Software Engineering - BEng (Hons)

Overview

Summary

This course aims to provide a broadly-based education in computing science, with an emphasis on the principles and practice of software development. A graduate would be equipped with skills to work and problem-solve in a software development team in the software industry or a commercial IT department, with the assurance of an advanced knowledge of supporting software engineering techniques.

It will equip you to apply best practice software engineering skills to the development of a wide range of information systems in organisations. The BEng Hons Software Engineering provides for the systematic study of the theory and principles of programming and software engineering, computer hardware and software technologies, and the role of computing systems in organisations.

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About this course

In this section

1. About
2. Associate awards
3. Attendance
4. Start dates

About

This course is offered at the Jordanstown campus by the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment. if you want to become a professional with expertise in the engineering processes applied to the computer industry, then you should consider this course.

You undertake six modules in Year 1 covering subjects such as programming (Python and Java), databases, computer technologies, interactive web authoring and systems software. In Year 2, further core modules extend your skills in algorithmic programming, mathematics and web development and introduce topics relevant to professional development, software development, networks and security.

In Year 3 you undertake a year's work experience, in the UK, Ireland, Europe or USA. An alternative to this is to spend a year studying abroad, either in USA or Europe.

You return to the University in Year 4 for a final year of academic study which consists of four compulsory modules. They reflect the core theme of the course at an advanced level. You also undertake a major project which involves the analysis, design, implementation, testing and evaluation of the solution to a substantial software-related problem.

Why study Software Engineering?
Computing pervades every aspect of our day to day lives from the gadgets in our homes, our workplaces to our mobile phones. Industry needs dynamic, enthusiastic graduates with interests across the software engineering spectrum.

What types of jobs are available?
Given the variety of applications of computing, there are jobs available in numerous fields for example software development, web developer, security specialist and technical analyst.

Do I need to have studied Computing or ICT at school or college?
A discipline with such diversity requires students with a variety of interests and backgrounds, therefore, you do not need to have studied Computing or ICT however, we will look for evidence of a passion and enthusiasm for this dynamic, fast-moving discipline.

Associate awards

Diploma in Professional Practice DPP

Diploma in International Academic Studies DIAS

Diploma in Professional Practice International DPPI

Find out more about placement awards

Attendance

Four years including placement.

New students are expected to attend a pre-semester induction. Years 1, 2 and 4 of the course are delivered over two taught semesters (September to May) with a supplementary assessment period over the summer. Year 3 students are expected to undertake a placement working for a company, typically over a calendar year.

Start dates

• September 2020

How to apply

Modules

Here is a guide to the subjects studied on this course.

Courses are continually reviewed to take advantage of new teaching approaches and developments in research, industry and the professions. Please be aware that modules may change for your year of entry. The exact modules available and their order may vary depending on course updates, staff availability, timetabling and student demand. Please contact the course team for the most up to date module list.

In this section

1. Year one
2. Year two
3. Year three
4. Year four

Year one

Programming I

Year: 1

Status: C

Computer programming is a fundamental skill expected of computing graduates. This module will introduce students to the foundational concepts of programming that will be used as building blocks in future modules. Students will also develop and enhance their problem solving skills as an integral part of the module.

Programming II (Java)

Year: 1

Status: C

Computer programming is a fundamental skill expected of computing graduates. This module will introduce students to the object oriented concepts of programming that will be used as building blocks in future modules. Students will also develop and enhance their problem solving skills as an integral part of the module.

Database Systems

Year: 1

Status: C

Database management is a fundamental skill expected of Computing graduates. This module will introduce students to the fundamental concepts of database design, implementation, querying and management of relational database systems.

Interactive Web Authoring

Year: 1

Status: C

This module will introduce the design principles, structural elements and technical concepts that underpin web authoring. Understanding of these concepts will be reinforced by action research into exemplar websites. Application of the technical concepts will be facilitated through the use of web authoring tools in practical sessions to enhance the technical skills for the creation and styling of interactive Websites.

Systems Software

Year: 1

Status: C

The principal aim of this unit is to provide an understanding of the underlying systems that support the applications software. The theoretical concepts covered are illustrated by considering their practical application in modern real-world solutions.

Computer Technology

Year: 1

Status: C

This module will introduce students to the basic hardware components from which a computer system is constructed and the organisation of these components. The components of the computer system that are involved in the execution of a software program will be investigated, as will the main features of typical operating systems. The students will also gain an appreciation of the evolution of computer systems and will be introduced to problem solving using a digital logic and computer arithmetic.

Year two

Computer Networks

Year: 2

Status: C

The principal aim of this unit is to provide an understanding of the underlying systems which
support networks. The theoretical concepts covered are illustrated by considering their practical application in modern real-world solutions.

Professional Development

Year: 2

Status: C

This module is intended to support students in developing the broad professional awareness necessary for seeking and obtaining employment.

