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Software, Website and App Development

This area of software, web and app development is dynamic, innovative, growing rapidly and most importantly, the platforms which end users interact with.  There are few, if any industry sectors which do not now rely on the power of technologies like these and niche opportunities and companies are developing in industries like finance (Fintech), healthcare (Healthtech), education (Edtech), and entertainment to name a few. Employers range from huge tech-giants to startups, offering diverse career opportunities. London, Thames Valley, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Birmingham are major hubs, but remote work is also common and there are plenty of companies across the South West, with Cornwall identified as the fastest growing tech sector outside of London with a strong local (SW) emphasis on tech developments.  You will find opportunities range from forming part of an in-house team of developers to working for specialist consultancies offering niche opportunities.  There is a great deal of project management involved in development work (to ensure the customer or end user gets the best experience of using the website/application, so development is iterative and agile.  Skills in coding, UX/UI design, mobile design, agile project management, and problem-solving are highly valued and we will reveal numerous ways you can explore and develop your skills for free in the ‘Developing Experience’ section.  This area does not sit still for long, so anyone interested in joining this area needs to love change and love learning since evolution is part of the day job.

The following role profile on the Prospects website will help inform you of the day-to-day responsibilities in graduate level roles and will help inform the kinds of skills, experience and knowledge needed:

You may be interested to watch this recording on Panopto of an University of Exeter alumni panel on ‘Careers in Data and AI’ recorded in January 2025 and this recording from February 2024

If you are interested in these roles you might also be curious to read about :

Skills employers look for

Every employer is different so there are no definitive lists here.  These are meant as a guide and should be considered in addition to fully exploring role requirements outlined in person specification, job description and advert for each role.  Different employers will use different coding languages to develop their products and services for web and/or apps. With programming languages, as roles become more senior and highly paid, specific language experience and skills can command higher salaries.  For graduate roles, the aptitude for coding can be more sought after, with an expectation that this will be learned.  If you have target employers you would love to work for, perhaps instigate a conversation with them about what skills will be most of value so you can target any learning you might wish to do.

  • Adaptability
  • Agile and Scrum methodologies and management understanding
  • Application Programming Interface (API) knowledge (enabling different software systems to work together)
  • Attention to detail
  • Cloud services familiarity with deploying and managing applications on AWS, Azure, Google Cloud basics
  • Cybersecurity fundamentals
  • Mobile app development e.g., Typescript, Flutter, React Native, Swift, Kotlin
  • Problem-solving and debugging
  • Programming skills e.g., Python, Java, JavaScript, C#, Swift
  • Software testing e.g. unit testing, integration testing, test automation
  • Team collaboration tools e.g. Jira, Trello, Asana, Azure DevOps, Monday.com, ClickUp, GitLab, Slack
  • Understanding of databases SQL, NoSQL, MongoDB
  • User Interface (UI)/ User Experience (UX) design awareness
  • Version control Git, GitHub, GitLab
  • Web development skills HTML, CSS, JavaScript, frameworks like React, PHP, Angular, or Vue

In order to develop these skills, remember Career Zone also offers a range of Personal and Professional Development sessions which are available to book on Handshake and run at least once per term.  Please also read through the sections about Gaining Experience and Further Study and Professional Development to discover how you can develop your skills through experience and by gaining further knowledge or qualifications. 

Gaining Experience

All experiences ranging from volunteering, active involvement in clubs and societies can help you to develop relevant and transferable skills. You may wish to consider involvement in:

These Exeter Students' Guild societies (available on the Exeter campuses) could be an excellent way to demonstrate an interest in this work area. 

There are no current societies on the Cornwall campuses which relate to development, but you can start one!

You could participate in:

  • Hackathon – Work collaboratively within groups at events to build innovative tech projects
  • Exeter Raspberry Pi Jam – A monthly community event taking place in Exeter, providing the opportunity to showcase projects, learn about Raspberry Pi and related technologies

The Forage - Software Engineering offers immersive, remote experiences of job simulations so you can build your skills and awareness of software development.  

Another of interest on The Forage is Introduction to Technology with KPMG

The following platforms offer, often free, relevant courses in skills such as coding and programming which can be very useful for adding to your CV and for gaining confidence:

University of Exeter Employability Schemes

Include any relevant Exeter Employability Schemes found here

Career Zone Internship schemes: Internships can be extremely useful, so try and get relevant vacation work or placements

Exeter Award: The Exeter Award will help you stand out from the crowd and give you the confidence to shout about the experiences you've had at university

Speculative applications and voluntary opportunities

Undertaking relevant work experience will also allow you to develop new skills and gain a valuable insight into the sector. As jobs and opportunities are not always advertised, it can be useful to develop your networking skills and apply speculatively. You may find it useful to read our Researching employers page.  We suggest that you consider a targeted approach and look at local employers to approach.  You can research and identify local companies online.  Also, members of Tech South West and Tech Cornwall will potentially be good places to start.  These are the sector leading Technology networks based in the South West. 

Finding part time work

Finding advertised graduate roles, placements and internships

Competition can be strong, especially for entry-level positions. Use the following resources to find advertised vacancies and research employers.  For general information about finding graduate opportunities, please visit our Graduate Jobs page.

Graduate schemes and internships

Placements

If you are interested in finding out more about work placements, you can also access the Work Placements SharePoint via Single Sign-On. This resource covers all aspects of credit-bearing work experiences as part of your degree, including what a placement is, how to apply for them, and bespoke information for international students or those interested in working abroad. 

  • Here is a list of Industrial Placements in development on offer via Bright Network
  • Companies can offer a Year in industry – it’s worth looking at Prospects.

Further sources of support

If you are an international student, visit our international webpages for help finding opportunities both in the UK and globally.

To find opportunities outside the UK use GoinGlobal.

Further study and professional development

Some individuals decide to undertake further study to build their skills and knowledge of the sector and related occupations. Not all roles or employers will require this, so it is important to research entry requirements and employer preferences before committing to additional training or qualifications. 

There are several postgraduate degrees in development:

  • Here is a list of software development masters courses available in the UK, listed by Find a Masters
  • Here is a list of web development masters courses available in the UK, listed by Find a Masters

Advice

If you are considering postgraduate or doctoral level study before entering your chosen sector, please visit our Postgraduate Study page for more information about choosing further study.

Other professional development and training:

  • HeadForwards Digital Academy is a privately led digital skills training bootcamp, offering skills development in software development, including Agile development, Bootstrap, Django, JavaScript and more. Claiming to take students from no skills to junior developer within 16 weeks, this skills academy supports the fast-growing tech sector in Cornwall.
  • Certified Internet Web Professional (CIW) – Provides web development certifications.

Qualifications valued by UK employers:

It is important, before embarking on and investing in paid-for training, to understand what is most needed by your target employers and also for your target work area.  Informational interviews and career conversations will be really useful to discover your best options and goals.  In addition many employers will pay for professional training and required certifications once you start working for them if they are valued. 

There is a huge range of course options available to learn new skills in specific areas.  Too many to list here.  Some paid for and some free.  If you’re interested in free training options, look at the ‘Gaining experience concertina’ for a list of useful links.  If you’re looking for something accredited by a professional body, we recommend looking into options from:

Information and links from professional bodies

If you have studied a related degree, check if your course is accredited by a professional body. Being a member of a professional body is voluntary; however, it can be valuable for developing networks, continuing your professional development, and generally keeping up to date with what's happening in the sector. 

Government-Backed Initiatives