Program Overview

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Without software engineering, you wouldn’t be reading this page. Software innovation has transformed the way we think about, and interact with, technology. In fact, all the forms of communication, interaction and access that we take for granted today are made possible by software in some shape or form. Which is why the demand for software engineers has never been greater.

From improving the efficiency of the apps we use in order to make them more sustainable, to developing scalable and secure app infrastructure, Software Engineers have skills that drive innovation. In essence, they are problem solvers with the ability to take an existing software system and creatively refine, enhance and transform it into something even better.

This degree programme is designed to equip you with the analytical, reasoning and practical skills you will need to design, develop and deploy large software systems. Plus, our project based learning approach enables you to craft a degree pathway that fits your own areas of interest. You could find yourself working on anything from apps to virtual and augmented reality; lifesaving smart medical implants to consumer space travel or automated intelligence.

Employer experience is embedded into this course and allows students to engage and learn from prospective employers from day one. Through placements, sponsored projects and hackathons, you will engage with employers and begin making a difference to real world problems.

Software Engineering With Placement Degree highlights

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Industry Links

Our students are constantly given the opportunity to put theory into practice. We regularly consult a large number of employers including, for example, Civica and Sensata Technologies, who provide sponsorship for our students as well as Kainos and Liberty IT who are members of the employer liaison panel for the course.

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Career Development

Students taking this programme may spend a year gaining professional experience in industry in a paid full-time post. Students are helped to obtain suitable places and the School has excellent links with over 500 local, national and international employers such as Citi, BT, Liberty IT, and Kainos in Belfast, IBM in England, Microsoft and Sun Microsystems in Dublin, Fujitsu in Japan and Siemens in Germany.

Rebekah Kane (Computer Science /Software Engineering)

Attraction to QUB

I went to secondary school in Belfast and we had an open day at QUB in sixth year, which really opened my eyes to how many opportunities are available to you when you study at Queen’s, especially for students like myself who have an interest in studying abroad.

I was also really impressed with the development plans for the Computer Science Building, which opened at the start of my second year of uni. The resources available within the building are fantastic and events run weekly which allow students to connect with future employers.

Positive experience during studies

Personally, my placement year stands out as the most positive experience I have had throughout my degree. I worked with the Renault Formula One Team in Oxfordshire for nine months within their IT department, and it was a fantastic opportunity to network within an industry I would like to work in once I graduate. Through studying at QUB I also had the opportunity to partake in a two month placement in Zhuhai, China, which was an amazing experience and makes me stand out to perspective employers.

Placement

My placement was with the Renault F1 Team in Enstone, Oxfordshire. I spent nine months there working as an IT analyst, helping users with various tech problems they were experiencing. My placement year was probably the highlight of my time at Queen’s, as it has opened doors for me within an industry that many believe to be out of reach. I was lucky enough to work alongside some of the best minds in the business, as well as the F1 drivers and the media.

Engaging in extracurricular activities

I studied French at A-Level but had forgotten much of it by the time I finished my first year of university, so this year I signed up for post-GCSE and A-Level French classes. Through this I have met so many people who have the same interests as me and I feel not only much more confident at the language but also more involved in the wider QUB community.

One piece of advice for EEECS applicant

I wasn’t entirely sure whether or not I should study Computer Science at university, but it has opened more doors for me than I could have imagined. If you are the kind of person who is good with numbers and logic but also likes to be creative, then this is the course for you. I didn’t study IT based subjects at GCSE or A-Level – my A-Level subjects were Maths, Chemistry, Biology and French ��� but by approaching concepts like programming with an open mind and using the support systems within the EEECS community that are available, I am on course to graduate with a 2.1 in a highly desirable degree.

Going forward

Once I graduate in June, my plan is to travel for a few months before returning to the world of F1 for the 2021 Season.

If you had a time machine, and could go back to your first day at Queen’s, what would you do differently? (if anything!)

The best bit of advice that I can give to freshers is to talk to people at your induction – making friends on the first day is the easiest way to do it as everyone is in the same boat. I didn’t know anyone on my course on that first day, but it’s been four years and I still sit with the same girls I befriended on day one.

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