Software Engineering with Electronics with Foundation BEng Honours
| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2026-09-01 | - |
Program Overview
Software Engineering with Electronics with Foundation BEng Honours
Overview
Our degree courses with foundation year offer the opportunity to prepare you for advanced study before you progress onto a full honours degree at the University of Westminster. Whether you do not feel ready for degree-level study, don’t have the right qualifications, want to change your subject specialism or return to study after an absence from education, we aim to encourage a broad range of students to undertake our foundation year in order to progress onto their full honours degree with us.
The foundation year is designed to give you the opportunity to explore new ideas, opening up new perspectives on the key debates within your chosen field. During the foundation year you will explore a range of creative disciplines and get a chance to develop in your chosen field, benefiting from workshops in our high end facilities and working with leading academics who will encourage you to become a confident and creative thinker. Core modules accelerate your academic and professional development and you will also take modules within your chosen field, giving you the chance to develop a cross-disciplinary perspective on your course.
On successful completion of the foundation year, you'll be able to progress onto the Software Engineering with Electronics BEng Honours where you'll study for a further three years.
Our new Software Engineering with Electronics BEng is designed for students who wish to enter the world of computer systems engineering, where a mix of hardware and software skills is highly advantageous in today’s job market.
The course will teach the physical realities and use of real-world electronic components, interfaces and systems in addition to developing the core skills required to write efficient secure code for machines and devices.
Jobs traditionally associated with software engineering or electronic engineering have changed significantly due to a number of reasons, including the increasing universal use of smart digital technologies. Today, engineers that can develop novel solutions using both software and hardware technologies are increasingly in demand across all industries. Successful completion of our course will allow you to do just this!
Our Software Engineering with Electronics BEng is focused on the implementation and programming of the underlying hardware and system layer that all computer systems run on, whether they are an Internet of Things (IoT) smart sensing device, an autonomous robot, a gaming system, a smart home hub or a medical imaging machine.
Through the course, you’ll develop and put into practice essential practical and theoretical hardware engineering know-how in addition to supporting software skills. With these skills and knowledge, you’ll be able to develop intelligent products that will sense and monitor properties of the real-world, develop sustainable engineering solutions or control hardware in a safe, sustainable, timely and power efficient manner.
Our practical Software Engineering and Electronics BEng will provide you with hands-on activities, including laboratory skill development sessions and work-based industry-inspired design projects.
Top reasons to study with us
- Choose your own path – Our flexible course allows you to focus your study to your interests, while still getting a broad education in both computing systems engineering and computer science. For Example, you can choose to specialise in robotics, deepen your understanding in digital electronics or broaden your software engineering know-how
- Get real-life work experience – Enhance your employability and put your skills into practice by completing a year in industry and participating in the many project-based learning modules during the course
- Excellent career prospects – Career prospects for students with coding and hardware engineering skills are excellent, potential graduate roles include robotics engineer, development engineer, systems engineer, software engineer or Internet of Things development engineer
- Path to becoming a professional engineer – Successful completion of this course will enable you to progress your journey towards becoming a proactive member of the professional engineering community
Course structure
In addition to the main specialism, you’ll study from a pool of optional modules, which will be in the broader subject area of computer science including server-side programming, android application development, machine learning, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT), robotics and Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) development.
- Foundation
- Year 1
- Year 2
- Placement Year
- Year 3
Subjects of study include:
- Computer Systems and Networks
- Critical Thinking in a Changing World
- Foundation Mathematics
- Information Systems and Data Representation
- Introduction to Academic Practice
- Programming
Credit Level 3
Subjects of study include:
- Applied Mathematics
- Computer Organisation and Digital Systems
- Microcontroller Project
- Principles and Fundamentals of Electronics
- Programming Methodology I
- Trends in Computer Science
Credit Level 4
Subjects of study include:
- Algorithms: Theory, Design and Implementation
- Embedded Systems Project (WBL)
- Machine Learning and Data Mining
- Mobile Application Development
- Object Oriented Programming (C++)
- Operating Systems
- Robotic Principles
- Sensors and Signals
- Server-Side Web Development
Credit Level 5
Between Years 2 and 3, you’ll have the opportunity to undertake a professional placement year in industry. Completing the placement year will lead to the final award Bachelor of Engineering with Honours - Software Engineering with Electronics with Industrial Experience.
Alternatively, you can undertake a period of study abroad at one of Westminster’s partner institutions. Successful completion will lead to the final award Bachelor of Engineering with Honours - Software Engineering with Electronics with International Experience.
Subjects of study include:
- Applied AI
- Applied Robotics
- Cyber Security
- FPGA based System Design
- Individual Project
- Internet of Things
- Operating Systems and Drivers
- Real-Time Embedded Systems
Credit Level 6
Programme recognition
The Software Engineering with Electronics BEng Honours is intended to fulfil the educational requirements of the British Computer Society (BCS) for the CITP (Chartered IT Professional) and partial CEng (Chartered Engineer). Due to the 5-year accreditation timeline, the course will be considered for the accreditation in 2027. The accreditation will be backdated to include the first intake from September 2023. On successful completion of this process your course will become accredited in 2027.
