The University of Bath is keen to recruit more women to its online Computer Science MSc
According to the Royal Society, demand for computer specialists, like data scientists and data engineers, has more than tripled since 2014. This is a trend that seems set to continue. Growth in sophisticated technologies, such as AI, cybersecurity and robotics, has led to a surge in demand for qualified computer scientists, as businesses push for competitive advantage.
From finance to pharmaceuticals, nearly every industry sector is calling out for digital expertise and software development. As businesses advance, so does the need for systems developers, programmers, and IT consultants, as well as specialists in evolving fields like AI and robotics.
With topics ranging from software engineering and cybersecurity to programming and human-computer interaction, the University of Bath's Computer Science online MSc will advance your knowledge in crucial areas and enable you to pursue your interests.
By gaining the necessary skills in these specialist areas, you will be far more attractive to prospective employers. Similarly, if you're looking to progress in your current role, you can gain the tools to take that next step.
The Institute of Coding (IoC), a partnership of academia and industry committed to filling the digital skills gap, estimates that 518,000 highly trained digital specialists are needed in the UK by 2022 to support the digital economy. Computer science as a career is so highly regarded that the IoC found that only 13 per cent of graduates were still unemployed six months after completing their studies. As a founding member of the IoC, the University of Bath regularly draws on these insights, alongside its industry connections.
The University of Bath's Department of Computer Science are also aware of issues inherent in digital spheres. As an industry, we often code without thinking about our audience, or the people who will benefit from our systems. If we want the computer systems that run our world to value women, we need more women coders.
There are frequent reports about algorithms having a negative impact on people's lives. In 2018, a study by MIT found that artificial intelligence systems designed to recognise human faces had an error rate of 0.8 per cent for light-skinned men but 35 per cent for darker-skinned women.
To avoid these outcomes and improve the quality of software we build so it serves everyone — and all communities — equally well, we need software development teams that are more diverse. A big part of this task is to get more women working in the industry. Right now, only 19 per cent of software developers in the US are women. In the UK that figure is even lower — just 13 per cent.
For this reason, the University of Bath is keen to recruit more women to its online Computer Science MSc. The 100% online course is taught remotely, via user-friendly digital learning platforms. Applicants should have A-Level maths, but no previous coding experience is required. The MSc is looking for applicants who like a challenge, have an enquiring mind, critical thinking skills and an interest in computer science.
Achieving a masters in computer science with the University of Bath not only equips you with the skills to meet today's demand, it also encourages you to apply an ethical framework to everything you do. It prepares you for the future of Computer Science, where ethical questions are becoming increasingly central to digital industries.
Through generating new skills, knowledge and practical ability, the University of Bath's Computer Science online MSc unlocks a world of opportunity in both your professional career and your personal life.
