Computing
What can you do with a Computer Science degree?
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.
- Median pay after 1 year
- £31,500
- Median pay after 5 years
- £41,700
- In work or study after 5 years
- 86.5%
- Earnings rank at 5 years
- 24 of 146 subjects
- Top employer sector
- Information and communication
- Graduates in latest cohort
- 7,695
On this page
What jobs can you get with a Computer Science degree?
Graduates commonly start as junior software developer, iT support analyst, data analyst, qA tester or cyber security analyst (entry). Computer Science also builds skills that employers outside the obvious routes ask for, so many graduates move into roles that do not name the subject at all.
Junior software developer
Implements tickets in an existing codebase, writes tests, and pairs with a more senior engineer.
Skills these adverts often ask for
- version control
- unit testing
- code review
IT support analyst
Skills these adverts often ask for
- ticketing
- user support
- access control
Data analyst
Skills these adverts often ask for
- SQL
- spreadsheets
- dashboards
QA tester
Skills these adverts often ask for
- test cases
- regression
- bug reports
Cyber security analyst (entry)
Skills these adverts often ask for
- logs
- identity basics
- incident notes
Role examples and skills are CourseToJob editorial guidance, not a guarantee of a job. Pay for individual roles varies by employer and location; we do not attach a salary to a role unless an official source publishes one.
Where do Computer Science graduates work?
Five years after graduating, the largest employer sectors for Computing graduates in UK employment were information and communication (36.9%), professional, scientific and technical services (12.3%) and wholesale and retail (8.9%). One year after graduating, the most common sector was information and communication (33.7%).
| Industry sector | Share of graduates in work | Median earnings in that sector |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Most common specific industries
- Computer programming; consultancy and related activities — 29.4% of graduates in work, median £44,300
- Management consultancy activities — 3.6% of graduates in work, median £48,700
- Monetary intermediation — 2.9% of graduates in work, median £64,000
- Business support service activities n.e.c. — 2.2% of graduates in work, median £39,500
- Retail sale in non-specialised stores — 2% of graduates in work, median £22,300
- Secondary education — 1.8% of graduates in work, median £30,700
How much do Computer Science graduates earn?
Official dataComputer Science graduates had median earnings of £31,500 one year after graduating and £41,700 five years after graduating in the 2023–24 tax year. The median across all first-degree graduates of GB higher education institutions was £33,700 at five years.
| Years after graduating | Median earnings | Middle half earned | In work or further study | All-subject median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year after graduatingGraduated 2021/2022 | £31,500DfE LEO, Tax year 2023-24 | £24,900–£41,000 | 85.3% | £26,400 |
| 3 years after graduatingGraduated 2019/2020 | £38,100DfE LEO, Tax year 2023-24 | £28,500–£51,200 | 86.5% | £30,000 |
| 5 years after graduatingGraduated 2017/2018 | £41,700DfE LEO, Tax year 2023-24 | £30,000–£58,200 | 86.5% | £33,700 |
| 10 years after graduatingGraduated 2012/2013 | £49,400DfE LEO, Tax year 2023-24 | £33,300–£73,900 | 84.8% | — |
How one-year earnings have changed
Which universities have the highest-earning Computing graduates?
Among universities in our index with at least 50 Computing graduates measured, University of Cambridge had the highest median earnings five years after graduating (£96,600), followed by Imperial College London (£93,700) and University of Warwick (£71,400).
| University | Median earnings | Graduates measured |
|---|---|---|
| University of Cambridge | £96,600 | 65 |
| Imperial College London | £93,700 | 60 |
| University of Warwick | £71,400 | 85 |
| University College London | £70,600 | 60 |
| University of Bristol | £70,100 | 80 |
| University of Southampton | £66,200 | 95 |
| University of Bath | £65,500 | 70 |
| King's College London | £63,000 | 105 |
| University of Birmingham | £62,600 | 100 |
| University of Nottingham | £62,600 | 100 |
Is Computer Science the right degree for you?
EditorialYou 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
EditorialFirst-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.
Most Computer Science courses do not use a standard admissions interview. If a university invites you, it will say so — see UCAS on undergraduate interview invitations.
Illustrative question types for the roles above, not questions from a named employer.
Find Computer Science graduate jobs
Searched by the entry-level roles aboveSearch UK vacancies connected to computer science. These are role matches, not guaranteed graduate-level jobs: read the experience, qualifications and work-permission requirements in each full advert.
Salary filters and ordering use the provider’s data, which can include estimates. Cards below show employer-listed pay only. Cached searches can be up to 30 minutes old; the employer’s advert confirms availability.
Checking vacancies for Junior software developer…
Prepare your application with software developer cv examples, data analyst cv examples, cyber security cv examples, the free CV builder and the application tracker.
Is there an apprenticeship alternative to Computer Science?
EditorialSoftware developer and data technician apprenticeships exist alongside degrees. They usually mix paid work with off-the-job training. This note is editorial.
Research exact university programmes
These intake-specific records have been checked against official course pages. They are separate from the broader editorial subject links.
- Computer Science BSc at University of Manchester — September 2027
- Data Analytics MSc at University of Portsmouth — January 2027
- Computer Science BSc at University of Bath — September 2027
- Computer Science BSc at University of York — September 2027
Explore the programme finder · Compare programme details · Research international scholarships
Make your next move
Planning to study Computer Science in the UK?
Check the exact programme, entry requirements and total cost before applying. International applicants should also confirm qualification equivalence, English-language evidence and visa requirements.
Find UK study guidance for your country · Compare international course-fee examples
Explore the international student guide · Build your study budget and checklist
Universities for Computer Science in our index
127 universitiesAn editorial provision index, not a live UCAS catalogue: confirm current courses on UCAS. CourseToJob is not UCAS.Open Computer Science in the full university explorer.
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Undergraduate applications are made on UCAS, not here.
Computer Science degree: 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.
Skilled Worker visas
Sponsorship depends on the job's occupation code and the current Skilled Worker rules, not on a subject's median pay. A Skilled Worker decision uses the higher of the general threshold and the SOC going rate. Subject LEO medians are not sufficient. Read the Skilled Worker job rules on GOV.UK.