BSc (Hons) Software Engineering

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UCAS Code:
G602
Institution:
B50

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Places available to study this September

We have greater flexibility with our entry requirements during Clearing, so let’s talk about your future.

Call us on +44 (0)1202 966777 or apply online.

Our Software Engineering course is designed to give you all the skills you need to work as a technical expert in this ever-evolving sector. Join us on live chat now to find out more, or register to meet us at an Open Day.

As well as providing you with a good overview of the IT industry as a whole, we have specialist computing suites on campus where you can hone your software development skills and upskill on the latest methods, techniques and tools utilised in this field. During the course you will learn the theory and practice of software engineering, including production, quality, metrics and maintenance. You will also look at computer and networking infrastructures and characteristics like flexibility, scalability, performance, resilience, quality of service and security, and design choices and implications of corporate infrastructure.

You will be well prepared for the world of work, too - you'll gain experience of project management, team working, presentation skills and working to deadlines in practical situations during your first two years of study. What's more, you have the option to take a work placement in your third year, so you'll graduate with that all-important work experience too.

This course is accredited by the British Computing Society (BCS). To be awarded Chartered IT Professional status from BCS you will need to complete a year of further learning beyond graduation, details of which can be found on the BCS website.

This course forms part of BU's framework of computing alongside the following other courses:

You only need to apply for one of the courses in the framework. If you change your mind and would prefer to study a different course within the framework, you will have the opportunity to change your final degree title after your first year.

This course received an impressive 92% overall satisfaction rating from our final year students in the latest National Student Survey (NSS), so why not book on to an Open Day to come and meet us, or join us on live chat now to find out more?

All statistics shown throughout this page are taken from Unistats, Destination of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE), BU institutional data and Ipsos MORI (National Student Survey) unless otherwise stated.

Image description — A BU student in the computer lab

Key information

Next start date:

September 2019, September 2020

Location:

Bournemouth University, Talbot Campus

Duration:

4 years full-time with a minimum 30-week placement or 3 years full-time. You will be enrolled onto the 4-year degree, but can opt out of the placement year

Accreditations:

British Computer Society

Required subjects:

All subjects considered

Entry requirements:

Places available to study this September

We have greater flexibility with our entry requirements during Clearing, so let’s talk about your future.

Call us on +44 (0)1202 966777 or apply online.

International entry requirements:

If English is not your first language you'll need IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with minimum 5.5 in each component, or equivalent. For more information check out our international entry requirements.

Accredited by:

Course details

On this course you will be taught by a range of staff with relevant expertise and knowledge appropriate to the content of the unit. This will include senior academic staff, qualified professional practitioners, demonstrators, technicians and research students. You will also benefit from regular guest lectures from industry.

Contact hours and assessment

Details of the assessment methods and contact hours for each unit of the course can be found in the programme specification.

Download the programme specification (pdf 617kb)

Year 1

Core units

Principles of Programming: Covers the fundamental skills required to implement software solutions. Lab sessions will focus on the application of concepts to real-world problems, and you will test and debug a given program using a suitable strategy.
Computer Fundamentals: Enables you to understand the concepts and terminology of computer systems and computer security. You will do this through group based lab exercises where you will collaborate with other students focusing on problem based learning. This unit sets the foundations for you to further develop your knowledge of computing and cyber security.
Data and Databases: Develop your knowledge and practical expertise in the application of database design techniques, as well as your understanding of data processing.
Networks and Cyber Security: Learn the fundamentals of networks and how to secure them using security controls such as firewalls and intrusion detection & prevention systems. Understand how evolving technology, such as the cloud and IoT, impacts many organisations and how it facilitates their network security.
Application of Programming Principles: Having completed the Principles of Programming unit, you will use your knowledge to gain an insight into more complex system development. Lab sessions will allow you to complete team based exercises.
Business Systems Analysis and Design: Learn and understand the role that computer systems play within organisations, and the value they provide to stakeholders. You will have the opportunity to design, construct, and evaluate interactive systems to meet an organisation’s needs.

