Webdesign/SEO qualifications

Where in the UK?

[limbo]

I have been interested in doing more to enhance my skills and knowledge for sometime and wondered if anybody knew any good Colleges Universties or Training programmes which offer proffesional qualifications (degree level) in SEO and Webdesign.

Many courses seem to touch on the subject (Marketing/Graphic design/Multi media) but few seem to offer a exclusive Webmaster course. Is there anything like this in the UK to make me a more complete designer and my CV more Juicy? I had a look and found very little so hoped you mignt be able to help.

Thanks

Liam

[jackofalltrades]

Are you talking about doing a degree?

Or shorter course?

The Open University may be a good way to go for both options.

Also, I did a combined studies degree at Uni - joint Marketing and Information Management (HTML, web theory, accessibility, databases, etc - not too techy!). A lot of Uni's offer these courses that you can tailor to your needs.

JOAT

[limbo]

Cheers JOAT

I already have a degree (totally non web related) so would be hesitant about spending another 3 years eating beans on toast and drinking Stella.;) (hang on, I still drink Stella so you never know ;);))

The Open University is a great suggestion - I will check that out later.

Did you do your joint course in the UK? if so where?

As you say many offer this type of course so it would seem to be a good option.

ta

Limbo

[jackofalltrades]

I studied at Queen Margaret University College in Edinburgh.

www.qmuc.ac.uk

Im not entirely sure if they still do combined studies though! :)

One thing - the course I did gave a qualification for the end of each year:

Year 1 - HNC
Year 2 - HND
Year 3 - Degree
Year 4 - Hons Degree

So, you could leave at any point and still get a qualification with what you have done.

Another point to note was that there wasnt much in the way of cross over on the subjects - marketing is pure marketing - IM is pure IM.

This was to the extent I did a third year module in Marketing and Information Management - a 1st level module (1st year marketing for IM students and vice versa).

Personally, I think you would be best off doing a few short course or night school classes on difference subject areas that you want to learn.

It would be cheaper and would be less of a commitment.

JOAT

[tbear]

Perhaps in the near future ww could offer a course, what with all the info here.
Can't see how any uni could equal the knowledge and experience seen here. Just a matter of sitting down and surfing..... :)

[Jane_Doe]

For SEO work, I think your best background may be a good portfolio of sites to show a client rather than any specific degree.

[limbo]

I feel this way too Tbear. WW is top on my favourites alongside google (and toffeweb :) ). It (all of you) have supplied me with answers to every question I have posted.

But I guess what I am getting at is: Do professional qualifications in webmedia, design and SEO actually have much clout in the big wide world? or is it better to have a chunky portfolio containing past and present websites? or ideally both?

I am looking too change jobs and have found it to be such a highly competitive market and felt a decent qualification might be an asset in the search.

Cheers

Limbo

[jackofalltrades]

I agree that best place is to learn is from experience - but a qualification can give you the grounding to get that experience and can also benefit you when applying for jobs.

If you dont have a qualification behind you then you really need a lot of good proven experience in order to get into a decent level position.

Of course, if you play your cards right you can get and qualification and get experience at the same time.

Look at this way - you will doing loads of assignments and reports for course work - you may as well focus them on your own sites and devlelop your skills at the same time, than write a report that wont be looked at after its marked.

JOAT

[sem4u]

Can anyone recommend a short course that is relatively inexpensive to learn more about HTML, Javascript and possibly XML.

Some courses are so expensive. I was quoted £5-6k for a MA in Marketing! :o This was distance learning where they send you lectures on a CD and have a website as backup, etc.

They were offering a whole copy of dreamweaver though :)

[ukgimp]

sem4U

I remember looking for courses that covered this sort of thing and they all seemed expensive and having looked at the course content after I have learnt those skills quite often fall well short. There are rakes of course online and good books on all of these topics. SAMS teech yourself in 24 hours is a great place to start. Book and the web, there are loads and they are good too.