
Software Engineering - BSc (Hons) *
Currently viewing course to start in 2026/27 Entry.
This degree in Software Engineering will provide you with the knowledge and skills required to design and manage complex software systems. The course has been designed to provide you with practical experience of models, techniques and tools that drive innovation in the design of software-based systems....
- Level Undergraduate
- Study mode Full Time
- Award BSc (Hons)
- Start date September 2026
- Subject
- Location City Centre
This course is:
Available with Professional Placement year
Open to International Students
Overview
I'm a third year Music Technology student. When I was looking for Music Technology courses, Birmingham City University really stood out to me. I was keen on attending a Bachelor of Science and the course really focussed on the science aspects as well as maintaining the artistic elements of music and sound production. The support of the tutors has been fantastic. The professional standard and the facilities on campus are great due to their accessibility around the clock. The easy access to studios has been extremely helpful in completing my work and keeping on top of deadlines. At BCU, there's been a heavy focus on employability and what I could do with all aspects of my degree. The university has organised the industrial mentor forum, a space where students can communicate with alumni and people within the industry. The Acoustics Special Interest Group also consisted of more bespoke talks from people within the acoustics industry about different aspects of the work and how individual companies run. This is how I developed contact with an acoustic consultancy to complete my placement year. I act as an Acoustic Technician at Dragonfly Consulting. It went so well that I'm returning upon my graduation to continue working with them. The university has given me opportunities I don't think I would have received anywhere else.
I'm a second year computer science student studying at Birmingham City University. As a Computing student, there are plenty of computer labs available. There's entire rooms filled with Cisco networking equipment, as well as laptops that can be rented out to complete your work. Several of the facilities have now moved over to STEAMhouse, which is a £70 million build that is now the new home for Computing and Digital Technology students. One of the main things for me was getting employment at the end of my university degree. And Birmingham City University offers a wealth support for moving into the work environment. The course is a very important focus and a very industry focussed as well. I've been offered roles as a student demonstrator for Python programming. I found that the best way to show that you've understood something is to be able to teach somebody else.
I'm studying Computer Networks and Security. So far, I've really enjoyed my time at BCU. I felt really included within the student community. For the past two years, I've been involved in Innovation Fest. This is an annual event that showcases student work from the faculty. A lot of employers visit this festival, which allows us to widen our professional network. Throughout my time at BCU, I've had some time to
develop a relationship with the Careers+ team and go through tailoring my CV and my cover letters with them. Because of this, I have been presented with many opportunities which they have tailored to me and my needs. Through this, I was encouraged to apply for the women in tech competition.
So it was a one week program and I was working with the team from Cyferd. It's a software company,
and I successfully won and have taken up the placement year with them as a Junior Development Lead.
I look forward to coming back and applying the skills I've learnt throughout my placement and applied them within my studies.
This degree in Software Engineering will provide you with the knowledge and skills required to design and manage complex software systems.
The course has been designed to provide you with practical experience of models, techniques and tools that drive innovation in the design of software-based systems. In addition, the course also focuses on crucial professional considerations, such as users and organisations, cyber security and computer ethics, as well as the latest developments in the ever-changing computing field, such as machine learning and cloud-based data storage.
You will graduate with skills in software design, artificial intelligence, data structures and algorithms and programming ready for a successful career. You could go into roles such as applications developer, full stack developer, software engineer (design, development and testing), site reliability engineer, game developer etc.
Introducing STEAMhouse
STEAMhouse is a centre for technology, innovation, creative thinking, prototyping and business development. Our £70 million pound building is the home for all of our Computing courses.
What's covered in this course?
The course covers the fundamental concepts of Software Engineering and Computer Science in the first year, including computer programming, computer systems, data structures and algorithms, software process and requirements analysis.
In the second year, you will consolidate your first-year learning by studying advanced subjects that emphasise software engineering skills including software design, social issues and professional practice, and project management.
After your second year, you have the option to do a professional placement year to gain real-world experience or continue to your final year. We have a dedicated Careers team to support students who wish to take a professional placement year to help with applications and interviews and providing links to opportunities.
In your final year you will broaden your understanding of software engineering by studying specialised subjects like user experience design, and software quality verification and validation. You will also gain insight into artificial intelligence and machine learning, and modern data store.
You will learn in industry-standard computer labs at our £500 million City Centre Campus to develop practical skills and project delivery. The philosophy of the course is to promote lifelong self-learning by providing a curriculum that promotes a variety of approaches to study.
At the end of every academic year, through our flagship annual event - Innovation Fest, you will have the opportunity to showcase your work to potential employers and entrepreneurs, opening doors to future career opportunities.
