What Can I Do with an IT Degree?

An MSc in Information Technology is a fantastic opportunity for those with experience in tech-related fields looking to take their career to the next level, as well as those without prior experience who are looking to develop the skill set necessary to enter the field seamlessly. The one-year course looks at current practices, issues and trends within the industry and helps students develop sought-after business relevant IT knowledge and skills to address the needs of modern businesses. Students are required to take four courses focusing on business computer networks, database design, object-oriented analysis and design and research and design methods, as well as complete a dissertation. For the remainder of the required credits, students get to choose from a wide variety of courses dependent on their career goals and individual interests. As technology becomes a vital part of almost every industry, a master’s degree in information technology from UWS can help you find a role at nearly any company in any industry.

The following are just a few examples of jobs well suited for IT degree holders.

What Jobs Can I Get?

IT consultants work with businesses to identify their needs and show them how they can use information technology to meet their goals and overcome obstacles. They’re experts on the technologies they work with and help their clients with everything from planning and design to installing and supporting the system. IT consultants aim to help organisations make their IT systems as streamlined and efficient as possible. In addition to their technical skills, IT consultants need strong communication and interpersonal skills to support their clients. Often, these individuals work for big tech companies and support multiple clients and organisations at one time, so it’s also vital that they’re able to manage a number of tasks at once. 

A database administrator is an essential role within any organisation, ensuring that all of a company’s data is safe and secure. This includes a range of responsibilities, such as making sure users have the correct permissions to access data and that data is consistent across the database. Another major part of a database administrator’s role is ensuring that databases are secure and protocols are in place in case of an emergency. Businesses need to be able to access data at all times, and there need to be recovery procedures outlined to make sure this can happen and that no data can be lost. There are a number of different software and management systems that database administrators use, but some of the most popular are MySQL and SQL Server.  

Cyber security analysts are responsible for protecting every part of an IT system, from its networks and software to hardware, from criminal activity and cyberattacks. They monitor the system looking for any abnormalities that could signal an attack or vulnerability. During and after an event, cyber security analysts assess the situation, determine the best course of action and the severity of the threat and finally ensure the system is secure again. While cyber security analysts can be employed by an organisation, many companies work with cyber security analysts as consultants to analyse their systems and identify any weak spots or vulnerabilities. 

Information systems managers are another essential part of almost every business. They are responsible for managing all of the computer systems and networks within a company. This includes everything from getting new employees set up to providing support whenever issues arise. Information systems managers are also responsible for ensuring their company is using the best software and technology to meet their needs. If they discover a better alternative or a software releases an update, the information systems manager is responsible for migrating all data from one system to the other and updating all of the business’ networks and computers. At larger organisations, the information systems manager will manage a team of IT professionals, including technicians, support staff and database administrators delegating many of the tasks listed above to those professionals. 

Business analysts are tasked with the unique responsibility of connecting the technical and business sides of a company. They look at real data to assess processes and performance and give recommendations on how to improve. Business analysts will present their findings to stakeholders and explain how new technologies and systems could increase productivity and efficiency while also reducing costs. They work closely with both the tech and finance teams, so it’s important that business analysts understand how the systems work so they can make the most informed decisions and find technologies that meet the requirements outlined by the business. 

With a Master's degree in Information Technology your career opportunities can be endless. You can find a role in most industries, from healthcare organisations like the NHS to local governments and nonprofits.

What companies could I work for?

Amazon

Probably best known for their website and quick shipping, Amazon relies on hundreds of thousands of IT professionals to keep the many aspects of their business functional. Like many large companies, these individuals support both internal and external users, including Amazon’s massive software development and support staff. In addition to supporting their own teams, with technologies like AWS, which rely on cloud computing, Amazon maintains some of the largest data centres in the world. Customers around the world trust Amazon to keep their data safe, and Amazon’s IT staff work incredibly hard to maintain multiple layers of security and protection to ensure no data is lost or compromised. 

NHS

The NHS employs more than 1.5 million people and requires an extensive network of IT professionals in order to manage the systems that keep their hospitals and GP surgeries up and running. As a healthcare provider, the data the NHS stores can be considered highly sensitive and needs to be kept secure. Doctors and nurses need to be able to access their patients’ records to properly treat patients as well as communicate with other members of their treatment teams. The NHS also relies on IT staff to keep their computers and networks up to date and make sure all staff have the technology they need to do their job

DHL

One of the largest courier companies in the world, DHL has nearly 400000 employees worldwide working hard to make sure people get their parcels quickly. DHL was founded in San Francisco in 1969 and quickly became one of the leading courier services. It was acquired by Deutsche Post, a German company, in the early 2000s and remains a division of the company today. DHL has more than 40000 employees within the UK, and IT professionals are a vital part of their supply chain. Both internal and external users need to be able to access DHL’s data at all times, and the company maintains multiple sites which need to be kept safe and secure. DHL uses a number of software and technologies within the many divisions that make up the business, and there are countless opportunities for IT professionals to learn new skills as well as become experts in specific technologies. 

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