BEng (Hons) Software Engineering

Retail, manufacturing, defence, healthcare, education – most government and industry sectors rely heavily on software systems, and professional, competent, creative software engineers are needed to develop and maintain them. The University of Bolton's BEng (Hons) Software Engineering degree offers you the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in this field.

Key information

Award:

BEng (Hons)

Mode of Study:

Full-time

Duration:

3 years

Location:

University of Bolton

UCAS code:

G470

Start date:

To be confirmed

Course Details

Congratulations. You're considering a career in the world's most in-demand profession (1). Software engineering is a truly global activity that concerns building and maintaining software systems and other computer-based solutions. By examining all elements of the process – from an initial understanding of the problem to be solved through analysis, design, and development to testing, documentation and maintenance – our BEng (Hons) Software Engineering degree offers you a focused education in software engineering, ready to impress potential employers. By studying at the University of Bolton, you can develop essential knowledge and understanding of software engineering principles and practices while experiencing life at our supportive, student-focused, multicultural campus.

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 of 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.

We focus on helping you develop industry-relevant knowledge and skills so that you are well-prepared for a career in software engineering. We'll also support you in building lifelong learning skills so you can take ownership of your professional development for the future and maximise your potential for success.

(1) https://www.michaelpage.co.uk/minisite/most-in-demand-professions accessed on 18 September 2023

Highlights
  • Our Computer Science courses are 5th in the UK for student satisfaction, according to The Complete University Guide 2024.
  • Our Computer Science courses are also placed in the top 5 in the UK for teaching quality by The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024.
  • Our dedicated staff team has a wide range of professional experience, industry knowledge, technical expertise and academic credentials, offering you a variety of perspectives and broadening your horizons.
  • Manchester is a thriving digital hub and home to a wide range of digital technology businesses. The region offers plenty of opportunities to network and exchange ideas. Our guest lecturer programme invites professionals to come and share their expertise so that you can benefit from their experience.
  • A big part of our commitment to your progress is helping you develop your employability and industry networks. So we'll encourage you to attend guest lectures that give your learning context, offer industry contact, and contribute to your underlying professional development.
  • By structuring our module content, assignments and projects to mimic industry processes and standards, we aim to provide an industry-relevant education that leads you towards a successful career.
  • To boost your employability, you'll study a number of different programme languages and approaches. Each new language you experience and approach you master will enhance your ability to impress potential employers, opening up a wider variety of graduate job opportunities.
Key Features
  • With intentionally small class sizes, we can offer you more meaningful and personalised interaction with our dedicated and enthusiastic lecturers. We'll focus on your individual needs and provide personalised support to find the learning strategies that best support your learning and ultimate success.
  • We continually monitor and update the course to reflect current and ever-changing software engineering issues and keep your learning in line with technological advances and innovations.
  • 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 support you in building a portfolio of work that demonstrates your skills in software engineering. This can put you in an advantageous position when you approach potential employers.
  • In addition to technical knowledge and expertise, you'll have opportunities to gain experience in teamwork, communication and presentation, problem-solving and time management.
  • 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.

  • Any subjects are acceptable at Level 3. Relevant science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) and computing-related subjects are preferred.
  • You should also have five GCSEs at grade C or above or grade 4 to 9 (or equivalent), including English and Mathematics.
  • We'll be happy to consider your application if you don't meet the standard entry requirements but have non-traditional qualifications and/or relevant experience. 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.


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?

Software engineering graduates who are new to the field often start out as programmers and work up to positions of greater responsibility, such as software architects or project managers.

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

Course fees

Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2019-2020 academic year: 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.

Bursaries

Click here for more information about the scholarships and bursaries available to University of Bolton students.


For details of how to apply for this course, please choose your status from the options below:

Course application details are unavailable at present

Course application details are unavailable at present

Course application details are unavailable at present


We use a blended learning and teaching style, including online delivery and engagement where appropriate. Lectures introduce the core course content, while practical laboratory sessions offer practical experience and help consolidate your learning. Tutorials allow you to ask 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.

Regarding 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, we might ask you 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 additional 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.

  • Maths for Computing
  • Computer Science Fundamentals
  • Computing Infrastructure
  • Databases
  • Object Oriented Programming
  • Advanced Programming
  • Data Structures and Algorithms
  • Applied Software Engineering
  • Systems Analysis and Design
  • Research and Professional Issues
  • Undergraduate Project
  • Agile Programming
  • Applied Machine Learning
  • Software Quality Management
  • Computer Graphics
  • Operations Management
Assessment methods
LevelAssesment method
Level oneCoursework 100%
Level twoCoursework 100%
Level threeCoursework 92%, Practical exams 8%
Learning activities
LevelLearning activity
Level oneGuided independent study 66%, Scheduled learning and teaching activities 34%
Level twoGuided independent study 77%, Scheduled learning and teaching activities 23%
Level threeGuided independent study 77%, Scheduled learning and teaching activities 23%

Disclaimer

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.

The academic staff detailed above teach across a range of courses in this subject area and may not teach on this course specifically.

Programme Contacts

Software Engineering
Email Enquiries

SoftEng@bolton.ac.uk

Abdul Razak
Programme Leader

A.Razak@bolton.ac.uk

+44 (0)1204 903476

Andrew Parker
Admissions Tutor

A.Parker@bolton.ac.uk

+44 (0)1204 903467

Enquiry Team
University of Bolton

enquiries@bolton.ac.uk

+44 (0)1204 903903

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