| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2025-09-01 | - |
Program Overview
Postgraduate MSc/PgDip
Software Engineering
Overview
Fast-moving technology is driving organisations in almost every industry to disrupt convention and seek new solutions. Prepare for a rewarding career in software development and shape the digital future with our Software Engineering postgraduate degree.
Introduction
Designed in consultation with industry, our course curriculum is built to ensure you gain contemporary computing knowledge and skills sought by employers. You will learn how to meet the challenges of engineering complex software solutions that meet client specifications. You will explore software development technologies, cyber security and software architecture.
Software engineering is a creative, diverse and rewarding field. Available with full and part-time pathways, our course will equip you with career relevant technical and transferable skills. You will acquire lean and agile software development skills, alongside collaboration, communication and leadership skills, ready to apply once you graduate.
This degree has been accredited by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT. Accreditation is a mark of assurance that the degree meets the standards set by BCS. A full CITP accredited degree entitles you to apply for professional membership of BCS and meets the evidence of breadth of knowledge in the assessment for registration as a Chartered IT Professional (CITP). A partially accredited degree provides a valuable contribution towards professional membership and evidencing breadth of knowledge. Some employers give preference to applicants who have accredited degrees, and an accredited degree is likely to be recognised by other countries that are signatories to international accords.
Course Details
Course Accreditations
- BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT
Course Delivery
The course is delivered through a range of highly-focused modules. The 180-credit MSc award comprises four taught modules, plus a research dissertation. The 120-credit PgDip award comprises four taught modules.
Flexibility is at the heart of our learning approach. You can choose to study this postgraduate course full-time or part-time on campus.
- Full-time students will complete taught modules in each of the first two trimesters, and complete the 60-credit dissertation project in trimester three
- Part-time students will complete taught modules in years one and two, and complete the dissertation project in year three
The course timetable is designed to allow students with other commitments to structure their week around teaching sessions.
Course Content
Designed in consultation with industry, you will study advanced software development technologies and other skills relevant to industry, such as cyber security and software architecture. You will have the opportunity to acquire lean and agile software development leadership skills.
Current course topics include software development, lean, agile and large-scale software engineering, software architecture and security, and software business skills. We regularly review content with our industry partners to ensure your acquired knowledge and skill set reflects trends and needs within professional and business communities.
Course Team
The Software Engineering postgraduate programme is delivered by an academic team with extensive industry experience and research connections, and a track record of developing software products through industry partnerships.
Working as members of Salford's Software Engineering and Visualisation research group, the course team has worked on complex software systems with major international clients.
Course leader: Dr. Stefan Pletschacher
Modules
Advanced Software Development
This module covers key concepts and advanced techniques for developing robust business applications using industry best practice and standards. With the continuing proliferation of online technologies and services, particular focus is placed on professional approaches to client-server and web development utilising frameworks.
The module is delivered as a blend of lectures, interactive tutorial sessions and hands-on software development workshops.
Lean, Agile and Large-scale Software Engineering
In this module, you will learn how to compare, evaluate and apply lean and agile practices working with a development team as they design, implement and test a software solution. You will learn about agile roles, ceremonies and artefacts as well as agile coaching and mentoring skills.
Software Architecture and Security
In this module, you will learn the fundamentals and advantages of security architecture, as well as concepts of security models for developing secure software. Additional subjects include an overview of security capabilities, threats and vulnerabilities, as well as an overview about countermeasures and defence in detail.
In the module, you will also learn how to compare, evaluate and apply secure architecture and patterns lean and be used in building computing systems such as bioinformatics, financial services, healthcare, transport or others.
Software Business Skills
In this module, you will learn how to develop strategies, plans and models to support software start-up company creation. You will explore and apply concepts using a value proposition to create features for a specific market or demographic. You will select software practices relating to the software start-up company context, focusing on trade-offs between process maturity and innovation agility.
This module will include software product leadership in addition to professional skills development
MSc Project
This module will provide you with an opportunity to integrate learning from the course modules and demonstrate the knowledge and skills you have acquired. Working under the direction of an academic supervisor, you will carry out high-level coordinated academic and practical work on researching a suitable problem and developing, evaluating and critically assessing a robust and scalable software engineering solution.
Teaching and Assessment
Teaching
Learning is delivered using a range of methods. You are taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, laboratory practicals and project work. Seminars enable you to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller groups.
You will use industry-standard design software and have access to computing suites and facilities in our new £65 million hub for engineering and technology.
Independent Learning
When not attending lectures, seminars and laboratory or other timetabled sessions, we encourage you to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for examinations.
Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities, including the library, the learning zone, and our engineering and computer laboratories.
Assessment
Course projects and assignments apply your learning in authentic problem-solving settings. We will develop your independent learning skills and your ability to make decisions in uncertain situations. Professionalism and ethics are woven throughout, and identifying these issues is an integral part of all assignments and projects.
Assessments are designed to demonstrate the skills you acquire. You will have opportunities to show a systematic understanding of issues at the forefront of professional practice and how they contribute to the effective design, implementation and usability of relevant software intensive computer-based systems.