Systems Security

Year: 2

Status: C

The principal aim of this module is to provide an understanding of computing systems security concerns and how they can be addressed and mitigated so that security considerations are taken into account, and embedded in organisations and IT projects planning and management.

Mathematics for Computing

Year: 2

Status: C

This module provides an introduction to the core areas of discrete mathematics that form the foundation of computer science, and that are used throughout the computing science and software engineering courses at Ulster. Each concept is introduced at an abstract level before being applied to an area of computing, and students further deepen their knowledge by using the mathematics within computer programs.

Web Application Development

Year: 2

Status: C

This module will expand on students' knowledge necessary for developing software systems to be deployed over the World Wide Web, with a specific focus on server side technologies and techniques. Students will also be introduced to important design considerations for web applications.

Software Development Practice

Year: 2

Status: C

The fundamental aim of this module is to provide students with knowledge and practical skills in relation to the software development process using a contemporary framework such as Agile. The module offers theoretical grounding but will mainly focus on the practical application of Agile in a team setting to provide a systems solution to a given problem.

Algorithms & Data Structures

Year: 2

Status: C

The module builds upon the expertise acquired in Year I programming modules by expanding upon the students' understanding of data types and algorithms. In addition to providing practical skill with the use of advanced data structures and algorithms, students will also become familiar with approaches to performance analysis of algorithms.

Year three

International Academic Studies - Computing

Year: 3

Status: C

This module provides an opportunity to undertake an extended period of study outside the UK and Republic of Ireland. Students will develop an enhanced understanding of the academic discipline whilst generating educational and cultural networks.

Professional Practice - Computing

Year: 3

Status: C

This module enables students who have secured a placement job to complete a period of appropriate work experience in a supportive environment. Students will have opportunities to gain employability skills, reflect upon the applicability of their subject-specific skills, and gain insight into the graduate job market. Students who successfully complete the module are eligible for the award of Diploma in Professional Practice (DPP) or Diploma in Professional Practice International (DPPI) for international placements.

Year four

Software Reliability Engineering

Year: 4

Status: C

The content of the module provides an overview of principles, steps, methods and tools in building more reliable software systems, and an in-depth treatment of formal requirements specification and formal verification phases, the role such phases play in reliable software development and techniques. The module considers a range of reliable software development models, formal requirement specification and verification techniques. Practical work will require students to apply these techniques in a range of problems domains.

Process Management

Year: 4

Status: C

This module will provide an understanding of the process perspective of problem solving for modern software engineers. The module provides the knowledge and skills necessary to embark on organisational change and improvement using well-formed theories of organisational, engineering and support processes. It will provide the knowledge and skills necessary to evolve engineering capability at an organisational and personal level.

Full-Stack Strategies and Development

Year: 4

Status: C

Full-stack skills are important for the students to understand how people in a team works together to develop high-quality software. This module will introduce students to the key concepts of full-stack development and the tools used to implement the full-stack strategies. The students will be able to use what they learn from this module to work in a team in order to develop a robust software or APIs according to industry processes.

Software Engineering Management

Year: 4

Status: C

The careful planning and control of project activities is essential to the delivery of successful software systems. The unique nature of software engineering projects requires a blend of generic project management skills and software specific project management and quality assurance capabilities. This module seeks to extend the student's knowledge of software engineering by introducing techniques and methods for the management of industrial software engineering projects.

Project

Year: 4

Status: C

Students are required to undertake a major project during the final year of the course. The project module allows a selected topic area to be investigated in depth and for a solution to be developed in response. Within the project, the student is expected to integrate and apply material from other modules in the course.

Entry conditions

We recognise a range of qualifications for admission to our courses. In addition to the specific entry conditions for this course you must also meet the University’s General Entrance Requirements.

In this section

1. A level
2. Applied General Qualifications
3. Irish Leaving Certificate
4. Scottish Highers
5. Scottish Advanced Highers
6. International Baccalaureate
7. Access to Higher Education (HE)
8. GCSE
9. English Language Requirements
10. Additional Entry Requirements
11. Teaching and learning assessment
12. Exemptions and transferability

A level

The A Level requirement for this course is grades ABB. All subject areas considered.

Desirable Subject Offer

For those applicants offering desirable subjects at A level (Mathematics/Physics/Chemistry/Software Systems Development/Computing (not IT/ICT)) one grade reduction will be applied at the time of offer. The desirable subject must be achieved at a minimum grade B.

Applicants offering qualifications as an alternative to A-levels will receive the equivalent reduction when those qualifications include a significant proportion of mathematics, software development and/or physical science.

Applied General Qualifications

The Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment accept a range of alternative combination of qualifications such as:

BTEC Extended Awards
The requirement for this course is BTEC Level 3 QCF Extended Diploma with overall award profile of DDM to include a minimum of 10 unit distinctions.

