Program Overview

Introduction to the BSc Hons Software Engineering Program

The BSc Hons Software Engineering program at the University of Strathclyde is designed to equip students with the technical knowledge and skills, as well as the communication and management expertise, essential to participate in and lead teams of professional engineers that deliver robust and reliable software.

Key Facts

• UCAS Code: G600
• Accreditation: BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT
• Industrial Placement: 12-month paid placement, in the UK or abroad, with support provided to help secure a placement.
• International Study: Option to study abroad.

Study with Us

The program aims to:

• Provide students with the skills to become professional developers of high-quality software, focusing on large-scale software systems.
• Combine theory and practice to maximize career options.
• Develop an understanding of software, hardware, communication technologies, and strong design and team-working skills.
• Offer a 12-month paid industrial placement in the UK or abroad, with support to secure a placement.

Accreditation

The program is accredited by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, for the purposes of:

• Fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered IT Professional.
• Partially meeting the academic requirement for a Chartered Engineer, on behalf of the Engineering Council.

Why This Course?

Software engineers design and develop large, complex systems, including those used in vehicles, phones, financial systems, and secure web and medical applications. As a software engineer, one needs a good understanding of software, hardware, communication technologies, and strong design and team skills. The program combines theory and practice, allowing for flexibility in transferring between courses, including the possibility of transferring to the MEng Computer Science course for students who perform well.

What You'll Study

The BSc Software Engineering degree covers foundation skills such as programming and computer systems organization, as well as more specialized areas including:

• Algorithms
• Databases
• Logic
• Analysis and design of large systems
• Usability
• Communications
• New programming languages
• Artificial intelligence
• Graphics
• Technologies behind web-based applications

Industrial Placement

Students will secure and undertake a 12-month paid industrial placement between Years 3 and 4, typically within a software development team. The placement may be in the UK or abroad. Support is provided to help students secure a placement, including information sessions, careers events, and student presentations.

Major Projects

Several companies work with the university to develop student projects, either individual or group final-year projects that are suitable for both parties. Projects are supervised by academic staff, with individuals from the sponsoring organization providing occasional advice and feedback.

Facilities

The university has three large undergraduate teaching laboratories, with printers in each main lab. All departmental machines are linked by a high-speed local area network and operate under a single network file system, allowing students to access their files from any of the machines.

Guest Lectures

Multiple modules invite guest lecturers from industry, ranging from startup companies to large organizations, to provide insights into real-world applications and challenges.

Study Abroad

Students have the opportunity to take an exchange year in their third year, broadening their educational experience and cultural understanding.

Student Competitions

The program includes various competitions that recognize student achievements, such as the Young Software Engineer of the Year Award, the Charles Babbage Prize, and the Andrew McGettrick Prizes, which encourage innovation, excellence, and dedication to software engineering.

Course Content

The course is structured over four years, with compulsory and elective modules that cover a wide range of topics in software engineering, including:

• Year 1: Foundation skills such as programming, computer systems organization, and information systems.
• Year 2: Subjects including algorithms, databases, logic, and the analysis and design of large systems.
• Year 3: More specialized areas such as communications, new programming languages, artificial intelligence, and the technologies behind web-based applications, along with a large group-based software development project.
• Year 4: Industrial placement and individual project work, focusing on advanced topics and the application of software engineering principles in real-world settings.

Learning and Teaching

The program aims to help students gain knowledge and understanding, as well as develop intellectual, practical, and transferable skills. This is achieved through lectures, tutorials, laboratory work, coursework, and project work, with an emphasis on independent learning and problem-solving.

Assessment

Students are assessed on their knowledge and understanding, intellectual, practical, and transferable skills through a variety of methods, including written exams, laboratory submissions, presentations, coursework, project reports, and industrial placement assessments.

Entry Requirements

The standard entry requirements for the BSc Hons Software Engineering program include:

• Highers: AAAB/AABBB (Maths B, Computing Science recommended)
• Advanced Highers: Maths and Computing Science at AB/BA and three other Highers at ABB
• A Levels: BBB (Maths, Computer Science is recommended)
• International Baccalaureate: 30 (Maths HL5, Computer Science recommended)
• HNC/HND: Relevant HNC with A in Graded Unit and Maths Higher at B
• International students: View the entry requirements for your country.

Fees and Funding

The tuition fees for the BSc Hons Software Engineering program vary depending on the country of origin and the year of study. For the 2025/26 academic year:

• Scotland: £1,820
• England, Wales & Northern Ireland: £9,535
• Republic of Ireland: Fees are the same as for England, Wales & Northern Ireland
• International: £27,100 There are also additional costs for things like printing and potential international exchange programs. Scholarships and funding opportunities are available, including the Strathclyde Access Bursary, Strathclyde Excellence Scholarship, and Strathclyde Accommodation Bursary.

Careers

Graduates of the BSc Hons Software Engineering program can pursue a wide range of career opportunities, including:

• Applications developer
• Cyber security analyst
• Game developer
• Information systems manager
• IT consultant
• Multimedia programmer
• Web developer
• Web designer
• Software engineer The program also prepares students for roles in research, software development, consultancy, and business analysis, with potential employers including Microsoft, Oracle, Logica, and Kana. Typical graduate software engineer salaries start from around £28,000 to £35,000 a year, with experienced software engineers earning up to £70,000 a year.