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Software Engineering

  • BEng (Hon)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-time
  • 14 September 2026
  • Undergraduate
Main Site - Highfield Campus
More about University of Southampton

Course options

2026-20272027-2028
Apply

Course summary

On this BEng Software Engineering degree you'll learn to develop the core professional skills, knowledge and understanding that underpin the software engineering industry, including programming, software design, analysis, quality assurance and project management. Key areas of specialist study include critical systems, web development, advanced databases and scripting languages.

Outstanding facilities and renowned teaching staff will prepare you for work in a wide variety of areas and fields. Southampton Software Engineering graduates are in high demand and have a world-leading reputation for creative solutions based on cutting-edge knowledge and state-of-the-art technical skills. You’ll benefit from our strong relationships with employers, our Careers Hub who organise an annual careers fair and our dedicated startup incubator, Future Worlds - supporting student enterprise.

Our BEng in Software Engineering is accredited by the British Computer Society and by the Institution of Engineering and Technology.

Modules

This three-year BEng programme will enable you to pursue a career in any area of the software industry and has been designed to maximise student choice by allowing you to tailor the degree structure to suit your own interests.

During the first two years you will undertake a series of core modules, for example Programming, Computer Systems and Data Management. In your third year you can choose from a wide range of optional modules that reflect the specialist areas of software engineering and key technologies that will be critical in the future. You will also work on an individual project to take a piece of software from development to implementation and evaluation.

For further details of our optional modules:https://www.southampton.ac.uk/courses/software-engineering-degree-beng#modules.

Assessment method

A range of assessment methods are used on this programme to enable students to demonstrate their achievement of the intended learning outcomes. These include written examinations and assessments, in-class tests, design exercises, programming exercises, oral presentations, assessed laboratories and group work exercises.

Professional bodies

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

  • Engineering and Technology, Institution of
  • British Computer Society

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site - Highfield Campus

Study options

  • BEng (Hon) • Full-time • 3 Years

Start dates

  • 14 September 2026

Apply by
14 January

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
G4G6
Institution code:
S27
Campus name:
Main Site - Highfield Campus
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Year 1

University of Southampton has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
G4G6
Institution code:
S27
Campus name:
Main Site - Highfield Campus
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

International applicants

Find out about equivalent entry requirements and qualifications for your country: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/uni-life/international/your-country.page

Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff
Not accepted

A level
A*AA

A*AA including mathematics (minimum grade A).

We are committed to ensuring that all applicants with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise an applicant's potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

If you are taking an EPQ in addition to 3 A levels, you will receive the following offer in addition to the standard A level offer: AAA including mathematics (minimum grade A), plus grade A in the EPQ.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Not accepted

Access to HE Diploma
Not accepted

Scottish Higher

We normally consider applicants who offer at least 1 Advanced Higher. Applicants presenting with only Highers will be considered on a case by case basis. Where Highers are taken over two years it might be expected that higher grades are achieved, particularly in any specific subjects required. For example, S5 – S6 (2 years): AABBB (A in specific subject) or S6 (1 year): ABBBB (A in specific subject).

Unless a more advanced level (Higher or Advanced Higher) is specified in the stated entry requirements, all applicants will be required to have achieved a pass in Mathematics and English at Standard Grade, Grade 3 or National 5, Grade C, the equivalent of GCSE Grade C/ Grade 4"

We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner's potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
D*D

DD in the BTEC Level 3 National Diploma plus grade A in A-level mathematics.
or
DD in the BTEC Level 3 National Diploma plus grade A in A-level mathematics.

We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

We do not accept the BTEC National Extended Diploma without A-level maths.

Applicants with a BTEC National Extended Diploma should apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics/Geophysics Foundation Year.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
D

D in the BTEC National Extended Certificate plus grades AA in A-levels including mathematics (minimum grade A) or D in the BTEC National Extended Certificate plus grades AA in A-levels including mathematics .

We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

We do not accept the BTEC National Extended Diploma without A-level Maths. Applicants with a BTEC National Extended Diploma should apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics/Geophysics Foundation Year.

Pearson BTEC Diploma (QCF)
D*D

DD in the BTEC Level 3 Diploma plus grade A in A-level mathematics.
or
DD in the BTEC Level 3 Diploma plus grade A in A-level mathematics.

We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

We do not accept the BTEC Extended Diploma without A-level maths.

Applicants with a BTEC Extended Diploma should apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics/Geophysics Foundation Year.

Pearson BTEC Subsidiary Diploma (QCF)
D

D in the BTEC Subsidiary Diploma plus grades AA in two A-levels including mathematics (minimum grade A) or D in the BTEC Subsidiary Diploma plus grades AA in A-levels including mathematics.

We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

We do not accept the BTEC Extended Diploma without A-level Maths. Applicants with a BTEC Extended Diploma should apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics/Geophysics Foundation Year.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
38 points

Pass, with 38 points overall, with 19 points required at Higher Level including 6 at Higher Level in Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches or 7 at Higher Level in Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation.

We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

International Baccalaureate Career Programme (IBCP) offer
Offers will be made on the individual Diploma Course subject(s) and the career-related study qualification. The CP core will not form part of the offer. Where there is a subject pre-requisite(s), applicants will be required to study the subject(s) at Higher Level in the Diploma course subject and/or take a specified unit in the career-related study qualification. Applicants may also be asked to achieve a specific grade in those elements.

Please see the University of Southampton International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (IBCP) Statement for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.

WJEC Level 3 Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales
A

AAA including mathematics (minimum grade A)
or
AA from two A-levels including mathematics (minimum grade A) and A from the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales.

A pass in the science Practical is required where it is separately endorsed. Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking. Applicants who have not studied the required subjects can apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics Foundation Year.

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)
A

AAA including mathematics (minimum grade A) or AA from two A-levels including mathematics (minimum grade A), and A from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate.

We are committed to ensuring that all applicants with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise an applicant's potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

Extended Project
A

If you are taking an EPQ in addition to 3 A levels, you will receive the following offer in addition to the standard A-level offer:
AAA including mathematics (minimum grade A) and grade A in the EPQ

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
H1, H1, H1, H2, H2, H2

H1 H1 H1 H2 H2 H2 including mathematics and applied mathematics

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal
D2, D3, D3

D2, D3, D3 in three Principal subjects including mathematics.

We are committed to ensuring that all applicants with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise an applicant's potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

Applicants must hold GCSE English language (or GCSE English) (minimum grade 4/C) and mathematics (minimum grade 4/C)

T Level
D

A Distinction, including a Core A grade in Digital Production, Design and Development T-level plus grade A in A-level Mathematics

If you are not sure that your qualifications meet the requirements of this course please contact our Admissions Teams.

Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6.5with no component below 6.0
All programmes at the University of Southampton are taught and assessed in the medium of English (other than those in modern foreign languages). Therefore, all applicants must demonstrate they possess at least a minimum standard of English language proficiency.

Find out more about the University’s English Language requirementshttps://www.southampton.ac.uk/studentadmin/admissions/admissions-policies/language.page

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

Most of the students who enrolled on this course in previous years met their offer conditions at our published entry criteria, securing their place on their chosen course.

We encourage all applicants with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, to apply to study with us. Applicants who qualify for contextual admissions will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

Learn more on the University of Southampton website

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).

It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.

Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear

* This is a provisional fee and subject to change.

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Please see our website for further details and updates: www.southampton.ac.uk/uni-life/fees-funding.page

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