Software Engineering with a Year in Industry

Bachelor's degree

In Belfast City

£ 9,250 + VAT

Description

  • Type

    Bachelor's degree

  • Location

    Belfast city (Northern Ireland)

  • Duration

    4 Years

  • Start date

    Different dates available

Overview Software is a fundamental part of today's 'digital society', controlling everything from the results that are displayed when you use a search engine, how we interact on social media, through to how video is streamed and rendered on your smartphone. Without software, the forms of communication, interaction and knowledge processing that we all take for granted today could not exist. In the future, software will become so embedded in our lives that virtually all of our human process will be affected by the design and development of software. In particular, software engineers are concerned with developing and maintaining software systems in a manner that is efficient, reliable and affordable. Software engineers must also understand the needs of those who will use the software, and be able to create products that are capable, safe and intuitive. This degree programme is designed to equip graduates with the analytical, reasoning and practical skills they will need to design, develop and deploy large software systems.   ...

Facilities

Location

Start date

Belfast City (County Antrim)
See map
University Road, BT7 1NN

Start date

Different dates availableEnrolment now open

About this course

Entry Requirements   Selection Criteria In addition to the entrance requirements below, it is essential that you read the How We Choose Our Students pdf prior to submitting your UCAS application. Entrance Requirements BEng A-level:
BBB including Computing, Mathematics or Software Systems Development + GCSE Mathematics grade C
OR 
ABB including Chemistry, GCE A-level ICT (not Single Award Applied ICT), Physics, Technology and Design or Double Award Applied ICT + GCSE Mathematics grade C. BTEC Extended Diploma: a relevant computing,...

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Subjects

  • Engineering
  • Software Engineering
  • Industry
  • School
  • Design
  • Project
  • Computing
  • Systems
  • Programming
  • Quality Training
  • Quality
  • International
  • Full Time
  • Teaching

Course programme

Course Content (including module information)

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

  • Computer Architecture
  • Fundamentals of Programming
  • Introduction to Computing
  • Programming Challenges
  • Reasoning for Problem Solving
  • Software Engineering and Project Management

Stage 2

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

  • Advanced Programming using C# and C++
  • Data Structures and Algorithms
  • Database Systems
  • Networks and Communications
  • Professional Practice
  • Software Engineering and Group Project

Students taking the Single Honours BEng spend a year on a paid full-time placement. The School has links with over 500 local, national and international employers eg BT, Liberty, Asidua, Kainos (Belfast), IBM (England), Microsoft, Sun Microsystems (Dublin), Fujitsu (Japan) and Siemens (Germany), and students are assisted in obtaining placements. It is expected that students would gain a Licentiateship of the City & Guilds from this period of work experience.

Stage 3

  • Agile Software Development
  • Computer Architecture and Operating Systems
  • Concurrent Programming
  • Requirements Engineering and Software Quality
  • Software Design Principles and Patterns
  • Software Engineering Project
  • Software Verification and Testing
  • 3D Graphics

These advanced modules permit each student to tailor their skills towards one or more areas of software engineering specialism.

MEng (Stage 4)

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.

The first two years and much of Stage 3 are common with the BEng, and transfer from the BEng to the MEng is possible for selected students at the end of Stage 2, subject to satisfactory performance.

  • Advanced Software Design
  • Algorithms: Analysis and Applications
  • Innovation and Entrepreneurship
  • Software Engineering Research Project

Assessment & Feedback

Assessment (general): 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 (general): 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. Feedback may be provided in a variety of forms including:

  • Feedback provided via formal written comments and marks relating to work that you, as an individual or as part of a group, have submitted.
  • Face to face comment. This may include occasions when you make use of the lecturers’ advertised “office hours” to help you to address a specific query.
  • Placement employer comments or references.
  • Online or emailed comment.
  • General comments or question and answer opportunities at the end of a lecture, seminar or tutorial.
  • Pre-submission advice regarding the standards you should aim for and common pitfalls to avoid. In some instances, this may be provided in the form of model answers or exemplars which you can review in your own time.
  • Feedback and outcomes from practical classes.
  • Comment and guidance provided by staff from specialist support services such as, Careers, Employability and Skills or the Learning Development Service.

