One reason to pursue a postgraduate IT qualification is to learn about the current directions in research and the newest needs of industry, according to Dr Richard Watson, Admissions Tutor at the University of Southampton.

’Often these are topics that have only recently begun to take shape and not yet incorporated into undergraduate study,’ he says. ’On an MSc you can get the opportunity to learn about the cutting-edge topics that lead to the cutting-edge jobs.

’The courses are designed for students who want to set themselves apart from the pack by gaining skills and knowledge that address the current and future needs of industries across numerous engineering and IT domains.

’Those who want to continue on to academic research also get the opportunity to broaden their experience of new research topics and learn about areas that take them outside the mainstream,’ says Richard.

The importance of work experience for graduate IT jobs

If you are set on a graduate career in IT, a postgraduate qualification in this area is clearly going to give you a distinct advantage where competition is fierce. However, don’t assume that it guarantees you a job.

Paper qualifications aren’t everything, and many employers may be at least as interested in any work experience you have under your belt, or the transferable skills you have to offer.

Master’s courses in IT

There are a huge number of different one-year (full-time) and two-year (part-time) taught programmes leading to an MSc.

Common areas of focus include artificial intelligence, multimedia, robotics and software engineering, but other specialist fields include information security and computer crime, forensic IT, and IT law.

Some courses are also designed to address particular areas of business, such as IT for finance or manufacturing.

IT conversion courses

Conversion courses are designed to allow graduates from other disciplines to achieve a professionally recognised qualification in computing.

Leading to an MSc, many are directed at the implementation of information systems and their effects on business organisations. The taught programmes, which last a year, cover core modules such as computer structures, database systems and IT programming, while options may include specialist modules such as artificial intelligence or software risk-assessment. A project or dissertation completes the programme.

PgDips and PgCerts in IT

Diplomas (PgDip) and Certificates (PgCert) in IT also provide a route for graduates to convert from their subject area to IT.

The time it takes to complete them varies from institution to institution and, in some cases, the courses can count towards an MSc.

Non-IT graduates can also take short courses in various programming languages and systems.

Teacher training for IT graduates

ICT is a specialist subject and an IT-related first degree is a requirement for anyone wishing to teach the subject.

Taking a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), which confers the Qualified Teacher Status compulsory for teachers in state schools, is the next step. The one-year programmes integrate theory and practice and make full use of real school experience. Applications can be made via the Graduate Teacher Training Registry.

Graduate IT career opportunities

The demand for IT specialists who design, develop, manage, maintain and support information systems has given rise to a plethora of job titles. These include: data analyst, systems programmer, software designer, systems analyst, web designer and technical-support specialist.

’If you have a postgraduate qualification, you might have a different skill set that you can exploit, which will help you move up quickly within the organisation,’ says Rachel Forrester, Graduate Recruitment Manager for Atos Origin.

’We recruit postgraduates into the same kind of roles that we recruit graduates into. We don’t pay premiums for people with a PhD, for example, but the experience gained in managing such a project, managing people and delivering results are inevitably helpful when you are starting out a career. If you channel this properly in a complex organisation, your progression will be quicker than someone who doesn’t.’

Funding your postgraduate IT programme

The cost of a postgraduate programme varies enormously according to what it is, where and how it is taught, and whether it is full time or part time. Fees range from about £4,000 to £11,500. Funding options for postgrads include:

Career Development Loans
Career Development Loans are available through a partnership scheme between the Learning and Skills Council and three banks – Barclays, the Clydesdale and the Co-operative. You can borrow anything from £300 to £8,000 to help fund a two-year course.

Industrial sponsorships
Industry does not have a uniform approach to funding postgraduate study, but some companies have a policy of sponsoring their own employees as part of their career-development programme.

In addition, companies may offer sponsorship for postgraduate study to potential employees, so it is worth contacting companies to ask if this type of sponsorship is available.

LEAs
Local Education Authorities cannot fund master’s / PhD courses but a small number of authorities offer discretionary awards for diplomas and certificate courses.

Help from the EPSRC
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council supports many universities offering IT postgraduate programmes through its Collaborative Training Accounts (linked with industry) and Doctoral Training Accounts.

These are offered and administered via universities and include payment of fees and a maintenance award.