Without software engineering, you wouldn’t be reading this page. Software innovation has transformed the way we think about, and interact with, technology. In fact, all the forms of communication, interaction and access that we take for granted today are made possible by software in some shape or form. Which is why the demand for software engineers has never been greater.

From improving the efficiency of the apps we use in order to make them more sustainable, to developing scalable and secure app infrastructure, Software Engineers have skills that drive innovation. In essence, they are problem solvers with the ability to take an existing software system and creatively refine, enhance and transform it into something even better.

This degree programme is designed to equip you with the analytical, reasoning and practical skills you will need to design, develop and deploy large software systems. Plus, our project based learning approach enables you to craft a degree pathway that fits your own areas of interest. You could find yourself working on anything from apps to virtual and augmented reality; lifesaving smart medical implants to consumer space travel or automated intelligence.

Employer experience is embedded into this course and allows students to engage and learn from prospective employers from day one. Through placements, sponsored projects and hackathons, you will engage with employers and begin making a difference to real world problems.

Course highlights

Industry Links

Our students are constantly given the opportunity to put theory into practice. We regularly consult a large number of employers including, for example, Civica and Sensata Technologies, who provide sponsorship for our students as well as Kainos and Liberty IT who are members of the employer liaison panel for the course.

Career Development

Students taking this programme may spend a year gaining professional experience in industry in a paid full-time post. Students are helped to obtain suitable places and the School has excellent links with over 500 local, national and international employers such as Citi, BT, Liberty IT, and Kainos in Belfast, IBM in England, Microsoft and Sun Microsystems in Dublin, Fujitsu in Japan and Siemens in Germany.

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Introduction

These degrees teach the fundamental principles of Software Engineering, together with the necessary skills, tools and techniques to enable our graduates to embark on careers as professional software engineers. Special emphasis is placed on individual and team-based software development projects in preparation for industry.

The programme contains the following themes which may change due to the nature of the IT Industry and keeping up with industrial trends:

Stage 1

Introduction to Software Engineering
Reasoning for Problem Solving
Foundation of Computing Systems

Stage 2

Stage 2 themes build on Stage 1 to include core aspects of Software Engineering such as database design and networking.

Students taking the Single Honours BEng spend a year on a paid full-time placement. The School has links with over 500 local, national and international employers eg BT, Liberty, Asidua, Kainos (Belfast), IBM (England), Microsoft, Sun Microsystems (Dublin), Fujitsu (Japan) and Siemens (Germany), and students are assisted in obtaining placements. It is expected that students would gain a Licentiateship of the City & Guilds from this period of work experience.

Topics may include:

Professional Computing Practice
Architecture and Networks
Data Structures Algorithms and Programming Languages
Software Development
Software Engineering
Information Modelling

Stage 3

Placement Year

Stage 4

Along with working on a software engineering project these advanced topics permit each student to tailor their skills towards one or more areas of software engineering specialism.

Topics may include:

Concurrent Programming
Agile & Component Based Development using NET
Information System Security
Formal Methods
Software Design Principles and Patterns
Advanced Computer Architecture

Stage 5

This four-year extended degree has been established to provide a supply of particularly well-qualified graduates who will become industry leaders. It has a blend of Software Engineering knowledge and skills and business practice and management. Students can undertake a year of professional experience.

Transferring from BEng to the MEng is possible for selected students at the end of Stage 2, subject to satisfactory performance.

Topics may include:

Research and Development Project
Advanced Software Engineering
HPC Principle Parallel Program
Advanced Intelligent Information Systems
Algorithms: Analysis and Application

• People Teaching You
  EEECS
  T: +44 (0)28 9097 4669 E: eeecs@qub.ac.uk

• Contact Teaching Hours

  Personal Study

  24 (hours maximum)
  22-24 hours where we expect students to spend time on completing assignments, working on projects (individual or group), preparing for practical classes, alongside studying and reviewing taught material.

  Small Group Teaching/Personal Tutorial

  6 (hours maximum)
  6 hours of practical classes, workshops or tutorials each week

  Large Group Teaching

  9 (hours maximum)
  9 hours of lectures

• Learning and Teaching

  The School has a world class reputation for research and provides excellent facilities, including access to major new research centres in Secure Information Technologies, Electronics, Communications and Information Technology and Sonic Arts. A number of modules on the course are closely linked to the research expertise of these centres and evolve and change rapidly to reflect some of the current, emerging and exciting developments in the field.
  
