Open doors to a new career in IT

The growth of the digital economy and the speed at which new technologies are emerging means that demand for talented IT and computing graduates is rising.

Skills shortages in key areas such as IT security, cloud computing, mobile, big data and web development are leading to high starting salaries and making a career in the sector an attractive proposition.

Whitney Phillips is studying MSc Computing and Information Technology at Northumbria University, she said: “I chose this course to open up new job opportunities.

“I felt that learning computing and IT would give me a significant advantage in the job market and Northumbria offered one of the few MSc courses in computing and IT for which you did not need a previous background in the area.”

Northumbria’s MSc programme is flexible and can be studied via distance learning, part-time or full-time - both with and without an industry placement.

It is open to graduates from any academic discipline and covers computing in programming, databases, systems analysis and design, computer networks and web development.

Designed in consultation with partners from industry, the programme gives students the computing and information technology knowledge to work within a variety of roles within the sector.

“I have a business background,” adds Whitney, “but I had always wanted to learn about computing and programming.

“The course is extremely practical and I get the sense that it really is preparing me for the real world. We hear from industry experts regularly, my favourite so far was a top-level Procter & Gamble employee who came in to talk about the web security threats they face on a daily basis globally.

“The course has definitely been worth the investment. I feel like it has prepared me for a range of different jobs within the IT world.”

MSc Computing and Information Technology starts in September and January, depending on the mode of study. For more information and to apply, click here.