find your perfect postgrad program
Search our Database of 30,000 Courses
Posted April 28, 2014
Should Postgrads Learn Basic Programming?
Basic computing skills are essential for today’s postgraduate students. Long since gone are the days when arts postgrads could hand their theses and essays in on hand written A4 foolscap. These days you are just as likely to have to give a presentation about your studies to tutors and your student peer group as type an essay up. Of course, most postgrads can handle simple word processing and maybe even the occasional spreadsheet, but you really do need to upskill from the level that most undergraduates need when conducting your Masters or PhD studies.
Being able to handle basic computer programming is something that most employers are after when they are thinking about taking on a postgraduate. Given that you are in the educational environment, accessing computer programming courses alongside your regular study is easier now than putting off until later. If you are improving your computer skills by learning about html programming, for instance, then it won’t just make you more attractive to potential employers down the road - it can help attracting student corporate sponsorship as well.
Science postgrads probably already know how important computers are in virtually every field of scientific research these days. However, developing the ability to programme a computer as well as simply use a software tool - developed by someone else - will give you an edge. Arts students can sometimes fall into the trap of thinking that computer programming simply won’t help with their studies. However, given that so many arts courses rely on the ability to manipulate large sets of data, the ability to program in a basic computing language will also be an advantage. There are, of course, a huge variety of applications that you can use even simple computer programming for. Using it to further your studies is only one – who know where else it might lead?
Okay, so once you have bitten the bullet and realised that learning a computer language will assist you with your future career and current studies, the time comes to think about which language - or languages - will be best for you. C, C++ and C# are very widely used programming languages. They are inter-related, so learning one can help you with the others. This group of languages is often used for creating new computer programmes from scratch, so it would suit science-based postgrads. C and C++ are best for novices, but C# is very widely used these days, so it could be the most forward thinking option.
Java and javascript are widely used languages these days which are perfect for marketing and design postgrads. They are probably the best ones to learn if you want to go on to work on with internet based plugins or mobile apps. They’re great for psychology students too who want to design easy ways for members of the public to take part in surveys, for instance. The skills for both languages are very much in demand right at the moment so would suit any postgrad student.
Remember that learning computer languages like html does not mean mastering it all overnight. Most professional computer programmers are in a constant state of learning. Nevertheless, understanding the basic principles of any language will stand you in good stead later. You can learn them from books, from online courses and, as you might expect, from traditional classroom set ups. So, don’t hold back and add some computer language skills to your CV to go alongside your postgrad qualifications.
Related articles
Being able to handle basic computer programming is something that most employers are after when they are thinking about taking on a postgraduate. Given that you are in the educational environment, accessing computer programming courses alongside your regular study is easier now than putting off until later. If you are improving your computer skills by learning about html programming, for instance, then it won’t just make you more attractive to potential employers down the road - it can help attracting student corporate sponsorship as well.
Science postgrads probably already know how important computers are in virtually every field of scientific research these days. However, developing the ability to programme a computer as well as simply use a software tool - developed by someone else - will give you an edge. Arts students can sometimes fall into the trap of thinking that computer programming simply won’t help with their studies. However, given that so many arts courses rely on the ability to manipulate large sets of data, the ability to program in a basic computing language will also be an advantage. There are, of course, a huge variety of applications that you can use even simple computer programming for. Using it to further your studies is only one – who know where else it might lead?
Okay, so once you have bitten the bullet and realised that learning a computer language will assist you with your future career and current studies, the time comes to think about which language - or languages - will be best for you. C, C++ and C# are very widely used programming languages. They are inter-related, so learning one can help you with the others. This group of languages is often used for creating new computer programmes from scratch, so it would suit science-based postgrads. C and C++ are best for novices, but C# is very widely used these days, so it could be the most forward thinking option.
Java and javascript are widely used languages these days which are perfect for marketing and design postgrads. They are probably the best ones to learn if you want to go on to work on with internet based plugins or mobile apps. They’re great for psychology students too who want to design easy ways for members of the public to take part in surveys, for instance. The skills for both languages are very much in demand right at the moment so would suit any postgrad student.
Remember that learning computer languages like html does not mean mastering it all overnight. Most professional computer programmers are in a constant state of learning. Nevertheless, understanding the basic principles of any language will stand you in good stead later. You can learn them from books, from online courses and, as you might expect, from traditional classroom set ups. So, don’t hold back and add some computer language skills to your CV to go alongside your postgrad qualifications.
Related articles
Categories
- Accommodation
- Budgeting
- Coronavirus (Covid-19)
- Courses
- Distance Learning / Online Study
- Fees
- Funding
- General
- Infographic
- International Students
- Jobs and Careers
- Mature Students
- MBA Programs
- Other
- Personal Statement
- PGCE
- PHD
- Student Life
- Student Welfare
- Study Abroad
- Study Advice
- Study In Australia
- Study In Europe
- Study In Ireland
- Study in UK
- Study In USA
- Theses and Dissertations
- Top 10 Lists
- Universities