  At Queen’s, we aim to deliver a high quality learning environment that embeds intellectual curiosity, innovation and best practice in learning, teaching and student support to enable student to achieve their full academic potential.
  
  On the Software Engineering degree we do this by providing a range of learning experiences which enable our students to engage with subject experts, develop attributes and perspectives that will equip them for life and work in a global society and make use of innovative technologies and a world class library that enhances their development as independent, lifelong learners. Examples of the opportunities provided for learning on this course are:

  Additional Information

  Students have access to a wide range of computers in world class laboratories (equipped with several hundred PCs) and specialised software packages. Networks link the School and university computers to powerful machines in Great Britain.
  
  The course emphasises the professional and practical application of software engineering. As such, students are encouraged to build strong links with local software engineering companies through employer involvement within projects, lectures and other forms of teaching contact.

  E-Learning technologies

  The Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) is called CANVAS and may be associated with communication relating to lectures and assignments. A range of e-learning experiences are also embedded in the degree through, for example: interactive group workshops in a flexible learning space; IT modules; podcasts and interactive web-based learning activities; opportunities to use IT programmes associated with design in practicals and project- based work etc.

  Lectures

  Introduce information about new topics as a starting point for further self-directed private study/reading. Lectures also provide opportunities to ask questions, gain some feedback and advice on assessments (normally delivered in large groups to all year group peers).

  Peer Mentoring

  Queen’s runs a peer mentoring scheme for Computing students – a group of students from all year groups (except first year) are trained to provide support for the 1st year students, in terms of offering advice and guidance, organising social events etc. The School has an active body of EEECS Student Mental Health Ambassadors. The School also has a Computing Society (QCS – Queen’s Computing Society) who organise a range of activities, including social events and more formal activities such as industry lectures, for all Computing students. Charity games evenings are open to all computing students in the School.

  Personal Tutor

  Undergraduates are allocated a Personal Tutor who meets with them on several occasions during the year to support their academic development.

  Practicals

  Where you will have significant opportunities to develop technical skills and apply theoretical principles to real-life or practical contexts. Comprehensive demonstrator support is provided – typically one demonstrator per 8-10 students.

  Projects and teamwork

  A number of modules throughout the degree will use supervised projects as a means of enabling you to put your technical understanding into practice. The extensive use of team based projects will provide you with the opportunity to develop skills widely used by employers. In final year, you will be expected to carry out a significant piece of research on a topic or practical methodology. You will receive support from a supervisor who will guide you in terms of how to carry out your research and will provide feedback to you.

  Self-directed study

  This is an important part of life as a Queen’s student when important private reading, engagement with e-learning resources, reflection on feedback to date and assignment research and preparation work is carried out.

  Work placements

  A student taking this programme can spend a year gaining professional experience in industry in a paid full-time post. Students are helped to obtain suitable places and the School has excellent links with over 500 local, national and international employers such as Microsoft, Liberty IT, Kainos, IBM,Deloitte, BT, Citi Group, SAP and Dell.

• Assessment

  Details of assessments associated with this course are outlined below:

  • The way in which you are assessed will vary according to the Learning objectives of each module. Some modules are assessed solely through project work or written assignments. Others are assessed through a combination of coursework and end of semester examinations. Details of how each module is assessed are shown in the Student Handbook which is provided to all students during their first year induction

A-level

AAB including at least one preferred A-level (see list below) + GCSE Mathematics grade C/4
OR
AAA including at least one relevant A-level (see list below) + GCSE Mathematics grade C/4

A maximum of one BTEC/OCR Single Award or AQA Extended Certificate will be accepted as part of an applicant's portfolio of qualifications with a Distinction* being equated to a grade A at A-level and a Distinction being equated to a grade B at A-level.

Irish Leaving Certificate

H2H3H3H3H3H3 including at least one preferred Leaving Certificate subject at grade H3 (see list below) + Ordinary Level grade O4 in Mathematics if not offered at Higher Level
OR
H2H2H3H3H3H3 including at least one relevant Leaving Certificate subject at grade H3 (see list below) + Ordinary Level grade O4 in Mathematics

International Baccalaureate Diploma

34 points overall including 6,6,5 at Higher Level to include at least one preferred Higher Level subject (see list below)
OR
36 points overall including 6,6,6 at Higher Level to include at least one relevant Higher Level subject (see list below)

If not offered at Higher Level/GCSE then Standard Level grade 4 in English and Mathematics would be accepted.

