Careers Brief - Computing & Internet Technology FdSc
Overview
The Foundation degree in Computing and Internet Technology offers you the opportunity for progression onto an Honours degree programme or 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. Key skills 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.
Go to the website links below to find out more.
Be aware that many of the multi-national companies start their recruitment programme for honours graduate trainees from the Autumn Term of the final year. If you plan to continue onto a one-year top-up honours degree or final year honours degree, you should be prepared for job-hunting before you start your final year.
Go to the Job Applications section of this Careers Guide for help and advice.
Further Study
You will be able to apply for a top-up degree. Top-up degrees are designed as direct progression from Foundation degree to achieve an Ordinary or Honours degree, though entry may be selective.
Alternatively, you could transfer onto a related Honours degree. Entry point would depend on your grades, experience and overlap between courses but could be the final year.
Go to http://onlineservices.bournemouth.ac.uk/courses/ for information on the BSc (Hons) Business Information Technology Systems Top-up degree at Bournemouth University.
Other institutions offering related Top-ups include:
Blackburn College; University of Glamorgan, Cardiff & Pontypridd; University of Portsmouth; Staffordshire University
To search degree courses go to www.ucas.com/ (UCAS - Universities and Colleges Admission Service for the UK). Use university/college links for course details.
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 the university/college website for information on course costs and finance and to www.direct.gov.uk/uni/ for additional help with student support.
With a good Honours degree (First or 2.1), you may progress onto an appropriate higher level degree to attain a Masters and/or PhD doctorate. This could be to develop your area of study to a more in-depth practical and/or academic level or to gain other specialist training.
For information on postgraduate study and finance, go to the national online directory at www.prospects.ac.uk/study .
Go to the main section Further Study of this Guide for more information and help.
Useful Links
e-skills UK - Sector Skills Council for IT and Telecoms
BCS - The Chartered Institute for IT
Drop down sub-heading 'Qualifications, Training, Careers' to click on 'Careers' + 'Students'.
www.prospects.ac.uk/starting_out.htm
Graduate Prospects - national careers website for HE students studying in the UK:
Drop down 'Job sectors' and click on 'IT and information services'
Drop down 'Jobs' and click on 'What jobs would suit me?' to use Prospects Planner
GTI Media graduate careers publication - 'Advice by graduate career area - Information technology'
http://careersadvice.direct.gov.uk/helpwithyourcareer/jobprofiles/
Government Careers Advice service - click on 'Information Technology and Information Management'
Inside Careers publication - specialists in Graduate Careers
GTI Media publication for graduate jobs and careers advice - click on sub-heading 'careers advice'
http://jobseekers.direct.gov.uk/
Government Careers database and links to jobs nationally. Search by either clicking on side-heading 'Careers' and choose a category or type in job title.
www.connexions-direct.com/jobs4u/
Jobs4U Careers Database - click on sub-heading 'Job Families & Articles' or Quick Search by typing in job title
The Sector Skills Council for Creative Media - Careers section
Go to Divisions 'Blitz Academy Career Advice' - careers guidance website for those interested in a career in games
Computer Weekly magazine
Computing magazine online
The Engineering and Technology Board - careers and news
IT Jobs Watch tracking the IT Market
British Interactive Media Association
The Institution of Analysts and Programmers
ISPA UK representing UK providers of Internet Services - includes Member List
National Computing Centre - the UK's leading IT membership organisation
Intellect representing the UK technology industry
Go to the Job Applications section of this Careers Guide for advice and help with making applications.
