Software Engineering (Conversion) MSc
University of Westminster
Key Information
Select location
Campus location
London, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
1 year
Pace
Full time, Part time
Tuition fees
GBP 17,000 / per year *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Sep 2024
* international | UK: £10,500
Introduction
Aimed at non-computing graduates, this course provides the core and most advanced practical knowledge and skills that a professional software engineer needs to be successful in today’s IT industry.
Are you a graduate in a non-computing subject with some basic experience and interest in computing who would like to enter the IT industry? Are you already working in the IT industry and would like to increase your technical skills and knowledge? If your answer to either question is yes, this course is for you.
Software engineering is the application of engineering methods, practices and disciplines to the creation and maintenance of software applications and systems. A professional software engineer works with these engineering approaches to develop software in a systematic, quantifiable and disciplined way.
By choosing this course, you’ll get the essentially practical experience of programming and applying software engineering to a number of new and important areas of IT and computing. In addition, you’ll develop a strong grasp of the theory that underpins these practical skills.
To ensure that you have the best possible employment prospects at the end of the course, you’ll gain skills that cover a variety of areas: technical skills, such as programming, object-oriented software development, practical experience of software development tools; soft skills, such as analytical and critical thinking, communication, presenting and demonstrating, team working, and peer review; and career skills, such as CV writing, planning, job searching, interview practice.
Technical change in software development is happening at a rapid pace. This is accompanied by a constant increase in the complexity of the systems that are developed, in particular in mobile computing. This course will give you the best theoretical and practical skills to kickstart your career and succeed in this exciting and challenging sector.
Top reasons to study with us
- Essential employability skills embedded in the course help to ensure you’ll have excellent employment prospects in the IT industry.
- Great employability prospects, due to the national shortage of IT and computing skills in the workforce, in particular in the area of software development.
- A course that draws on the extensive experience of the University of Westminster in running courses in information systems, software engineering and software development.
- By the end of the course, you'll be equipped with the core software engineering skills, so you'll be work-ready.
Why study this course?
- Combine theory and practice
This course will offer you a perfect balance between practice and theory. - Presentations from external speakers
You’ll get insight into the latest practical developments in the IT sector through presentations from external practitioners. - Access to specialised software tools and packages
You’ll get access to specialised software such as Software Development Environments and Computer Aided Software Engineering (CASE) tools.
Career Opportunities
The course will provide you with the key employability skills you’ll need to successfully pursue a career in the IT industry, primarily as a software engineer, but also in any more general role you may aspire to within the industry.
With a growing global network of 3,000 employers, our Careers and Employability Service is here to support you in achieving your full potential.
- Work-related learning activities
Opportunities for part-time work and work-related learning activities are widely available to students. - Kickstart your career
Kickstart your career in a sector with excellent employability prospects. - Employers around the world
The University’s Careers and Employability Service has built up a network of over 3,000 employers around the world, helping all our students explore and connect with exciting opportunities and careers.
Industry links
The course was designed with advice and guidance from an industry-based senior professional responsible for managing teams of software developers. This input helped to ensure that the course equips students with the skills, knowledge, practical experience and soft skills that are highly relevant and desirable to the needs of the IT industry.
Job roles
The Software Engineering (Conversion) MSc aims to produce graduates who’ll typically be employed in core software engineering roles across a wide variety of software development environments. Typical job titles within this area include:
- Mobile application programmer
- Programmer
- Software designer
- Software engineer
- Systems administrator
- Web application programmer
- Web developer
Gallery
Admissions
Curriculum
Teaching methods are aimed at encouraging and involving the active participation of students in their learning through knowledge and skills acquisition by means of engagement, experimentation, self-study and practical experience. The delivery of the course's taught modules involves lectures, tutorials, workshops and seminars. For the software development project, students are allocated a supervisor who guides them through the project and is further supported by a series of group seminars and workshops that cover the general skills and knowledge required for the project.
Assessments and feedback are important and are designed to form part of the learning experience. A wide variety of types and forms are used on the course and are dependent on the module and its learning outcomes, including both individual and group work. For example, individual work solving programming tasks, writing a report, group work as part of a team to design and create a complex software application, presenting and demonstrating your work or a group's work.
You’ll study six core modules and two option modules for a total of 180 credits.
The following subjects are indicative of what you’ll study in this course.
Core Modules
- Object Oriented Programming – 20 credits
- Data Structures and Algorithms – 20 credits
- Software Development Environments – 20 credits
- Data Repositories Principles and Tools – 20 credits
- Advanced Software Design – 20 credits
- Software Development Project– 40 credits
Option modules
- Web Application Development – 20 credits
- Mobile Application Development – 20 credits
- Cyber Security Threats and Countermeasures – 20 credits
- Data Visualisation and Dashboarding – 20 credits
- Data Warehousing and Business Intelligence – 20 credits
- Big Data Theory and Practice – 20 credits
- Web and Social Media Analytics – 20 credits
Program Tuition Fee
Scholarships and Funding
The University is dedicated to supporting ambitious and outstanding students and we offer a variety of scholarships to eligible undergraduate students, which cover all or part of your tuition fees.
English Language Requirements
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