Software Engineering MEng



Software engineering is a mature and established profession which attracts talented students and offers excellent career opportunities.

Overview

MEng in Software Engineering builds on the success of our existing BEng degree and offers an advanced award in recognition of a more comprehensive and challenging course of study.

The course recognises professionalism in the development of excellent quality software, using industry recognised tools and techniques in a range of application areas.

On successful completion of this course you will have the knowledge, understanding and skills to gain graduate-level employment in a wide range of private and public sector organisations. Recent graduates from our Software Engineering course have found employment as software engineers (developer, designer, tester and maintainer), software support analysts, project managers and trainee IT consultants; and several have gained entry to prestigious management trainee programmes with large employers.

man coding lights from working on laptop

Mode of Study:

Full-time

Duration:

5 years

Start date:

Sep

UCAS code:

G603

Placement:

Yes

Study Abroad:

Yes

Student stories

Read stories from students of Edinburgh Napier's Computing study area

Course details

At the beginning of the course you will gain practical experience of software development using object-oriented programming, as well as an understanding of how software systems are used in businesses, and methods to build effective user interfaces. You are then taught key methods of software engineering used in industry, while expanding your knowledge of areas such as databases and operating systems.

As you progress, you will develop a critical understanding of the analysis, design, development, testing, evaluation and modification of reliable, maintainable and high quality software including real-time, mobile and large scale enterprise systems

In year four, you will develop a familiarity and understanding of a range of theoretical and methodological approaches to the design of effective interactive systems. At this stage you will learn to select and evaluate hardware and software to facilitate the design and implementation of software systems including the interfacing between the two.

The MEng year of the course focuses on professional software engineering skills. This includes undertaking a team-based software engineering project, alongside studying key industrial application areas including enterprise computing and advanced web programming.

  • calendar

    How you’ll be taught

     Lectures and tutorials.
  • note and pen

    Assessments

     Mixture of practical assessments, development reports, academic essays and exams.
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    Work placement

    A year long Work Based Learning module is available for this programme which can be undertaken in 3rd year which consists of 60 credits.

    In 2nd year, students attend timetabled Placement Preparation sessions which provides comprehensive information about sourcing a placement, tips for enhancing CVs, cover letters and interview preparation. A Student Futures Placement Coordinator is available to support students with their placement applications and approving placements as part of the course. Whilst on placement, students undertake work-related assessments alongside gaining valuable work experience. If this option is chosen, the course duration will be extended by one trimester.

    If students are not undertaking the yearlong placement, then there is a Group Project or the Professional Internship Module in Year 3 (one trimester) which gives students the opportunity to complete a project for an external client.

    Find out more about Computing Placements here.
  • study abroad

    Study abroad

     International study is available, and is intended to develop overall graduate attributes and global citizenship. The School has several agreements with overseas partner institutions, both in the EU and further afield, providing varied and exciting opportunities tailored around your individual study and cultural interests. Currently, links are established with universities in the USA, Canada, Spain, Denmark, Singapore, and Germany, where programmes are delivered in English, whilst additional links are planned with other European countries and Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.

Popular modules

Year 1

  • Foundations of Software Design and Development
  • Computer Systems 1
  • Information Systems in Organisations
  • Introduction to Human-Computer Interaction
  • Mathematics for Software Engineering
  • Programming Fundamentals

Year 2

  • Object Oriented Software Development
  • Systems and Services
  • Database Systems
  • Software Engineering Methods
  • Mobile Applications Development
  • Web Technologies
  • Computer Graphics
  • Artificial Intelligence

Year 3

  • Data Analytics
  • Algorithms and Data Structures
  • Software Engineering
  • Group Project
  • Advanced Database Systems
  • Fundamentals of Parallel Systems
  • Sensing Systems for Mobile Applications
  • Professional Internship

Year 4

  • Honours Project
  • Management of Software Projects
  • Software Architecture
  • Concurrent and Parallel Systems
  • Information: Society and Security
  • Formal Approaches to Software Engineering

Year 5

  • Advanced Software Engineering
  • Team working
  • Advanced Software Development
  • Emergent Computing for Optimisation
  • Advanced Software Engineering
  • Data Wrangling
  • Enterprise Computing

Disclaimer

Study modules mentioned above are indicative only. Some changes may occur between now and the time that you study.