BTEC Level 3 Extended/National Extended Diploma

A relevant computing QCF Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma (180 credits), with D*D*D + GCSE Mathematics grade C/4.
OR
A relevant computing RQF Level 3 BTEC National Extended Diploma (1080 Guided Learning Hours (GLH)), with D*D*D + GCSE Mathematics grade C/4.
OR
A relevant engineering or scientific QCF Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma (180 credits), with D*D*D* + GCSE Mathematics grade C/4.
OR
A relevant engineering or scientific RQF Level 3 BTEC National Extended Diploma (1080 Guided Learning Hours (GLH)), with D*D*D* + GCSE Mathematics grade C/4.

Graduate

A minimum of a 2:1 Honours Degree, provided that subject specific requirements are met.

Note

All applicants must have GCSE English Language grade C/4 or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University.

Computer Science, Computing Information Technology and Software Engineering share a common core of modules in the first year, so students may therefore transfer between these degrees at the end of first year, subject to meeting the normal progression requirements.

Preferred subjects: Mathematics, Computing or Software Systems Development

Relevant subjects: Chemistry, Digital Technology, ICT, Physics, Technology and Design or Double Award Applied ICT

Further information

Applicants for the MEng degree will automatically be considered for admission to the BEng degree if they are not eligible for entry to the MEng degree both at initial offer making stage and when results are received.

• How we choose our students

  In addition, to the entrance requirements above, it is essential that you read our guidance below on 'How we choose our students' prior to submitting your UCAS application.
  
  Applications are dealt with centrally by the Admissions and Access Service rather than by the School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Once your application has been processed by UCAS and forwarded to Queen's, an acknowledgement is normally sent within two weeks of its receipt at the University.
  
  Selection is on the basis of the information provided on your UCAS form, which is considered by a member of administrative staff from the Admissions and Access Service and, if appropriate, the Selector from the School. Decisions are made on an ongoing basis and will be notified to you via UCAS. These decisions can only be made on the basis of the information given and applicants must show due care and diligence when completing their applications. In particular, full details must be included about qualifications completed or still to be completed.
  
  For entry last year, applicants must have had, or been able to achieve, a minimum of six GCSE passes at grade B/6 or better though this profile may change from year to year depending on the demand for places. Applicants must have GCSE passes at grade C/4 or better in English Language and Mathematics. The Selector also checks that any specific entry requirements in terms of GCSE and/or A-level subjects can be fulfilled.
  
  Offers are normally made on the basis of three A-levels. Two subjects at A-level plus two at AS would also be considered.
  
  The offer for repeat candidates is normally the same as the offer for first time applicants. For repeat applicants acceptable grades may be held from the previous year.
  
  A-level General Studies and A-level Critical Thinking are not normally considered as part of a three A-level offer and, although they may be excluded where an applicant is taking 4 A-level subjects, the grade achieved could be taken into account if necessary in August/September.
  
  Applicants offering other qualifications, such as the International Baccalaureate, BTEC Extended Diploma or Irish Leaving Certificate, will also be considered. The same GCSE profile is usually expected of those candidates offering other qualifications.
  
  The information provided in the personal statement section and the academic reference together with predicted grades are noted but these are not the final deciding factors in whether or not a conditional offer can be made. However, they may be reconsidered in a tie break situation in August.
  
  Applicants are not normally asked to attend for interview.
  
  Applicants who apply for the MEng degree will automatically be reconsidered for the BEng course if they are not eligible for entry to the MEng degree, both at initial offer-making stage and when results are received. Applicants will be offered a place on the BEng course, provided that they satisfy the normal entry requirements for admission to the BEng course.
  
  If you are made an offer then you may be invited to an Open Day, which is usually held during the second semester. This will allow you the opportunity to visit the University and to find out more about the degree programme of your choice; the facilities on offer. It also gives you a flavour of the academic and social life at Queen's.
  
  If you cannot find the information you need here, please contact the University Admissions and Access Service (admissions@qub.ac.uk), giving full details of your qualifications and educational background.

• International Students

  Our country/region pages include information on entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, student profiles, upcoming events and contacts for your country/region. Use the dropdown list below for specific information for your country/region.

  Please Select Your Country/Region Please Select Your Country/Region

  International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

  For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.

  If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, Queen's University Belfast International Study Centre offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.

  • Academic English: an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level
  • Pre-sessional English: a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English.

  • Foundation
    The progression course suited to this programme is
    https://qubisc.com/en/courses/international-foundation-for-science-and-engineering.
  • International Year One
    The progression course suited to this programme is
    https://qubisc.com/en/courses/international-year-one-in-engineering.