BEng (Hons) Software Engineering - HE6 top-up
Course Overview
Software engineering is a truly global activity that concerns building and maintaining software systems and other computer-based solutions. Your previous studies in software engineering or a similar computing-related specialism will have prepared you to undertake advanced study in focused areas of software development and engineering. We'll support you in enhancing your existing foundation degree or HND-level knowledge and skills, ready to achieve the status of BEng (Hons) Software Engineering (top-up) graduate.Our dedicated staff team offers a balance of academic rigour, industrial experience and advanced technical expertise. We'll support you in exploring the underlying principles of software engineering while helping you gain knowledge and practical experience with the latest technologies. You'll be encouraged to appreciate both the technical and human aspects involved in areas such as the lifecycle of software systems, software design, systems analysis, programming, database specification and design, and system security.
In addition to technical knowledge and expertise, you'll have opportunities to gain experience in teamwork, communication and presentation, problem-solving and time management. Our focus is on helping you develop industry-relevant knowledge and skills to prepare you for a career in software engineering.
Highlights
- Our Computer Science courses are top in the UK for student satisfaction, according to The Complete University Guide 2022.
- Our Computer Science courses are also placed first in the UK for teaching quality and student experience by The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021.
- Our dedicated staff team have a wide range of professional experience, industry knowledge, technical expertise and academic credentials, offering you a variety of perspectives and broadening your horizons.
- We prefer to keep lecture and practical classes relatively small so that you have plenty of opportunities to us ask questions and get help, as well as benefit from the ideas and support offered by your classmates.
- We have well-established links with the software engineering industry and continually monitor and update the course to ensure the content is industry-relevant and introduces you to the latest thinking and innovations.
- We're committed to helping you develop your employability and career network. You'll be encouraged to attend guest lectures that enhance your learning, help you make contacts in the industry and contribute to your professional development.
- By designing the course assignments and projects to mimic industry pipelines and standards, we aim to give you a real feel for a career in software engineering.
Key Features
- We offer a warm and friendly environment for your studies, with relatively small class sizes, purpose-built teaching facilities, and excellent student support and library services.
- We want to work with you as an individual, giving you access to the help and support you need to succeed.
- Our dedicated IT suites feature high-specification hardware and industry-standard software.
- Many of our computing facilities can be accessed across the internet, allowing you to work on your assignments whenever and wherever you choose.
- We'll help and support you in developing a portfolio of work that demonstrates your skills in readiness to impress potential employers.
- By choosing to study with us, you'll have the chance to enjoy Bolton's many shops, bars, restaurants and leisure facilities. Manchester, one of the UK's most multicultural and lively cities, is less than 20 minutes away by train. Not forgetting, the North West of England is renowned for its beautiful countryside, coastline and heritage. This makes Bolton an ideal base from which to explore some of the best cultural and outdoor activities the UK offers.
Entry Requirements
- For direct entry to Level HE6 (top-up), you will need either a foundation degree (FdSc or FdEng) or an HND in software engineering, cloud computing, networking and security or a similar computing or programming related course.
- If you don't meet the standard entry requirements, but have non-traditional qualifications and/or relevant experience, we'll be happy to consider your application. You'll be required to undertake an assessment to determine your suitability for the course. You'll be assessed on your problem solving skills and your ability to participate in group work.
- You may be required to attend an interview and/or provide a portfolio of work.
- If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.
Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.
Career Opportunities
Software engineers may work at any stage of the software development life cycle. Duties can include producing project requirements, writing algorithms, coding, testing, deployment, or maintenance.
As a BEng (Hons) Software Engineering graduate, you'll possess a wide range of technical and transferable skills such as advanced IT skills, analytical skills, communication, creativity and innovation, independence, logic, numeracy, project management and organisation. The demand for skilled and qualified software engineers is increasing. This is fostered by a transforming economic landscape driven by the need for computing technology solutions.
What can I do with this qualification?
Jobs directly related to a software engineering degree include games development, systems development, web design, web development, search engine optimisation, information systems management, and business analysis. A wide variety of career options are also available in sectors such as business, engineering, health care, gaming, publishing, IT, retail, education, medicine, aerospace and cyber security.
Alternative career options
Graduates can use the qualification as a stepping-stone into a range of other careers. Some of these roles may require relevant experience and/or postgraduate study. Some possibilities include:
- Advertising, marketing and PR
- Banking, finance and accountancy
- Energy and utilities
- Manufacturing and production
- Public sector and defence
- IT consultancy
- Radio and TV production
- Systems analysis
- Telecommunications
- Multimedia programming
- Digital copywriting
- Network engineering
Fees & Funding
Home/EU Fees
| Year of study | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Year | 2025/26 | 2026/27 | |
| 2025-26 | £9,535 | - | £9,535 |
| 2026-27 | - | ||
International Fees
| Year of study | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Year | 2025/26 | 2026/27 | |
| 2025-26 | £17,500 | - | £17,500 |
| 2026-27 | - | ||
Bursaries
Important note regarding tuition fees: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.
The fees for a student's course of study will be set for the normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.
How to apply
Home Applicants
Course application details are unavailable at present
International Applicants
Course application details are unavailable at present
Partner Organisation Applicants
Course application details are unavailable at present
Teaching & Assessment
Lectures introduce the core course content, while practical laboratory sessions offer you practical experience and help consolidate your learning. Tutorials allow you to ask any questions to ensure you understand the topics covered in lectures and laboratory sessions. We use case studies and practical scenarios to help you learn to apply academic theory to real-life problems, allowing you to gain insights into software engineering in industrial environments.
Guest lectures/presentations by a variety of visiting speakers from relevant employment areas offer you the chance to develop your knowledge and understanding further.
In terms of assessment, you can expect time-constrained exams and coursework, such as essays, reports, presentations, and portfolios. These contribute to your final marks and allow you to demonstrate that you've met the learning outcomes for the course.
We also use other forms of assessment to help you learn, provide you with feedback and inform your development, though these do not count towards your final marks. For instance, you might be asked to complete quizzes or undertake programming exercises. You'll also receive feedback on assessment drafts. These will help identify any areas that would benefit from extra attention on your part or where you need extra support from your tutor.
Modules
The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.
- Undergraduate Project
- Agile Programming
- Enterprise Systems Development
- Machine Learning
- Software Quality Management
Assessment methods
| Level | Assessment method |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Coursework 100% |
Learning Activities
| Level | Activity |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Guided independent study 77% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 23% |
The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.
