Software Engineering

BSc Hons

  • UCAS code G602
  • Entry year 2024 or 2025
  • A level requirements AAB
  • Duration Full time 3 years

This course has Clearing vacancies for 2024

Apply now to make the most of your grades at a Top 10 UK university, with guaranteed accommodation in your first year.

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Overview

Software Engineers are programming architects, who apply computer science, engineering and mathematical analysis to the design and development of large, complex, and critical software systems.

Our programme provides you with a comprehensive grounding in computer science, while equipping you with the specialist skills required for a profession in software engineering and design. You will gain the technical knowledge and experience to manage and develop high-quality, well-designed software systems, along with an understanding of business and system requirements.

Based around our dedicated Software Engineering Design Studio, your first year will provide you with the fundamentals of computer science, software development, and digital and information systems, allowing you to gain the essential knowledge needed for analysis and design. You will also begin to develop complex computer programming skills, learning to write, analyse, debug, test, and document computer programmes.

Your second and third years offer advanced modules, including Distributed Systems, Human-Computer Interaction, and Languages and Compilation. In addition to developing your foundational understanding, programming, and software design skills, you will explore social, ethical and professional issues related to the discipline and will complete a group project. These will allow you to develop the working knowledge and skills to overcome the challenges of designing, developing and evaluating real-world software systems.

You will also undertake a variety of software design-based modules, ensuring you gain a broad and robust level of skills and experience. These projects will develop your data analysis, graphical, report writing and presentation skills.

Your final year will also give you the opportunity to undertake an individual project. In this project you will work closely with one of our academics, allowing you to use and further develop the skills acquired throughout your degree.

MSci Hons Software Engineering (with Industrial Experience)

During your degree, you may choose to move to our MSci Software Engineering(with Industrial Experience). This programme includes a fourth year and will present you with a range of integrated industry placement activities, allowing you to gain valuable real-world experience as part of your study.

Assessment

We offer an excellent range of learning environments, which include traditional lectures, laboratories and workshops. We are also committed to providing timely feedback for all submitted work and projects.

Assessment varies across modules, allowing students to demonstrate their capabilities in a range of ways, including laboratory reports, essays, exercises, literature reviews, short tests, poster sessions, oral presentations, and formal examination.

Careers

In the twenty-first century, software is pervasive in almost all aspects of modern life. From the apps on our phones, to specialist financial programmes, to the physics engines in videogames, software is used in almost every business in every industry. Therefore, a degree in Software Engineering at Lancaster University could open the door to an almost unlimited range of career opportunities. Our degrees will equip you with not only technical knowledge of a range of programming languages, but will also give you valuable experience in the processes behind software design and creation that will make you invaluable to employers, or equip you for further academic study. Our software engineering graduates also have excellent earning potential, with the median starting salary of graduates from our courses being £30,361 (HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey 2023).

Here are just some of the roles that our BSc and MSci Software Engineering students have progressed into upon graduating:

  • Web Applications Developer – Lancaster University
  • Graduate Software Engineer – BBC
  • Systems Developer – Cardinal Newman College
  • Application Support Team Lead – The Hut Group (THG)
  • Associate JavaScript Engineer – Tick42
  • Junior Software Engineer – Bank of America
  • Cloud Engineer – Rackspace
  • Technical Project Manager – ETX Capital
  • Software Engineer - OpenBet
  • Backend Developer – Dojo
  • Full Stack Developer – Duel
  • Software Support Engineer – Service Geeni

Lancaster University is dedicated to ensuring you not only gain a highly reputable degree, you also graduate with the relevant life and work based skills. We are unique in that every student is eligible to participate in The Lancaster Award which offers you the opportunity to complete key activities such as work experience, employability/career development, campus community and social development. Visit our Employability section for full details.

Entry requirements

Grade Requirements

A Level AAB

Desirable Subjects We are committed to encouraging the adoption of the A level Computing curriculum and recognising desirable subjects. Students applying with an A level or IB Higher Level in Computing, Computer Science or Mathematics will be considered for a lower offer.

GCSE Mathematics grade B or 6, English Language grade C or 4

IELTS 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component. For other English language qualifications we accept, please see our English language requirements webpages.

Other Qualifications

International Baccalaureate 35 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 Higher Level subjects

BTEC Distinction, Distinction, Distinction

We welcome applications from students with a range of alternative UK and international qualifications, including combinations of qualification. Further guidance on admission to the University, including other qualifications that we accept, frequently asked questions and information on applying, can be found on our general admissions webpages.

Contact Admissions Team + 44 (0) 1524 592028 or via ugadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk

Course structure

Lancaster University offers a range of programmes, some of which follow a structured study programme, and some which offer the chance for you to devise a more flexible programme to complement your main specialism.

Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, and the University will make every reasonable effort to offer modules as advertised. In some cases changes may be necessary and may result in some combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.

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Fees and funding

Our annual tuition fee is set for a 12-month session, starting in the October of your year of study.

Our Undergraduate Tuition Fees for 2024/25 are:

Home International
£9,250 £28,675

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Scholarships and bursaries

You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.

You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status:

Unfortunately no scholarships and bursaries match your selection, but there are more listed on scholarships and bursaries page.

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We also have other, more specialised scholarships and bursaries - such as those for students from specific countries.

Browse Lancaster University's scholarships and bursaries.

Important information

The information on this site relates primarily to 2025/2026 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

Our Students’ Charter

We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies.

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