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software-engineering

Software Engineering MSc/PG Dip/PG Cert

Become a highly trained engineer capable of delivering good quality and trustworthy software systems to meet industry needs. This course combines theory and practice, equipping you with detailed knowledge of advanced technology and professional skills sought after by employers.

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Overview

Delivered with support from sector-leading organisations such as Airbus and Deloitte UK, our strong partnerships ensure that this course is aligned with the latest industry needs.

Input from experts from the Software Technology Research Laboratory means that you will also benefit from their expertise and research in the sector.

Develop your technical skills through modules such as Requirements Analysis and Cloud-based System Design, Internet of Things, Software Quality Assurance and Testing and Critical Systems.

You will also study a Legal, Ethical and Professional Practice and Research Methods module in preparation  for your final project, during which you will explore a contemporary issue from a wide range of applications, including Electronic Patient Records, London Ambulance System, E-Voting System and Flight Control System.

Our graduates have gone on to work as software engineers, consultants and project managers for companies such as IBM, BT and Deloitte UK. You will also be well-positioned to continue studying towards a PhD.

Key features

  • Study in an innovative department with an international reputation for research, training and education in software engineering.
  • Access specialist research labs equipped with industry-standard software and with excellent technical support on hand. 
  • Meet like-minded people and get hands-on experience by joining our student societies, such as  DMU Hackers, an ethical hacking society that meets weekly to share skills and prepare for competitions.
  • Fit your studies around your other commitments with flexible study options, including full-time, part time and distance learning.
  • Boost your career prospects through an optional one-year paid placement* where you can  build industry contacts and  gain experience in your area of interest. Previous Software Engineering MSc students have undertaken placements with  ARM Ltd, as well as local and national consultancy and software firms.
  • Study for an MSc with excellent career prospects. Graduates have gone on to work in both public and private sector organisations, including IBM and BT.

*Country restrictions apply

News stories/case studies

Ugonna Ezema is feeling hopeful about his career prospects after attending a student workshop hosted by Amazon, the world’s largest online market place. The Software Engineering MSc student was notified about the online event – which was designed to support Black and ethnic minority students in their career development – by his faculty placement team at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU).

Delivered together with Everything D&I – a company working with employers to create opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds – the event explored career options within Amazon, including how to successfully apply for internships and graduate opportunities.

 

More courses like this:

Computing MSc/PG Dip/PG Cert

Intelligent Systems MSc/PG Dip/PG Cert

Intelligent Systems and Robotics MSc/PG Dip/PG Cert

 

  • UK
  • EU/International

Programme code: G60071

Location: De Montfort University campus, Distance learning (online)

Start Date: January 2022, September 2022

Duration: One year full-time (with optional one-year placement available), 18 months for January starts or 30 months part-time.

Fees and funding: 

2021/22 full-time fees for UK students: £15,925 per year, part-time fees: £1,781 per 15 credits except for project (£1,636), distance learning fees £15,925 per year

2022/23 full-time fees for UK students: £17,048, part-time fees: £1,738 per 15 credits except for project £2,800

Find out more about course fees and available funding.

Additional costs and optional extras associated with this course.

How to apply

Application guidance document

Submit a study-related enquiry

Programme code: G60071

Location: De Montfort University campus, Distance learning (online)

Start Date: January 2022, September 2022

Duration: One year full-time (with optional one-year placement available) or 18 months for January starts.

Fees and funding: 

2021/22 full-time fees for EU/international students: £18,280, distance learning fees £18,280

2022/23 full-time fees for EU/International students: £18,780, part time and distance learning: £2,000 per 15 credits except for project £2,800

Find out more about course fees and available funding.

Additional costs and optional extras associated with this course.

How to apply

Application guidance document

Submit a study-related enquiry

Entry criteria

You should have the equivalent of a British Honours degree (2:2 minimum) in a relevant subject.

We are happy to consider equivalent qualifications from anywhere in the world.

If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.0 or equivalent when you start the course is essential. English Language tuition, delivered by our British Council accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it.

If you have no formal academic qualifications but do have extensive industry experience we will consider your application on an individual basis.

 

 

If you feel you would like to talk to us about your qualifications before submitting an application please do not hesitate to call or email using the contact details below.

Whilst the University tries to ensure that all of its programmes run as advertised it is sometimes necessary to make significant changes to the structure of the programmes or to discontinue a programme entirely if for instance there are insufficient student numbers or staff changes. This will sometimes happen between an offer being made and enrolment.

Where changes are made the University will endeavour to inform applicants as early as possible to minimise the potential disruption to the application process. Where possible an alternative programme will be offered in a similar subject area.

In cases where programmes are changed or discontinued the University will send a communication to you electronically and/or by hard copy outlining your options.

