Study software engineering and graduate with a university degree

Software Engineering focuses on the art of designing and building complex software systems. A particular challenge is that such systems are often large – too large for a single person to develop on their own. You’ll study techniques and practice for real-world software design and associated programming technologies. This is complemented by practical experience in software development and teamwork.

There’s a large practical element to the course, giving an excellent preparation for a career in IT. You’ll learn how to reason logically, analyse problems, and build computer systems to resolve them. Our graduates are highly sought-after in the industry.

We are a small, friendly team with an ‘open-door’ policy for students. Our computing labs are fitted with state-of-the art PCs.

The British Computer Society is the foremost professional and learned Society in the field of computers and information systems in the UK.

The BSc (Hons) course in Software Engineering gives full accreditation for being a Chartered Information Technology Practitioner (CITP), which is the professional member level of the British Computer Society, and partial accreditation for Chartered Engineer and Chartered Scientist status.

Year 1

Highers BBBB.
A-levels BBC.
IB Diploma with a total of 32 points.
HNC or HND with Bs in graded units.

Access courses and other UK/EU and international qualifications are also welcomed.

Year 2

A-levels or Advanced Highers ABB to include Computing and relevant experience of Java (other programming languages may be acceptable). HND in related subjects with Bs in graded units.

International students can study our Undergraduate Certificate if they do not possess the necessary entrance requirements to be admitted directly to Year 1 of an undergraduate degree course.

Other information

If examinations are taken over two sittings, or there are repeats or upgrades, the entrance requirements may be higher.

Required subjects

Mathematics Standard Grade (3), Intermediate 2 (C), GCSE (C) or equivalent.

English Standard Grade (2), Intermediate 2 (C), GCSE (C) or equivalent.

Applicants with English Standard Grade (3) will also be considered, although alternative entry conditions may be made in this case.

information on possible sources of funding

Full-time (three modules per semester).
Part-time (one or two modules per semester).

Year 1

Year 2

A Scottish HND in related subjects with BB in graded units in Year 2 can give direct entry to the second year of our degree courses.

There are four computing-related degrees on offer at Stirling: BSc (Hons) Computing Science, BSc (Hons) Software Engineering, BSc (Hons) Business Computing and BSc (Hons) Information Systems. During the first three semesters students on all related courses are required to take the same core modules in Computing Science. Students take Computing Science plus two other subjects in Year 1.

Semesters 1 - 3

You will take core modules encompassing study in the following areas:

• Skills and Applications
• Programming using Java
• Usability and Accessibility
• Object-oriented Development, Data Structures and Algorithms
• Information Systems
  

In Semester 1, we understand that students have a variety of backgrounds, and we can adapt the course to suit previous experience and qualifications. Students studying the Single Honours Software Engineering degree are required to take a Mathematics module in the first semester.

Semesters 4 - 8

The course in Semesters 4 – 8 comprises both core compulsory modules and optional advanced modules, giving you a chance to explore your particular interests.

Core modules include:

• Software Engineering (involving group work)
• Computer Systems
• Databases: Principles and Applications
• Multimedia and Human Computer Interaction
• Communications and Networks
  

Optional modules include:

• Computer Game Technologies
• Computer Security and Forensics
• Artificial Intelligence
• Managing Information
• Technologies for E-commerce
• Telecommunications Systems and Services
• Web Services
• Information Systems
• Computing and the Brain
  

Honours students undertake an independent project in their final year. Typically this involves developing a major piece of software from initial requirements to final delivery.

Year 1

• Skills and Applications
• Programming and User Accessibility
• Discrete Structures
  

Year 2

• Objects and Information Systems
• Systems I
• Programming Language Paradigms
• Managing Information
  

Year 3

• Software Engineering I
• Database Principles and Applications
• Multimedia and Human Computer Interaction
• Software Engineering II
• Computer Game Technologies
• Communications and Networks
• Information Systems
  

Year 4

• Concurrent and Distributed Systems
• Language Implementation
• Computer Security and Forensics
• Artificial Intelligence
• Technologies for E-commerce
• Telecommunications Systems and Services
• Web Services
• Computing and the Brain
  

You will learn about Software Engineering through lectures, small tutorial groups and most of all through laboratory work. Software Engineering is taught as a very practical subject, and almost all modules include practical assignments. Typically these count for 50 percent of the assessment grade, with the remainder given to the examination.

For the Honours degree, the grades for all advanced modules taken in Semesters 5 – 8 are combined to give the final classification.

Computer Science at Stirling was top in UK, scoring 100% student satisfaction for the quality of the course (National Student Survey, 2011).

You have the opportunity to study abroad through Stirling's well-established connections with several international universities.

In the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), 90 percent of the research in the Institute of Computing Science and Mathematics was graded as ‘Internationally Excellent’, with the top five percent judged to be ‘World-leading’.

The Institute of Computing Science and Mathematics has strong links with Scottish industry through its Industrial Advisory Board (IBM) – with members from both Scottish and international industries such as IBM, HSBC, Sword-Ciboodle and Stirling Council. Through the IAB we

• Maintain links with potential employers, giving students an insight into the types of job they may find and giving employers a chance to find the right employees now and influence what is taught in the future
• Transfer knowledge and technology from the institute to a wide user base
• Make our research relevant to the user base
• Collaborate with the user base on joint research and development projects

Academic strengths

We are an active research Institute. We have funded research from the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Medical Research Council (MRC), Biological and Basic Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC), from the European Community and from other sources.

We provide a stimulating and lively environment for all students.  Final-year Honours projects can be associated with active research projects in the Institute.  Research areas of particular interest are Applied Formal Methods, Medical Informatics, Computational Intelligence, and Communications and Services.

Graduates will have a knowledge of Software Engineering as a coherent discipline, together with a wide range of IT skills. They will be particularly well equipped to enter either the software industry itself or one of the many fields in which computer systems are extensively used and developed. Typical career paths include: software engineering, analyst programming and IT consultancy. Recent destinations for our graduates include DERA, Marconi Systems, Adobe Systems Inc., and Xerox.