12 June 2015
A survey carried out by UCC’s Business Information Systems (BIS) programme indicates that job prospects for graduates emerging from the four year degree programme are extremely strong, with 98% of respondents currently employed.
The survey was completed by over 230 BIS graduates who completed the degree between the years 1997 and 2014. Upon completion of the programme, which covers a broad mix of business and technology-based subjects, graduates are equipped to work both at home and abroad. The survey found that over half of respondents are currently based in Ireland; while almost 20% are based in the UK; 10% in North America; with the remainder spread across mainland Europe, Canada, Asia, New Zealand and Australia.
Salaries range from an initial graduate salary of approximately €30,000, with many BIS graduates indicating that this increased to a six figure sum within five to eight years of graduation. Interestingly, the highest % of respondents to the survey fell into the highest salary bracket, with the second highest response from graduates earning between €75,000 and €100,000.
87% of graduates are employed in private corporations, companies or group practices, and positions are far-ranging, and include software and web developers, business and IT analysts, project and product managers, managing directors, engineers, investment advisors, VPs, and Head of Talent Development.
94% of graduates who completed the survey said they are either very or generally satisfied in their current roles – good news for anyone undertaking or interested in choosing BIS as their undergraduate degree.
A significant element of the BIS programme in UCC is a 6 month paid business placement in 3rd Year, each year the programme places more students in the US than any other degree programme in Europe. BIS graduates highlighted work placement as a hugely valuable learning experience, both personally and professionally, which has been most beneficial to them post-graduation.
92% of respondents said that BIS prepared them very well or well for their chosen career, and over two thirds of respondents said their current employment is in the same field as their BIS degree; a further indication that employment prospects for those graduating are very promising. A further 23% said they worked in a related field, with just 9% of respondents now working in a different field.
Professor Ciaran Murphy, Bank of Ireland Professor of Business Information Systems at UCC said “BIS graduates have an excellent track record of securing good positions on the completion of their degree. This success is a combination of strong and consistent degree results, the right mix of skills, and the students’ ability to make their college-time work for them which ultimately increases their marketability and level of job offers.”
He continued “The survey found that the aspects of BIS that appear to have been most beneficial to graduates are the mix of business and technology skills learned, and the ability to bridge that gap; and the work placement element of the course. Encouragingly, 97% of survey respondents said they would recommend BIS to a relative or friend considering a college degree, which we believe is very much down to the positive student experience we promote by operating an ‘open door policy’ whereby students can engage with the staff heading up and running the programme on a weekly basis.”
Each year approximately 140 students enrol into the first year of the BSc BIS in University College Cork. This year’s deadline for ‘Change of Mind’ CAO submissions is July 1st. Anyone interested in learning more about BIS (CK 203) in UCC can find out more at http://bis.ucc.ie/.
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