Year 2

Core units

Infrastructure Strategy: Explore the relationship between the goals of Information Systems and the infrastructure strategies of small and medium enterprises. Look at computer and networking infrastructures and characteristics like flexibility, scalability, performance, resilience, quality of service and security, and design choices and implications of corporate infrastructure.
Project Management & Team Working: You'll gain experience of working in a team on an IT systems development project, which will prepare you for work placement in Year 3.
Systems Design: With a focus on ‘upstream’ development tasks, you'll learn about the needs and of software system designs, and explore the problems with traditional systems development such as human computer interface design and usability.
Software Engineering: Build a firm understanding of the theory and practice of software engineering, including production, quality, metrics and maintenance.

Option units

You'll choose one of the following units:

Application Programming: Building on your previous programming experience, you'll design more complex applications and explore data persistence, concurrency, and networking.
Web Programming: You’ll learn to select and apply technologies appropriate to the issues being addressed. You will also develop an understanding of the legal, ethical and social issues in this rapidly changing environment.

And one of the following:

Networks: Through problem-based activities using state of the art network devices you will learn the theory and practice of data communications and computer networks.

Data Management: You will develop further skills and understanding of the techniques and technologies used in databases and data management.

Tools & Technologies of Data Science: Understand the challenges of Big Data analysis, including ethical, legal and professional implications. Gain knowledge of the most significant computing tools and technologies for dealing with Big Data: Hadoop and noSQL databases, MapReduce programming and other algorithm parallelization approaches.

Please note that option units require minimum numbers in order to run and may only be available on a semester by semester basis. They may also change from year to year.

Optional placement year

Final year

Core units

Advanced Development: The design of applications which support enterprise activities. There will be a focus on merging applications and Internet-based services.
Software Quality & Testing: How to make sure software has been made to a good enough quality.
Individual Project: Study a topic of your choice independently. You'll coherently present your process and product.

Option units

You'll choose one of the following modules:

Advanced Networks: Evaluate computer networks and what they're capable of. You'll discuss the latest developments in communication technologies, the links between cellular and data networks, and issues affecting network performance and security.
Business Continuity Management: the wider topic of resilience, which is the ability of an organisation to keep functioning during and after an attack, incident or natural disaster.
Deep Learning: an increasingly important area of Artificial Intelligence. You will implement deep learning solutions to complex real-world problems using state-of-the-art deep learning software libraries.
Data Mining: The Principles and techniques of data analysis. You'll carry out data analysis experiments.
Human Factors in Computing Systems: This unit will present generic Human Computer Interaction research that can be used for a range of software and systems engineering projects. You'll learn about design processes, standards and guidelines, usability tools and techniques, and workload measurement approaches.
Information Assurance: A growing and diverse study of how information flows through cyberspace. Information Assurance is about getting the right Information, to the right people at the right time.
Machine Intelligence: the essential elements of machine intelligence including machine learning, to enable specialised data analysts to solve real-world problems in areas such as business, finance, planning and management.
Pervasive Computing: mobile and pervasive systems are having a profound impact on personal and business activities. This unit examines systems and technologies that factor in the success of such systems.
Software Systems Modelling: Practice how to use software systems that use Unified Modelling Language (UML).
Web Information Systems: Explore web development methods of all scales. This will help you identify and solve likely problems in every stage of the development process.

Please note that option units require minimum numbers in order to run and may only be available on a semester by semester basis. They may also change from year to year.

Programme specification

Programme specifications provide definitive records of the University's taught degrees in line with Quality Assurance Agency requirements. Every taught course leading to a BU Award has a programme specification which describes its aims, structure, content and learning outcomes, plus the teaching, learning, and assessment methods used.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the programme specification, the information is liable to change to take advantage of exciting new approaches to teaching and learning as well as developments in industry.

If you have been unable to locate the programme specification for the course you are interested in, it will be available as soon as the latest version is ready. Alternatively please contact us for assistance.

