Program Overview

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Software Engineering With Placement (MEng)

Overview

Studying for a Software Engineering degree at Queen’s will assist you in developing the core skills and employment-related experiences that are valued by employers, professional organisations and academic institutions. Graduates from this degree at Queen’s are well regarded by employers (local, national and international).

Career Development

Students taking this programme may spend a year gaining professional experience in industry in a paid full-time post. Students are helped to obtain suitable places and the School has excellent links with over 500 local, national and international employers such as Citi, BT, Liberty IT, and Kainos in Belfast, IBM in England, Microsoft and Sun Microsystems in Dublin, Fujitsu in Japan and Siemens in Germany.

Industry Links

Our students are constantly given the opportunity to put theory into practice. We regularly consult a large number of employers including, for example, Civica and Sensata Technologies, who provide sponsorship for our students as well as Kainos and Liberty IT who are members of the employer liaison panel for the course.

Student Testimonials

Rebekah Kane (Computer Science /Software Engineering)

Attraction to QUB
I went to secondary school in Belfast and we had an open day at QUB in sixth year, which really opened my eyes to how many opportunities are available to you when you study at Queen’s, especially for students like myself who have an interest in studying abroad.

I was also really impressed with the development plans for the Computer Science Building, which opened at the start of my second year of uni. The resources available within the building are fantastic and events run weekly which allow students to connect with future employers.

Positive experience during studies
Personally, my placement year stands out as the most positive experience I have had throughout my degree. I worked with the Renault Formula One Team in Oxfordshire for nine months within their IT department, and it was a fantastic opportunity to network within an industry I would like to work in once I graduate. Through studying at QUB I also had the opportunity to partake in a two month placement in Zhuhai, China, which was an amazing experience and makes me stand out to perspective employers.

Placement
My placement was with the Renault F1 Team in Enstone, Oxfordshire. I spent nine months there working as an IT analyst, helping users with various tech problems they were experiencing. My placement year was probably the highlight of my time at Queen’s, as it has opened doors for me within an industry that many believe to be out of reach. I was lucky enough to work alongside some of the best minds in the business, as well as the F1 drivers and the media.

Engaging in extracurricular activities
I studied French at A-Level but had forgotten much of it by the time I finished my first year of university, so this year I signed up for post-GCSE and A-Level French classes. Through this I have met so many people who have the same interests as me and I feel not only much more confident at the language but also more involved in the wider QUB community.

One piece of advice for EEECS applicant
I wasn’t entirely sure whether or not I should study Computer Science at university, but it has opened more doors for me than I could have imagined. If you are the kind of person who is good with numbers and logic but also likes to be creative, then this is the course for you. I didn’t study IT based subjects at GCSE or A-Level – my A-Level subjects were Maths, Chemistry, Biology and French – but by approaching concepts like programming with an open mind and using the support systems within the EEECS community that are available, I am on course to graduate with a 2.1 in a highly desirable degree.

Going forward
Once I graduate in June, my plan is to travel for a few months before returning to the world of F1 for the 2021 Season.

If you had a time machine, and could go back to your first day at Queen’s, what would you do differently? (if anything!)
The best bit of advice that I can give to freshers is to talk to people at your induction – making friends on the first day is the easiest way to do it as everyone is in the same boat. I didn’t know anyone on my course on that first day, but it’s been four years and I still sit with the same girls I befriended on day one.

Course Structure

Introduction

These degrees teach the fundamental principles of Software Engineering, together with the necessary skills, tools and techniques to enable our graduates to embark on careers as professional software engineers. Special emphasis is placed on individual and team-based software development projects in preparation for industry.

Stage 1

Introduction to Software Engineering
Reasoning for Problem Solving
Foundation of Computing Systems

Stage 2

Stage 2 themes build on Stage 1 to include core aspects of Software Engineering such as database design and networking.

Stage 3

Placement Year

Stage 4

Along with working on a software engineering project these advanced topics permit each student to tailor their skills towards one or more areas of software engineering specialism.

Stage 5

This four-year extended degree has been established to provide a supply of particularly well-qualified graduates who will become industry leaders. It has a blend of Software Engineering knowledge and skills and business practice and management. Students can undertake a year of professional experience.

People teaching you

EEECS
T: +44 (0) E:

Contact Teaching Hours

Small Group Teaching/Personal Tutorial

6 (hours maximum)
6 hours of practical classes, workshops or tutorials each week

Personal Study

24 (hours maximum)
22-24 hours where we expect students to spend time on completing assignments, working on projects (individual or group), preparing for practical classes, alongside studying and reviewing taught material.

Large Group Teaching

9 (hours maximum)
9 hours of lectures

Learning and Teaching

The School has a world class reputation for research and provides excellent facilities, including access to major new research centres in Secure Information Technologies, Electronics, Communications and Information Technology and Sonic Arts. A number of modules on the course are closely linked to the research expertise of these centres and evolve and change rapidly to reflect some of the current, emerging and exciting developments in the field.

