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Computing and information technology

What’s on offer for postgraduates?

Computing and IT postgraduate student profile

It hardly needs to be said that the computing and information technology field has grown exponentially over recent decades. A generation ago there were no computing and IT courses in Australia. Now they are offered at countless university campuses, TAFE institutes and private colleges. Although undergraduate numbers have plateaued over the last five years, demand for postgraduate study has risen as tough competition in the computing and IT labour market has forced many to upskill.

There is a rough-and-ready distinction to be drawn between postgraduate programs in the computer science family (more likely to be available at the older universities), and programs in information systems and various kinds of applied computing (mainly offered by the newer institutions).

Some postgraduate programs are aimed at graduate professionals without computing expertise, but there is also a relatively high proportion of upgrade programs. A smaller range of postgraduate programs are available by distance education.

If you are contemplating a research degree in computing and information technology you should not assume that all institutions that teach well in the field are going to be good at research and research training. First of all, this is a field with distinct areas of specialty, some of which are applied and some which are abstract, like artificial intelligence and computer science. Some computing and IT faculties and departments can do a great job of teaching and researching in applied computing but lack the expertise in the more abstract areas which interest many postgraduate researchers. It’s not only important to check out the focus of the department but your potential supervisors and (a must) the technology and facilities available.

The experience and rewards

Visit the University Ratings section for computing and IT course ratings or to see how computing and IT rates in the Fields of Study Compared table.

Those who have completed postgraduate programs in this field are typically unimpressed with their experience according to the national Course Experience Questionnaire survey. Computing graduates enjoyed a boom in demand during the 1980s and ‘90s but were hard hit by the downturn in 2001. Things haven’t improved much since then, with around a third of graduates surveyed in the most recent Questionnaire still seeking employment four months after graduation. Salaries have begun to pick up and were excellent in 2009 at an average of nearly $80,000 per year.

For more information

If you are interested in the computing and information technology field you should also see what is on offer in engineering . Programs with some computing content are also offered in fields such as accounting , and business and management .

James Owen — Masters of Information Technology

Why did you decide to pursue postgraduate studies?
I decided to take on postgraduate studies because the company I was working for at the time had little/no training budget available for its software development team. I was keen to move forward and explore new emerging technologies as well as to gain a deeper understanding of some areas other than what can be offered by doing short courses or private industry courses. In my last job I also felt that I had become stuck in a rut and the job did not have any potential for me to further my skills. enrolling in a postgraduate course considerably improved my motivation and confidence to progress my career.

How did you balance your study with other commitments?
This has always been very difficult. I initially started studying part time with two subjects a semester while working full time. the work load was manageable but meant that I was not able to have any life whatsoever other than going to work during the day and studying all night and weekends. I then went down to one subject each semester which made studying much more enjoyable as I was able to focus all of my attention to that one subject and achieve a deeper understanding. This also meant that I had slightly more time on weekends and weeknights. I would use my annual leave to have time off to work on large assignments and study for exams.

Would you recommend postgraduate studies to someone in a similar position to you, i.e. someone working in your field, or wishing to enter your field?
I would definitely recommend postgraduate studies for someone who is already working in IT. I don't think it is of as much benefit for someone who has just completed an undergraduate course with little or no industry experience as they have not had a change to apply what they have learned in the industry. having seven years of IT experience prior to commencing my studies helped me to get the most out of my postgraduate course and to focus more on learning new techniques and technologies rather than just trying to get my head around the basics. I feel I have learned far more in my masters course than what I did from doing my bachelor degree.

How did your postgraduate qualifications assist you in getting a job?
My postgraduate course, even though I was only half way through at the time, greatly assisted me with getting my current job as I was able to demonstrate more in-depth knowledge of the skills and technologies that my employer was looking for.

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