# What can you do with a Computer Science degree?

> Source: https://coursetojob.co.uk/courses/computer-science/ — updated 2026-09-25. Published by CourseToJob (independent; not affiliated with UCAS, HESA or GOV.UK).

**Quick answer:** A Computer Science degree commonly leads to roles such as junior software developer, iT support analyst and data analyst. Five years after graduating, Computer Science graduates had median earnings of £41,700 (middle half: £30,000–£58,200), and 86.5% were in sustained work or further study (DfE LEO, 2023–24 tax year). The largest employer sector for Computing graduates is information and communication (36.9% of those in work).

Computer science covers programming, systems, and computational thinking. Graduates often start in software, data, or support roles. Official outcome figures appear when an extract is loaded.

## What jobs can you get with a Computer Science degree?

- **Junior software developer**: Implements tickets in an existing codebase, writes tests, and pairs with a more senior engineer. Skills often asked for: version control, unit testing, code review.
- **IT support analyst**. Skills often asked for: ticketing, user support, access control.
- **Data analyst**. Skills often asked for: SQL, spreadsheets, dashboards.
- **QA tester**. Skills often asked for: test cases, regression, bug reports.
- **Cyber security analyst (entry)**. Skills often asked for: logs, identity basics, incident notes.

## Where do Computer Science graduates work?

Computing graduates in UK employment five years after graduating, by industry (DfE LEO industry data, tax year 2023–24; shares calculated by CourseToJob from DfE's rounded counts).

| Industry | Share of graduates in work | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|
| Information and communication | 36.9% | £44,700 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 12.3% | £46,100 |
| Wholesale and retail | 8.9% | £30,700 |
| Finance and insurance | 7.3% | £58,900 |
| Administrative and support services | 6.6% | £34,800 |
| Education | 5.5% | £31,100 |
| Manufacturing | 4.2% | £38,400 |
| Public administration and defence | 3.6% | £35,900 |

## How much do Computer Science graduates earn?

UK-domiciled first-degree graduates in Computer science (CAH11-01-01). Source: DfE LEO CAH level 3 subject data, tax year 2023–24 (https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-catalogue/data-set/d8bc2906-419e-40ef-ad8e-9b2ccd3997dc). Each row is a different graduating cohort.

| Years after graduating | Graduated | Median earnings | Middle half | In work or further study | All-graduate median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021/2022 | £31,500 | £24,900–£41,000 | 85.3% | £26,400 |
| 3 | 2019/2020 | £38,100 | £28,500–£51,200 | 86.5% | £30,000 |
| 5 | 2017/2018 | £41,700 | £30,000–£58,200 | 86.5% | £33,700 |
| 10 | 2012/2013 | £49,400 | £33,300–£73,900 | 84.8% | — |

## Which universities have the highest-earning Computing graduates?

Median earnings five years after graduating, universities with at least 50 graduates measured (DfE LEO provider-level data, 2023–24). Not a quality ranking.

| University | Median earnings | Graduates |
|---|---|---|
| [University of Cambridge](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-cambridge/) | £96,600 | 65 |
| [Imperial College London](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/imperial-college-london/) | £93,700 | 60 |
| [University of Warwick](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-warwick/) | £71,400 | 85 |
| [University College London](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/ucl/) | £70,600 | 60 |
| [University of Bristol](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-bristol/) | £70,100 | 80 |
| [University of Southampton](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-southampton/) | £66,200 | 95 |
| [University of Bath](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-bath/) | £65,500 | 70 |
| [King's College London](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/kings-college-london/) | £63,000 | 105 |
| [University of Birmingham](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-birmingham/) | £62,600 | 100 |
| [University of Nottingham](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-nottingham/) | £62,600 | 100 |

## Is Computer Science the right degree for you?

You may enjoy it if:
- You enjoy debugging until a failing test passes.
- You want to understand algorithms, not only drag-and-drop tools.
- You like documenting systems so other people can run them.

It may not suit you if:
- You hoped to avoid mathematics entirely.
- You dislike reading other people’s code.
- You want a course with no group projects or version control.

## Interview questions for Computer Science graduate roles

First-job interviews for junior developers, analysts, testers and support roles usually ask you to talk through something you have actually built, tested or supported. The prompts below are editorial illustrations, not questions from a named employer.

- Walk us through a small program you wrote and how you knew it worked. (What it tests: Whether you can explain your own work, tests, and a bug you actually fixed — not recite a tutorial.)
- A ticket says the login page is slow. What do you look at first? (What it tests: Structured troubleshooting: reproduce, isolate, and communicate, rather than guessing a buzzword.)
- How would you explain a SQL join to someone who only uses spreadsheets? (What it tests: Clear communication with non-specialists, which data and support roles need on day one.)
- You disagree with a code-review comment. What do you do? (What it tests: Professional judgement: you can push back with evidence without treating review as a fight.)
- What would you check before granting a new colleague access to a system? (What it tests: Basic identity and least-privilege thinking for support and security-adjacent roles.)

## Frequently asked questions

### What jobs can you do with a Computer Science degree?

Common starting roles include junior software developer, iT support analyst, data analyst, qA tester and cyber security analyst (entry). Five years after graduating, the most common sectors for Computing graduates in work were information and communication (36.9%), professional, scientific and technical services (12.3%) and wholesale and retail (8.9%). These are examples, not guaranteed jobs: your experience, location and further training matter.

### How much do Computer Science graduates earn in the UK?

DfE Longitudinal Education Outcomes data for the 2023–24 tax year shows median earnings for UK-domiciled Computer Science graduates of £31,500 one year after graduating, £38,100 three years after graduating, £41,700 five years after graduating and £49,400 ten years after graduating. Each figure describes a different graduating cohort, not one person's pay rise, and it is gross pay for those in sustained employment, not a starting salary offer.

### Is a Computer Science degree worth it?

It depends on what you want to do. On the official data, 86.5% of Computer Science graduates were in sustained employment or further study five years after graduating, with median earnings of £41,700. For comparison, the median across all first-degree graduates of GB higher education institutions was £33,700 at the same point. That places Computer Science 24 of 146 subject groups by five-year median earnings. Earnings are only one factor: enjoyment of the subject, accreditation and the route into your target job matter too.

### Which universities have the highest-earning Computing graduates?

Among universities in our index with at least 50 graduates measured, the highest five-year median earnings for Computing were at University of Cambridge (£96,600), Imperial College London (£93,700) and University of Warwick (£71,400). These figures reflect entry grades, subject mix and where graduates work, so they are not a measure of teaching quality.

### Can international students study Computer Science in the UK?

Yes, most UK universities accept international applicants, but entry requirements, recognised qualifications, English-language evidence and overseas tuition fees depend on the university and programme. Check the university course page and international admissions team, then check visa requirements on GOV.UK.


Apply for undergraduate courses on UCAS: https://www.ucas.com/explore/search/courses?query=Computer%20Science