In Informatics, our degree courses are designed to help you succeed in the digital industries job market. All our undergraduate courses provide vital guidance on formulating and realising your career plans for the job market, further study and entrepreneurship.
Research by e-skills UK, the Skills Council for the business and IT sector, published in 2010, revealed that almost half of the recruiters in the digital industries are experiencing skills shortages – despite the recession. It also predicts that with the technology sector expecting to need 110,500 new entrants a year up to 2013, skills shortages will increase as the economy recovers. Job prospects for computing graduates are therefore very good.
Our degrees offer excellent career opportunities. You will understand how computers work, how they can be used to develop applications, how they can be connected together and the principles from which the technology is developed. You will be able to design and implement computer programs; you will have mastered many technical and creative skills relevant to your degree area, and have built up experience with situations requiring complex problem solving and communication.
Career paths for Informatics graduates
Most of our graduates go on to work in a variety of fields, some linked directly to their subject of study in computing, or in jobs where their transferable skills are valued. Others choose to stay on for further study or research. There are various scholarship and sponsorship opportunities for such postgraduate work. Some, such as the American Express-sponsored Masters courses (refer to Postgraduate study for details), combine academic work with industrial experience.
Typical careers for Informatics graduates include:
- analyst programmer
- business analyst
- computer games developer
- e-commerce developer
- information architect
- interaction developer
- IT manager
- management consultant
- mobile app engineer
- online marketing analyst
- project manager
- quality assurance lead
- software engineer
- user experience architect
- video production manager
- web application developer.
Into media
After graduating from Sussex with a first-class degree, Iain Slater went to work for the BBC as a Trainee AV Producer. This involved shooting and editing video for the web and for TV programmes, part of which includes devising ideas and formats for new programmes. He now works for BBC Switch.
‘The Video Production Techniques module has been really helpful in my current role. It managed to encompass a wide range of skills into a practical project. The technical skills had to be executed, creative expression was encouraged and all within a group to a tight deadline.’
Iain Slater
Informatics graduate
Into technology
As Managing Director of Heavenly Media, a Brighton company which specialises in social media, widgets and iPhone applications, Nicholas Johnson is clear that his degree has helped him get where he is now.
‘On my degree I learnt that object-oriented programming is absolutely key to everything and Java is a good foundation for this. SQL is also something that comes up again and again. The XHTML, CSS and JavaScript module was particularly helpful.’
Nicholas Johnson
BSc in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence
Into music
Erik Jalevik has used his Computer Science degree to move into the field of radio and music networking, working for the London-based site Last.fm, where he has been developing a PC application that integrates with music players to track the listening habits of their users, enabling them to get accurate music recommendations among other things.
‘Since graduating, the vast majority of all development work I've done has been in C++. My project was also to do with audio programming so I guess you could say that my first job on graduation as a C++ audio programmer was pretty much a perfect match. This was at Criterion Games and entailed implementing systems responsible for in-game sound effects and streaming audio for the racing game Burnout Revenge.’
Erik Jalevik
BSc in Computer Science
Enhancing your career prospects
Throughout your time at Sussex you will be presented with a range of opportunities for enhancing your career prospects. Initiatives include technical insight talks from local companies in areas such as computer game development, networking events with successful entrepreneurs, careers-focussed talks from former Sussex students, and careers workshops offering the latest tips for success in the jobs market and postgraduate study.
The Careers and Employability Centre is home to professional careers advisors who can provide both general and specific advice, on an individual basis if required. The Centre's website contains a plethora of useful ideas and information for students. Their Careers with your degreepage gives helpful tips on using the many skills and abilities developed while studying for a degree.
The graduate employment record for our graduates is excellent. When it comes to that job you really want, we will help you to do all you can to increase the chances that you are successful. There's a lot you can do to enhance your career prospects outside your academic activities:
- extracurricular activities are things you do during your time as a student which are not a formal part of your degree course, such as Students' Union activity clubs and societies. Such activities can help you develop a host of skills that employers value. Refer to the University of Sussex Student's Union.
- career-related vacation work is not just about making money. Any kind of work experience says something about you as a person and potential employee, and will enhance your future employment prospects. Career-related vacation work does the same, only more so. In addition, it offers other advantages such as finding out whether you really like a particular kind of work or company before you graduate. Work experience helps you get more out of your degree. It gives you a chance to see how your courses are relevant to the world of work, and can motivate the work you do at university.
- placements offer all the rewards of career-related vacation work but on a longer time-scale. This increases financial rewards and work experience and also allows you a longer period of time to get thoroughly immersed in project and work activities. Refer to Placements.
- Sussex Plus provides a framework for thinking about and developing your skills and creating a multimedia webfolio to showcase who you are and what you can do. Refer to Sussex Plus.
- the Peer Assisted Learning scheme in Informatics gives you the opportunity to take on the role of ‘tutor’ and get paid for helping your peers on courses you have already taken.
Managing your career
Career management is about achieving a satisfying and rewarding career. It involves identifying what you want from a career, and then identifying the means by which you can achieve your objectives. Career management is a life-long process. You have begun the journey by choosing a degree course, whether your aims are to obtain a good job, pursue a long period of further study, or for purely personal satisfaction. There is much you can do during your time at Sussex to enhance the prospects of achieving your aims. The skills you acquire in managing your undergraduate studies will go a long way to helping you manage your career after graduation, as your needs and desires, and the employment market, change.