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Studies & Degrees in Internet Technology

Internet technology is the part of computing that deals with networks and with the services that run on them: websites, web applications, e-mail, online shops and cloud services. The Internet Society describes the global internet as tens of thousands of interconnected networks run by service providers, companies, universities and governments, which can communicate because they share open standards. The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) publishes the standards on which browsers and websites are built.

Courses usually follow one of two lines, and many combine them. The first is web design and development: markup languages, programming for the browser and the server, databases, interface design and accessibility. The second is networking: how networks are designed, configured, secured and maintained. Both lines now include cyber security and cloud computing.

Qualifications and levels

Internet technology is seldom the name of a degree. It is usually a major, a specialisation or a vocational course inside information technology or computer science.

  • Bachelor's degrees. The Bachelor of Information Technology at the University of Wollongong, in Australia, takes three years full time. Students choose a major in Network Design and Management or in Web Design and Development, or follow a broader pathway. The course covers programming, data management, systems analysis and design, networks and communications, cyber security, web technologies and project management, and the university states that it is accredited by the Australian Computer Society.
  • Vocational training. In Spain the official higher vocational qualification is Técnico Superior en Desarrollo de Aplicaciones Web, a grado superior of 2,000 hours in the Informática y Comunicaciones family. It includes operating systems, databases, programming and markup languages, and a training period in a company is part of the curriculum. In Australia, Holmesglen offers computing and IT courses that include cyber security, programming, information systems and web development.
  • Vendor certifications. Networking is often certified by the manufacturer. To earn the Cisco CCNA, candidates pass one exam, 200-301 CCNA, which lasts 120 minutes, is given in English and has no prerequisites. It covers network fundamentals, network access, IP connectivity, IP services, security fundamentals, and automation and programmability. The certification is valid for three years. Europa Networking, a Cisco Academy since 2002 with centres in Milan, Bergamo and Brescia, teaches Cisco courses as intensive one-week live classes.
  • Master's degrees and short courses. Graduates can specialise further in areas such as cyber security, cloud computing or data. Short courses and bootcamps exist as well; ask the school what recognition the certificate has.

Where to study it

SpainExchange lists 14 active schools for internet technology. Australia, the United States and Spain have three each, the United Kingdom has two, and Mexico, France and Italy have one each. Teaching is mostly in English, and in Spanish at the schools in Spain and Mexico; ask the schools in France and Italy which language each course is taught in.

Examples from the directory are the University of Wollongong and Holmesglen in Australia, Europa Networking in Italy, and Florida Universitària in Catarroja, near Valencia, which offers bachelor's degrees, vocational training cycles and postgraduate courses.

When comparing schools, look at the balance between web development and networking, how many hours are practical, whether a work placement is included, and which language the course is taught in. For vendor certifications, check that the centre is authorised by the manufacturer.

Careers

Typical jobs are web developer, front-end or back-end programmer, web designer, network technician, network or systems administrator and technical support specialist. In Spain, TodoFP lists web programmer, multimedia programmer and developer of applications for web environments as the jobs for holders of the Desarrollo de Aplicaciones Web qualification.

Entry routes differ. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, educational requirements for web developers and digital designers range from a high school diploma to a bachelor's degree, while network and computer systems administrators typically need a bachelor's degree in a field related to computer or information science. The outlook also differs. The Bureau projects employment of web developers and digital designers to grow 5 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 13,600 openings a year. It projects employment of network and computer systems administrators to decline 4 percent in the same period, although about 13,400 openings a year are still expected.

Frequently asked questions

Is internet technology the same as computer science?

No. Computer science focuses more on software development and algorithms. Internet technology is more applied: it deals with building websites and with running the networks and services behind them.

Do I need a university degree to work in web development?

Not always. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics states that requirements range from a high school diploma to a bachelor's degree, and Spain has an official 2,000-hour vocational qualification in web application development.

What is the CCNA?

It is Cisco's associate-level networking certification. Candidates pass one 120-minute exam, there are no prerequisites, and the certification is valid for three years.

In which languages can I study internet technology?

Most schools in the directory teach in English. The schools in Spain and Mexico teach in Spanish, and the Cisco CCNA exam is given in English.