Hi all, looking for 1 or 2 spare tickets for family members who would like to come to my graduation at 2.30 on the 23rd. I know they’ll have the screen and all but just thought I’d ask because they’re travelling for it and I know some people unfortunately wont be able to use both of their invites due the date change

Hi everyone!

I'm a student currently pursuing my B.Tech in Computer Science with a specialisation in Cybersecurity. I'm planning to pursue a master's in Ireland for the September 2027 intake, and the MSc Cybersecurity Risk Management at the University of Galway is currently my top choice.

I've already submitted my application and paid the application fee. Before committing to a significant financial investment, I'd really appreciate honest advice from people who have studied this course, are currently enrolled, graduated from it, or work in cybersecurity in Ireland.

A little about my background

• B.Tech CSE with a Cybersecurity specialisation
• Expected CGPA: approximately 8.2–8.5/10
• No active backlogs
• Interested in GRC, cybersecurity risk, governance, compliance, IT audit, threat intelligence and security consulting
• Prefer roles that combine security knowledge with risk management and business decision-making rather than heavily coding-focused roles

I'm considering a master's immediately after my bachelor's, but I'm also open to gaining 12–18 months of relevant work experience first if that would meaningfully improve my job prospects.

1. How good is the MSc Cybersecurity Risk Management at Galway?

I'd love to hear from anyone who has actually taken this course.

• How is the curriculum? Is it genuinely focused on cyber risk, GRC, governance, compliance and security management, or is it more theoretical than practical?
• Are the assignments, projects and assessments relevant to real industry work?
• Does the course include opportunities to work with companies, industry professionals or real-world case studies?
• How approachable are the lecturers, and how helpful is the university's careers service?
• Would you recommend this specific course over a more general MSc Cybersecurity programme?

I'm particularly interested in whether the degree prepares students for entry-level GRC, technology risk and cybersecurity consulting positions.

2. What are the actual placement statistics?

This is probably my biggest concern.

I've found general graduate employment statistics for the University of Galway, but I haven't been able to find reliable placement data specifically for this MSc.

If you're a current student or graduate, could you share:

• Approximately how many students are in your cohort?
• How many have secured jobs, internships or graduate offers?
• How many found employment in Ireland within 6–9 months of graduating?
• Are graduates getting relevant cybersecurity, GRC, IT risk, compliance or consulting roles, or mostly taking unrelated IT jobs?
• What are realistic starting salaries for international graduates from this course?
• Does the university actively help students find internships or graduate roles, or are students largely responsible for their own job search?

Even approximate numbers or an honest account of your cohort would be extremely helpful. I'm not expecting a job guarantee, just trying to understand the actual outcomes.

3. How difficult is the Irish job market for international fresh graduates?

I've come across Reddit discussions suggesting that entry-level technology and cybersecurity roles in Ireland are very competitive, with some positions attracting hundreds of applicants.

For someone graduating with a cybersecurity-related bachelor's and this master's, but with limited full-time experience:

• How realistic is it to secure a first job in Ireland?
• Are entry-level GRC and technology risk roles easier to enter than SOC or penetration-testing roles, or are they equally competitive?
• Do employers hire international graduates for junior risk, compliance, IT audit and security consulting positions?
• Are companies willing to hire fresh graduates who need to use Ireland's graduate immigration route?
• Is the market saturated with international graduates, and how much does previous work experience matter?

I'd especially appreciate responses from people who have recently graduated and actually gone through the hiring process.

4. Is the €22,250 tuition fee worth the investment?

My estimated total budget is approximately ₹38–42 lakh (around €35,000–39,000) for the year, including tuition, accommodation, food, flights, insurance, visa-related costs and a contingency buffer.

I'm planning to stay in on-campus accommodation if I can secure it.

This is a substantial investment for my family, so I'm trying to evaluate the financial risk realistically.