Structure and assessment

 

Course modules

Teaching and assessments

Academic expertise

 

 First semester (September to January)

  • Legal, Ethical and Professional Practice and Research Methods

  • Requirements Analysis and Cloud-based System Design – provides you with a comprehensive understanding and ability to critically evaluate software and systems requirements engineering and architectural approaches
  • Internet of Things
    provides students with the necessary knowledge and understanding of IoT technologies and their application to the provision of smart services, as well as a wider understanding of how data analytics and visualisation are performed through cloud computing services
  • Software Quality Assurance and Testing
    provides students with insight into the effective testing methodologies for quality assurance in software engineering process. It covers basic concepts, sound principles, best practices, and rigorous approaches for testing software and assuring its quality. The emphasis is placed on the skills of problem formulation, modelling and problem solving for building and delivering high quality software

 Second semester (February to May)

  • Modern Programming Techniques – provides you with knowledge of modern programming techniques which blend object and functional designs. You will gain practical skills writing programs that utilise combined object and functional patterns of computation
  • High Assurance System Design – these techniques are used in the specification and design of critical systems where failure can cause catastrophic effects such as death, damage to the environment, and loss of money.  The aim of this module is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of high assurance system design approaches that are based on automata theory to provide a platform for practical system design and critical evaluation
  • Critical Systems – aims to introduce and critically analyse Critical Systems (CSs). Requirements for the engineering of CSs will be introduced and the role of formal approaches in the life cycle of CSs will be explored
  • Advanced Research Topics in Cyber Technology – provides an insight into the latest research directions and achievements in the field of software engineering

 

Third semester (June to September)

Your project will be chosen to explore an issue from a wide range of applications such as:

  • Electronic Purse
  • Electronic Patient Records
  • Personal Insulin Pump Systems
  • London Ambulance System
  • Intelligent Parking Systems
  • E-Voting System
  • Ariane 5 Launcher
  • Flight Control System

Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.

 

 

There are provisions for a traditional classroom-based delivery, either part-time or full-time, as well as distance learning. Teaching will include formal lectures, tutorials and labs. You will also be expected to undertake independent study and research to support your assignments and dissertation. Assessment will be 100 per cent coursework. It will involve various group and individual methods, including oral exams, projects, presentations, written essays and reports.

 

 

Contact and learning hours

The time allocated to study is around 30 hours per week, carried out in block teaching. The taught element of the course lasts for the first two semesters, while the third semester is devoted to the project.

 

The Software Technology Research Laboratory is one of the largest software engineering research groups in the UK and its research activities are acknowledged as being at the highest level of international excellence. In the last UK HEFCE Research Assessment Exercise (RAE 2008), 85 per cent of the research produced by the group was considered to be world-leading, internationally excellent or international. 

 

The major themes within the lab include computer security and trust, software evolution, theory and computational paradigms and semantic web and service oriented computing. The staff working in these areas bring to the course their academic excellence and their experience of applying their work to various industrial sectors.

Facilities and features

 
Placements
Placements
Placements
 

Facilities

The Computer Science laboratories in Gateway House provide 80 computer workstations for students to use. The space is divided into four interconnected laboratories each with 20 machines (20 HP PCs running Windows/Linux).

There are printing facilities available, internal network access and digital projectors to aid in teaching. All the machines are connected via the Faculty of Technology network to a dedicated, high-performance file server for storage and backup of students' work. Many of the software packages are open source which means students can download and run software at home.

The Computer Science laboratories include a study space area, in which you can work individually or in groups.

Learning zones

Our Learning Zones and The Greenhouse also provide space for group or individual work and study.

There are 1,600 study places across all library locations, more than 700 computer stations, laptops to borrow, free wi-fi and desktop power outlets.

You can also book rooms with plasma screens, laptops and DVD facilities for group work and presentations, secure an individual study room with adjustable lighting or make use of our assistive technology.

Library services

On campus, the main Kimberlin Library offers a space where you can work, study and access a vast range of print materials, with computer stations, laptops, plasma screens and assistive technology also available. 

As well as providing a physical space in which to work, we offer online tools to support your studies, and our extensive online collection of resources accessible from our Library website, e-books, specialised databases and electronic journals and films which can be remotely accessed from anywhere you choose. 

We will support you to confidently use a huge range of learning technologies, including Blackboard, Collaborate Ultra, DMU Replay, MS Teams, Turnitin and more. Alongside this, you can access LinkedIn Learning and learn how to use Microsoft 365, and study support software such as mind mapping and note-taking through our new Digital Student Skills Hub. 

The library staff offer additional support to students, including help with academic writing, research strategies, literature searching, reference management and assistive technology. There is also a ‘Just Ask’ service for help and advice, live LibChat, online workshops, tutorials and drop-ins available from our Learning Services, and weekly library live chat sessions that give you the chance to ask the library teams for help.

Opportunities and careers

Find the people who will open doors for you

DMU named best university for helping students build their careers Learn more

dmu-global-img-01

 

DMU Global

This is our innovative international experience programme which aims to enrich your studies and expand your cultural horizons – helping you to become a global graduate, equipped to meet the needs of employers across the world.

Through DMU Global, we offer a wide range of opportunities including on-campus and UK activities, overseas study, internships, faculty-led field trips and volunteering, as well as Erasmus+ and international exchanges.

While overseas DMU Global opportunities are not currently possible, DMU will continue to review government advice and if travel is permitted, we hope to offer a small number of extra-curricular opportunities in the summer of 2021. 

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Graduate Careers

Graduates are prepared for positions in consultancies, software houses or project management and can also undertake further study towards a doctoral or PhD degree.

 

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