Software Engineering MSci (with Foundation Year)

About the course

Modern society could not function without large software systems. National utilities and infrastructure, energy, communications, health, business and transport all rely on complex and large applications. With the increasing complexity of these software systems comes an increasing difficulty in building and delivering a correct, and robust, solution to customers on time and on budget. Such software cannot be produced successfully, safely and efficiently without following some constraining, and managing, process. This is the domain of the software engineer.

Course structure

Teaching on this degree is structured into lectures, where all students are taught together, seminars of smaller groups of around 15-20 students, and tutorials which typically have no more than 10 students. During your first year of study, there are approximately 12 teaching hours each week, which reduces to approximately 10 teaching hours in your second and third years. On top of teaching hours, you are also expected to spend a number of hours studying independently each week, as well as studying in groups to prepare for any group assessments that you may have.

Assessment and feedback

During your degree, there are a variety of assessment types to ensure you are given a range of opportunities to demonstrate your knowledge, skills and understanding of the academic and professional components of the degree. These include written exams, portfolios of tasks and activities, and practical coursework. In your final year, there is also a dissertation or extended research project to complete. You will be given written feedback on your assessments, and you will have the opportunity to discuss this with your tutor in more detail.

Curriculum overview

Basic Software Design

• OOD/OOP Principles
• Reusable Design Patterns (Patterns and anti-Patterns)
• Common Implementations (MVC etc)

Enterprise Architecture

• Container Architectures, Orchestration Enterprise Design Patterns
• Design Principles (aspect-oriented programming, inversion of dependencies, SOLID, design by contract)
• Microservice Architectures
• Messaging Middleware (message brokers vs stream platforms)
• RESTful Interfaces, Web-Sockets

Cloud Deployments

• Principles of Cloud Computing and Web Applications
• Platforms, AWS vs Microsoft Azure vs Google Cloud
• Practical Deployment – Firewalls, Security Groups, Virtual Subnets etc.

Software Processes

• Software Process Models
• Process Activities
• Coping with Change
• Improving Processes

Agile Software Development

• Agile Methods
• Agile Development Techniques
• Project Management in an Agile Environment
• Scaling Agile Methodologies

Requirements Engineering

Functional and Non-Functional Requirements

Requirements Engineering Processes

Documenting Requirements

• Elicitation
• Specification
• Validation
• Change and Change Management                                                   

Software Testing

• Text-driven Development
• Testing during Development
• Testing Environments
• Release Testing
• User Testing

Project Management

• Managing Risk
• Managing People, Teamwork
• Plan-driven Development and Scheduling
• Planning for Agile
• Estimation and Contingency
• Cocomo – Cost Modelling

Quality Management

• Software Quality
• Quality Standards
• Reviews and Inspection
• QM in Agile Development Teams
• Measuring Software Performance

Configuration Management

• Version Management
• Release Management – CI/CD Models
• Building Systems

Change Management

Entry requirements

Careers

There is a major skills gap in the software engineering sector, with the Tech Partnership reporting that 85% of hard-to-fill positions are difficult to recruit to because of a lack of specialist skills (Employer Insights: skills survey 2015). Our Software Engineering degree will develop employable graduates, who have experience in practical skills that are highly sought after by industry, including programming in C, C++, Java, Lua, Python, C# and low-level languages, such as x86 and ARM

Enhancement opportunities

SALA

The Service and Leadership Award (SALA) is offered as an extra-curricular programme involving service-based experiences, development of leadership potential and equipping you for a career in a rapidly changing world. It enhances your degree, it is something which is complimentary but different and which has a distinct ‘value-added’ component. Find out more on our Service and Leadership Award page.

Study Abroad

As part of your degree, you can choose to spend either a semester or a full year of study at one of our partner universities as part of our Study Abroad programme. Find out more on our Study Abroad page.

Tuition fees

The tuition fees for the 2023/24 academic year are £9,250 for full-time undergraduate courses.

If you are a student from the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, your tuition fees will also be £9,250.

The University reserves the right to increase Home and EU Undergraduate and PGCE tuition fees in line with any inflationary or other increase authorised by the Secretary of State for future years of study.

Scholarships

We have a range of scholarships to help with the cost of your studies. Visit our scholarships page to find out more.

International tuition fees

The International Tuition fees for 2023/24 are £12,500.

Visit our International fees page for more information.

Course combinations

With Foundation year, this degree is only available to study as a Single Honours course.