Full information is available in our disclaimer.

Entry requirements

What are the entry requirements for Software Engineering?

Our entry requirements indicate both Standard and Minimum qualifications with which we normally accept students. Competition for places varies from year to year and you aren't guaranteed a place if you meet the minimum qualifications.

Can you go straight into second year of university?

Advanced entry into Year 2 or Year 3 of this course is possible for students with suitable qualifications. See the individual year tabs for more information.

Can I make an appointment with an advisor to discuss further about the admission process?

If you want to get more information on the admission process, please get in touch with the undergraduate admissions team by submitting an enquiry form above.

Minimum Year 1

SQA Higher

  • Standard Entry Requirement: ABBB to include Maths. National 5 grade C in English.
  • Minimum Offer Entry Requirement: BBBC or ABCC to include Maths at grade B. National 5 grade C in English.

You may be given an adjusted offer of entry if you meet our specified minimum entry requirements within our widening participation criteria, and outlined in our Contextual Admissions Policy. Click here for further information about our entry requirements and admissions policies.

A Level

  • BBC to include Maths.
  • GCSE grade C/4 in English.

Irish Leaving Certificate

  • H2, H2, H2, H3 at Higher Level to include Maths and grade O4 in Ordinary Level English.

BTEC (QCF) Extended Diploma Level 3

  • Minimum grades MMM (Merit, Merit, Merit) in a related subject.
  • A Level grade C in Maths or equivalent.
  • GCSE grade C/4 in English.

BTEC (QCF) National Diploma Level 3 plus A Level

  • Minimum grades DD (Distinction, Distinction) and A Level Maths grade C
  • GCSE grade C/4 in English.

International Baccalaureate Diploma

  • Award of Diploma with 29 points overall with three HL subjects at grades 6, 5, 5 to include Maths at level 5.
  • Grade 4 in SL English.

T Levels

  • Merit - T Level with additional A Level in Maths grade B 
  • GCSE English grade C/4

Minimum Year 2

SQA Advanced Higher

  • BBC to include Maths.
  • BB and SQA Higher BB to include Maths

A Level

  • BBB to include Maths.

BTEC (QCF) Extended Diploma Level 3

  • Minimum grades DDD (Distinction, Distinction, Distinction) in a related subject.

If your first language isn't English, you'll normally need to undertake an approved English language test and our minimum English language requirements will apply.

This may not apply if you have completed all your school qualifications in English. Check our country pages to find out if this applies to you.

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.
Entry requirements by country

Please note that international students are unable to enrol onto the following courses:
  • BM Midwifery/MM Midwifery
  • All Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

See who can apply for more information on Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

We’re committed to admitting students who have the potential to succeed and benefit from our programmes of study. 

Our admissions policies will help you understand our admissions procedures, and how we use the information you provide us in your application to inform the decisions we make.

Undergraduate admissions policies
Postgraduate admissions policies

Fees & funding

The course fees you'll pay and the funding available to you will depend on a number of factors including your nationality, location, personal circumstances and the course you are studying. We also have a number of bursaries and scholarships available to our students.

Tuition fees
Students from 2023/24 2024/25
Scotland £1,820 £1,820
England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland £9,250 £9,250
Overseas and EU £17,580 £19,340
Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland will be invoiced the tuition fees for 3 years of their 4 years of study. The University offers a range of attractive Tuition Fee bursaries to students resident in specific countries. More information on these can be found here.
Please note tuition fees are subject to an annual review and may increase from one year to the next. For more information on this and other Tuition Fee matters please see Frequently Asked Questions about Fees Click this link for Information of Bursaries and Scholarships
If additional compulsory costs other than the tuition fees are applicable, these will be detailed in the course details.
Please note that the tuition fees liable to be paid by EU nationals commencing their studies from 1 August 2021 will be the Overseas fee rate. The University offers a range of attractive Tuition Fee bursaries to students resident in specific countries. More information on these can be found here.


Careers

mini Christmas tree light from a circuit board

Career opportunities include:

  • Software Engineer
  • Project Manager
  • Software Support Analysts
  • Software Developer
  • Software Tester
Computing student working in front of dual monitors