OR

The requirement for this course is BTEC Level 3 RQF National Extended Diploma with DDM overall award grades. All subject areas considered.

A Levels with:
BTEC Level 3 QCF Subsidiary Diploma or BTEC Level 3 RQF National Extended Certificate;
BTEC Level 3 QCF 90-credit Diploma or BTEC Level 3 RQF National Foundation Diploma;
BTEC Level 3 QCF Diploma or BTEC Level 3 RQF National Diploma.

OCR/Cambridge Technical Combinations
A levels with OCR Nationals and OCR Cambridge Technicals.

For further information on the requirements for this course please contact
the administrator as listed in the Contact details section below.

Entry equivalences can also be viewed in the online prospectus at http://www.ulster.ac.uk/apply/entrance-requirements/equivalence

Irish Leaving Certificate

Overall Irish Leaving Certificate (higher level) grades H2,H3,H3,H3,H3. English Grade H6 or above (HL) and Maths Grade H5 or above (HL) or English Grade O4 or above (OL) and Maths O3 or above (OL) if not sitting at higher level is also required. All subject areas considered.

Scottish Highers

The Scottish Highers requirement for this course is BBBBC. All subject areas considered.

Scottish Advanced Highers

The Scottish Advanced Highers requirement for this course is BBC. All subject areas considered.

International Baccalaureate

Overall International Baccalaureate Diploma requirement for this course is a minimum of 27 points to include 13 at Higher Level to include Grade 5 in HL Mathematics. Grade 4 in English Language also required in overall profile.

Access to Higher Education (HE)

Successful completion of a Ulster University validated Access route with an overall mark of 70% to include 70% in NICATS Maths (level 2) or GCSE Mathematics grade B, C* or 5 (or an alternative Mathematics qualification acceptable to the University) for entry to year 1.

Other Access courses considered individually, please contact the administrator as listed in the Contact details section below.

http://www.ulster.ac.uk/apply/entrance-requirements/equivalence

GCSE

GCSE (or equivalent) profile to include minimum of Grade B, C* or 5 or above in Mathematics and Grade C or 4 in English Language.

English Language Requirements

English language requirements for international applicants
The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement for Tier 4 visa purposes.

Ulster recognises a number of other English language tests and comparable IELTS equivalent scores.

Additional Entry Requirements

HND/HNC
HNC requirement is overall Distinction in a relevant subject area for year 1 entry only.

HND requirement is overall Distinction in a relevant subject area. HND applications may be considered for year 2 entry where the curriculum sufficiently matches that of Ulster University full-time year 1 course.

Ulster Foundation Degree
Pass in Foundation Degree with an overall mark of 60% in level 5 modules and minimum 55% in all taught level 5 modules. Applicants who present a Grade C or 4 in GCSE Mathematics must also achieve 50% in the Foundation Degree Mathematics module. Applicants will normally be considered for year 2 entry to the linked Honours degree.

For further information on the requirements for this course please contact
the administrator as listed in the Contact details section below.

Entry equivalences can also be viewed in the online prospectus at http://www.ulster.ac.uk/apply/entrance-requirements/equivalence

The General Entry Requirements must also be met including English Language minimum GCSE grade C or 4 (or equivalent).

Please check the following link http://www.ulster.ac.uk/apply/entrance-requirements#ger

Teaching and learning assessment

Lectures are used to present and illustrate basic theory and fundamental principles. Tutorials elaborate lecture content, provide problem solving opportunities and examine problem solutions in greater detail. Most modules will have laboratory classes to enable the practical application of theoretical concepts, facilitating deeper understanding of key topics. In programming laboratories there is an emphasis on small group tutoring and support. Timetabled sessions are supplemented by directed private study and may require access to additional online tutorial and study material.

Assessment of the knowledge base is through a wide variety of methods including log books, class tests, individual and collaborative coursework assignments and examinations. In final year, assessment of knowledge and understanding is supplemented through assessment of the project dissertation and oral presentations.

Exemptions and transferability

During the course you may be permitted to transfer to the generic BSc Hons Computing Science course. Students who have successfully completed Year 1 of a similar honours degree course may be permitted to enter into Year 2. Suitably qualified candidates from a Foundation Degree in Computing Science also may be permitted to enter into Year 2.

Transferability is dependent on academic performance and availability of places.

Careers & opportunities

In this section

1. Graduate employers
2. Job roles
3. Career options
4. Work placement / study abroad
5. Professional recognition
6. Academic profile

Graduate employers

Graduates from this course have gained employment with a wide range of organisations. Here are some examples:

• BT
• CITI
• IBM
• Kainos
• Liberty IT
• Whitehat Security
• PWC

Job roles

Graduates from this course are employed in many different roles. Here are some examples:

• Applications Security Specialist
• Graduate Software Engineer
• Software Developer
• Technical Analyst
• Web Developer

Career options

Graduates with software engineering skills have many career opportunities available to them in a wide range of commercial and industrial organisations. For example, developing new software, as project managers, systems analysts, planning and technical management, information management and database environments. Average salaries are often higher than that of other graduates. Opportunities for postgraduate study in computing or a related area are broad.

