BSc (Hons) Software Development with Cyber Security

at University of Stirling

Course structure

During the first two years at Forth Valley College you will develop your practical skills in software development and cyber security. At university during your third and fourth year you will develop skills in advanced topics including concurrent and distributed systems, cyber security, machine learning, and web services. You’ll carry out an independent project in your final year under the guidance of a project supervisor, that will give you the opportunity to develop a major piece of work from initial requirements to final delivery.
 

Within Forth Valley College and the University of Stirling many staff are involved in research projects in their subject area that allow them to link directly with business and freshen their knowledge. Computing Science at Stirling is part of the Scottish Informatics and Computer Science Alliance (SICSA) Scotland-wide pooling initiative in research and knowledge exchange.
 

Employers increasingly look for practical experience and extracurricular activities in addition to a good degree. At Forth Valley College and at the University of Stirling, you’re encouraged to take part in activities that extend and utilise your knowledge. There are opportunities for taking part in vendor certification of your practical skills at Forth Valley College. As a STEM-assured (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) college, you can participate in STEM events such as STEM club and STEM Ambassador opportunities. At Stirling, you are encouraged to participate in the student-led Stirling Computing Club.
 

Modules
The module information below provides an example of the types of course module you may study. The details listed are for the current academic year (September 2021). Modules and start dates are regularly reviewed and may be subject to change in future years.
 

Year 3, Semester 1

Compulsory module

• Professional Development for Computer Scientists (CSCU9CP)    0 credits

CSCU9CP Professional Development for Computer Scientists is optional and may be taken either in year 2 or in year 3, and should be selected by students wishing to undertake the work experience placement. Prior to 2021/2 CSCU9PD was taken instead.
 

Option module
 

Select 60 credits from year 3 options Software Development with Cyber Security list

• Code Analysis and Performance (CSCU9A5)    20 credits
• Scripting for Data Science (CSCU9M3)    20 credits
• Operating Systems Concurrency and Distribution (CSCU9V5)    20 credits
• UX Design (CSCU9X5)    20 credits
   

Year 3, Semester 2

Compulsory module

• Computing Science Industrial Summer Placement (CSCU9SP)    10 credits
   

Option module
 

Select 60 credits from year 3 options Software Development with Cyber Security list

• Computer Games Development (CSCU9N6)    20 credits
• Software Engineering II (CSCU9P6)    20 credits
• Information Systems (CSCU9T6)    20 credits
   

Year 4, Semester 1

Dissertation

• Computing Science Project (CSCU9Z7)    60 credits
• Continued in semester 8.
   

Compulsory module

• Computer Security & Networks (CSCU9Y7)    20 credits
   

Option module
 

Select 20 credits from year 4 options Software Development with Cyber Security list

• Artificial Intelligence (CSCU9YE)    10 credits
• Mobile App Development (CSCU9YH)    10 credits
   

Year 4, Semester 2

Option module
 

Select 20 credits from year 4 options Software Development with Cyber Security list

• NoSQL Databases (CSCU9YQ)    10 credits
• Web Services (CSCU9YW)    10 credits

English language requirements
 

If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:

• IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.0 with 5.5 in each skill
• Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) 169 overall with a minimum of 162 in each sub-skill
• Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE) 180 overall with a minimum of 162 in each sub-skill
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill
• IBT TOEFL 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing
• IBT TOEFL Special Home Edition 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing
• Trinity ISE II Pass overall and Pass in each sub-skill, ISE III Pass overall and in all sub-skills, ISE IV Pass overall and in all sub-skills
• Aptis (4 skills) CEFR B2 overall and B2 in all sub-skills
• Duolingo 95 overall with a minimum of 90 in all sub-skills
• LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator -  Pass with minimum 33 in each sub-skill
   

Undergraduate
 

Direct Entry to 1st Year:
 

Year 12 Grade – cumulative score of 65% and above from the following state boards:

• CBSE
• ISC/ICSE
• Metro state boards (Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal)
   

Students from other state boards will require Year 12 Grade – cumulative score of 75%.
 

Advanced Entry to 2nd Year:
 

Year 12 Grade – cumulative score of 75% and above from the following state boards:

• CBSE
• ISC/ICSE
• Metro state boards (Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal)
   

Advanced entry is possible on a range of courses. Student applications will be considered on a case by case basis.
 

Please note that advanced entry options for students who have scored 35 in the International Baccalaureate or GCE A-Levels ABB in one sitting will also be considered on a case by case basis.

Overseas students (non-EU)    

2022/23 - £15,900
2023/24 - £16,400
 

You will be charged the annual fee each year when you enrol. Your fees will be held at the same level throughout your course.

If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you will be liable for an additional fee.
 

Cost of living
If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.
 

EU and overseas students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.

What jobs can you get with a BSc (Hons) Software Development with Cyber Security degree?
 

This degree will place you at the forefront of computing in a web-based world. Our industry placements will ease your transition into the job market. From software development to data analysis, our computer science graduates have a range of opportunities open to them.
 

According to the 2020 ScotlandIS Scottish Technology Industry survey, about 100,000 people are working in digital technologies professions. This is a growth of 9% since 2016. The growth has been strongest in web design and development, IT business analysts, architects and systems designers, programmers and software development professionals.
 

Jobs directly related to your degree include:

• software engineer
• systems designer
• systems analyst
• systems architect
• systems engineer
• software developer
• web developer
• project manager
• mobile app developer
• Java developer
   

As a systems analyst, you’ll work on solving computer problems. This might involve adapting existing systems or using new technologies to design a new software solution. In doing so, you’ll design software, write code, and test and fix software applications. You might also be involved in providing documentation for users. Typically you would work as part of a larger team.
 

IT consultants work closely with clients and advise them on how to use computer technology and applications to best meet their business needs. You’ll work with clients to improve their efficiency of using computer systems. This may involve the adaptation/customisation of software applications, or the development of custom applications for the specific needs of the customer. As well as technical duties, you may be involved in project management.
 

Applications developers translate software requirements into programming code, and will usually specialise in a specific area, such as computer games or web technology. Often developers work as part of a larger team. You may be in charge of developing a certain component or part of a larger application.
 

Our computing graduates have an excellent track record in finding well-paid jobs, especially as this course is designed to solve the problem of a major skills shortage within the IT industry in Scotland and the UK more generally. Previous students have been very successful in obtaining suitable employment in a diversity of posts – with small companies, with major international organisations including Accenture, IBM, Google, Microsoft, British Telecom, Natural Power and major financial institutions such as JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley, as well as with local authority and government bodies.