Professional Placement year
This course offers an optional professional placement year. This allows you to spend a whole year with an employer, following successful completion of your second year, and is a great way to find out more about your chosen career. Some students even return to the same employers after completing their studies.
If you choose to pursue a placement year, you will need to find a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study. You will be able to draw on the University’s extensive network of local, regional, and national employers, and the support of our Careers teams. If you are able to secure a placement, you can request to be transferred to the placement version of the course.
Please note that fees are payable during your placement year, equivalent to 20% of the total full-time course fee for that year.
Accredited By
This course is accredited by:
Why Choose Us?
- State-of-the-art facilities at STEAMhouse: This state-of-the-art building based at our expanding City Centre Campus gives you access to outstanding facilities and teaching spaces, as well as opportunities to collaborate with people and businesses across multiple sectors and work on real industry-based projects.
- Practice-based: Practice-based learning is at the heart of this programme. The course team has established on-going links with a wide range of public sector bodies, prestigious companies and industry leaders, such as Amazon, Microsoft and Birmingham City Council.
- Optional professional placement year: You will have the opportunity to undertake professional placement in between your second and final year of study.
- Gain Professional Certification: we have strong links with organisations such as CISCO, Oracle, Linux Professional Institute (LPI), Microsoft, and Amazon Web Services (AWS), which ensure that the course is relevant and respected by employers.
- Study a dynamic range of subjects: these include AI, software design, project management, data structures and computer systems so that you graduate ready for a successful career in the industry.
Open Days
Join us for an Open Day where you'll be able to learn about this course in detail, chat to students, explore our campus and tour accommodation. Booking isn't open for this event yet, register your interest and we'll let you know when booking goes live.
Next Open Day: 4 October 2025
Entry Requirements
Essential requirements
112 UCAS Tariff points. Learn more about UCAS Tariff points.
If you have a qualification that is not listed, please contact us.
Fees & How to Apply
UK students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
International students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Guidance for UK students
UK students applying for most undergraduate degree courses in the UK will need to apply through UCAS.
The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) is a UK organisation responsible for managing applications to university and college.
Applying through UCAS
- Register with UCAS
- Login to UCAS and complete your details
- Select your course and write a personal statement
- Get a reference
- Pay your application fee and submit your application
Guidance for International students
There are three ways to apply:
1) Direct to the University
You will need to complete our International Application Form and Equal Opportunities Form, and submit them together with scan copies of your original academic transcripts and certificates.
2) Through a country representative
Our in-country representatives can help you make your application and apply for a visa. They can also offer advice on travel, living in the UK and studying abroad.
3) Through UCAS
If you are applying for an undergraduate degree or a Higher National Diploma (HND), you can apply through the UK’s Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
You can request a printed form from your school or nearest British Council office. You will be charged for applying through UCAS. Birmingham City University’s UCAS code is B25 BCITY.
Personal statement
The personal statement gives you a crucial opportunity to say why you’re applying and why the institution should accept you.
Here are the three areas you’ll need to address:
- Why do you want to study this course or subject?
Here’s where you explain what makes this course exciting to you. Think about your motivations for studying the course and your future plans. If you’re planning to take a year out, don't forget to give your reasons.
- How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?
This is your chance to show what you’ve learned at school or college. You should include the skills and knowledge you’ve gained from education or training and how this will help you succeed in your chosen course.
- What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?
Not everything you’ve learned comes from the classroom. Life experience counts too! You might want to talk about work experience, employment, or volunteering and how they’ve helped you develop the skills needed for your chosen course or future career.
Worried about Personal Statements?
If you've got no idea where to start or just want to check you're on the right track, we’ve got expert advice and real examples from our students to help you nail your personal statement. You can even download our ultimate personal statement guide for free.
Course in Depth
Year one
In order to complete this course, you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits).
This introductory computer programming module provides the underpinning knowledge and practice for computing students to design, build and test software components. The module will make use of practical sessions primarily to allow you to apply programming principles and constructs in order to creatively solve problems by means of developing small programs. Module content and assessment enables learners to acquire programming skills in a modern imperative language.
Within the Computer Systems Module, you will gain knowledge and experience of computers and computer hardware.
This module presents a holistic view of how computer systems work and it also provides the underpinning knowledge required:
- for the design of computer architecture
- to show how software interacts with hardware
- to apply electronics principles
- to use number systems for computer technology
This module introduces the fundamental concepts of software engineering process models, and activities essential for the successful development and deployment of large commercial computer systems. It also covers i) the characteristics of various modern software lifecycle models and approaches, evaluating their suitability for different types of computer system development, and ii) the fundamental processes involved in software maintenance and evolution, including those related to legacy systems, business analysis, and process modelling.