Assessment

Details of assessments associated with this course are outlined below:

• The way in which you are assessed will vary according to the Learning objectives of each module. Some modules are assessed solely through project work or written assignments. Others are assessed through a combination of coursework and end of semester examinations. Details of how each module is assessed are shown in the Student Handbook which is provided to all students during their first year induction

Feedback

As students progress through their course at Queen’s they will receive general and specific feedback about their work from a variety of sources including lecturers, module co-ordinators, placement supervisors, personal tutors, advisers of study and peers. University students are expected to engage with reflective practice and to use this approach to improve the quality of their work.

Entrance requirements

A-level

AAB including at least one preferred A-level (see list below) + GCSE Mathematics grade C/4
OR
AAA including at least one relevant A-level (see list below) + GCSE Mathematics grade C/4

Irish Leaving Certificate

H2H3H3H3H3H3 including at least one preferred Leaving Certificate subject at grade H3 (see list below) + Ordinary Level grade O4 in Mathematics if not offered at Higher Level
OR
H2H2H3H3H3H3 including at least one relevant Leaving Certificate subject at grade H3 (see list below) + Ordinary Level grade O4 in Mathematics

International Baccalaureate Diploma

34 points overall including 6,6,5 at Higher Level to include at least one preferred Higher Level subject (see list below)
OR
36 points overall including 6,6,6 at Higher Level to include at least one relevant Higher Level subject (see list below)

BTEC Level 3 Extended/National Extended Diploma

A relevant computing QCF Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma (180 credits), with DDD + GCSE Mathematics grade C/4.
OR
A relevant computing RQF Level 3 BTEC National Extended Diploma (1080 Guided Learning Hours (GLH)), with DDD + GCSE Mathematics grade C/4.
OR
A relevant engineering or scientific QCF Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma (180 credits), with DDD* + GCSE Mathematics grade C/4.
OR
A relevant engineering or scientific RQF Level 3 BTEC National Extended Diploma (1080 Guided Learning Hours (GLH)), with DDD* + GCSE Mathematics grade C/4.

Graduate

A minimum of a 2:1 Honours Degree, provided that subject specific requirements are met.

Note

All applicants must have GCSE English Language grade C/4 or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University.

How we choose our students

In addition, to the entrance requirements above, it is essential that you read our guidance below on 'How we choose our students' prior to submitting your UCAS application.

International Students

Our country/region pages include information on entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, student profiles, upcoming events and contacts for your country/region.

English Language Requirements

An IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each test component or an equivalent acceptable qualification, details of which are available at:

Tuition Fees

Northern Ireland (NI) 1 | £4,855
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Republic of Ireland (ROI) 2 | £4,855
England, Scotland or Wales (GB) 1 | £9,535
EU Other 3 | £26,600
International | £26,600

Additional course costs

Students may wish to become a student member of BCS - The Chartered Institute for IT - at an annual cost of £20, or £30 for four years (subject to change).

How to Apply

Application for admission to full-time undergraduate and sandwich courses at the University should normally be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Full information can be obtained from the UCAS website at:

Modules

Core Modules

• Introduction to Computer Architecture (20 credits)
• Data Driven Systems (20 credits)
• Introduction to Cyber Security (20 credits)
• Fundamentals of Maths for Computing (20 credits)

Optional Modules

• Object Oriented Programming (20 credits)
• Introduction to Embedded Systems (20 credits)
• Procedural Programming (20 credits)
• Programming (20 credits)

Core Modules

• Service-Oriented Programming (20 credits)
• Professional and Transferrable Skills (20 credits)
• Data Structures and Algorithms (20 credits)
• Software Engineering and Systems Development (40 credits)

Optional Modules

• Networks and Protocols (20 credits)
• Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (20 credits)
• Systems Security and Cryptography (20 credits)

Core Modules

• Year of Professional Experience (120 credits)

Core Modules

• Cloud Computing (20 credits)

Optional Modules

• Secure Software Development (20 credits)
• Network Security (20 credits)
• Malware Analysis (20 credits)
• Video Analytics and Machine Learning (20 credits)
• Advanced Computer Architecture (20 credits)
• Team-based Software Innovation (20 credits)
• Software Testing (20 credits)
• Software Design Principles, Patterns, Practice and Innovation (20 credits)
• Concurrent Programming (20 credits)

Core Modules

• Research and Development Project (40 credits)

Optional Modules

• Digital Transformation: Software Design, Management and Practical Implementation (20 credits)
• Parallel and Distributed Computing (20 credits)
• Fairness, Interpretability and Privacy in Machine Learning (20 credits)
• Advanced Computer Engineering (20 credits)
• Algorithms: Analysis and Application (20 credits)