Placements

The experience that you will gain during your placement is invaluable in helping to make informed decisions about your future career path, as well as enhancing employment prospects upon graduation. What’s more, you can also choose to take your placement abroad, giving you the opportunity to develop yourself personally, academically, and professionally and gain skills to help you stand out in the job market. Many of our students find that they are offered permanent jobs after graduation by their placement companies. Why not read about some of our students’ experiences?

Many new graduate positions are taken by people who have already had work experience as part of a course. Employers increasingly expect would-be recruits to have some kind of work experience, without which they are unlikely to be considered, regardless of their qualifications.

Find out about BU students’ experiences on placements All you need to know about placements

How placements benefit you

The placement is a valuable opportunity. With the combination of a vocational/professional degree and relevant work experience to offer to an employer, you can be one step ahead in the job market.

The benefits to you as a placement student are many. You will have the chance to:

Put the theory learnt throughout the course into professional practice
Enhance your study and help you decide on subject options (where appropriate)
Learn a wide range of skills such as time management, problem solving and team work (transferable skills are important to succeed in any career)
Make contacts - it is not uncommon for our students to be offered permanent positions to return to after graduating
Gain a real insight into how the industry operates in roles that would be almost impossible to achieve for an outsider
Many of our students, during their placement, are given responsibilities normally associated with graduate trainees.

Placements Abroad

Employment prospects are now truly international and BU encourages students to consider an international work placement or volunteering experience during their degree. One way could be through the EU funded Erasmus mobility programme which supports placements or study exchanges in Europe. Students can also participate in international placements outside of Europe. There are opportunities to engage with summer schools and volunteering projects. These experiences help students to enhance their global employability skills. The following clip shows BU students talking about the benefits of their international experiences to their future employability.

How long will your placement be?

What support will be available?

The faculty running your course will offer the support of a Placement Coordinator.

They’ll help you plan your placement so make sure you get the right experience for you. That includes offering help and support if you need to move to another part of the UK – and even another country – to get the most out of your time.

We’ve also built close industry links over the years – so our network of employers that are keen to work with placement students is always growing. Or if you’d prefer to arrange your placement independently, we can offer advice on how to do that too.

Our placement students have previously worked with

Your application

For this course we are looking for applicants who are:

Analytical
Technical
Practical
Creative.

This is a predominantly technical framework, especially in the first year, which is common to all the degree titles in the framework, and in the second year core units. Therefore you will need to have a deep and abiding interest in computing and IT, and in the use of computer technologies to create effective and efficient solutions that meet the needs of the end users.

You will need to be hard-working and committed to your studies, be a good team player, and able to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.

How to apply

Selection methods

How we assess your application

We look at individual applications and make a tailored offer based on your potential to succeed on the course considering a range of factors, including your academic achievements, work and other experience, reference and personal statement, and in some cases, your performance at an interview or a portfolio review.

Typically, we make an offer at the bottom of the tariff range. If you meet one or more of our contextual data indicators for educational disadvantage (such as being in care, having a disability, being a refugee, living in a low participation neighbourhood or in an area with less advantaged socio-economic characteristics), your offer could be between 8-16 UCAS tariff points below the published tariff.

Our offer making process

Our offer-making will typically be based on your most recent qualifications, including any required subjects where applicable. We'll consider all qualifications when assessing your application, although these may not be part of our offer.

If you do not meet the criteria of your original offer, we may still offer you a place. We will review your whole application and consider all academic qualifications (including those not in the offer) to see if you have the academic potential to succeed on the course. If we feel the answer is yes, we will confirm your place.

Our Unconditional Offer Scheme (2019 entry)

Applicants who are predicted to achieve strong academic results will be eligible for BU’s Unconditional Offer Scheme in recognition of their academic performance and potential to succeed at university. If you are selected for the scheme and commit to us as your firm choice of university, then we will match this commitment by making your offer unconditional, which will guarantee your place at BU.