Data structures and algorithms are essential in computer science, software engineering, and computer games and graphics programming. Data structures are structured representations of data; the design of a data structure determines how operations (such as reading to, writing from, modifying, or computing with the data) can be achieved. An algorithm is a set of instructions which can be followed in order to solve a computational problem.
This module provides an introduction to the essential concepts, core principles, and practical skills of modern requirements engineering, highlighting its role as a vital component of effective software engineering. It will also examine the process of developing requirements, covering the elicitation and analysis of stakeholder needs, and the formulation of a suitable description of the system’s intended behaviour and attributes, along with associated constraints and assumptions.
This first-year project allows you to develop and cultivate a creative mind-set through collaborative innovative practice, allowing you to bring together knowledge and imagination to construct a viable product. It is an opportunity to express your ideas, skills and talent to the wider community of innovative practice.
The project provides you with an opportunity to be part of a thriving community of innovators that practices connected learning. This is facilitated by putting you into inter-disciplinary project teams supported by innovation mentors, advisors and academics; culminating in you exhibiting your work to an international panel of experts.
Year two
In order to complete this course, you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits).
Programming is an engineering tool that plays a vital role to drive most of the modern technologies surrounding us, including the technological devices for communication, transportation and entertainment. In other words it can be said that our modern lifestyles are heavily dependent on programming.
Moreover, businesses increasingly rely on computers and the software run on them. Programming skills and a broader and deeper understanding of programming are therefore becoming increasingly important to the jobs market.
A very large proportion of software that we interact with and rely on within the modern world simply can’t exist as standalone programs, they are part of far larger, network-enabled systems that connect and communicate with other computer systems, which are known as backend services.
These “backend services” allow us to create some of those important software features which ordinary users might take for granted (e.g. ordering a taxi through uber, accessing and analysing our companies’ finances or sales figures, etc). During the module the student will work to design, develop, use and evaluate a “backend service” system backed by a database.
This module equips students with essential skills to navigate the societal, ethical, and interdisciplinary challenges in software engineering, aligning with the World Economic Forum’s core employability competencies for 2025. Students will analyse the impact of software systems on diverse user groups, integrating ethical risk management, inclusive design, and data-driven insights.
This module is about software engineering with a focus on software design. It covers three stages of the software engineering life-cycle, requirements, design and implementation, but with a focal point on design and an emphasis on the design theme.
The module provides the necessary skills to:
- construct models of requirements and designs,
- synthesise implementations from design models,
- apply software design patterns.
The standard UML is used as the modelling language, the vehicle through which important design concepts are explored to convey a software engineering ethos based on getting it right by adequately studying the problem and mindfully constructing designs of software solutions.
This module provides a thorough introduction to the theory and practice of project management within the context of software engineering. It is designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and tools required to effectively manage software projects across various scales and organisational settings. The module offers a balanced view of both traditional project management approaches and modern agile methodologies, allowing students to develop a flexible and adaptable mindset aligned with current industry practices.
This module introduces the fundamental tenets of software security (i.e. confidentiality, integrity, availability, authentication, authorisation, auditing) and its significance in modern applications. Then it introduces secure design principles, secure coding practices, and software security testing by referring to Secure Development Life Cycle (SDLC) models. The module also covers some key aspects of Security Policy Management (SPM) such as software-based access control mechanisms, systems and frameworks, symmetric and asymmetric cryptography, cryptographic hash functions, use of network firewalls, application gateways and virtual private networks etc.
Professional Placement Year (Optional)
In order to qualify for the award of BSc (Hons) Software Engineering with Professional Placement Year a student must successfully complete the following module.
This module is designed to provide you with the opportunity to undertake a credit bearing, 40- week Professional Placement as an integral part of your Undergraduate Degree.
The purpose of the Professional Placement is to improve your employability skills which will, through the placement experience, allow you to evidence your professional skills, attitudes and behaviours at the point of entry to the postgraduate job market. Furthermore, by completing the Professional Placement, you will be able to develop and enhance your understanding of the professional work environment, relevant to your chosen field of study, and reflect critically on your own professional skills development within the workplace.
Final Year
In order to complete this course, you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits).
The purpose of the module is to enable you to undertake a sustained, in-depth and research-informed project exploring an area that is of personal interest to you. In agreement with your supervisor, you will decide upon your topic which will take the form of a practical outcome (artefact) with accompanying contextual material. The main consideration when choosing your topic is that it must be aligned to the programme you are studying, and you should consider the relevance of this topic to your future academic or professional development.
