Software Engineering MSc/PG Dip/PG Cert

This programme offers computer science graduates and professional programmers the opportunity to further develop their theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the most up-to-date software engineering principles.

Overview
Structure and assessment
Facilities and features
Opportunities and careers
more about your DMU
Contact us

Overview

Reasons to study Software Engineering at De Montfort University:

You will study in an innovative department with an international reputation for research, training and education in software engineering, with access to facilities and expertise from the Software Technology Research Laboratory (STRL).

Taught by acknowledged experts from the STRL, Software Engineering will equip you with skills you need for industry.

Taught by expert academic staff
taught by experienced experts within the Software Technology Research Laboratory (STRL) with international reputation for research, training and education in software engineering, with access to specialist facilities
High-end facilities
With access to industry standard facilities, you will be taught in our dedicated specialist software research labs with excellent technical support on hand

Flexible study options
full-time, part time or distance learning study options available; making the course suitable for recent graduates and professionals in work
Industry focussed through partnerships
Through our partnership with our Industrial Advisory Group, consisting of: Airbus, BT, Deloitte UK and Rolls-Royce; we can ensure the relevance of our programme to real organisational needs.

Excellent career prospects
graduates have gone on to work in both public and private sector organisations, and have been employed in positions in consultancies and worked for companies including IBM, Deloitte, Airbus and BT

“Personal attention from staff and tutors was very commendable. The course content was simply great – it covered everything I needed and more.”

Victor Chukwudebe, graduate

Scholarships

At DMU, we are committed to helping our graduates enhance their careers and personal development through further study. We are proud to currently offer two scholarships.

Vice-Chancellor's Sports Scholarship
Up to £6,000 worth of support available to full-time UK and EU undergraduate and postgraduate students, starting in September 2018. For more information visit our Vice-Chancellor's Sports Scholarship.

International Scholarships

Find out about available scholarships and country specific fee discounts for international students.

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

Key facts for UK/EU students

Duration: One year full-time (with optional one year placement available), 18 months for January starts, two years part-time or by distance learning

Start Date: January and September

Fees and funding:

For 2020/21 full-time fees will be £15,500 per year.

Part-time fees will be £1,738 per 15 credits except for project (£1,596)

Find out more about course fees and available funding.

Additional costs and optional extras associated with this course

Contact us: For more information complete our online enquiry form or call us on +44 (0)116 2 50 60 70.

How to apply

Application guidance document

Submit a study-related enquiry

Key facts for international students

Duration: One year full-time (with optional one year placement available), 18 months for January starts, two years part-time or by distance learning

Start Date: January and September

Fees and funding:

For 2020/21 tuition full-time fees will be £17,780 per year.

Find out more about course fees and available funding.

Additional costs and optional extras associated with this course

Contact us: For more information complete our online enquiry form or call us on +44 (0)116 2 50 60 70.

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

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 Reseach 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

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

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

The main Kimberlin Library is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year (other than in exceptional circumstances) and offers a huge range of online resources, all of which can be remotely accessed from anywhere you choose.

The library is run by dedicated staff who offer additional support to students, including help with academic writing, research strategies, literature searching and reference management and assistive technology, and mathematical skills for non-maths students. There is also a Just Ask service for help and advice, available via email or telephone.

Opportunities and careers

#DMUglobal

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.

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.

Postgraduate Events

Find out about our upcoming Postgraduate Online Chat and Open Evening events

Find out more

Order a prospectus

Our prospectus will give you a clearer idea of what it's like to live and study at DMU and a snapshot of the courses we offer.

Order your copy

How to apply

We welcome applications from UK and international students with a wide range of qualifications and experience.

Find out more

More about your DMU

Up to 50 per cent off select PG courses

Postgraduate events

Research at DMU

Leicester guide

Up to 50 per cent off select PG courses

If you’ve completed an undergraduate degree at DMU, then you can benefit from a tuition fee discount of up to 50 per cent on our postgraduate courses. The discount is available on selected full-time, part-time and distance learning postgraduate courses running across multiple start dates.

The discount, based on academic achievement and merit, applies automatically to all DMU UK and EU students who are graduating this year or have graduated within the past two years and achieved a 2:1 (or equivalent) or above. Learn more here.