You will receive a standard conditional offer based on the entry requirements for your course via UCAS Track and your offer letter – it will advise that you are eligible for the Unconditional Offer Scheme. We will then update your offer to unconditional should you choose BU as your firm choice on UCAS Track.

We believe that unconditional offers reduce pressure on applicants who will continue to strive to achieve the best grades possible. If you achieve ABB or above at A-level or equivalent, you’ll also be eligible for our Academic Excellence Scholarship.

Visit our Unconditional Offer Scheme FAQ page

Applying for the final year

We have recently reviewed this course to take advantage of new approaches to learning and teaching, as well as developments in industry. As the aims, structure, content and learning outcomes, teaching, learning and assessment methods may have changed as a result of the review, you can find the relevant information for your year of entry in the appropriate programme specification.

Final year new entrants programme specification (pdf 1.5mb)

Entry requirements

We use the UCAS Tariff in our entry requirements and will accept a combination of grades and qualifications to meet the overall tariff requirement. You can use the UCAS calculator to see how your qualifications equate to UCAS tariff points.

We have outlined our entry requirements below using the most common qualifications that we consider for this course. If your qualification is not listed, please contact our Future Students Enquiry Team who can advise accordingly. You can also find out more about how we consider your application in our offer-making process section.

For September 2020 entry: 104 - 120 UCAS tariff points including a minimum of two A-levels or equivalent.

Numeracy and Literacy requirement: GCSE English and Mathematics grade 4 (or grade C in the old grading system). We also accept iGCSEs, Key Skills and Functional Skills and other qualifications at Level 2 of the National Qualifications Framework.

A-level and AS levels: 104 – 120 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of two A-levels.

Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate – Skills Challenge Certificate: We accept this qualification, but it must be accompanied by an A-level sized qualification to meet the overall UCAS tariff.

Access to HE Diploma: 102 – 118 UCAS tariff points with any combination of Distinction, Merit, Pass grades.

BTEC National:

Extended Diploma: Distinction, Merit, Merit (112 UCAS tariff points)
Diploma: Distinction*, Distinction (104 UCAS tariff points)
Foundation Diploma/ 90-credit Diploma: We accept this qualification, but it must be accompanied by an A-level sized qualification to meet the overall UCAS tariff
Extended Certificate/ Subsidiary Diploma: We accept this qualification, but it must be accompanied by an A-level sized qualification to meet the overall UCAS tariff.

Cambridge International Pre-U Diploma: 104 - 120 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of two principal subjects.

Cambridge Technical:

Extended Diploma: Distinction, Merit, Merit (112 UCAS tariff points)
Diploma: Distinction*, Distinction (104 UCAS tariff points)
Subsidiary Diploma: We accept this qualification, but it must be accompanied by an A-level sized qualification to meet the overall UCAS tariff
Introductory Diploma: We accept this qualification, but it must be accompanied by an A-level sized qualification to meet the overall UCAS tariff.

Extended Project Qualification: We accept this qualification, but it must be accompanied by two A-level sized qualifications to meet the overall UCAS tariff.

International Baccalaureate Certificates: 104 - 120 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of two Higher Level certificates.

International Baccalaureate (Diploma): An overall score of 28 - 31 points.

Scottish Highers: 104 - 120 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of four Scottish Highers.

Scottish Advanced Highers: 104 - 120 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of two Scottish Advanced Highers.

Other useful information

Apprenticeships: We recognise the transferable knowledge and skills gained through apprenticeships and welcome applications from students with a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship recognised by the Institute for Apprenticeships. Each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Mature applicants: We recognise that mature applicants may have a wealth of experience rather than formal qualifications, so we’ll consider your application on these merits if included in your application. You’ll need to apply to BU in the usual way through UCAS and you may be invited to an interview to discuss your suitability for the course based on the experience you tell us about in your application.

Deferred entry: We are happy to consider eligible applicants for deferred entry.

International entry requirements

You can find details of the international qualifications we accept, and what level of study they apply to, on our entry requirements for non-UK students' page.