At this level, you will be expected to work independently but you will receive additional one-to-one support from your supervisor, who will be familiar with your chosen topic area. As you progress on the module, extra support will be available and this may take the form of group seminars, workshops and online materials that will help to develop your project.
This module will focus on combining theoretical concepts around user experience design with practical “hands-on” approaches used widely in industry and academia to create effective interactive experiences. You will learn about the user-centred design process that places a core emphasis on designing products, applications, and software for “people”.
In particular, you will learn techniques for gathering and understanding a target audience’s requirements, the importance of universal design and accessibility, and methods for undertaking rapid prototyping.
An emphasis will also be placed on gaining practical experience in designing and conducting usability studies, as well as how to incorporate key findings back into the design process. You will apply this knowledge to design and evaluate an innovative digital prototype using industry standard tools.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a core component of computer science, aiming at developing intelligent agents that mimic human’s cognitive capability in learning, reasoning, and problem solving.
As a branch of AI, machine learning (ML) allows to create software that adapts and learns (from examples), rather than being explicitly programmed for a particular outcome. Both AI and ML rely on managing, processing and analysis of large datasets, something that Data Science (DS) is concerned with. Many services provided by technology giants such as Google, Microsoft, IBM, Facebook, Amazon, etc. are powered by DS, ML and AI. The recent advances in these subjects have already led to significant industrial applications such as self-driving cars and Industry 4.0.
This module will introduce NoSQL databases and distributed data storage frameworks through practice based activities. Through guided hands-on tutorials, you will become familiar with techniques using non-structured and semi-structured data examples. Also, you will gain knowledge on managing and processing data in a distributed infrastructure. This course will improve your development skills and provide experience with many different data systems.
This module provides a comprehensive introduction to software quality with a focus on Verification and Validation (V&V) principles, grounded in ISTQB standards. Students will explore key testing concepts, learn how to design and execute test cases, and evaluate software quality using industry-approved tools and techniques. The module emphasizes both theoretical understanding and practical experience, with real-world testing scenarios, automation tools, and collaborative quality assurance projects. By the end, students will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to contribute effectively to software testing and QA teams in agile and traditional development environments.
How you learn
Knowledge and understanding are acquired though a wide range of teaching and learning strategies that may differ module to module depending on the content of the module. Some of the common strategies are formal lectures, tutor-led seminars and practical activities and other independent learning activities at all stages. Emphasis is placed on guided, self-directed and student-centred learning with increasing independence of approach, thought and process.
Lectures: Lectures are usually held in a lecture theatre and delivered to large groups of students. The purpose of the lectures is to introduce themes, theories and concepts within a particular module. Technology enhanced learning is used, where appropriate, through the provision of online resources, discussion forums and other activities.
Practical sessions: Practical sessions are usually held in various laboratories of the university and delivered to small group of students. These sessions are used throughout the course to develop practical skills and to place theory in a work-related context and most often based upon the topics covered in lectures.
Directed study: In this mode of study academic staff may direct you to undertake individual or group work that is relevant to the module that students study and the assessment that is part of the module. You may be required to carry out the work/study outside of the module’s normal contact time.
Virtual Learning Environment, Moodle, will be heavily used in the delivery of the course. Each module that students study will have its own Moodle site which will contain important documents and information pertaining to that module such as lecture notes, lab handouts, links to external resources.

Athena Swan Bronze Award
We have successfully secured the Athena SWAN Departmental Bronze Award recognising a commitment to gender equality.
The Athena Swan Charter is a framework which is used across the globe to support and transform gender equality within higher education (HE) and research.
Employability
Enhancing your employability skills
Computer Science has significantly influenced the technological advances over the last few decades and software engineering has played the central role in the radical transformation of businesses and industry practices within this period. As the trend continues, software is needed in almost every industry, in every business, and for every function nowadays; hence the importance of software engineering becomes more evident as time goes on.
Through the integration of academic theory and practice, you will develop a strong conceptual and theoretical understanding of fundamental theories, methods, techniques and technologies related to Software Engineering that will lead you to become an autonomous professional in industry or research and be able to work independently and in groups.
Throughout the course you will be supported by expert teaching staff, all of whom have a wide range of research and industrial experience in different sub-fields of Software Engineering. You will develop technical, research, analytical, planning, design and organisational skills, which are highly transferable that will enable you to make effective and professional contribution beyond the boundaries of traditional Software Engineering.
Further study
Successful completion of the course can open up opportunities for employment in IT industry, but you may think to continue your studies at postgraduate level, studying a computer science subject in greater detail by means of MSc or PhD.
