Program Overview

Computer software is all around us. From commercial activities like shopping on Amazon through to government departments, from manufacturing processes, to environmental, and personal use, it plays a part in so many industries and activities, where a small change could make a huge difference to society. This course aims to give you an understanding of what’s possible, and where your skills could take you, as well as guiding you in developing hands-on, practical skills and understanding the human and social contexts of software systems.

Software engineering is all about finding practical solutions to real problems. To succeed, employers will want you to be able to produce software that is robust, sustainable, reliable and attractive to use – all at a reasonable cost and to a certain timeframe. This course could help you develop the skills you need to become a professional software developer.

As industries develop and change, the possibilities and requirements of software engineering change rapidly too. We aim to give you the knowledge and skills you need to operate and succeed in this fast paced and dynamic environment. You’ll have the chance to:

• Explore contemporary methods and techniques in software development
• Understand the tasks of the modern software engineering process and how they apply to projects of different scales.
• Develop the flexibility and adaptability you’ll need for a long-term career

During your studies you’ll be able to use the high-standard computing facilities we have on campus, including a range of machines running a variety of operating systems and software. The course emphasis is on guiding you in developing hands-on, practical skills in software development, as well as an understanding of the human and social contexts of software systems.

After your second year you’ll be able to take an optional placement year, where you’ll be able to put into practice some of the techniques you’ve learnt. By gaining some real-world experience, you could make yourself more attractive to employers too.

The Software Engineering BSc(Hons) course shares a common first year with a number of other courses: Computing, Computer Science and Software Engineering MEng. That means you have the flexibility to transfer from one course to another during your first year if you feel you have a particular interest in a subject that perhaps you haven’t experienced before. Transferring to the integrated Master’s courses depends on achieving an average mark of 60% in your first year.