Nine graduating students received membership of the British Computer Society (BCS) last week after signing up to a new membership on graduation scheme.

The students, all from the University’s School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, collected their membership certificates from Maria Morgan, Membership Marketing Advisor at BCS, at their departmental reception.

Achieving MBCS (Member of the British Computer Society) status normally involves working for three to five years in a related job before being eligible. The aim of the new scheme is to make progression from student to full membership far more accessible to graduates entering the IT profession. Only students taking BCS accredited degree schemes are eligible for the scheme.

With graduates facing one of the toughest job markets in recent years, membership of the BCS is likely to improve their chances of finding a job. Iain Langdon, from the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering said: ‘For a person starting out in an IT career, BCS membership sets you apart from other practitioners and shows readiness to contribute both to your own career development and the IT profession as a whole.’

Maria Morgan added: ‘The scheme aims to help increase the breadth and depth of professionalism across the IT landscape and is seen as an essential step in the development of the industry.’