According to the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (2014) observation, one in seven jobs will require a postgraduate qualification by 2022. All these facts indicate the contribution of postgraduate study to employability is increasingly significant.
Industry links
The course has strong links with organisations such as Oracle, Linux Professional Institute (LPI), Microsoft, and Amazon Web Services (AWS), which ensure that the course is relevant and respected by employers. Moreover, BCU is home to a Cisco Systems, and a Microsoft Academy Centre – one of Microsoft’s top UK university-based academies.
The course is also a Cisco ASC (Academy Support Centre), Cisco Instructor Training Centre (ITC) and an AWS Academy. All these ensure that the you can attain a range of vendor certificates, including LPI 1 Beta certification, Cisco networking certificates and AWS Cloud certificates, while studying for your degree. In addition, the course actively endeavours to enable you to interact with potential employers by collaborating with industrial partners and participating in various events throughout the academic year.
Graduate jobs
Following is a list of examples of career destinations that BSc Software Engineering graduates may apply for:
- applications development
- game development
- software engineering (designing, developing and testing)
- technical support
- multimedia programming
- web design/development.
- Front-end Developer
Placements
You will have the opportunity to take a placement year between your second and third year. This is something that is highly recommended, as it will give you an invaluable opportunity to put your skills into practice, try out a potential career path and get relevant workplace experience that is valued by so many employers.
Facilities & Staff
Our Facilities
We are constantly investing in our estate and are currently in the process of spending £500 million on new learning facilities. This course will be taught at Millennium Point at the City Centre Campus.
The course is supported with a wide range of cutting-edge facilities in the City Centre Campus. We have a state-of-the-art computer games technology lab which contains high-performance PCs, Sony PlayStation development kits and a range of industry standard software including Unity, Unreal and a suite of professional Microsoft development tools.
We also have many open access areas where students can study together and even hire out laptops for use in these spaces and others within the university.
Within the University there are many internationally recognised research teams giving you the opportunity to collaborate with them on exciting interdisciplinary projects.
Computer networking
The laboratories are well-equipped for all our computer networking courses, as well as specialist areas for practical work such as voice-over internet protocol (VoIP), forensic and ethical hacking technologies, wireless and mobile technologies and radio frequency identification technologies to name but a few.
Software development and computer programming
There are a number of open access, software development and computer programming laboratories that can be used to develop systems and programmes, including database management systems such as MySQL, to name but a few.
Systems laboratories
Our embedded systems laboratories are used to develop real-time systems, such as specialist hardware training and development resources, and industrial-standard software development and simulation tools. These include microcontroller software and robotics design and development, to name but a few.
Electronic systems
To underpin the basic principles of electronic systems, we have a well-equipped laboratory of general and specialist test and measurement kits, including powered prototyping development boards, dual power supplies, frequency generators and counters and digital multi-meters to name but a few.
Forensic computing
Our successful development of forensic computing has led to a specialist forensics laboratory that is fully equipped with essential hardware and software for this sensitive area of study. The laboratory includes high-spec PCs with built-in multi interface Tableau write blockers, EnCase and FTK computer forensic software and steganography detection and analysis software, to name but a few.
Our staff
Dr Ogerta Elezaj
Lecturer of Computing and Digital Technology
For the past six years, Ogerta Elezaj has been a Senior Lecturer in the University of Tirana, teaching different courses such as Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, and Data Mining. She was recipient of Alain Bensoussan postdoctoral fellowship from European Research Consortium for Informatics and Mathematics in 2019-2020 and held ERCIM postdoc...
More about OgertaDr Abdel Rahman H. Tawil
Professor in Software Engineering
Abdel-Rahman H. Tawil is currently a Professor in Computing and Digital Technology. He received his BSc in Computer Science from the University of Jordan in Amman and his PhD is in the area of Semantic Interoperability in Heterogeneous and Distributed Multiple-Information Servers Environment from Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK. Before he...
More about Abdel RahmanDr Sara Hassan
Senior Lecturer in Software Engineering
Sara is a full-time Senior Lecturer in software engineering. She received her PhD in Computer Science in 2019 from University of Birmingham, UK. She worked as a teaching assistant for Software Engineering 2015-2019 at the University of Birmingham, UK. Prior to that she got her MEng in Computer Science with Software Engineering from...
More about SaraNouh Elmitwally
Lecturer in Data Science
Lecturer in Data Science, Machine Learning, and Deep Learning with 4+ years of experience in the United Kingdom and other countries. He received a PhD degree in Computer Science from the University of Surrey, the UK, and a BSc MSc from Cairo University, Egypt. Before joining BCU in September 2022, he had a long international career in computer...
More about Nouh