeks between school ending and exams beginning for the biggest ‘cramathon’ of your life. Don’t give up so close to the end. Keep re-reading notes and practising exam questions. Some of it will stick in your brain eventually. You’ll also feel more confident going into the exams than if you hadn’t looked at anything the two weeks before.

7. Maths. The importance of passing the Maths exam in your Leaving Cert has probably been drilled into your brain at this stage. Every year Griffith College presents an on-line maths resource for students studying ordinary level Leaving Cert Maths. These resources include on-line notes, video lectures and sample papers.

This resource is free for you to use so make sure to join in. Click the tree below!

After completing your undergraduate degree the next question is what to do next?

There are many options for graduates when they complete their degree from travelling to interning, working abroad and, for those who are lucky, securing employment. However in an increasingly competitive jobs market postgraduate study is becoming more popular and those who finish their undergraduate degree are straight away considering the benefits of postgraduate study.

But the question is, is postgraduate study right for you? We have outlined 4 reasons why one should consider studying a postgraduate course.

1. Continuing Study

If you love what you are doing, you may want to continue your studies in that area. In fact, having a passion for your subject is possibly the best reason to go into postgraduate education. In Griffith College we offer a range of full time and part time postgraduate courses in Media, Business, Computing, Law, Design and Music and Drama. Check out our range of courses online at www.gcd.ie/postgrad/

2. Improving your job prospects

A postgraduate qualification is an excellent way to enhance your prospects. In an increasingly competitive job market not only does a postgraduate qualification help you to stand out from the crowd, but it also shows your commitment and dedication.

A postgraduate qualification is by no means a guarantee to securing your dream job, but it sends out a positive message to recruiters and makes you a stronger job applicant. Many of our past students who studied at postgrad level have successfully secured positions in top companies. Take a look at our student testimonials where you will hear the success stories of our past students www.gcd.ie/student-testimonials-all/

3. Changing Direction

Conversion courses offer you the opportunity to study another subject area at postgraduate level. Studying for a postgraduate qualification is an ideal way to enter a new career. In a declining economic market many people find that they are returning to study in order to up-skill in the area of IT and Computing Science. The Higher Diploma in Computing is a conversion course offered here in Griffith College. Graduates who are studying this postgraduate degree are coming from backgrounds in Arts, Business and Design who wish to add to their skill set by combining their undergrad degree with Computing Science.

4. First Steps to a Career

Some professions require students to complete additional courses at postgraduate level to qualify in that area. For example, entry to careers like teaching or accountancy require further study specific to these areas. In Griffith College we offer professional courses such as our Postgraduate Diploma in Arts in Training and Education and our Higher Diploma in Arts in Music or Drama Education. We also run ACCA courses for those who wish to get ahead in their accountancy career. Visit www.gcd.ie/ACCA/ for more information.

An interesting piece made by the computer education non profit Code.org that might interest those who are considering studying Computing Science. Starring Bill Gates, Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, Will.i.am and Chris Bosh, to name but a few, you can hear from those who studied coding and how it impacted their lives and careers.

It can surprise you what types of careers one can pursue from studying a Computing Science degree and where good coding skills can lead you. As Will.i.am quotes towards the end of the video “Great coders are today’s rockstars.”

For more information on our Computing Science degrees in Griffith College see our website www.gcd.ie/computing/

Our BSc (Hons) in Computing Science has received Government funding this year. This is great news for all prospective students interested in studying Computing Science as their undergraduate degree.

The funding enables us to offer the course at a cost of €2,500 annually for the first two years. This offer is available to Irish students on a full time basis. Those students who have applied through the CAO, directly to us and mature students are eligible to avail of this price.

The BSc (Hons) in Computing Science is a 4 year degree that is designed to turn students into experts in the application of Computing Science. The unique element of this course is the 6 month work placement in year 3 of the degree that the computing faculty will help source for you through their industry connections. The work placement provides you with invaluable experience and increases your attractiveness to potential employers when you complete your degree and enter the job market.

This course has the capacity to reflect and adapt to both technical and market developments. You will cover the fundamentals of Cloud Computing, become efficient in programming and also get the chance to study elements of computing science such as Game Development, App Development and Web Development.

As we have a limited number of places this will be offered on a first come, first served basis. Contact the admissions office on 01-4163355 for more information or apply online www.gcd.ie/apply-online/ .

We  operate an open door policy so feel free to contact the admissions office anytime. We will be more than happy to welcome you on campus or arrange a meeting with the faculty if you wish to discuss the course in more detail. Also keep in mind our Open Days where you will  also get the opportunity to meet one-to-one with members of the computing faculty to discuss the course and educational/career progression options.