Please see below some examples of the qualifications for entry onto Year 1 for September 2020 entry:

Диплома за средно образование (Bulgarian Diploma of Completed Secondary Education) or Диплома за средно специално образование (Bulgarian Diploma of Completed Secondary Specialised Education). Minimum score of 4.5
Hong Kong HKDSE Diploma with required scores (4,3,3 to 4,5,5. Minimum 4 in English required)
Italian Esame di Stato[AB1] with minimum 60%+
Spanish Curso de Orientaciòn Universitaria (COU) prior to 2009 or if you hold a Titulo De Bachillerato awarded from 2009 onwards with a minimum of 6/10+
USA High School Diploma with minimum GPA 3.0 plus SAT Reasoning (1200) or ACT (24-26).

We offer a number of preparatory programmes through Bournemouth University International College. These courses offer you progression from High School in your home country to a Bachelor’s degree at BU.

Options include:

Foundation Certificate in Computing

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you will need to provide evidence that you can understand English to a satisfactory level. English language requirements for this course are normally:

For September 2019 and September 2020 entry: IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with minimum 5.5 in each component, or equivalent.

View further information about our English language requirements.

If you do not meet the English language requirement for your degree then why not join our Pre-Sessional English course? Successful completion of our Pre-Sessional English course will meet your English language requirement.

Careers

Bournemouth University has an excellent reputation for the relevance of its courses and the success of its graduates. This course will provide excellent career opportunities for students wanting to produce high quality software. Graduates from this course are equipped to work in careers such as software technical consultancy and software architecture.

Our graduates are highly sought after, within six months of completing their course, 100% of our students are in further study or work, of which 100% students are employed in a professional or managerial position.

This course is accredited by the BCS and you will also have the chance to complete Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification courses during your degree, making use of the facilities and resources at the BU Cisco Certified Local Networking Academy.

Typical starting job roles

Industries worked in

Further study

Costs and fees

All fees are quoted in pounds sterling and are per year. Your tuition fees will be the same for each year of your course. You can find full information about funding your studies and paying your fees in our undergraduate fees and funding section. That’s also where you’ll find information about the scholarships and bursaries on offer – including unlimited Academic Excellence Scholarships for UK, EU and International students.

Fees quoted are for tuition only unless stated otherwise, and we’re committed to ensuring there are no hidden extra costs while you’re at university – that’s why we’re clear about what you can expect us to cover, and what your cost of living will be. You’ll also find you could benefit from a range of discounts as a student.

Find out more about budgeting and living expenses

No hidden extras

What's included in your tuition fee?

Your tuition fee covers expenses associated with your course, including tuition materials, access to facilities, mandatory field trips and the following:

One set of study-related consumables such as a memory stick/ DVD
Materials for laboratory and field-based teaching activity
Support for finding placements (UK or abroad) and fieldwork, and non-financial support whilst on placement.
A range of student services – advisors, help desks, counsellors, placement support and careers service
The Library – access to a wide range of electronic resources (databases, e-journals and e-books), print and multimedia collections, subject librarians and study spaces
IT labs (some open 24/7), wireless network, AV equipment to borrow
Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) scheme
Disability and additional learning support
The BU Language Centre to help you develop/improve foreign or English language skills
24 hours a day, 365 days a year security team.

Costs of living and other expenses you need to consider

Additional costs

We are committed to offering you value for money and ensuring there are no hidden costs while you are studying with us, therefore we have listed below any additional costs you may incur that are not covered by your tuition fee:

Accommodation and living costs. Our accommodation price guide can be found on our website.
Optional fieldwork travel, outdoor wear and footwear (where applicable)
Textbooks, general stationery and other supplies. Our award-winning library is stocked with a large range of textbooks and online resources, free of charge. The Students’ Union shops stock a wide range of stationery supplies on both campuses.

Repeat units

Our staff

Read more about the expertise of other members of the Department of Computing & Informatics, and register now at an Open Day to come along and meet some of them.

