Information scientist

You could do a degree or postgraduate course to become an information scientist.

You can find approved courses and qualifications through the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP).

Courses include:

• information studies
• records and information management
• informatics
• data asset management
• library studies

Entry to postgraduate courses is competitive, so you may have an advantage if you can get work experience with an organisation, for example a university research library or local council records office.

Your university careers service may be able to help you with this.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

• a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
• university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/

You could apply to do an apprenticeship, such as:

• Library, Information and Archive Services Assistant Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
• Information Manager Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
• Archivist and Records Manager Level 7 Degree Apprenticeship

These can take between 2 and 3 years to complete and combine work-based training with study.

Entry requirements

To get onto an apprenticeship, you'll find it useful to have:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide

You could start as an admin officer or information assistant with an organisation.

You could then move into information and records management through on-the-job training and accreditation with a professional body.

Career Tips

Knowledge of information management standards will be helpful for this role. For example, those developed by the:

• International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
• British Standards Institution (BSI)

Professional and Industry Bodies

You could join the Information & Records Management Society for networking opportunities, industry news and training.

Further Information

You can find out more about working in information science from the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) and Information & Records Management Society .

As an information scientist, you could:

• plan and develop information management strategies
• collect and store information in line with data and privacy regulations
• monitor licensing agreements to make sure they meet your needs
• audit resources to confirm they are accurate, up to date and still required
• apply safety and security controls to requests for information access
• train and supervise colleagues on how to use information systems
• maintain information dashboards and reporting systems
• use AI tools to find, organise and analyse records
• present management reports in an engaging and user-friendly way

You could work in an office.