A first-class degree in IT is not essential for securing a job in the field, but more needs to be done to improve access and opportunities for underrepresented groups
HESA's Graduate Outcomes survey shows that 8,360 UK-domiciled graduates were in IT occupations in the UK 15 months after graduation, which makes up 7% of all first-degree graduates in employment.
Graduates working in IT entered a range of roles, with programmers and software developer positions being the most sought after. Others started their career as business analysts, architects and system designers, and a few entered cyber security and management roles.
| Programmers and software development professionals | 50% |
|---|---|
| IT business analysts, architects and systems designers | 12% |
| IT user support technicians | 8% |
| Information technology professionals n.e.c. | 8% |
| Cyber security professionals | 6% |
| IT operations technicians | 4% |
| Database administrators and web content technicians | 3% |
| IT managers | 2% |
| IT quality and testing professionals | 2% |
| Web design professionals | 2% |
| IT project managers | 2% |
| IT network professionals | 1% |
| Information technology trainers | 1% |
Subject of study
Most graduates working in IT had an academic background in IT, with the most common subjects studied being computer science (35%) and software engineering (10%).
An IT-specific degree will help graduates enter the industry, but it's not always essential as some roles require skills and experience which can be gained from other disciplines. Those that enter the profession with a degree outside of IT often studied:
- maths (6%)
- physics (4%)
- electronic and electrical engineering (4%)
- business studies (2%)
- mechanical engineering (2%).
17% of these individuals had completed some form of further study since graduation which could have helped them start a career in IT. Some roles, such as web developer, don't require a formal qualification, allowing graduates from other disciplines to pursue a career in this field with on-the-job training. Those with management experience and analytical skills may find that certain job opportunities in IT are also available to them.
Degree classification
Most graduates working in IT graduated from university with a first-class honours (52%) or a 2:1 (37%), but those with lower grades also found employment.
Programming and software development jobs were taken by graduates with degrees across various classifications, but cyber security attracted more graduates with a first-class degree.
Those with a 2:2 or third class degree were more likely to be working as IT quality and testing professionals and IT trainers. A third-class degree may present some challenges when applying for competitive roles, but these graduates shouldn't feel discouraged as plenty of opportunities are available in the industry.
| First class honours | 52% |
|---|---|
| Upper second class honours | 37% |
| Lower second class honours | 10% |
| Third class honours/Pass | 2% |
Location
The IT industry in the UK is very diverse, with hotspots all over the country for graduates to find work. London is Europe's leading tech hub with many tech startups based there, making it the most popular location for graduates working in IT, with 29% finding work there.1 The most popular locations outside of the capital are the South East (13%) and the North West (10%).
| London | 29% |
|---|---|
| South East | 13% |
| North West | 10% |
| Scotland | 9% |
| South West | 7% |
| West Midlands | 6% |
| East of England | 6% |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 6% |
| East Midlands | 5% |
| Northern Ireland | 5% |
| Wales | 2% |
| North East | 2% |
| Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man | 0% |
For a long time, the IT industry had struggled with gender diversity as women have been significantly underrepresented in the workforce. While progress has been made, many argue that more needs to be done to attract and retain women in tech roles.2 It is clear from the Graduate Outcomes data that it's still a male-dominant industry, with men making up 77% of graduates working in IT.
| Female | 23% |
|---|---|
| Male | 77% |
The majority graduates working in IT were from a white ethnic background (74%) and 17% had a disability. Employers wanting to improve diversity and inclusion in their workplace can use Graduate Outcomes data to see if their targets are achievable.
| Asian or Asian British - Bangladeshi | 2% |
|---|---|
| Asian or Asian British - Indian | 6% |
| Asian or Asian British - Pakistani | 4% |
| Black or Black British - African | 5% |
| Black or Black British - Caribbean | 1% |
| Chinese | 1% |
| Mixed | 5% |
| Other | 2% |
| Other Asian background | 3% |
| Other Black background | 0% |
| White | 72% |
| Known disability | 18% |
|---|---|
| No known disability (including unknowns) | 82% |
Most graduates working in IT come from the highest POLAR participation quintile.
| 1 | 10% |
|---|---|
| 2 | 15% |
| 3 | 19% |
| 4 | 23% |
| 5 | 33% |
Individuals from the highest quintile tended to find employment as:
- Programmers and software development professionals
- IT business analysts, architects and systems designers
- Information technology professionals
- IT user support technicians
- Cyber security professionals
Graduates from the lowest quintile tended to work as:
- Programmers and software development professionals
- IT user support technicians
- IT business analysts, architects and systems designers
- Cyber security professionals
- Information technology professionals
It's positive that disadvantaged students can access similar roles to their more privileged counterparts, but it's important that employers and education providers continue to work together to expand opportunities in tech for underrepresented groups. Supporting this talent can help alleviate skills shortage issues and create a more diverse workforce.3
Notes
- Regional spotlight: What makes London Europe's leading tech hub?, UKTN, 2022.
- Why tech companies may struggle with retaining women in tech, Women in Tech.
- How can we support diverse talent into the tech sector?, We are tech women, 2022.
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