Careers Brief - Computing & Internet Technology FdSc
Overview
The Foundation degree in Computing and Internet Technology offers opportunities for progression onto Honours degree programmes and direct job entry, although the majority of software professionals are honours graduates.
Success in your course will not only have given you the opportunity to develop a strong grounding in technical skills but also you will have demonstrated key transferable skills and competencies in demand with recruiters, such as communication, team working, analytical thinking, logical problem solving and multi-tasking.
You can improve your prospects further by gaining appropriate work experience (or industrial placement).
Career opportunities are widespread, both geographically and across all industry sectors.
You could be employed, working freelance on contract as a self-employed professional or running your own business. You could be working in a variety of roles within software development and management, such as: software engineer; systems designer; systems developer; IT consultant; network manager; software trainer; technical author; technical marketing executive; database administrator; user support; applications developer; project manager.
You could specialise in website design or as a computer games developer. You could be working for a specialist and internet service producer, publisher, broadcasting company, the press or an organisation with an in-house website. Use the website links below for job profiles and further information.
You should be aware that many of the multi-national companies recruit honours graduate trainees from the Autumn Term of the final year. If you plan to continue onto one-year top-up honours degree courses, you should be prepared for job-hunting before you start your final year. Go to the Job Applications and Job Search sections of this Careers Guide .
Further Study
Use the Links on the HE Home for information on the BSc (Hons) Computing and Internet Technology (Top-up) degree programme at Bournemouth University. This one-year programme is the main progression route from your Foundation degree and does not require you to complete a work placement.
You could also apply for 3rd year placement entry (or exceptionally 4th year) to the BSc (Hons) Business Information Technology dergree.
Other institutions offering related top-up honours degrees:
Bradford College (Associate of Leeds Metropolitan University); University of the West of England, Bristol; East Lancashire Institute of Higher Education at Blackburn College; University of Huddersfield ; London South Bank University ; Northbrook College Sussex ; Southampton Solent University; Staffordshire University.
To find other suitable courses use www.ucas.com/search . Use university/college links for course details. Entry point could depend both on your grades, experience and overlap between courses.
You will need to use UCAS to apply for courses. Contact the Course Tutor of your chosen course to find out your position, before you make your formal application.
Find out how much this will cost you. Where is the funding coming from? Go to www.aimhigher.ac.uk for information on student support.
Go to the main section on Further Study of this Guide for more information and help.
Resources
www.bcs.org
The British Computer Society - click on 'Careers' for 'Job Profiles', 'Selling Yourself' and more
www.prospects.ac.uk
Graduate Prospects is the careers website for higher education students in the UK:
- Drop down 'Careers advice' and click on 'Use your qualification' for 'Your Foundation degree...what next?'
- Drop down 'Communities' and click on 'Engineering, science and technology'
- Drop down 'My Prospects' and click on 'What jobs would suit me?' for Prospects Planner
jobseekers.direct.gov.uk
Careers database and links to jobs nationally. Search by either clicking on 'careers' and 'choosing a category' or typing in job title.
www.insidecareers.co.uk
Inside Careers (publisher) graduate jobs and careers guide
www.get.hobsons.co.uk
Hobsons (publisher) Graduate Employment and Training
http://targetjobs.co.uk
GTI (publisher) graduate jobs and careers
www.learndirect-advice.co.uk/helpwithyourcareer/jobprofiles
Learn Direct - national learning advice
www.connexions-direct.com/jobs4u
Jobs4U Careers Database - click on 'Job Families & Articles' or Quick Search by typing in job title
www.computerweekly.com
Computer Weekly magazine
www.bima.co.uk
British Interactive Media Association
www.iap.org.uk
The Institution of Analysts and Programmers
www.ispa.org.uk
ISPA UK represents Internet service providers - includes list of members
www.ncc.co.uk
National Computing Centre
www.intellectuk.org
Intellect On-line is the UK trade body for IT, telecom and electronics industry - see database
