Bachelor of Engineering Honours (Software Engineering)

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Engineering Honours (Software Engineering) at the University of Sydney equips students with comprehensive knowledge and skills in software design, development, and management. Through core and elective units, students specialize in various areas of software engineering. The program emphasizes practical application with the Professional Engagement Program, providing 600 hours of professional engagement and industry experience. Graduates are highly sought after in diverse software engineering careers.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Bachelor of Engineering Honours (Software Engineering) is an undergraduate coursework program that equips students with the knowledge and skills to design and develop software applications. The program covers a broad range of topics, from strategy and design to coding, quality, and management. This degree is ideal for individuals who possess a creative and analytical mindset and enjoy coding and working in teams. The program is accredited by Engineers Australia and recognized internationally through the Washington Accord of the International Engineering Alliance.

Outline:

The program is divided into four years of full-time study and includes a range of core and elective units.

• Year 1: Students complete foundational core units in mathematics and computing.
• Years 2-3: Students focus on software engineering, including stream core and specialist elective units.
They can choose to specialize in a particular area of software engineering.

Teaching:

The program includes the Professional Engagement Program (PEP) which aims to help students contextualize their learning, enhance their professional development, and build the foundations for a successful career in engineering.

• PEP components:
• Zero credit point units of study completed each semester
• 600 hours of professional engagement integrated throughout the degree.
• PEP requirements:
• A minimum of 70 hours of non-engineering focused activities (volunteering, casual work, employment skills, mentoring, and transferable skills development)
• A minimum of 200 hours of engineering focused activities (industry projects, site visits, guest lectures, interviews, seminars, conferences, and/or research)
• A minimum of 200 hours of engineering work experience in industry (typically in the final year).
This is the mandatory work component.

Careers:

Graduates of this program are well-prepared for a variety of careers in software engineering, including:

• Software analyst and engineer
• Information security specialist
• Artificial intelligence
• Control systems
• Database programmer and management
• Internet programming
• Language compliers
• Web developer
• Multimedia and telecommunication software systems
• Real-time software engineering
• Reliable biomedical systems

Other:

• The program offers one-year exchange programs with partner universities in Europe, Asia, and North America.
• The University of Sydney is ranked 25th globally for engineering and computer science (2023 Shanghai Ranking of Academic Subjects).
• The University of Sydney is a top 20 university globally (2025 QS World University Rankings).
• Students have access to over 1200 industry, not-for-profit, and government partners to gain real-world work experience.