Careers in IT and Computing

What can you do with a degree in Computer Science? Computing graduates might find themselves in a variety of environments in academia, research, industry, government, private and business organisations -- analysing problems for solutions, formulating and testing, using advanced communications or multi-media equipment, or working in teams for product development. Here's a short list of research and vocational areas in computing.

• Artificial Intelligence -- Develop computers that simulate human learning and reasoning ability.
  
  
• Computer Design and Engineering -- Design new computer circuits, microchips, and other electronic components.
  
  
• Computer Architecture -- Design new computer instruction sets, and combine electronic or optical components to provide powerful but cost-effective computing.
  
  
• Information Technology -- Develop and manage information systems that support a business or organization.
  
  
• Software Engineering -- Develop methods for the production of software systems on time, within budget, and with few or no defects.
  
  
• Computer Theory -- Investigate the fundamental theories of how computers solve problems, and apply the results to other areas of computer science.
  
  
• Operating Systems and Networks -- Develop the basic software computers use to supervise themselves or to communicate with other computers.
  
  
• Software Applications -- Apply computing and technology to solving problems outside the computer field - in education or medicine, for example.
  
  

Source: Adapted from IEEE Computer Society

Key Roles

These are some examples of roles commonly undertaken by our computer science graduates. They have been selected to give a flavour of the variety of opportunities that exist.

• Applications developer
• Database administrator
• Information systems manager
• IT consultant
• IT trainer
• Multimedia programmer
• Software engineer
• Systems/business analyst
• Systems developer
• Technical support officer (IT)

Recent graduates have found employment with software houses, major manufacturing companies, commercial and financial services organisations and local and central government. Many of our best graduates go on to study for higher degrees.

Employers of our Computer Science graduates include: 3Com, Accenture, Barclays, British Telecom, the Defence Evaluation Research Agency, Dell, EA Games, EDS, Fujitsu, GCHQ, Goldman-Sachs, Hewlett Packard, IBM, Intel, KPMG, Logica CMG, Lucent, Marconi, Microsoft, NCR, Nortel, Oracle, Orange, Price Waterhouse Coopers, Vodafone

Jobfairs

Each year, in conjunction with the University we organise two major job fairs relevant to computer science students. We also organise a school job fair exclusively for our students. Over 400 companies advertise with the University for our computer science graduates.

Placements and Internships

We encourage our students to gain as much real world experience as they can during their studies. The University has strong links with a number of employers offering internships or formal placements that can range from two months over the summer vacation to a full sandwich year as part of your degree course.

For further information contact our Work Placement Officer on Tel: 0121 414 8814.