Once you have reviewed your feedback, you will be encouraged to identify and implement further improvements to the quality of your work.

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.

At Queen’s, we aim to deliver a high quality learning environment that embeds intellectual curiosity, innovation and best practice in learning, teaching and student support to enable student to achieve their full academic potential.

On the Software Engineering degree we do this by providing a range of learning experiences which enable our students to engage with subject experts, develop attributes and perspectives that will equip them for life and work in a global society and make use of innovative technologies and a world class library that enhances their development as independent, lifelong learners. Examples of the opportunities provided for learning on this course are:

  • Lectures: introduce basic information about new topics as a starting point for further self-directed private study/reading. Lectures also provide opportunities to ask questions, gain some feedback and advice on assessments (normally delivered in large groups to all year group peers).
  • Practicals: where you will have significant opportunities to develop technical skills and apply theoretical principles to real-life or practical contexts. Comprehensive demonstrator support is provided – typically one demonstrator per 8-10 students.
  • E-Learning technologies: Information associated with lectures and assignments is often communicated via a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) called Queen’s Online. A range of e-learning experiences are also embedded in the degree through, for example: interactive group workshops in a flexible learning space; IT and statistics modules; podcasts and interactive web-based learning activities; opportunities to use IT programmes associated with design in practicals and project- based work etc.
  • Seminars/tutorials: A number of modules will make use of seminars/tutorials (typically 10-20 students). These provide an opportunity for students to engage with academic staff who have specialist knowledge of the topic, to ask questions of them and to assess their own progress and understanding with the support of peers. You should also expect to make presentations and other contributions to these groups.
  • Self-directed study: This is an important part of life as a Queen’s student when important private reading, engagement with e-learning resources, reflection on feedback to date and assignment research and preparation work is carried out.
  • Work placements: A student taking this programme can 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 Microsoft, Liberty IT, Kainos, IBM,Deloitte, BT, Citi Group, SAP and Dell. It is expected that students will gain a Licentiateship of the City and Guilds from this period of work experience.
  • Projects and teamwork: A number of modules throughout the degree will use supervised projects as a means of enabling you to put your technical understanding into practice. The extensive use of team based projects from first year will provide you with the opportunity to develop skills widely used by employers. In final year, you will be expected to carry out a significant piece of research on a topic or practical methodology. You will receive support from a supervisor who will guide you in terms of how to carry out your research and will provide feedback to you.
  • Personal Tutor: Undergraduates are allocated a Personal Tutor who meets with them on several occasions during the year to support their academic development.
  • Peer Mentoring: Queen’s runs a peer mentoring scheme for Computing students – a group of students from all year groups (except first year) are trained to provide support for the 1st year students, in terms of offering advice and guidance, organising social events etc. The School also has a Computing Society (QCS – Queen’s Computing Society) who organise a range of activities, including social events and more formal activities such as industry lectures, for all Computing students. A games club also meets once a week and this is open to all computing students in the School (not just those studying for the games degree).

Students have access to a wide range of computers (laboratories are equipped with several hundred PCs) and specialised software packages. Networks link the School and University computers to powerful machines in Great Britain.

The course emphasises the professional and practical application of software engineering. As such, students are encouraged to build strong links with local software engineering companies through employer involvement within projects, lectures and other forms of teaching contact.

Paid Placement Year

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.

Additional information

Career Prospects 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).  Consultations We regularly consult and develop links with a large number of employers including, for example, Asidua and Liberty IT, who provide sponsorship for our students as well as Citi and Kainos ...

Software Engineering with a Year in Industry

£ 9,250 + VAT