MSc Software Engineering with a Professional Placement Year
Cardiff, United Kingdom
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
GBP 30,200 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for overseas | for home: £11,700
Key Summary
Introduction
Why Study this Course
The MSc Software Engineering degree presents students from a diverse background in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects with the opportunity to acquire the skills, knowledge and hands-on experience required to be effective as a commercial software engineer.
The MSc Software Engineering degree presents students from a diverse background in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects with the opportunity to acquire the skills, knowledge and hands-on experience required to be effective as a commercial software engineer.
Although students may have some prior programming knowledge, students will undertake hands-on development using current leading-edge commercial tools and techniques and be exposed to direct industrial involvement in a dynamic commercial-like environment.
The programme covers a wide range of topics that are sought after by employers including programming for web applications using languages such as Python, HTML and Javascript, Databases, DevOps and emerging technologies. Throughout the degree, there is a focus on teamwork and the techniques of Agile project management.
You will apply for a paid 7-12 month professional work placement to be undertaken on completion of the taught phase of the program. This provides valuable work experience to develop your IT Professional skills.
On successful completion of the placement phase, you will move to the dissertation phase. You will work with a real client from industry on an exciting, team-based project that brings together all your knowledge and skills acquired during the degree.
After graduating from this programme you will be ideally placed for employment in a career within software engineering or for careers requiring a wide range of STEM-based skills.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
We are committed to investing up to a total of £500,000 in this high-value competitive scholarship scheme to support UK students who are planning to start an eligible Master’s programme in 2024/25.
The Scholarships are each worth £3,000 and will be awarded in the form of a tuition fee discount.
Eligibility
UK students are eligible to apply for the Scholarship. You normally need to have achieved at least a 2.1 or equivalent in your first degree to be eligible. You need to submit an application to study at Cardiff University and be made an offer to study before your fee status can be confirmed.
Curriculum
This is a two-stage full-time degree programme taught over two years. In the taught stage you will study core modules to a total of 120 credits.
You will undertake a placement following the taught stage of the course, which is worth 120 credits. Most students start their placement in the summer of Year 1.
Following successful completion of your placement you will undertake a team project and dissertation (worth 60 credits).
Year One
Formal teaching and group sessions will typically take place over two days per week in Cardiff with three days per week left for group project work, self-directed learning and accessing other University resources, support services, clubs, societies etc.
Students at the National Software Academy work on the development of software projects, including those for real clients drawn from the private, public and third sectors. Much of the teaching, learning and assessment is based in the context of these projects.
Core Modules for Year One
- Agile Software Development
- Web Applications
- Programming Principles and Practice
- DevOps
- Manipulating and Exploiting Data
- Delivering User Experience
Year Two
Your work placement will normally last between 7 and 12 months, usually taking place at the end of the taught phase of the course, before your final dissertation, allowing you to practice the new skills you have learned and apply the knowledge you have acquired, in the workplace.
You will return to university following successful completion of your work placement, normally at the start of the Summer of the following year to undertake your team project and complete your dissertation.
Core Modules for Year One
- Dissertation (Team Project)
- Placement
How Will I Be Assessed?
The taught modules within the programme are assessed through a range of assessments, which typically consist of examinations and coursework, such as written reports, portfolios, timed assessments, extended essays, practical assignments and oral presentations.
The placement is assessed through a Portfolio of Work including Employer Evaluations, SFIA Mapping Documents, a Draft Report and a Final Report. This will show how you have developed your skills whilst on placement.
The team project and dissertation will enable students to demonstrate their ability to build upon and exploit knowledge and skills gained to exhibit critical and original thinking based on a period of independent study and learning.
Program Outcome
What Skills Will I Practise and Develop?
The Learning Outcomes for this Programme describe what you will be able to do as a result of your study at Cardiff University. They will help you to understand what is expected of you.
The Learning Outcomes for this Programme can be found below:
Knowledge & Understanding
On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to demonstrate:
- Demonstrate a systematic understanding of general software engineering concepts, both theoretical and practical
- Demonstrate an understanding of the methods, techniques, and tools available to specify, design, implement and manage software systems
Intellectual Skills
On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to demonstrate:
- Critically analyse and evaluate current issues in Software Engineering (e.g. legal, ethical professional, social)
- Critically evaluate the available options to select the most suitable methodology, tools and techniques for use in each stage of software development
- Analyse complex problems effectively, and identify edge cases, inconsistencies, potential pitfalls, and other issues
Professional Practical Skills
On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to demonstrate:
- Demonstrate software design and programming skills
- Design, implement, test, debug, and deploy, using appropriate tools a simple, secure, information-based application
- Creatively apply software engineering knowledge and techniques to the solution of real-world, client, problems
- Work with a variety of platforms using a range of languages, technologies, and tools
- Demonstrate competency as an IT Professional as part of the Professional Placement Year
Transferable/Key Skills
On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to demonstrate:
- Work effectively in a team to manage client-facing projects using current commercial tools and techniques to understand, specify, plan, schedule and manage a commercial software development project and track the project during its lifecycle
- Clearly communicate ideas, principles and theories by oral, written, diagrammatic and practical means
- Demonstrate self-direction, initiative, professionalism, critical judgement and planning skills in tackling and solving Software Engineering problems using appropriate technologies
- Use research methods to further enhance learning, applying this acquired knowledge to given problems
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
As a student at the National Software Academy, you will get many opportunities to meet and work with companies and build your industrial contacts. Skilled software engineers are in extremely high demand. This means the employment prospects for graduates in the computing and ICT industry are superb. You will be equipped with transferable skills that open doors to careers in many sectors.
In recent years, almost 90% of the School’s graduates were in employment or engaged in further study within six months of graduation. Recent statistics show that the vast majority of our graduates are following their chosen career paths in roles such as Software Engineer, Web Developer, Computer Programmer, Associate Software Developer, Business Analyst and Systems Development Officer. They go on to work for companies including Airbus Group, Amazon, BBC, BT, Capgemini, Confused.com, GCHQ, IBM, Lloyds Banking Group, MoD, Morgan Stanley, Sky, South Wales Police and Thomson Reuters. Others have chosen further study or research at Cardiff or other top universities.
In addition to the University’s Careers and Employability Service for students, the School has a Careers Officer and a dedicated Placement Officer.
Program delivery
How will I be taught?
The National Software Academy, a part of the School of Computer Science & Informatics, has a strong and active industrial focus, which informs and directs all teaching. We are committed to providing students with the teaching of the highest standard.
Key skills are taught through lecturer-led sessions that typically involve a high proportion of hands-on, practical learning, using current commercial tools and techniques. You will be given a set of concepts and examples, and are then challenged with one or more problems to which you can apply your new skills.
You will often work in teams to apply your knowledge to achieve solutions to real-world problems in a project-based learning approach. Ample time for mentoring is provided in the timetable, which complements the expected (and significant) self-study that is required.
Further learning and support are provided through Learning Central (Cardiff University’s Virtual Learning Environment) and students are also encouraged to engage with the local tech community through meetups and other networking events.