On this course you will be taught by staff with relevant expertise and knowledge appropriate to the content of the unit. This could include senior academic staff, qualified professional practitioners and research students, many of whom are actively engaged in research and/or professional practice which is integrated into the teaching of this course. You may also benefit from guest lectures from industry, including our alumni. Please note that teaching staff can change.

Dr Gernot Liebchen – Course Leader

Dr Sofia Meacham - Lecturer in Computing

Sofia is an active committee member of BCS (British Computer Society) and IET (Institute of Engineering and Technology). Her research interests fall in the area of system-level design for embedded systems and include specification techniques for complex embedded telecommunication systems, hardware-software co-design, formal refinement techniques, and reuse practices.

View Dr Meacham's staff profile

Dr Huseyin Dogan – Principal Academic in Computing

Professor Vasilis Katos – Professor of Computing

Course changes

Changes in 2017

Date	Changes to this course
14.11.17	Where the change was made: Fees Changes to this course: After an annual review of the placement year tuition fee, a price increase in line with current inflation, equating to 3% has been introduced. Previous text: £790
26/9/17	Where the change was made: Course details Changes to this course: Changes to all core and option units for students starting in September 2018 onwards Previous text: See Programme Specification for details
06/09/2017	Where the change was made: 2018 Entry Requirements Changes to this course: Changes to GCSE entry requirements 2018: GCSE English and Mathematics grade C (or grade 4 in the reformed GCSE grading) or equivalent qualifications. Previous text: 4 GCSEs grades A* - C (or grade 4 or above in the newly reformed GCSE grading) including a Science or Physical Education, English and Maths or equivalent qualifications
06/09/2017	Where the change was made: Key Facts and 2018 Entry Requirements Changes to this course: Changes to 2018 entry requirements: 104-120 tariff points including a minimum of 2 A-levels or equivalent. BTEC Extended Diploma: DMM. Previous text: 104-120 tariff points including 3 A-levels or equivalent. BTEC Extended Diploma: DMM
03/03/2017	Where the change was made: Programme specification Changes to this course: Change the assessment of the Information Assurance unit from 50% examination and 50% coursework to one single 100% coursework element (5,000 words) Previous text: 50% examination, 50% coursework

What our students say

Martin Combstock

The placement will definitely improve my chances of getting a job as employers can see that I’ve worked in a real world situation.

Hear from our staff

Dr Christos Gatzidis

It’s important not to disregard the impact of a BU education on an individual such as attention to deadlines, professionalism, facilitation of organised teamwork, and many others.

Hear from our alumni

Shane Hannam

I was a placement student here at MicroNav Ltd many years ago back in 2005 for a year, and then I was asked to come back and work here.

BSc (Hons) Software Engineering

Course search

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Places available to study this September

Key information

Next start date:

Location:

Duration:

Accreditations:

Required subjects:

Entry requirements:

Places available to study this September

International entry requirements:

Accredited by:

Related courses

Our stories

Read Tamar’s blog, ‘Preparing for a BU Computing Degree’

From BU to building an international business: read Ben, Luke & Will’s story

What’s Software Engineering like at BU? Read Tamer's blog

Planning your future

Course details

Contact hours and assessment

Year 1

Year 2

Optional placement year

Final year

Programme specification

Placements

How placements benefit you

How long will your placement be?

What support will be available?

Our placement students have previously worked with

Your application

Selection methods

How we assess your application

Our offer making process

Our Unconditional Offer Scheme (2019 entry)

Applying for the final year

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

International entry requirements

Careers

Typical starting job roles

Industries worked in

Further study

Costs and fees

No hidden extras

Costs of living and other expenses you need to consider

Repeat units

Our staff

Dr Gernot Liebchen – Course Leader

Dr Sofia Meacham - Lecturer in Computing

Dr Huseyin Dogan – Principal Academic in Computing

Professor Vasilis Katos – Professor of Computing

Course changes

Changes in 2017

What our students say

Martin Combstock

Hear from our staff

Dr Christos Gatzidis

Hear from our alumni

Shane Hannam