Undergraduate Study
Course Information
study software engineering and graduate with a university degree
Software Engineering focuses on the art of designing and building complex software systems. A particular challenge is that such systems are often large – too large for a single person to develop on their own. You’ll study techniques and practice for real-world software design and associated programming technologies. This is complemented by practical experience in software development and teamwork.
There’s a large practical element to the programme, giving an excellent preparation for a career in IT. You’ll learn how to reason logically, analyse problems, and build computer systems to resolve them. Our graduates are highly sought-after in the industry.
We are a small, friendly Department with an ‘open-door’ policy for students. Our computing labs are fitted with state-of-the art PCs.
BSc (Hons) Software Engineering
UCAS Code G600Entrance Requirements
Year 1
Highers BBCC.
A-levels CCD or a combination of A2 and AS levels, VCE and VDA.
IB Diploma with a total of 26 points.
HNC or HND with Bs in Graded Units.
Access courses and other UK/EU and international qualifications are also welcomed.
Year 2
Scottish HND in related subjects with Bs in Graded Units.
General Entrance Requirements apply.
International students can study our Undergraduate Certificate if they do not possess the necessary entrance requirements to be admitted directly to the first year of an undergraduate degree programme.
Required Subjects
Mathematics Standard Grade (3), Intermediate 2 (C), GCSE (C) or equivalent.
English Standard Grade (2), Intermediate 2 (C), GCSE (C) or equivalent.
Applicants with English Standard Grade (3) will also be considered, although alternative entry conditions may be made in this case.
Modes of Study
Full-time (3 modules per semester).
Part-time (1 or 2 modules per semester).
| contact us > > > |
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Dr Bruce Graham |
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Tel: + 44 (0) 1786 467432 |
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Email: b.p.graham@stir.ac.uk |
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Web: www.cs.stir.ac.uk |
Degree Programme
Students take this subject plus two other subjects in the first year.
Semesters 1 - 3
You will take core modules, encompassing study in the following areas:
- Skills and Applications
- Programming using Java
- Usability and Accessibility
- Object-oriented Development, Data Structures and Algorithms
- Information Systems
In Semester 1, two alternative Computing Science modules are offered, both of which offer routes into further Computing Science. One is intended for students with Higher or A-level Computing, Information Systems, or an equivalent qualification, while the other is for students with no previous experience.
Students studying Software Engineering are required to take a Mathematics module in the first semester.
Semesters 4 - 8
The programme in Semesters 4 – 8 comprises both core modules and optional advanced modules, giving you a chance to explore your particular interests further.
Core modules include:
- Software Engineering (involving group work)
- Computer Systems
- Database Principles and Applications
- Multimedia and Human Computer Interaction
- Communications and Networks
- Language Implementation
- Managing Information
- Concurrent and Distributed Systems
Optional modules include:
- Computer Game Technologies
- Information Systems
- Computing and the Brain
- Computer Security and Forensics
- Artificial Intelligence
- Programming Language Paradigms
- Technologies for E-commerce
- Telecommunications Systems and Services
- Web Services
Honours students will undertake an independent project in their final year. Typically this involves developing a major piece of software from initial requirements through to final delivery.
Teaching and Assessment
You will learn about Software Engineering through lectures, small tutorial groups and most of all through laboratory work. Software Engineering is taught as a very practical subject, and almost all modules include practical assignments. Typically these count for 50 percent of the assessment grade, with the remainder given to the examination.
For the Honours degree, the grades for all advanced modules taken in Semesters 5 – 8 are combined to give the final classification.
Career Opportunities
Graduates will have a knowledge of Software Engineering as a coherent discipline, together with a wide range of IT skills. They will be particularly well equipped to enter either the software industry itself or one of the many fields in which computer systems are extensively used and developed. Typical career paths include: software engineering, analyst programming and IT consultancy. Recent destinations for our graduates include DERA, Marconi Systems, Adobe Systems Inc., and Xerox.
Professional Accreditation
The British Computer Society is the foremost professional and learned Society in the field of computers and information systems in the UK.
The Honours BSc programme in Software Engineering gives full accreditation for being a Chartered Information Technology Practitioner (CITP), which is the professional member level of the British Computer Society, and partial accreditation for Chartered Engineer and Chartered Scientist status.
