Software Engineering (with Foundation Year) BSc (Hons)

Study the fundamental concepts of problem-solving, algorithms and data structure, and how they can be integrated to create solutions to complex computational tasks.

You use classic puzzles and recreational games to demonstrate the fundamental building blocks of algorithms. Develop your knowledge of design principles and your proficiency in creating algorithmic procedures by learning to think computationally when solving puzzles, and creating routines for playing simple computer-enabled games.

This is a 30-credit module.

Working in small teams, you design, develop and demonstrate a software solution that relates to an agreed specification following an agile development methodology.

This is a 30-credit module.

Learn the tools, techniques and methods you need to develop information systems such as gathering requirements, requirements modelling, designing data models and implementing a solution.

This is a 30-credit module.

Gain an introduction to programming if you have little or no experience of it. You use tools that are easily available, easy to use and familiar to anyone who's used a computer. Learn how programming language constructs are applied to increasing complex problems.

This is a 30-credit module.

Learn about the maths, algorithms and data structures that are essential for computer science and computer games – putting first principles into an applied context.

This module is closely linked to our programming modules and prepares you with essential, transferable problem-solving skills.

This is a 30-credit module.

You consider key aspects of the software development process - designing solutions, writing application code, developing documentation and formal approaches to testing. And you develop the essential skills you need to develop software applications such as following best practices used by industry and the wider programming community.

This is a 30-credit module.

Cover a full range of computer and network security issues. Study systematic approaches to managing security risks, identification and authentication, elementary cryptography, network technology and relevant security issues. Learn about the basic network technology including deploying routers, switches, firewalls, cabling and servers as well as communication protocols and topologies. And understand how they're used and how they function in the real world.

This is a 30-credit module.

To produce a successful, robust, user-friendly system or application, you need to start by analysing your stakeholders’ requirements and developing a detailed design.

Study the concepts and techniques of analysing and designing systems. Then you can break down and simplify complex systems, and represent them visually using industry-standard approaches. In industry, these visual models are used to communicate designs to developers and stakeholders before implementation.

You study other techniques to design and implement relational databases as part of an information system. Using data-modelling techniques, you learn to define how the system stores data and interacts with it.

This module has a strong emphasis on professional practice and transferrable practical skills, such as communicating design, structuring workflows with process models and gathering requirements - this provides you with some of the essential skills you need in industry.

This is a 30-credit module.

You develop a solution, proposal, product or service in response to an enterprise challenge set by industry partners or business clients.

Working in small teams, you determine the project aims, objectives, roles, tasks, deliverables, schedules and documentation. You take a professional approach, informed by innovative industry practice, to deliver a successful project that meets the set challenge.

You develop a solution, proposal, product or service, pitching it to academics and industry experts. You reflect on the project process as a whole and review sustainability, diversity, ethical and legal issues, and evaluate team members’ performance.

This is a 30-credit module.

Learn how to design and implement database applications to meet business needs using industry-standard database technologies. Use a case study to follow the system development lifecycle, and develop a server database application for a real-world scenario. Explore rational and NoSQL database technologies to design and build solutions.

This is a 30-credit module.

The cost of software failures is staggering with estimates in the billions of pounds each year. Software quality assurance ensures that all software engineering processes, methods, activities and work items are monitored and comply with defined standards and best practice. It covers all software development processes starting from defining requirements to coding until release. The prime goal is to ensure quality.

You address software project management, managing software, and quality controlling and testing the complete lifecycle.

This is a 30-credit module.

Design and construct web applications and web services, and understand the role they play in the architecture of enterprise-style software systems.

Compared to traditional static sites, web applications serve dynamic content or fully asynchronous single-page applications to bring the web alive. Web services use industry-standard interfaces to make their capabilities reusable by third parties, particularly apps running on mobile devices. These technologies are the cornerstone of the modern web.

Explore the underlying technologies of how the web works and investigate how to use professional tools to construct web apps and web services. Study the principles, patterns, libraries, frameworks and techniques to engineer good-quality software components ready to use in enterprise-style software system architectures. Build on and extend your previous programming experience, and knowledge and understanding of data modelling and persistence.

This is a 30-credit module.

You have the option to spend one year in industry learning and developing your skills. We encourage and support you with applying for a placement, job hunting and networking.

You gain experience favoured by graduate recruiters and develop your technical skillset. You also obtain the transferable skills required in any professional environment, including communication, negotiation, teamwork, leadership, organisation, confidence, self-reliance, problem-solving, being able to work under pressure, and commercial awareness.

Many employers view a placement as a year-long interview, therefore placements are increasingly becoming an essential part of an organisation's pre-selection strategy in their graduate recruitment process. Benefits include:

· improved job prospects
· enhanced employment skills and improved career progression opportunities
· a higher starting salary than your full-time counterparts
· a better degree classification
· a richer CV
· a year's salary before completing your degree
· experience of workplace culture
· the opportunity to design and base your final-year project within a working environment.

If you are unable to secure a work placement with an employer, then you simply continue on a course without the work placement.

Cloud computing enables companies to avoid the infrastructure and maintenance costs associated with buying and running their own dedicated hardware and software platforms. Moving software and software development to the cloud creates new challenges and opportunities for software developers.

You explore cloud-native software architectures, use cloud-based platforms and infrastructures, and study professional DevOps practices used to develop and deploy complete software systems.

This is a 30-credit module.

Produce a substantial artefact related to the computing field, and write a report and commented walk-through video, with supervision from our academic staff.

You are guided to develop your work-discipline and your professional outlook. Taking full responsibility for your project, carry out an in-depth exploration of a chosen subject area that demonstrates your ability to scope the project, plan, research, analyse, synthesise, and creatively apply and execute what you've already studied. Consider its risks, security and sustainability as well as the legal, social, ethical, equality, diversity and inclusion issues.

You develop your professional skills in time management, communication, problem solving and critical thinking.

This is a 60-credit module.

High-integrity software is defined as software that can cause significant loss with possible life-threatening consequences or institutional reputational damage if it fails. Every year there are several cases of software failure causing significant harm. The UK Post Office implemented a system where software defects resulted in 736 employees being convicted of stealing money, with some going to prison. The Boeing 737 MAX suffered a recurring software failure which caused two fatal crashes, Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 - 346 people died in total. With the increasing reliance on software systems, the growth of the internet of things and artificial intelligence, this is an ever-present threat that needs to be addressed by developers.

Software integrity is a vital part of software engineering, aiming to ensure the safety, security and reliability of software on which our lives and employment depend. You learn how to adapt software development practice to take account of the critical and specific risks of the software you're developing when you're working within a mission-critical context.

This is a 30-credit module.