Software Engineering with Foundation Year

Program Overview

---

Course Overview

Our Software Engineering degree enables you to develop the skills needed to implement solutions to complex software problems. It is designed to offer both a fundamental understanding of computer science, as well as specialist professional skills in secure software development.

Through a unique programme of modules, you will develop the advanced technical expertise, collaboration and communication skills to turbo charge your employability and agility in a rapidly evolving industry. Your modules cover a combination of key practical and technical skills in software engineering principles.

You will study in a learning environment with research-informed teaching, providing accessible and tailored support for all aspects of academic and personal skills development. You will also benefit from access to interdisciplinary cross-department specialists within the University of Winchester Business School and links to the British Computer Society.

Your Foundation Year is the perfect way to boost your academic skills, build your confidence and develop your wider subject knowledge so you can succeed at Winchester. This course offers an extra year of study at the start (Year 0) which leads onto a full degree programme (Years 1, 2 and 3).

A Foundation Year is ideal if you are returning to education after a break; haven’t quite achieved the entry qualifications required; are wanting more support during the transition to studying at university; or are unsure about which subject you wish to pursue.

An optional placement year between Year 2 and 3 provides you with the opportunity to enhance your employability, business understanding and professional skills.

In Year 0, you will study a set of modules from across the Faculty of Business and Digital Technologies which are designed to develop your academic and practical skills. This broader focus in your first year introduces you to studying at university level and provides you with a better understanding of Software Engineering and related subjects.

Throughout your journey, you will develop core knowledge in programming, secure systems, applications development, UX design and cross platform mobile development. There are also a range of fascinating optional modules so you can tailor your learning to your career aspirations. Depending on the optional modules you choose, you may graduate with a specialism in Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Technologies, DevOps, Full Stack Development, or Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Before moving on to the final year, you may choose to spend a year on a paid work placement in a business relevant to your ambitions.

What you need to know

Course start date

September

Location

Winchester campus

Course length

• 4 years full-time
• 5 years sandwich (industry placement)

Apply

I300

Typical offer

48 points

Fees

From £9,535 pa (Foundation year)

Course features

• Access a wide range of specialist software and tools including dedicated computer science and cyber security laboratories, containing Linux and Microsoft platforms
• Be inspired by an expert team of research-active academics who work at the forefront of the field
• Develop an appreciation of the wider role digital technologies play in an organisational context
• Take an optional 12-month sandwich placement to gain valuable industry employment experience

Course details

Our aim is to shape 'confident learners' by enabling you to develop the skills needed to excel in your studies here and as well as onto further studies or the employment market.

You are taught primarily through a combination of lectures and seminars, allowing opportunities to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller groups.

In addition to the formally scheduled contact time such as lectures and seminars etc., you are encouraged to access academic support from staff within the course team, your personal tutor and the wide range of services available to you within the University.

Independent learning

Over the duration of your course, you will be expected to develop independent and critical learning, progressively building confidence and expertise through independent and collaborative research, problem-solving and analysis with the support of staff. You take responsibility for your own learning and are encouraged to make use of the wide range of available learning resources available.

Overall workload

Your overall workload consists of class contact hours, independent learning and assessment activity.

While your actual contact hours may depend on the optional modules you select, the following information gives an indication of how much time you will need to allocate to different activities at each level of the course.

YEAR 0 (LEVEL 3): TIMETABLED TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITY

• Teaching, learning and assessment: 288 hours
• Independent learning: 912 hours

YEAR 1 (LEVEL 4): TIMETABLED TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITY

• Teaching, learning and assessment: 288 hours
• Independent learning: 912 hours

YEAR 2 (LEVEL 5): TIMETABLED TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITY

• Teaching, learning and assessment: 288 hours
• Independent learning: 912 hours

YEAR 3 (LEVEL 6): TIMETABLED TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITY

• Teaching, learning and assessment: 240 hours
• Independent learning: 960 hours

*Please note these are indicative hours for the course.

Location

Taught elements of the course take place on campus in Winchester.

