What can you do with a computer science degree?

Depending on the pathway you take, you will develop specialist knowledge and skills in:

In addition to your specialist skills, you will develop wider, transferrable skills in:

According to CompTIA's State of the Tech Workforce UK report, the tech sector employed just under two million workers in 2021, accounting for 6.3% of the total UK workforce (source: Prospects 2023). The future is very promising for Computing graduates – here are some areas in which you could work:

Your job may involve creating applications or systems, solving problems with technology or supporting those who use it. You could choose to work in the “Tech” sector for the big names however you will find your skills are in high demand across diverse range of sectors from central and local government to retail, finance, manufacturing as well as education and health. Opportunities exist with the large, well-known employers as well as with smaller, exciting start-ups and consultancies. Here are some of the occupations that you could consider:

With such a wide range of careers open to you and a growing industry, it is worth taking some time to explore your options thoroughly by both researching online, speaking to people in industry and getting experience within the sector. This will help you to make well-informed decisions about your future. 

Prospects and TargetJobs offer a great starting point for your online research; you may want to start with these articles:

CW Jobs, one of the job vacancies boards for Computing and IT professionals also contains a helpful careers advice section containing job descriptions about the different areas that you could consider with your degree. 

You should also explore information, advice and resources available on webpages of professional associations:

British Computing Society BCS (the professional body for Computing and IT professionals)

Below is a snapshot of what University of Plymouth computer science graduates told us they were doing 15 months after graduation. For some graduates, these roles served as stepping-stones by providing relevant work experience.

*Data is from the Graduate Outcomes Surveys covering the three years of 2018/19 – 2020/21. Graduates were surveyed 15 months after graduating. Data displayed is for UK-domiciled, first degree, full-time graduates who are working, studying or looking for work.

Some career paths may require or benefit from further study; the University of Plymouth offers the following postgraduate study options that could be of interest to Computer Science and Computing graduates:

You should consider the financial implications of further study as well as selecting a programme that suits your interests, learning style and future career direction. The following websites provide a good starting point for exploring postgraduate options, but you may also benefit from talking to a Careers Consultant. 

Some useful websites to help you find a suitable postgraduate programme:

It is also worth investigating what further study options the University has to offer as you may find the perfect course for yourself in an institution you already know. There are also sometimes financial benefits of staying on such as a fee discount to Alumni – find out your funding options.

Accessing support from the Careers Service couldn’t be easier; come along to the Careers Service Helpdesk in the Student Hub or access our 24/7 online resources. There is a wide range of support available from skills workshops to events, placements and internships advice, 1-2-1 appointments and help getting started with LinkedIn.

Our bite-sized Accelerate workshops can give your career the boost it needs and topics include:

Workshops are delivered by the Careers Service, however, they are also an opportunity to learn from your peers, share experiences, and ask questions. Visit myCareer to see the full range of activities and to book your place.

The LinkedIn alumni tool is a great way to meet graduates and find out more about possible careers. You can see the career journeys of graduates from your programme, the qualifications they completed and employers they worked for. 

If you are looking for help to set up or learn how to make the most out of your LinkedIn profile, select the LinkedIn guide for students or come to one of our workshops.

Work experience will provide a major boost to your employability when you graduate as well as giving you a real insight into what to expect from different occupations and industries. You will develop your confidence and professional skills and meet people – colleagues – who can advise and mentor you while you are there and if you stay in touch with them, help you to develop your career later on.

Many organisations offer placement years and shorter internships or you could work part-time around your studies or approach organisations speculatively directly to negotiate short periods of work experience.

The University of Plymouth Students’ Union also offers a wide range of volunteering opportunities and there are many organisations within the not-for-profit sector who could benefit from your skills and expertise and volunteering generally will help to build your employability skills, confidence and make a real impact on your CV.

Major League Hacking describe a hackathon an “invention marathon;” teams design and code a prototype of an application that solves a problem. Participants range from software developers, designers, and non-technical people and you may encounter software as well as hardware related projects. Anyone who has an interest in technology attends a hackathon to learn, build and share their creations over the course of a weekend in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

It’s a great way to meet industry professionals as well as other students potentially paving the way for work experience or graduate employment opportunities.