Software Engineering
BEng (Hons)
- Typical offer for 2025
- Duration
- UCAS code
Suitable for applications.
Overview
Software engineering is at the heart of all modern technology, and plays a key role in every industry. It incorporates disciplines such as:
- Mathematics
- Computer science
- Cyber security
You will study subjects including:
- Software systems design and testing
- Large-scale database systems
- System security management
- Mobile applications
- Enterprise-pro
- Artificial intelligence
If you have a passion for technology, our BEng in Software Engineering will teach you to create and innovate through information technologies and computer programming. It is designed for problem-solvers, looking to address challenges in our interconnected, technology-orientated society.
You’ll first learn the principles that underpin computer science, giving you a strong technical foundation on which to build. The programme shares a common first year with our computer science programmes, enabling you to transfer between programmes at the end of the first year if interests or career aspirations emerge in other areas.
The emphasis then moves to the design and implementation of large software engineering programmes, and you will study subjects including:
- Mobile applications
- System security management
- Software verification
- Database systems
BEng (Hons) in Software Engineering draws on our outstanding research strengths and expertise. Our Department of Computer Science is one of the longest established in the UK, and we have a strong heritage within the subject.
Programme options
We also offer a 4-year version of the BEng which includes a 'sandwich' placement year in industry. The placement year is an excellent way to develop your professional experience, build industry contacts, and gain insight into the day-to-day work of a professional engineer.
Professional accreditation
Accredited by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered IT Professional.
Accredited by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for Incorporated Engineer and partially meeting the academic requirement for a Chartered Engineer.
Software plays a crucial role in driving and controlling computers and offers unimagined interaction with machines, which was thought to be impossible. The degree of BEng Software Engineering at Bradford offers exciting opportunities to envisage and create software that truly benefits society.
Placement Year
This 4-year BEng (Hons) Software Engineering programme offers you the opportunity to take up a placement year working in industry in your third year.
The placement year is an excellent way to develop your professional experience, build industry contacts, and gain insight into the day-to-day work of a professional software engineer. This is full-time employment in an area relevant to your studies, and may be a salaried position.
During the second year we’ll offer you all the support you need to find a placement that is aligned to your career aspirations and personal interests. These include sessions on CVs, interviews etc. from the Careers service at the University and presentations by both employers and previous year's students on their placements. Once on placement you’ll have support and guidance from a placements tutor, who will monitor your progress.
After completing your placement you’ll return to complete the final year of the programme, and apply all you’ve learnt to your final project. Many students continue their relationship with their placement employers, working for them part-time or returning to work in graduate positions after finishing their studies.
In recent years students have gone on placement with a range of employers including: large companies such as Hewlett Packard, Intel, IBM, Rolls Royce, GE, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan. There are also many openings with local firms and organisations such as Citizens Advice, local software houses and small businesses in the local region.
Although most placements take place within the UK there may be opportunities in a number of countries with some firms or specific placements abroad with some companies. Recent examples include placements in Germany, Bulgaria and Estonia.
Learning and assessment
Most modules use a mixture of formal lectures, practical lab sessions, tutorials and seminars. Some modules involve supervised group work, usually with an assigned academic staff member for each group. All modules require students to undertake independent study, supported through distance learning technologies such as our Virtual Learning Environment.
Reading lists and suggested resources for independent study provide further direction for students to undertake this work, and regular contact hours and informal feedback throughout the courses provide opportunities for further guidance for learners.
Assessments for modules mostly take the form of practical coursework, lab tests and written exams, with all forms being well represented throughout all years of the course across all modules.
In the Enterprise Pro module, the students work on a project for external clients or our collaborators in industry and academia. The projects are specifically tailored to be aligned with the studies and the topics that the students have studied.
Through these projects, the students gain crucial industry knowledge and experience to improve their employability prospects and professional skills as well as knowledge of industry developments and their needs, which helps enhance their skills. The clients end up with software products that could be potentially used by their organisations.
The students working in small groups are closely supervised and supported through laboratory practical sessions to ensure they have the right technical input to support the project and are delivering on time and keeping on track. Their interactions within the teams and with the external clients are continuously monitored by a group tutor.
Computer Science at the University of Bradford
We believe that technology should benefit everyone, and that everyone should have the opportunity to work within an exciting and future-defining discipline.
Our courses have been carefully designed to promote openness and inclusivity for all – we do not require students to have previously studied IT or Computer Science A-Levels or BTECs. Our curriculum begins from first principles, both practical and theoretical, to bring everyone up to a high standard of knowledge and expertise while still challenging and motivating those with previous subject knowledge through open-ended and extensible practical tasks.
We strongly believe that employability and practical skills, built on solid theoretical foundations, are critical for student success after graduating from our University. We embed the development of employer-focussed skills and experience into our programmes in many ways. Our module contents and curricula are built around input and feedback from our Industry Advisory Board, providing a direct line for industry experts to shape our taught content. We also embed opportunities to work on live industry projects directly into our modules, with projects available to students from both internal and external group to the University that have real problems to be solved, requiring students to produce real solutions and gain real experience.
All of our computer science students are automatically enrolled as student members of the British Computer Society (BCS).
Study abroad
All of our programmes offer the opportunity to study abroad at an international partner institution.
Study support
We have a commitment to strong pastoral care for all of our students, which includes a Personal Tutor for all students, regular contact hours for tutor groups and our supportive student service teams who are always ready to help with any questions and provide the advice that you need. In addition to standard study support through taught sessions, our Virtual Learning Environment allows students to access resources, participate in group work and submit work from anywhere in the world 24/7. Our Personal Tutor system provides students with a specific academic staff member to support them through regular meetings and interactive activities, acting as an independent source of advice and guidance on making the transition to Higher Education and assisting them with any questions or problems they encounter. University central services are rich with support teams to assist students with every aspect of their journey through our degree courses. From our Career and Employability Service, through our strong Students' Union, to our professional and efficient Student Finance team, there are always friendly faces ready to support you and provide you with the answers that you need.
Research
Most of our staff are research active, and contribute to the cutting edge of their disciplines. Bradford has a strong pedigree of world leading research, and our aim is to ensure that students benefit from our staff’s insight into the future of their subject. The integration of new and innovative research findings into our curriculum, known as Research Informed Teaching, is a core value and one of the key principles driving the design of our courses and our modules. Particularly in the final year, but throughout their course from the very first day, students are given insight into the future of computing and software development.