What can I do with my degree?: Computer science/IT

Employers are interested in both the technical and the non-technical skills gained during your computer science/IT degree. See where these multiple skills can lead you…

Job options

Jobs directly related to your degree include:

• Database administrator
• Games developer
• Information systems manager
• IT consultant
• Multimedia programmer
• Network engineer
• Systems analyst
• Systems developer

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

• Geographical information systems officer
• IT sales professional
• IT trainer
• Secondary school teacher
• Technical author

Work experience

Try to find some work experience, work placements, voluntary work or shadowing. Companies such asStep  and The Year in Industry  provide placements and internships for students and graduates. Gaining experience shows employers that you are committed and is likely to make your application more competitive. It also helps you decide whether a particular career is right for you.

Another option is to build a personal portfolio of your own projects, such as those involving programming or carrying out tasks online as a moderator. Evidence of, for example, your initiative and ability in fixing bugs, improving functionality or building an app will go a long way to demonstrate your skills and interest in the subject.

Search for placements and find out more about work experience and internships.

Typical employers

Common employers are IT consultancies and IT service providers. The IT departments of major organisations in the telecommunications, aerospace and defence, financial services, retail, public and third sectors also employ IT graduates. Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have a wide range of opportunities, too.

Find information on employers in information technology, accountancy, banking and finance, engineering and manufacturing, and other job sectors.

Skills for your CV

Computing degrees combine theoretical study and practical projects, teaching you subject-specific skills including:

• programming languages;
• hardware architecture and construction;
• network design and engineering;
• software engineering;
• multimedia design;
• software tools and packages,

You learn how to specify, design and construct computer-based systems, evaluate, recognise potential risks and design creative solutions.
You'll also gain skills in:

• teamwork and leadership;
• communication;
• negotiation and persuasion;
• time management and organisation;
• report writing;
• presenting reasoned arguments;
• retrieval of information;
• numeracy;
• coping with rapid technological changes;
• commercial awareness.

Continuing professional development (CPD) is especially vital for people working with computers since technology and software develops at such a rapid pace.

Further study

Some graduates choose to study a computer science subject in greater detail via an MSc or PhD. Further study is essential for a career in academia and can be useful for a range of other careers, for example, when considering a career in developing new technologies and products. You can also combine work with further study through Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) .

Graduate destinations for computer science/IT

• • 
    Employed (73.9%)
  • Further study (7.5%)
  • Working and studying (2.4%)
  • Unemployed (13%)
  • Other (3.2%)