The tertiary degree route is one student Saira Mughal highly recommends to othersSaira Mughal: Having missed the CAO deadline, the software development student thought she would have to postpone third level until the following year before realising she could still apply for a tertiary degree Sun Aug 23 2026 - 05:31 • 4 MIN READSaira Mughal is studying for a Bachelor of Science degree in Software Development and Operations through the tertiary degree programme, a degree programme she came upon when she thought she was out of options that academic year. The 24-year-old began her tertiary degree in 2023. Mughal didn’t enter third-level education straight from school due to a family emergency in her home country. Her mother had become very ill in Pakistan and Mughal returned home to care for her.Sadly, Mughal’s mother died and she soon returned to Ireland.“I started looking for courses, and I was very late for the university courses,” she says, explaining that because she returned to Ireland at the end of July she had missed the application deadline date. Initially, Mughal thought she would have to postpone applying until the following year, and considered working instead. However, she realised there was still time to apply for a tertiary degree. “I came across this course online which had the same time period for a degree – four years. For two years, I would have to go to college. And for two years I would go to university. And I’m going to get the same degree. And they were not looking for CAO points.”“I just applied,” she says, at the time still unsure about whether she would pursue the option. “They called me and I went for the interview. They just needed my Leaving Cert results.”Two days later, Mughal received a call to say she had been successful in her application.Attending the smaller institution to begin with was the “best plan” for her, Mughal says. “We were with the other students as well who were doing the level 5,” she explains. “In the college, rather than in university, it was very different. College teachers are just behind you. They can help you with every second. They make sure that you are on the right path.“In university they have so many students in each class I don’t think they have time to go back to every student to see if they are okay or not. The [college] teachers make sure that you are in a good position.”Mughal found the smaller classes at the further education and training campus made it easier for her to learn the material she was being taught. “You’re learning good because there are only 20 students in a class. That was my best experience. I think if I had started at a university I wouldn’t be as good at [my studies] as I am right now.”Mughal, who is entering her final year at university, says she found the transition to university campus noticeable.She began her tertiary degree journey at the Cork College of FET (further education and training), Morrison’s Island, before moving to MTU (Munster Technological University).“University and college are completely different paths,” she explains, adding that, in university, there’s less focus on how students manage on an individual level.“I already had two years of very good experience in college, and we had good contact with our tertiary head who is responsible for us. Whenever we have a problem we just email them. And they come back to us very, very early. And that’s how it was smoother.”Initially, Mughal found the adjustment difficult and disorienting. “But, in the end, I was confident … and I am very, very excited to go and do my last year.”She would highly recommend the tertiary degree route to other students, she says. She can “for sure” see the advantages, of choosing this path over the more traditional route. The CAO points for a software development degree are high, she explains. And the tertiary degree route removes that obstacle.“When I started I had no clue what a tertiary [degree] is. And in my second year we can be a mentor for upcoming students if they have any questions. I applied for that and I am mentoring for the last year. This is my second year for mentoring. We are making a booklet for them. We are making website pages for them, which will be helpful. And we are working on more for them.”Mughal had work experience in second year and third year. “I am very happy in my choice. I’m so glad that I chose it”.As she heads into her final year to complete a level 8 degree, she notes she already has a level 7 degree.“If you want to stop by first year and you think you can’t go ahead, they will give you a level five. They will give you a level six [qualification] if you don’t want to go on to a level seven.”Every year gives the potential to earn a qualification if a student decides not to continue with the four-year level 8 degree programme, she explains.IN THIS SECTION