The final 60-credit project is an opportunity to demonstrate your ability to carry out research in the area of software engineering. You will have flexibility in choosing the area of your project to match the areas of the course, or your future career plans.
Employment and Stats
Employment
There is huge demand for qualified and talented software engineers and developers across many global industries. With this qualification, you’ll be equipped with technical knowledge and transferable skills relevant for the job market.
This degree will appeal to aspiring technology leaders in the software development sector. The long-term goal for applicants might be to become a Chief Technology Officer. On graduation, and with some commercial software engineering experience, you can apply for roles working as software developers, product owners and software architects.
Further Study
You might also choose to take your subject interest further with postgraduate research. The Salford Innovation and Research Centre (SIRC) is home to Informatics PhD and Research Master’s opportunities in knowledge discovery and semantic web, software engineering, big data, data mining and analytics, cyber security, information visualisation and virtual environments.
Requirements
Applicant Profile
This course is recommended for mathematics, computing or science graduates, or experienced computing and I.T professionals, looking to develop software engineering expertise. The course is also recommended for applicants who have thought leadership aspirations in software technologies or development processes.
We encourage applicants with an enquiring mind, who have a practical and analytical approach to problem solving. We also welcome applications from knowledge seekers who want to explore the possibilities created by applying software engineering skills to address major challenges we face.
English Language Requirements
All of our courses are taught and assessed in English. If English is not your first language, you must meet our minimum English language entry requirements. An IELTS score of 6.0 (no element below 5.5) is proof of this, however we do accept a range of equivalent qualifications.
International Applications
Please check international intakes for the latest information and application dates.
Standard Entry Requirements
- Undergraduate degree: The minimum requirement is a second class division honours degree (2:2) or equivalent in a computer science, or related STEM subject with coverage of computer programming.
Alternative Entry Requirements
- Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)
We welcome applications from students who may not have formal/traditional entry criteria but who have relevant experience or the ability to pursue the course successfully.
The Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) process could help you to make your work and life experience count. The APL process can be used for entry onto courses or to give you exemptions from parts of your course.
Two forms of APL may be used for entry: the Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) or the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL).
Fees
Type of Study | Year | Fees
- Full-time home | 2025/26 | £10,350 per year
- Full-time international | 2025/26 | £19,100 per year
- Part-time | 2025/26 | Calculated on a pro rata basis
Additional Costs
Having your own laptop (16GB of RAM and an Ethernet port) is not essential, but it will give you more flexibility in where and how you engage with the software you will need to use during your studies (software is provided as part of the course).
You should consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits.
International Student Scholarships
If you are a high-achieving international student, you may be eligible for one of our scholarships. Learn more about our latest international scholarships.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
- Fast-moving technology is driving organizations across industries to seek new solutions. This program prepares you for a rewarding career in software development, shaping the digital future.
- Designed in consultation with industry, the curriculum ensures you gain contemporary computing knowledge and skills sought by employers.
- meet the challenges of complex software solution engineering
- Flexible pathways: Full-time or part-time, on-campus program.
Outline:
- Delivery:
- 4 taught modules + research dissertation (MSc)
- 4 taught modules (PgDip)
- Full-time: Modules in each of first two trimesters, dissertation in trimester three
- Part-time: Modules in years one and two, dissertation in year three
- Content:
- Advanced software development technologies
- Cyber security and software architecture
- Lean and agile software development
- Software business skills
- Regular content review with industry partners
- Opportunity to mentor an undergraduate software team on a live client project
- Modules:
- Advanced Software Development: Covers key concepts and techniques for developing robust business applications using industry best practices.
- Lean, Agile and Large-scale Software Engineering: Compares, evaluates, and applies lean and agile practices.
- Software Architecture and Security: Fundamentals and advantages of security architecture, security models for developing secure software.
- Software Business Skills: Develop strategies, plans, and models for software start-up creation.
- MSc Project: Individual research project demonstrating acquired knowledge and skills.
- Note: Availability of modules may vary each year.
Assessment:
- Coursework and projects focus on problem-solving in authentic settings.
- Independent learning skills and decision-making are developed.
- Professionalism and ethics are interwoven throughout assessments.
- **Final project (60 credits) demonstrates research ability in software engineering.
- Feedback is provided on all assessments and practice work.
Teaching:
- Lectures, seminars, laboratory practicals, and project work are used.
- Industry-standard design software used.
- Independent learning encouraged and supported.
- **Supportive learning environment with knowledgeable program teams.
Careers:
- **High demand for qualified software engineers and developers.
- **Program equips students with technical knowledge and transferable skills relevant for the job market.
- **Appeals to aspiring technology leaders in the software development sector.
- Potential career paths:
- Software engineer
- Agile project manager
- Developer
- Product owner
- Software business leader
- And more...
Other:
- The University of Salford's Software Engineering and Visualisation research group collaborates with major international clients.
- Full-time home 2024/25 £9,990.00per year
- Full-time international 2024/25 £17,550.00per year
- Part-time 2024/25 £1,665 per 30 credits
- Full-time home 2025/26 £10,350.00per year
- Full-time international 2025/26 £19,100.00 per year
