BSc Hons Software Engineering

at University of Stirling

During Semesters 1-3, students from all three of our computing-related degrees (Computing Science, Software Engineering and Business Computing) take the same core modules in Computing Science, plus two other subjects. Core topics include: Computational Thinking; Programming Using Java; Social and Professional Issues; Database Principles and Application; Data Structures, Objects and Algorithms. In Semester 1, Software Engineering students must also take a Mathematics module that is specifically designed to help with their understanding of networks, logic and algorithms.
 

Semesters 4-8 cover compulsory modules - including Programming Language Principles, Software Engineering, Computer Security and Networks - plus optional modules, including: Artificial Intelligence; Web Services; Mobile App Development. The combination of compulsory and optional modules give you the opportunity to explore your particular interests while providing a solid foundation of core computing concepts.
 

You’ll undertake an independent project in your final year, which involves the design and development of a major piece of software from initial requirements to final delivery.
 

Our students also enjoy access to an active Computer Club that organises a number of activities and projects for those interested in Computing Science and Software Engineering.
 

Year 1, Semester 1

Compulsory module

• Introduction to Computing Science (CSCU9P1)    20 credits

• prior to 2021/2 CSCU9A1 was taken instead
   

Compulsory module

• Discrete Structures (MATU9S1)    20 credits

• prior to 2021/2 MATU9D1 was taken instead
   

Option module

Select 20 credits from list
 

• Accounting and Finance for Managers (ACCU7M1)    20 credits

• Our Blue Planet (AQUU1OP)    20 credits

• Introduction to Cell Biology (BIOU1CE)    20 credits

• Ecology: An Introduction (BIOU1IE)    20 credits

 

Year 1, Semester 2

Compulsory module

• Programming and User Interface Design (CSCU9P2)    20 credits

• prior to 2021/2 CSCU9A2 was taken instead
   

Compulsory module

Select 40 credits from list
 

• Introduction to Management Accounting (ACCU9A2)    20 credits

• Our Thirsty Planet: Man and the Aquatic Environment (AQUU2TP)    20 credits

• Introduction to Physiology (BIOU2PH)    20 credits

• Making the Most of the World Wide Web (CSCU9F2)    20 credits

 

MATU9D2 and CSCU9F2 strongly recommended
 

Year 2, Semester 1

Compulsory module

• Data Structures, Objects and Algorithms (CSCU9A3)    20 credits
   

Compulsory module

• Database Principles and Applications (CSCU9B3)    20 credits
   

Option module

Select 20 credits from list
 

• Accounting and Finance for Managers (ACCU7M1)    20 credits

• Our Blue Planet (AQUU1OP)    20 credits

• Introduction to Aquatic Environments (AQUU3AE)    20 credits

• Introduction to Cell Biology (BIOU1CE)    20 credits

 

Option module

Select 0 to 1 module from Professional Development for Computer Scientists list
 

• 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.
   

Year 2, Semester 2

Compulsory module

• Programming Language Paradigms (CSCU9Y4)    20 credits

• prior to 2020/1 an option in any subject was permitted instead
   

Compulsory module

• Managing Information (CSCU9T4)    20 credits
   

Option module

Select 20 credits from list
 

• Introduction to Management Accounting (ACCU9A2)    20 credits

• External Reporting (ACCU9A4)    20 credits

• Our Thirsty Planet: Man and the Aquatic Environment (AQUU2TP)    20 credits

• Science of Diving (AQUU4DS)    20 credits
   

prior to 2020/1 CSCU9V4 was required
 

Year 3, Semester 1

Compulsory module

• Software Engineering I (CSCU9E5)    20 credits

• prior to 2021/2 CSCU9P5 was taken instead
   

Compulsory module

• Operating Systems Concurrency and Distribution (CSCU9V5)    20 credits
   

Option module

Select 20 credits from Year 3 Computing options list
 

• Code Analysis and Performance (CSCU9A5)    20 credits

• Distributed Data Science Systems (CSCU9DC)    20 credits

• Software Engineering I (CSCU9E5)    20 credits

• Operating Systems Concurrency and Distribution (CSCU9V5)    20 credits

 

Option module

Select 0 to 1 module from Professional Development for Computer Scientists list
 

• 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.
   

