Careers Brief - Computer Networking FdSc

Overview

The Foundation degree in Computer Networking, offers you the opportunity of progression onto an Honours degree programme or direct job entry.

There are several entry points into computer networking. At this stage you can progress your career through training in employment with part-time education or continuing on for further full-time study.

Employer surveys suggest a long-term upward trend in demand for networking engineers. All larger organisations are dependent on the performance of networked systems for effective communications and competitiveness. You could also be working in an IT consultancy with contract services or be self-employed. You might well start as a technical support officer, moving onto network engineer (or network administrator) and progress as a network manager (or communications manager), moving into project management, information security or consultancy.

Network systems link different sites and could be carrying computer, telephone and video traffic. You could be installing, maintaining or supporting computer communication networks within and between organisations. You could be working as part of an integrated IT support team or externally as a consultant with a number of clients.

Success in your course not only provides you with technical knowledge and training, but also you will have demonstrated key transferable skills and competencies in demand by employers. Specifically: time management; logical, analytical skills for problem-solving; effective communication (both written and verbal) and the ability to work successfully in a team. It is essential to keep up with developments, be able to cope with rapid technological change and retrain in new skills.

Job titles are not consistent and job functions can overlap. There are also opportunities to move between job areas as your career progresses. Examples of related computer jobs: software engineer, systems developer, web designer/developer, IT project manager, IT trainer and IT technical sales specialist.

Use the website links below to find out more.

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.

Alternatively, you could transfer into a related Honours degree. Entry point would depend both on your grades, experience and overlap between courses but could be into the final year.

Progression would normally be onto the BSc Software Systems Framework level H at Bournemouth University.

Use the Links on the HE Home page for information on computing degree courses at Bournemouth University (click on sub-heading 'Courses').

Institutions offering related Top-ups include:

University of Bedfordshire; University of Bradford; Bradford College; University of Cumbria; Edinburgh Napier University; London South Bank University; Sheffield Hallam University; University of Sunderland; University of Wolverhampton.

To search for degree courses go to www.ucas.com/ (UCAS - Universities and Colleges Admissions Service for the UK). Use the 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 could further 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 all postgraduate courses and research, go to the national online directory at www.prospects.ac.uk/links/pgstudy/ .

Go to the main section Further Study in this Guide for more information and help.

Resources

www.bcs.org/

BCS The Chartered Institute for IT - drop down sub-heading 'Qualifications, Training, Careers' to click on 'Careers' + 'Students'

www.enginuity.org.uk/

ETB - for Job Profiles go to 'Real life engineering'

http://careersadvice.direct.gov.uk/helpwithyourcareer/jobprofiles/

Careers Advice Service

www.connexions-direct.com/jobs4u/

Jobs4U Careers Database - go to sub-heading ‘Job Families & Articles' and click on ‘Computers and IT’

http://jobseekers.direct.gov.uk/

Careers database and links to jobs nationally. Search by either clicking on side-heading ‘Careers’ and choose a category or Quick Search by job title.

www.prospects.ac.uk/

Graduate Prospects - online national career service for HE students studying in the UK:

Drop down ‘Careers advice’ and click on ‘Use your qualification’ for ‘Your Foundation degree…what next?’
Drop down ‘Sectors' to go to 'IT & information services’
Drop down ‘'Jobs & work' and click on ‘What jobs would suit me?’ for Prospects Planner

http://targetjobs.co.uk/

GTI publication for graduate jobs and careers intelligence - go to sub-headings 'Career sectors' + 'Careers advice'

www.insidecareers.co.uk/

Inside Careers publication - specialists in Graduate Careers

www.get.hobsons.co.uk/advice/

Hobsons/GTI graduate careers publication - Careers advice section

www.e-skills.com/

e-skills UK - the Sector Skills Council for IT and Telecoms

www.computerweekly.com/

Computer Weekly magazine

www.computing.co.uk/

Computing magazine online