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software-engineering

Software Engineering MSc/PG Dip/PG Cert

Become a highly-trained engineer capable of delivering high-quality and trustworthy systems. Combining theory and practice, this course will equip you with detailed knowledge of advanced technology and a range of sought-after professional skills.

Block teaching designed around you

You deserve a positive teaching and learning experience, where you feel part of a supportive community. That’s why most of our postgraduate taught students will enjoy an innovative approach to learning using block teaching, where you will study one module at a time. You will benefit from more regular assessments and feedback, a better study-life balance, and a simplified timetable that provides more time for work, professional development, caring responsibilities, and everything else that's important to you. Our block-taught courses are informed by industry practice, often accredited by professional bodies, and are delivered by passionate and talented academics, who will help you develop the skills to achieve your goals.

Read more about block teaching

Overview

Our Software Engineering MSc/PG Dip/PG Cert has been developed in collaboration with sector-leading organisations such as Airbus and Deloitte UK, and is regularly reviewed, ensuring your learning is in line with industry needs. Academics from the Software Technology Research Laboratory, which forms part of the Cyber Technology Institute, an ‘Airbus Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security’, also regularly input onto the course, meaning you will also benefit from their expertise and research in the sector.

On this course, you will develop the core technical knowledge and skills needed to design, develop, test and maintain a diverse range of software applications that are fit-for-purpose for industry and business. You will learn on a variety of engaging modules, such as Cloud-based System Design, Internet of Things, Software Quality Assurance and Testing and Critical Systems and Modern Programme Techniques, which includes considering how large companies such as Twitter are making use of modern programming techniques in Scala and Python to save time and reduce runtime errors.

In your final block of teaching, you will have the opportunity to carry out a Postgraduate Project with the support of your academic supervisor. This self-managed, in-depth study will enable you to showcase your skills and knowledge and tailor them to a particular problem or research project of your own choosing. 

By the time you graduate, you will have the skills and knowledge required to kick start your career in software engineering. 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 take your studies further by continuing towards a PhD.

Key features

  • You can exit the course with a Postgraduate degree, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate award depending on the credits you have successfully achieved.
  • Study in an innovative department with an international reputation for research, training and education in software engineering. In the last UK HEFCE Research Assessment Exercise (RAE 2008), 85 per cent of the research produced by The Software Technology Research Laboratory was considered to be world-leading or internationally excellent. 
  • Access specialist research labs equipped with industry-standard software, including IntelliJ, Scala, Clojure, UML V2 and Microsoft’s C# and F# languages support functional programming within the .NET framework.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Benefit from block teaching, where most students study one subject at a time. A simple timetable will allow you to really engage with your learning, receive regular feedback and assessments, get to know your course mates and enjoy a better study-life balance.

 

*Country restrictions apply

 

Scholarships:

DMU offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships and bursaries to help you realise your academic ambitions.

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

Artificial Intelligence MSc

 

DMU has been shortlisted for the Postgraduate Award in the 2024 Whatuni Student Choice Awards (WUSCAs), as voted for by students.

  • UK
  • EU/International

Programme code: G60071

Location: De Montfort University campus

Start date: January, September

Duration: One year full-time

Fees and funding: 

2025/26 full-time fees for UK students: £9,700

Find out more about course fees and available funding.

 

How to apply

Application guidance document

Submit a study-related enquiry

Programme code: G60071

Location: De Montfort University campus

Start date: January, September

Duration: One year full-time

Fees and funding:

2025/26 full-time fees for EU/International students: £18,100

Find out more about course fees and available funding.

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

English language requirements

If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each band (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.

Structure and assessment

 

Course modules

Teaching and assessments

Academic expertise

 

Course modules

  • Block 1: Cloud Based System Design and Software Quality Assurance
  • Block 2: Internet of Things and High-Assurance System Design
  • Block 3: Critical Systems and Modern Programming Techniques
  • Block 4: Advanced Research Topics and Research Methods
  • Block 5 and 6: PGT Project

See detailed module descriptions


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.

 

Teaching and assessments 

There are provisions for a traditional classroom-based delivery, either part-time or full-time. 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 Learning Zone, 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's award-winning careers service provides guaranteed work experience opportunities DMU Careers Team
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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.

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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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