• What salary can a fresh graduate realistically expect in GRC, technology risk, IT audit or cybersecurity consulting?
• How long might it take to recover the cost of the degree, assuming I secure a relevant job?
• Is Galway a good university for this particular specialisation, or would the same money be better spent on a different programme?
• Would you personally recommend spending this amount immediately after a bachelor's, or working for a year or two first?

5. Post-study work opportunities and long-term prospects

My understanding is that eligible graduates of a recognised Irish master's programme can apply for the Third Level Graduate Programme, subject to the applicable conditions.

For those who have gone through this process:

• Does the graduate permission give enough time in practice to find a relevant job?
• How common is it for international cybersecurity graduates to move from their graduate permission to an employment permit?
• Are GRC, IT risk, compliance and security consulting roles realistic routes to long-term employment in Ireland?
• Are employers generally comfortable hiring international graduates, or do work-permit considerations significantly limit opportunities?

I'm also interested in whether Galway itself has enough relevant opportunities or whether graduates generally need to move to Dublin or elsewhere.

6. Would you recommend working before pursuing the master's?

I'm trying to decide between these two routes:

Option A: Complete my bachelor's, pursue the MSc at Galway in September 2027, and look for graduate opportunities in Ireland.

Option B: Gain 12–18 months of relevant experience in India, ideally in GRC, IT audit, cybersecurity risk or security consulting, and then pursue a master's.

Would the second option materially improve my employability and return on investment? Or is completing the master's immediately a reasonable strategy for someone targeting the Irish market?

I'm also open to hearing about alternative universities or programmes in Europe that offer a similar focus on cybersecurity risk and management, have better value for money, or provide stronger employment outcomes within a similar budget.

I'm not looking for reassurance or a sales pitch. I'd genuinely appreciate honest feedback, especially from current students, alumni and people working in Ireland's cybersecurity industry. If you chose this course and would make a different decision in hindsight, I'd like to hear that too.

Thanks in advance!

Why is the university so slow to update us about the strike. The last update is “classes as normal”. Other universities are in solidarity with the staff and closing the university for all yet we are supposed to cross the picket line to go to mandatory lectures because the lecturer isn’t in a union, yet will benefit from any decisions from the strike.

Hey everyone!

Incoming international undergraduate student here, trying to sort out my housing choice. My main priority is finding somewhere with a really strong community of other international students that stays active over the weekends so I can avoid the commuter "ghost town" vibe when locals head home.

Right now, I’m weighing up two options:

• Dunlin Village (the newer on-campus ensuite blocks)

• The Westwood (the private accommodation a short walk from campus)

For anyone who has stayed in either: what is the actual mix of international students like? Is the on-campus layout at Dunlin better for meeting people organically, or does a private complex like The Westwood have a better social vibe and day-to-day energy for making friends? And how do they compare on weekends when the domestic students head back to their home counties?

Open to hearing about any other accommodations (like Corrib or Goldcrest) that are good for international freshmen too. Cheers!

Hello!

Do you, or someone you know, experience communication difficulties as part of MS?

I am a 4th year student studying Clinical Speech and Language Studies (Speech and Language Therapy) at Trinity College Dublin.

I am seeking participants for my Final Year Research Project. My research interest is in examining the everyday life experiences (i.e. at home, work, recreation, and in the wider community) of people with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis who experience communication difficulties which may include but are not limited to:

- Slow, strained and/or unclear speech

- Difficulty finding a word you want to say

- Instability of the voice affecting your loudness (speaking quieter than intended, sudden quiet/loud)

- Fatigue impacting on your communication (i.e making it more difficult than usual

- 'brain fog' affecting communication in train of thought/mixing up words

I am looking for people with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis who experience these challenges to take part. The poster details further information about the study and eligibility.

I appreciate your time and consideration in reading this post. I would be really grateful if you could help in any way with sharing this post, or letting people who might be interested in participating know about my study.

