BSc (Hons)
Software Engineering
Solve real-life practical engineering problems
Course Overview
Why take this course?
Despite the techie stereotype, software engineers have a practical, creative and rewarding role that involves a great deal of technical knowledge, inventiveness and interaction with people.
On this course you will study programming techniques and software engineering principles. We also encourage you put theory into practice, while applying various software technologies to solve complex problems.
What will I experience?
On this course you can:
- Apply your skills to real-life practical problems as part of the department’s partnership scheme with charities, local and global organisations
- Use our fully equipped multi-platform suites and computer labs to enhance your learning experience
- Opt to do a salaried placement year either in the UK or overseas
What opportunities might it lead to?
Accredited by the Chartered Institute for IT (formerly the British Computer Society), this course will enable you to gain Chartered IT Professional status and carries exemptions from the professional examinations needed to gain Chartered Engineer and Chartered Scientist status.
Studying this degree will enable you to gain employment in a variety of fields in the computer engineering industry.
Here are some routes our graduates have pursued:
- IT management
- network design
- software engineering
- computer programming
- web development
There are plenty of computers available, from Macs to PCs, in open access areas throughout the building.
Matthew Prentice, BSc (Hons) Software Engineering student
Key Facts
- UCAS Course Code:
- G600
- Duration
- 3 years full time, 4 years sandwich with work placement
- Entry
260-300 points to include 160 points from a minimum of 2 A Levels, or equivalent.
Other qualifications- Fees
UK/EU/Channel Islands and Isle of Man full-time students: £8,750 p/a*
International full-time students: £11,900 p/a*
*Please note that all fees are subject to annual increase.- Contact
- technology.admissions@port.ac.uk
+44 (0)23 9284 2555 - Department
- School of Computing
Subject:
Computing and Creative Technologies
Find out what our students say about studying at Portsmouth, including:
- Hands-on, practical work and real-life learning, which is transferable to future careers
- Modern facilities and access to the latest technology including numerous computer labs, TV studios and a motion capture suite
- Approachable lecturers who have experience and contacts in the industry
Visit us at our open day
Wed 10 Jul
Structure & Teaching
Year one
In the first year we aim to supply you with the central skills and knowledge that you will need as a software engineering professional. The areas covered will include software engineering, systems analysis and design.
You will specifically focus on the following areas:
- Introductory programming
- Computer architecture
- Foundations of the web
- Network fundamentals
- Database design and development
Year two
Building on your knowledge from the first year you will cover a more focused range of themes. You’ll study topics at a more advanced level, as well as learn to apply your mathematics skills to relevant areas of software engineering.
Core units in this year include:
- Software Engineering Processes
- Data Structures and Algorithms
- Advanced Programming Concepts
- Mathematical Foundations of Software Engineering
- Human-Computer Interaction
Year three*
In this year you will consolidate your skills and learning. There is a handful of core units, but the final-year project gives you the freedom to analyse, design, build and evaluate your own work. This typically involves the development of a substantial software artefact.
You will cover advanced topics including:
- Developing Reliable and Secure Systems
- Advanced Software Engineering
- Distributed Systems and Parallel Programming
- Neural Networks and Genetic Algorithms
- Fuzzy Logic
- Data Warehousing and Mining
*This course is also available as a 4-year sandwich (work placement)
Teaching and Assessment
Here at the University, we aim to provide a lively and modern learning environment. During this course you will experience a mixture of lectures, tutorials, laboratory and project work. While lecture classes can be large, the more personal approach of seminars and tutorials offer more one-to-one support from our expert academics.
How are you assessed?
We assess you in ways that encourage a deeper understanding and allow you to develop your skills and include:
- multiple choice tests
- essays
- written exams
- mini projects
- presentations
- review articles
Visit us open day
Facilities & Features
Specialist Software and Equipment
You’ll have a range of excellent resources at your fingertips
Tutor Centre
A one-stop academic help and support resource
Maths Café
The Maths Café - drop in any time and get one-to-one help
University Library
Our library offers a wealth of information
Specialist Software and Equipment
A full range of industry software will be available for you to use in the computer labs, supported by multi-platform network suites offering a variety of operating systems. You’ll have a range of excellent resources at your fingertips including:
- the network laboratory
- Cisco equipment
- ECAD and software development suites
- analogue and digital electronics
- microprocessors
- telecommunications and control systems
- Linux, Windows and Unix systems
Tutor Centre
A one-stop academic help and support resource for all School of Computing students. Need help understanding your assessments? Want to talk to someone about your project or about that programming problem? This is the place to go.
Maths Café
Drop in any time and get one-to-one help with that tricky maths or stats problem. With handouts on key topics to take away and computer-aided learning packages, we can get the problem solved and help you improve your numeracy skills.
University Library
Modern, comfortable and a great learning environment, our library offers a wealth of information including 400,000 books, DVDs, maps and thousands of online ejournals and newspapers. Many electronic resources are available anywhere, 24/7 and our friendly staff are always on hand to help.
Careers & Opportunities
Career prospects
Software engineers are the people that create, support and analyse the computer applications and systems we use today. This course will give you the skills to become a highly competent practitioner in technical management. You will be able to implement, understand and manage effectively the software systems in most types of organisations such as software houses, communications companies and data warehouses to name a few.
It’s also fairly common for our graduates to be snapped up by the employer they worked for in their placement year. Others continue their study at both MSc and PhD levels, specialising further in areas such as intelligent systems, computer security and forensic computing.
Roles our graduates have taken on include:
- systems engineer
- web developer
- computer programmer
- software engineer
- analyst programmer
- firmware developer
Work experience
On this course you have the option to do a year UK or overseas placement with companies such as IBM or smaller organisations. This is a great opportunity to gain real-world perspective and exciting opportunities.
Our team at the Student Placement and Employability Centre (SPEC) ensures you have access to a range of volunteering and work experience opportunities. We also offer support during your year-long industrial placements, and provide support for the different types of application processes.
Here are some examples of the roles our students have secured for their placements:
- Assistant Software Engineer at Accenture
- Software Developer at Gamma
- Software Engineer at Xerox
Career planning
6.04 minutes
Finding a job is a competitive business, but the statistics show that 89 per cent of our 2011graduates went into employment, further study or training within six months of finishing their degrees.
To make sure you take the right steps on your career path, we’re here to give you help, support and advice throughout your study. Even after you’ve graduated, we continue to give you support for up to five years.
Employers tell us that they want graduates to be able to demonstrate certain skills when they come out of university. Our courses take account of this. We make sure we prepare you for employment through work-related learning, projects, placements and working in simulated environments that are designed to prepare you for the working world.
Open Day
Our next open day is Wed 10 July
VISIT US! Have a look around and get a feel for what it’s like to live and study here. We’ll be on hand to talk to you about your course interests and show you all of our amazing facilities. You’ll also get to meet tutors and other students…
Application, Fees and Funding — find out more