Software Engineering (with integrated year in industry)

This career enhancing, five-year integrated Master's degree in Software Engineering with an integrated year in industry at Aberystwyth University is accredited by BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT and is concerned with the production of large, high-quality, and often long-lived, software systems. Work in this area requires not only a deep understanding of software and related technologies but also an appreciation of the management and professional issues associated with the development of large systems.

This degree will prepare you for a variety of careers in specialist fields such as software design, communications and networking, computer applications, web development, IT consultancy and management, systems analysis and development, computer sales and marketing, and education. The advantage of choosing an integrated Masters degree is that you can apply for a student loan for the full duration of the course, rather than seeking funding for a Masters after completing your first degree.

At Aberystwyth University, we endeavour to provide you with an exceptional and memorable student experience. By studying BEng Software Engineering you will learn to program in a number of different languages with emphasis on the production of robust and secure code that is based on sound design and development principles. You will gain experience of large-scale software development, telecommunications and distributed systems technologies. This degree will also cover database management systems and secure data handling as well as professional and management issues in software engineering.

Your first year will introduce you to programming, computer infrastructure and web development. You will go on to study databases, algorithms, data structures, development processes, techniques and technologies for constructing real operational software. You will be taught by enthusiastic staff through a complementary set of teaching and learning methods and approaches, ranging from formal lectures, seminars and tutorials to practical, individual and group-based project work. You will be assigned a personal tutor throughout your degree course, who will help you with any problems or queries, whether these are academic-related or personal issues.

Employability skills are the core values of our degree. As part of your degree, you will be required to take part in a residential weekend where you and other students will have work in teams to solve problems. This activity will encourage and improve your skills in communication, analysis, time management, independent and group-based working, organisation, implementation, research and technical skills. Industrial Year students can join a second-year residential weekend concentrating on skills to help you find a great placement. These include: CV skills, interview technique practice, networking with employers and developing your online presence. Additional advice on CV and interview technique may be sought at our Careers Advisory Service.

The skills acquired from this course are sought after by employers in computer science-related industries.

Our degree prepares you for a variety of careers in fields such as:

• Software design;

• Communications and networking;

• Computer applications;

• Web development;

• IT consultancy and management;

• Systems analysis and development;

• Computer sales;

• Marketing;

• Education.