Careers
We aim to develop highly adaptable graduates who have both the knowledge and the technical capabilities to solve real-world problems. On graduation, as well as having a solid foundation in computer systems engineering, you'll also have one or more specialisms that will open up career pathways during your early years as a computing professional.
Graduates from this course will be able to operate within the field of embedded systems engineering. This is the backbone and the facilitator of many trending, emerging and enabling technological areas including smart cities, autonomous vehicles, robotics, gaming, hybrid energy, wearables and medical electronics such as Fit-Bit.
Boost your employability
You'll get valuable work experience and increase your employability by completing a year in industry during the course.
Learn the fundamentals of computer systems engineering
Study the key topics in computer systems engineering, software engineering and development, while also exploring specialist computer science topics that interest you.
Industry links
Industry engagement is an essential part of the course as students will hear from industry speakers and receive mentorship from industry professionals as part of their group project work. Beyond the Year 2 Project, students will have many opportunities to engage with our industry partners and develop their employability skills through mentoring activities and other specialised workshop activities.
Our School has a well-established industry panel where industrial input is gathered on a regular basis and our Course Team have many personal industrial contacts in companies such as ARM holding Ltd, Cadence Design Systems and Entrust, which help inform course content.
You'll also have the possibility to meet some of our alumni in the many industrial events and seminars that will be taking place throughout your studies at the University.
Graduate employers
Graduates from similar courses in the School of Computer Science and Engineering have found employment at organisations including:
- BBC
- BT
- Cisco
- Ericsson
- Google Enterprise
- HP
- JVC Europe
- Mitsubishi
- Motorola
- Nokia
- Nortel
- Orange
- O2 Networks
- Panasonic
- Philips
- Quinix
- RAF
- Sony Semiconductor
Job roles
Career prospects for computer systems engineering graduates are excellent and typical career routes include:
- Computer engineer – responsible for the testing and evaluation of software either for computer systems and/or machines that are different from traditional computers
- Embedded systems engineer – responsible for coding, debugging, testing and writing documentation, work largely with hardware and software, and often need to develop or configure a custom based operating system unique to a given hardware platform
- Firmware engineer – responsible for integration of hardware and software and conducting system tests using near final hardware and firmware solutions
- Hardware engineer – responsible for the research, design, development and testing of computer systems and components such as circuit boards and processors
- Internet of Things developer - responsible for the development, management or monitoring of IoT devices and systems, typically involving custom solutions that combine three main components which are hardware, software and data
- Robotics engineer – responsible for the design, building and testing of machines that will automate industries such as manufacturing, aerospace and medicine
- Software engineer – responsible for the design, development, testing and evaluation of computer software solutions whilst applying core principles of software engineering
- Systems engineer – responsible for monitoring the performance of systems, controlling a variety of processes and continually assessing all stages of operation to ensure that a problem is solved. Such engineers may work in virtually any industry
Entry Requirements
- UK
- A Levels – DDE (64 UCAS Tariff points)
- T levels – 64 UCAS Tariff points
- International Baccalaureate – 64 UCAS Tariff points from all components of the Diploma Programme. International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme will be considered on a case-by-case basis
- BTEC Extended Diploma – MPP
- BTEC Diploma – MM
- Access– 64 UCAS Tariff points from the Access course
- GCSE English Language grade 4/C – IB grade 4 Higher Level, GCSE Maths grade 4/C – IB grade 4
- International
- International Baccalaureate – 64 UCAS Tariff points from all components of the Diploma Programme. International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme will be considered on a case-by-case basis
- Other international qualifications – We accept a wide range of international high school level qualifications. Please see information on country-specific entry requirements
- International Foundation courses – We work in partnership with Kaplan International College London who provide the International Foundation Certificate at their College based in Liverpool Street. These courses are for students who don’t meet our direct entry requirements. Upon successful completion, you can progress to your chosen degree at the University of Westminster. Find out more about the different university preparation courses that are accepted for entry.
- English language requirements – If your first language is not English, you will need an IELTS of 6.0 overall, with 5.5 in each component. Please note we accept a wide range of English language qualifications and assessments.
Fees and Funding
- UK tuition fee: £9,535 (Price per academic year)
- International tuition fee: £17,600 (Price per academic year)
Teaching and Assessment
- Teaching methods across all our undergraduate courses focus on active student learning through lectures, seminars, workshops, problem-based and blended learning, and where appropriate practical application.
- Assessments typically fall into two broad categories: Practical and Coursework.
Supporting you
- Our Student Hub is where you’ll find out about the services and support we offer, helping you get the best out of your time with us.
- Study support – workshops, 1-2-1 support and online resources to help improve your academic and research skills
- Personal tutors – support you in fulfilling your academic and personal potential
- Student advice team – provide specialist advice on a range of issues including funding, benefits and visas
- Extra-curricular activities – volunteering opportunities, sports and fitness activities, student events and more
Course Location
- Our Cavendish Campus offers our science and technology students a range of learning spaces that are both dynamic and inspiring,
- Located in central London, our Cavendish Campus is just a five-minute walk from Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road.