Year 3, Semester 2

Compulsory module

• Software Engineering II (CSCU9P6)    20 credits
   

Compulsory module

• Information Systems (CSCU9T6)    20 credits
   

Option module

Select 20 credits from CSCU9N6 or CSCU9DC list
 

• Computer Games Development (CSCU9N6)    20 credits
   

Option module

Select 0 to 10 credits from Computing Science Industrial Summer Placement list
 

• Computing Science Industrial Summer Placement (CSCU9SP)    10 credits
   

Year 4, Semester 1

Dissertation

• Computing Science Project (CSCU9Z7)    60 credits

• Continued in semester 8.
   

Compulsory module

• Computer Security & Networks (CSCU9Y7)    20 credits

• students in year 4 in 2019/0 will take CSCU9V5 instead
   

Option module

Select 20 credits from Software Engineering Y4 options list
 

• Artificial Intelligence (CSCU9YE)    10 credits

• Mobile App Development (CSCU9YH)    10 credits
   

Year 4, Semester 2

Option module

Select 20 credits from Software Engineering Y4 options list
 

• NoSQL Databases (CSCU9YQ)    10 credits

• Web Services (CSCU9YW)    10 credits

 

Year 1 entry – Four-year honours
 

SQA Highers

• AABB - by the end of S5

• AABBB - by the end of S6
   

GCE A-levels

• BBB
   

IB Diploma

• 30 points
   

BTEC (Level 3)

• DDM
   

Widening access students

• Widening access students may be eligible for an adjusted offer of entry. To find out if this applies to you go to our widening access pages.

• Care-experienced applicants will be guaranteed an offer of a place if they meet the minimum entry requirements.
   

Year 2 entry – Three-year honours
 

SQA Advanced Highers

• ABB – one sitting
   

GCE A-levels

• ABB
   

IB Diploma

• 35 points
   

Essential subjects

• Subjects to include Computing and relevant experience of Java or other programming languages.
  ​​​​​​​

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

• 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.
  
  Students who score 70% in English in Year 12 from the following exam boards won't be required to submit IELTS, if studied within the last 5 years of our course start date:
   

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

• Students from other state boards will either need 80% in English if studied within 5 years of the course start date, or a UKVI SELT, IELTS Academic or PTE Academic, depending on the state board, taken within 2 years of our course start date.
  
  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

• Metro state boards (Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal)

Academic year:	2022/23	2023/24
Overseas students (non-EU)	£18,800	£20,300

Overseas students (non-EU)
 

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.

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.

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 engineering

• specialist IT

• financial services

• gaming

• communications

• business

• public services

• analyst programming

• IT consultancy

• applications development

• web development

• systems development
   

Software Engineering graduates are in high-demand for both the software industry and one of the many fields in which computer systems are extensively used and developed. Our graduates emerge from our course with a wide range of IT skills and our industry placements will ease your transition into the job market.
 

Recent destinations for our graduates include Verint, JP Morgan, Accenture, Logica, Microsoft, Google, HSBC, Natural Power and  Adobe Systems Inc.
 

This course provides a perfect foundation for progressing to our postgraduate qualifications.
 

We have connections with the following organisation via placements, internships and industrial liaison:
 

• Accenture

• ARM

• Calnex Solutions

• Diagio

• GE Digital

• Honeywell

• JP Morgan

• Mage Control Systems

• Modus Scotland

• Morgan Stanley

• Natural Power

• NHS

• Royal Bank of Scotland

• Sainsbury's Bank

• Scottish Enterprise

• Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

• Scottish Government

• Scottish Water

• Sports Scotland

• Verint

• Wood MacKenzie