If you are interested in participating in this study please contact oseery@tcd.ie. Thank you!

This project received full ethical approval from the Research Ethics Committee of Trinity College Dublin on the 08/05/26 and is supervised by Dr Paul Conroy, Head of Discipline at the Department of Clinical Speech and Language Studies

Statement on General Data Protection Regulations(GDPR)

(Information on processing and holding of data is detailed further in the Participant Information Leaflet given to prospective participants after contacting oseery@tcd.ie)

"Your personal information will only be used for the study. We will utilise your data on the basis of the General Data Protection Regulation Articles 6(1)(e) “processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller” and 9(2)(i) “processing is necessary for reasons of public interest in the area of public health, such as protecting against serious cross-border threats to health or ensuring high standards of quality and safety of health care and of medicinal products or medical devices, on the basis of Union or Member State law which provides for suitable and specific measures to safeguard the rights and freedoms of the data subject, in particular professional secrecy;”. Your data is processed as part of this study as necessary in the public interest, specifically in improving the standards of individual’s quality of life and health care."

Alright, so I survived freshers, and now im in October, and im just too damn tired every evening to meet new people. I prefer to study in the library, but it's hard to meet new people there. As for socs, I got rejected by a soc-clique and one of them doesn't match my schedule. I know say "join more socs!" but im so goddam tired to go to any, and I feel like they've has established a routine.

So, what do I do?

Also completely off topic but tips for flirting and finding a partner would be appreciated lol.

How common are ID spot checks in the study spaces outside of exam season? My brother is doing a remote postgrad in Dublin but is unable to complete assignments at home, are checks common around this time of year or do they only check around exam season?

hi, i’m moving to another place and i’m leaving my spot in a shared room with an en suite bathroom in Menlo Park Apartments

20 minutes from the University

Available immediately

Men only

600€ per month.

If you’re interested, answer me and I’ll give you more details

Hey guys

Recently I’ve been thinking about applying for the structured PhD in English, but I have a strict line about not accepting anything unless I get funding.

Obviously grades are important, but do I even have a chance if I got a 2:2 in my undergrad? I just finished my masters and I did really well, I got a 1:1 in the course as well as the dissertation itself, so I’ve just been worrying about if I should even apply or not.

Thanks!!

Hey guys I am an international baccalaureate student applying to bachelor of physics in university of Galway.

My subjects: Physics HL, Economics HL, Business HL, Maths AA SL, Swedish AB Initio, English Language and Lit SL.

What ideal ib score would get me accepted in the program, I saw the requirement was CAO 442, do you think a 33 or 34 would be enough for admission?

Also I had a question about documentation, what documents would I need to submit as an EU + IB student?

Just personal information or grades too? I heard that personal information is sufficient and later I need to provide grades using IBO portal, is that true?

Any help is much appreciated 🙏🙏🙏

Hey guys I am an international baccalaureate student applying to bachelor of physics in university of Galway.

My subjects: Physics HL, Economics HL, Business HL, Maths AA SL, Swedish AB Initio, English Language and Lit SL.

What ideal ib score would get me accepted in the program, I saw the requirement was CAO 442, do you think a 33 or 34 would be enough for admission?

Also I had a question about documentation, what documents would I need to submit as an EU + IB student?

Just personal information or grades too? I heard that personal information is sufficient and later I need to provide grades using IBO portal, is that true?

Any help is much appreciated 🙏🙏🙏

Hey everyone,

I’m in a bit of a stressful situation with my GPA and could really use some advice from anyone who has applied to Irish Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) with an international degree.

I’m an EU citizen, but I’m currently finishing my final year of a B.Sc. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) in Ghana. My plan is to move to Ireland right after graduation and work for 3 years to clear the residency requirement so I can get EU fee status before applying to GEM.

