Don't bother with that degree, say IT pros

Learning to code in your bedroom will prepare you for the IT job market just as well as a three-year degree costing £27,000, professionals said in a survey published today by CWJobs.co.uk.

More than half the IT professionals polled said they would not do an IT-related degree today if they were paying the increased fees, which will come into force next year.

Of the 1,300 questioned, 45 per cent said they feel a degree in computing is no longer valuable for securing a career in IT, and 71 per cent stated that self-taught developers are as skilled as those with formal training or education.

Many in industry were worried about the negative impact of tuition fees on the industry, with 64 per cent of respondents stating that the increased tuition fees will drive UK students abroad.

University tuition fees will rise to up to £9,000 a year from 2012. ®