Computer Science (Software Engineering)

Our technological world is creating a huge demand for skilled professionals who can design, build and maintain computer programmes, databases and applications, to help solve problems and drive efficiencies. With a specialist degree in software engineering, you could be one of them. Launched in 2015/16, this three-year programme will give you the knowledge, skills and practical experience you need for a successful career in software, as a developer, an engineer or an entrepreneur. Our software engineering teaching has been hailed as a ‘best practice’ example of computer science education by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT.

You will learn from software professionals and leading academics in the field to apply engineering principles to the design, development, implementation and maintenance of all kinds of software. Developed in consultation with industry, our curriculum covers all the key areas that employers look for. You will gain a solid grounding in the fundamentals of computing and application development, from programming to software engineering, databases to web development, computer graphics to robotics, and the latest trends in information security. You will also develop a thorough understanding of modern software development methodologies and the practical experience to back it up, as well as transferrable team working, time management, coding and communication skills, and a strong professional ethos. We cover the whole process of software development in a systematic way, from initial client briefs through to costing, scheduling and efficient delivery.

From the outset you will be experimenting with programming games, robots, Gadgeteer kits, Subversion, JUnit testing, Scrum-based Agile software and more, in our well-equipped laboratories. In your final year you will have the flexibility to choose between a range of optional courses. We are a highly respected, research-focused department with a friendly approach and award-winning teaching. We offer a summer work placement programme and a dedicated personal adviser to guide you through your studies. You will also be welcome to join our thriving Computing Society. We are one of only seven departments in the UK to hold the Athena SWAN bronze award for our commitment to increasing female participation in computer science.

The BCS has distinguished our teaching of Software Engineering as ‘Best Practice’.

You will be taught by staff with extensive industrial experience, three of whom are certified Scrum Masters.

You will learn to master the process of software engineering, from initial client meetings through to delivery.

In the fourth-year team project, you will run a start-up

Course Modules

Core Modules

Year 1

• Object Oriented Programming I

• Object Oriented Programming II

• Programming laboratory

• Internet Services

• Mathematical Structures

• Machine Fundamentals

• Mathematical Methods for Computer Science

• Software Design

Year 2

• Software Engineering

• Small Enterprise Team Project

• Operating Systems

• Databases

• Algorithms and Complexity

• Introduction to Information Security

• Computer and Network Security

Year 3

• Individual Project

• User-Centred Design

Optional Modules

Below is a taster of some of the exciting optional modules that students on the course could choose from during this academic year. Please be aware these do change over time, and optional modules may be withdrawn or new ones added.

Year 1

• All modules are core

Year 2

• Symbolic Artificial Intelligence

• Multi-dimensional Data Processing

Year 3

• Computational Finance

• Intelligent Agents and Multi-agent Systems

• Machine Learning

• Applications of Cryptography

• Critical Infrastructure Security

• Digital Forensics

• Smart Cards, RFIDs and Embedded Systems Security

• IT Project Management

• Software Language Engineering

• Compilers and Code Generation

• Computational Optimisation

• Functional Programming and Applications

• Deep Learning

• Security Management

• Software Verification

https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/studying-here/undergraduate/computer-science/computer-science-software-engineering/

We are an award-winning department for software engineering teaching. Professor Dave Cohen won a College Excellence Teaching Prize for the re-design of our second-year software engineering courses, and he was shortlisted for a Times Higher Education Award for Most Innovative Teacher of the Year. We firmly believe that how we teach you is at least as important as what we teach, and we know the importance of giving you the time and space to experiment and put theory into practice. We encourage you to use your creativity, both in project teams and independently, and to have fun while you learn. We use a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, small-group tutorials, supervised computer lab classes and problem-solving sessions. You will also be expected to complete guided independent study and group work.

Our software engineering and programming teaching is very hands on, allowing you to learn at your own pace, whatever your previous level of experience. You will also attend laboratory classes that give you the chance to develop real applications with imagination and creativity from the outset.

Assessment is through a mixture of examinations and coursework. Most course units have a written examination taken at the end of the year in which they are taught, but around half of your final award will come from assessed coursework, which could include project reports (including your individual project in year 3), essays, oral presentations and software submissions.