One of Britains top universities is attempting to address a "desperate" shortage of IT course applicants by launching a publicity campaign aimed at dispelling myths about working in the field.
Cambridge University home to the worlds oldest computer science department is concerned that applicants are deterred by the "geeky" image of IT and the belief that all the best jobs are or soon will be in Asia.
More widely across British universities, applications to computer science courses fell by 42 per cent between 2001 and 2004, but rallied slightly this year by 0.1 per cent.
Professor Andy Hopper, head of Cambridge's computer laboratory, told the Guardian newspaper: "We want potential students to know that the burst of the bubble is well and truly over. There is a shortage of computer scientists in this country, jobs to be filled and the chance to get rich."
Dr Mike Rodd, the British Computer Society's director of external relations, added: "We think students assume all the graduate jobs in this sector are outsourced to China and India. In fact, there are more vacancies in this country than ever before."
Find your perfect job now!