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Professional Academy Certificate in Python Programming

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Take your first steps as a Python programmer with this hands-on course. The second most popular programming language globally, Python can be used to build innovative applications in areas such as data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.

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Choose Your Start Date

Browse our upcoming live online classes. Download your brochure to learn more.

Secure your place by paying in full or availing of our payment plan. For Part-time, on demand and on campus courses, pay in three equal interest-free instalments. For full-time Bootcamps enrol with a 50% deposit and the rest at the course start date. T&C's apply.

Why UCD Professional Academy?

  • Valuable, trusted certification
  • Industry expert lecturers
  • Flexible learning options

Python Course Modules

This short, practical course will give you a solid foundation in Python programming. Python is considered the easiest code to learn as its syntax is similar to the English language. After installing your own programming environment, start building your confidence with simple exercises covering Python concepts. Discover syntax and libraries, use and create functions, and build and manage data structures that allow you to process long lists and tables of information.

Or browse our wide range of expert-led online courses and grow your career potential today.

1. Python Basics

Discover the basic concepts of Python. Learn to install your own programming environment and start building your confidence. Understand how data is stored in Python and the use of variables.

  • Python integrated development environment (IDE)
  • PyCharm
  • Python interpreter
  • The shell as a simple calculator
  • Variables, multiline statements, and strings

2. Functions

Reduce the amount of code needed to solve complicated problems with reusable code. Learn to call existing packages, functions, and methods. Discover custom functions with multiple parameters and return types.

  • Function calls
  • Maths functions
  • New functions
  • Parameters
  • Importing functions
  • Return values

3. Conditionals & Loops

Gain an in-depth understanding of conditional logic, control flow, and looping. Learn to use Boolean logic for decision-making in Python and filter information using looping and conditions.

  • Boolean and logical expressions
  • Conditionals (if)
  • Looping (for/while)
  • Recursion

4. Data Structures

Understand the data structures available in Python to store large datasets, useful for the manipulation of different data structures. Gain practical experience of lists, tuples, dictionaries, NumPy and pandas.

  • Python data structure
  • Slicing and filtering
  • Deleting and adding
  • Aliasing

5. Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) & Exception Handling

This unit, you will learn OOP which is a widely used programming paradigm that reduces development times - making it easier to read, reuse, and maintain your code. You will learn how to create classes, which act as the blueprints for every object in Python. You will then leverage principles called inheritance  to reuse and optimize code. Dive in and learn how to create beautiful code that is clean and efficient

Additionally we will dive into the means to handle exceptions and errors in Python Programming language to further customise those error messages and run a special block of code depending on the error.

  • Objects and Attributes
  • Instances
  • Class functions and Class methods
  • Inheritance and polymorphism
  • Organising packages
  • Try, Catch, and Except
  • Custom exceptions
  • Finally

6. Modules, Packages and File I/O

The final unit explores the Python Standard Library, The Python Package index and how we can create our own modules to extend the functionality of our code. Then we close off by looking at File I/O and how we can read in & write out data from our code.

  • Packages
  • Modules
  • Read & Write Statements
  • The ‘with’ statement
Exclusive

Access to thousands of journals, articles and papers. Free of charge.

Students taking part in this course will now have access to the EBSCO Online Library, free of charge, for the full duration of the course. Here you can browse thousands of relevant journals, articles and other reliable academic and commercial texts like the Harvard Business Review, Bloomberg Businessweek and Forbes Magazine, to supplement your learning and assignments.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is this course right for me?

This course is a great start for anyone interested in data science, machine learning, or artificial intelligence who does not have any Python knowledge and finds the more advanced courses available intimidating. You do not need any special qualifications to take this course; if you have ever written a function in Excel, you’re ready to join the course and start coding in Python! Many of the coding concepts you will learn are transferable, if you decide to learn other programming languages.

How will this course help with my career?

This course is ideal for professionals who want to learn demonstrable programming skills and are looking to kickstart the journey with a short, practical course providing the kind of foundational knowledge required to further explore coding in Python. The skills learned on this course will help direct you to career tracks such as Data Analyst, Data Scientist, Data Engineer, or Machine Learning Scientist. We have more advanced data analytics courses which provide the perfect next step after this course.

What is the online learning experience like?

Our online experience is designed to be just as interactive, supportive, and inspiring as the UCD Professional Academy campus experience.

Online courses can be accessed from any computer or laptop with an internet connection.

Live lectures are delivered using Zoom. During these lectures, your teachers will use technology interactively to ensure an engaging learning experience. When appropriate, students will be encouraged to activate their microphones so that they can ask questions and communicate with other students.

What is the student experience like?

Student care is a high priority at UCD Professional Academy, which is why our Student Services team is on hand to support you throughout your time with us. They will respond to any queries you have, help you with any technical issues, and facilitate your learning experience at every point. All students are given access to our Student Portal, where you can see your timetable, access all your study materials, and manage your account.

How is this course assessed?

This course is assessed through 5 small weekly exercises, which must be passed, and a final project involving a set of defined tasks. The final project determines the final grade of the course. You are expected to put in 2 hours of self-study practice per week in addition to the live online lectures.

What are the benefits of a Professional Academy Certificate?

UCD Professional Academy Certificates and Diplomas are designed to give your career an advantage. Developed in conjunction with industry thought leaders our courses teach practical, applied skills to support you to achieve your career and business goals. Professional Academy Certificates are suitable for career minded learners wishing to advance their professional skills and prospects rather than their academic credentials.

The Professional Academy is an independent wholly owned part of UCD designed to address the need for skills development in the workforce. Courses tend to be short, designed and delivered by industry practitioners, and are not part of nor do they lead to a traditional University award such as a degree or a masters. They are widely accepted by employers and many students are sponsored to study by their organisation.

For full details of UCD Professional Academy’s Certifications & Governance please visit https://www.ucd.ie/professionalacademy/governance/

How do I get my Professional Academy Certificate?

Your UCD Professional Academy Certificate will be issued electronically on a secure platform, with a link that you can share with employers and others wishing to verify your credentials. You can also add this certificate to your LinkedIn profile.

This Professional Academy Certificate is not on the National Framework of Qualifications as a credit-bearing course. This is not unusual for professional courses of this nature, where the need is for fresh and actionable skills immediately applicable in the workplace.

What payment options are available?

You can secure your spot on most of our Live Online, On-Campus, or On-Demand courses with a low 30% deposit. The remaining balance can be paid in two equal instalments (30 and 60 days later).

For full-time Bootcamp courses, you can secure your spot with a 50% deposit, with the remaining balance due prior to the start of your course.

Please note that standard terms and conditions apply, which you can review here: https://www.ucd.ie/professionalacademy/terms-and-conditions/

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