The Good Universities Guide

What to expect

Getting a degree in computing and information technology

What to expect

There’s no doubt that computing and information technology (IT) is a vital part of our lives. Commerce, government, education, and even entertainment, recreation and communication all depend on it. You'll need to identify which aspect of it is most interesting to you.

You might find that you’re more interested in the ‘hands-on’ stuff to do with hardware and networking. Or you might want to develop systems and programs or work towards a management role.

There are also roles that demand a creative flair, like desktop publishing and interactive multimedia. Or if you’ve every intention of trying to be the biggest computer geek you can, sample something from this field’s newest niche — computer games technology.

Back to top

Getting a degree in computing and information technology

Visit the University Ratings section for computing and IT course ratings.

Courses and specialisations

Courses in applied science, information technology, computer science or informatics may all include computing and IT specialisations.

Some courses have more specific titles though. Other computing and IT courses are more closely related to business or engineering, including business information systems or computer engineering degrees. Combined programs are quite common too and can give you a good backup in case of a downturn in the industry.

Getting in

After a big jump some years ago, student numbers in computing and IT have dipped in recent years. Given this softening demand for places, you will not have much trouble getting into a course. However, subjects such as maths and physics are often required or recommended for entry. There are some computing and IT ‘co-op’ courses (they include work experience) that are tougher to get into.

Where to study

Thirty or so years ago there were very few courses in computing and information technology. Now, they are everywhere. Most universities offer at least one degree courses in computing and information technology. TAFE institutes and private higher education providers are also increasing their offerings in the field.

What to look for

So, what should you look for in a course? Any number of people have argued that computing and information technology courses could be improved by a greater focus on ‘soft skills’ such as communication, as well as more input from employers.

However, the most important thing is to choose something that interests you, no matter how technical, theoretical or business-oriented. You need to watch out that you don’t enrol in a course that is either too practical or too theory-dominated, if your interests lie at the opposite end of the spectrum.

One way to know what you’re getting is to look for courses that are accredited by the Australian Computer Society (ACS — see details below). To get this stamp of approval, universities have to cover a ‘core’ in their curriculum but also maintain their equipment to a certain standard.

Careers for computing and information technology degree graduates

Computing and information technology is a great field as far as variety goes. Skills in this field are required in a huge range of organisations, and in the private and the public sector.

Skills in the information technology field are required in a huge range of organisations, and in the private and the public sector. Recent graduates expressed a low level of satisfaction with their experience overall. Like other graduates, those in this field are vulnerable to changes and slumps in the industry. Only eight per cent of 1989 information technology graduates were looking for a full-time job. In 2005, 32 per cent did not succeed in gaining
employment within four months of graduation. The situation is gradually improving with the number of graduates seeking work falling to 28 per cent in 2009, but employment figures still compare badly with other fields. Those who did succeed in getting a job were well rewarded, with good starting salaries averaging at $49,686.

Before you worry too much about your long-term prospects in this field, remember two things:

• in information technology, you can have many different careers, in very different sectors and businesses — they are not all vulnerable to shifting employment trends
• following the early-noughts slump, employment rates and salaries in this field have begun to recover, and the word is that long-term job prospects are good in many areas, with employment growth expected to be strong.

For more information

For more information about careers (and courses) in computing, check out the Australian Computer Society website.

Other fields of study likely to appeal to someone interested in computing and information technology are science, engineering, and business and management.

Back to top