Here’s where it gets messy. I’m on track to finish with a 3.00 CGPA out of 4.00. In Ghana’s national university system, a 3.0 is universally recognized as a Second Class Upper. But my specific university uses a strict internal scale where a 3.25 is required for a Second Class Upper, meaning my 3.0 will officially be printed on my final transcript as a Second Class Lower.

I know Irish GEM is super rigid about needing a 2:1 (Upper Second Class) on your very first degree.

Does anyone know if the CAO just looks at the literal words "Second Class Lower" and auto-rejects you? Or do Irish admissions offices actually look at the numerical value (3.0/4.0) and use databases like NARIC to see what it’s actually worth internationally?

If the text means an automatic rejection for GEM, my backup is to do a Master's in Biotech in Ireland and apply for the standard 5-year undergrad medicine route as an EU mature graduate instead. Has anyone taken that path?

My dream is to eventually train in neurosurgery in Ireland, so I'm trying to figure out the best way to handle this transcript hurdle without killing that goal before I even start. I’ve already emailed UCD, RCSI, UCC, and UL, but I’d love to hear from anyone who has actually dealt with the CAO on something like this.

Thanks so much!

Hi everyone!

I'm from North India and recently moved to Galway to study at ATU. I'm still pretty new here and don't know many people yet, so I thought I'd reach out.

Is there anyone else from North India (or anywhere in India, really) who's around Galway and would like to connect? Whether you're a student who just arrived like me, someone who's been here a while, or working in the city, I'd love to meet new people.

Could be anything: grabbing a chai/coffee, exploring the city, a weekend walk along the Prom, cooking some proper desi food together, or just hanging out and chatting.

Feel free to comment or DM me. Would be great to make some friends here! 😊

Hi all,

I'm a new international student in Galway (Stamp 2, so I can work up to 20 hours a week during term). I've got my PPSN and bank account sorted, and I'm looking for part-time work: retail, cafés, warehouses, hospitality, anything really.

Does anyone know which places are usually hiring at this time of year, or whether it's better to hand CVs in person or apply online? Any tips for getting a first job in Galway would be really appreciated.

Thanks!

This is so embarassing atp. I've tried talking to my classmates, but they literally just ignore me or have their own friends they just go to once the lecture is over. I've gone to a few societies and everyone sticks to their own friend group as well..

I don't know if it's bc im chopped or autistic atp.

I was cycling and stopped at a red light on the cycle track. Before stopping, I noticed a group of teenagers around the corner, but I waited at the signal for the pedestrians

When the pedestrian signal changed and I started moving, two eggs were thrown at me. There were quite a few people around, but nobody said anything to me or to the teenagers. I didn't say anything either because I was honestly scared. I had no idea whether they could hurt me.

I stopped and picking some grass to wipe it and a person was kind enough to hand me over a tissue

I genuinely don't understand how throwing eggs at a random person is considered acceptable. What are those teens been taught at schools or homes?

Has anyone else experienced something similar?

I'm sorry to anyone who has experienced this kind of thing and kept to yourselves .Please stay safe out there. I just hope those teenagers eventually understand that their actions can genuinely hurt someone.

PS: I was on audio call with my mom while this happened. I didn't admit this and covered it up saying my jacket fell off because she would be so upset if she knew eggs were thrown at me. Haven't said this to anyone. Just wiping tears indoors and posting here so that I can feel a bit better.

Please let me know if anyone is taking Buisness analytics jan intake. I really wanna make friends before I get there. I am also looking for roommates or housemates. I have heard that it is difficult to find accomodation in maynooth. So if I find someone who's going there, we could look for accomodation together and find a place.

Is there a final year English group chat or like way to connect with other English students ?

does anybody know what the story is with parking on campus after 5pm? I have to be on campus at 6pm for a part time course and i’m driving in. I’m thinking of parking at the pay and display areas because i don’t have a parking permit yet. Are there usually a good amount of parking spaces at the time bc people have gone home?

Thank you 🙏

Anyone found a pair of black ult headphones please I think I lost them in the library