Work placement / study abroad

In Year 3 you undertake a year's work experience, in the UK, Ireland or Europe. You can also study in the USA. This leads to either the Diploma in Professional Practice for a placement year based in UK or Ireland; Diploma in Professional Practice (International) for a placement year based outside the UK or Ireland; or the Diploma in International Academic Studies if Year 3 is spent in study abroad.

Professional recognition

BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT

Accredited by BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for Incorporated Engineer and partially meeting the academic requirement for a Chartered Engineer.

BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT

Accredited by BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered IT Professional.

Academic profile

Members of the teaching team are Fellows of the Higher Education Academy and Members of the industry professional body; BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT. Through their research, knowledge transfer and placement activities, teaching staff are also actively engaged with the local software and IT industry. Many modules on the course are directly informed by the research activities of staff. This is reflected in the provision of specialist topics such as artificial intelligence, network technologies and healthcare technologies - topics which are closely related to computer science research at the Jordanstown campus.

Apply

How to apply Request a prospectus

Applications to full-time undergraduate degrees at Ulster are made through UCAS.

Start dates

• September 2020

Fees and funding

In this section

1. Fees information
2. Scholarships, awards and prizes

Fees (per year)

Important notice - fees information Fees illustrated are based on 19/20 entry and are subject to an annual increase. Correct at the time of publishing. Terms and conditions apply. Additional mandatory costs are highlighted where they are known in advance. There are other costs associated with university study.
Visit our Fees pages for full details of fees

Northern Ireland & EU:

£4,275.00

England, Scotland, Wales
and the Islands:

£9,250.00  Discounts available

International:

£14,060.00  Scholarships available

Scholarships, awards and prizes

A variety of scholarships, awards and prizes are available each year to reflect individual academic excellence in specific areas of study or across year groups.

Additional mandatory costs

Tuition fees and costs associated with accommodation, travel (including car parking charges), and normal living are a part of university life.

Where a course has additional mandatory expenses we make every effort to highlight them. These may include residential visits, field trips, materials (e.g. art, design, engineering) inoculations, security checks, computer equipment, uniforms, professional memberships etc.

We aim to provide students with the learning materials needed to support their studies. Our libraries are a valuable resource with an extensive collection of books and journals as well as first-class facilities and IT equipment. Computer suites and free wifi is also available on each of the campuses.

There will be some additional costs to being a student which cannot be itemised and these will be different for each student. You may choose to purchase your own textbooks and course materials or prefer your own computer and software. Printing and binding may also be required. There are additional fees for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines. Additional costs vary from course to course.

Students choosing a period of paid work placement or study abroad as part of their course should be aware that there may be additional travel and living costs as well as tuition fees.

Please contact the course team for more information.

Contact

Admissions contact for entry requirements:
Helen Gibson
T +44 (0)28 9036 6069
E: h.gibson@ulster.ac.uk

Centralised Admissions staff:
T: +44 (0)28 9036 6305
E: admissionsjn@ulster.ac.uk

For course specific entry requirements please contact:
Dr Jose Santos
T: +44 (0)28 9036 6585
E: ja.santos@ulster.ac.uk

For more information visit

Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment

School of Computing

Disclaimer

1. The University endeavours to deliver courses and programmes of study in accordance with the description set out in this prospectus. The University’s prospectus is produced at the earliest possible date in order to provide maximum assistance to individuals considering applying for a course of study offered by the University. The University makes every effort to ensure that the information contained in the prospectus is accurate but it is possible that some changes will occur between the date of printing and the start of the academic year to which it relates. Please note that the University’s website is the most up-to-date source of information regarding courses and facilities and we strongly recommend that you always visit the website before making any commitments.
2. Although reasonable steps are taken to provide the programmes and services described, the University cannot guarantee the provision of any course or facility and the University may make variations to the contents or methods of delivery of courses, discontinue, merge or combine courses and introduce new courses if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Such circumstances include (but are not limited to) industrial action, lack of demand, departure of key staff, changes in legislation or government policy including changes, if any, resulting from the UK departing the European Union, withdrawal or reduction of funding or other circumstances beyond the University’s reasonable control.
3. If the University discontinues any courses, it will use its best endeavours to provide a suitable alternative course. In addition, courses may change during the course of study and in such circumstances the University will normally undertake a consultation process prior to any such changes being introduced and seek to ensure that no student is unreasonably prejudiced as a consequence of any such change.
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