Teaching hours

All class based teaching takes places between 9am – 6pm, Monday to Friday during term time. Wednesday afternoons are kept free from timetabled teaching for personal study time and for sports clubs and societies to train, meet and play matches. There may be some occasional learning opportunities (for example, an evening guest lecturer or performance) that take places outside of these hours for which you will be given forewarning.

Assessment

Our validated courses may adopt a range of means of assessing your learning. An indicative, and not necessarily comprehensive, list of assessment types you might encounter includes essays, portfolios, supervised independent work, presentations, written exams, or practical performances.

We ensure all students have an equal opportunity to achieve module learning outcomes. As such, where appropriate and necessary, students with recognised disabilities may have alternative assignments set that continue to test how successfully they have met the module's learning outcomes. Further details on assessment types used on the course you are interested in can be found on the course page, by attending an Open Day or Open Evening, or contacting our teaching staff.

Percentage of the course assessed by coursework

The assessment balance between examination and coursework depends to some extent on the optional modules you choose. The approximate percentage of the course assessed by different assessment modes is as follows:

YEAR 0 (LEVEL 3)

• 83% coursework
• 17% practical assessments

YEAR 1 (LEVEL 4)

• 64% coursework
• 36% practical assessments

YEAR 2 (LEVEL 5)

• 71% coursework
• 29% practical assessments

YEAR 3 (LEVEL 6)

• 60% coursework
• 40% practical assessments

*Please note these are indicative percentages and modes for the programme.

Feedback

We are committed to providing timely and appropriate feedback to you on your academic progress and achievement in order to enable you to reflect on your progress and plan your academic and skills development effectively. You are also encouraged to seek additional feedback from your course tutors.

Further information

For more information about our regulations for this course, please see our Academic Regulations, Policies and Procedures.

Modules

Year 1

• Developing Academic Skills and a Sense of Vocation 40 Credits
• World of Business 40 Credits
• Responsible Business 40 Credits

Year 2

• Discovering Your Subject 30 Credits
• Computational Thinking 30 Credits
• Secure Systems and Infrastructure Design for Organisations 30 Credits
• Principles of Programming 30 Credits

Year 3

• Research and Consultancy Skills 30 Credits
• Inclusive Applications Development 30 Credits
• Systems Testing 30 Credits

Optional Modules

• Web Development - 15 credits
• Cloud Infrastructure - 15 credits
• System Administration - 15 credits
• Disruptive Business Innovation - 15 credits

Year 4

• Cross Platform Development 30 Credits
• Disruptive Open-Source Development 30 Credits
• Capstone Project 60 Credits

Optional Modules

• Developing for the Cloud - 30 credits
• DevOps for Organisations - 30 credits

Entry requirements

UK

• 48 points
• A-Levels: EEE from 3 A Levels or equivalent grade combinations
• BTEC/CTEC: PPP from BTEC or Cambridge Technical (CTEC) qualifications
• International Baccalaureate: To include a minimum of 1 Higher Level certificates at grade H4

International

• IELTS Academic at 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in all four components (for year 1 entry)

Additional costs

Mandatory

• Laptop: Students are expected to have their own laptop to use on this course. Indicative cost is £200-£1,000.

Optional

• Core texts: Core texts are available from the University Library. However some students prefer to purchase their own copies. Some core texts can be bought second-hand or as an ebook which can often reduce this cost. Indicative cost is £150 for whole course.

Scholarships, Bursaries and Awards

We have a variety of scholarship and bursaries available to support you financially with the cost of your course.

Career prospects

Graduates enter careers in systems engineer web development, computer programming, software engineering, analyst programming and firmware development. Computer science, software engineering, and cyber security graduates are in demand by employers, due to the recognised need in the public, private and third sectors for their expertise.

Pre-approved for a Masters

If you study a Bachelor Honours degree with us, you will be pre-approved to start a Masters degree at Winchester. To be eligible, you will need to apply by the end of March in the final year of your degree and meet the entry requirements of your chosen Masters degree.