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Masters in Software Engineering
Find postgraduate programs in SOFTWARE ENGINEERINGStudents can study a Masters in Software Engineering either full time or part time. The full-time option will be spread over a year, whilst part-time study usually takes two years to complete. An MSc Software Engineering course covers a whole raft of applications that are central to the IT industry. Most universities offer a highly adaptable curriculum; units can be regularly updated to reflect the rapidly changing nature of the subject. Your mode of study will encompass lectures, seminars and discussion groups. There will also be a large amount of lab time and usually a work placement. This kind of practical experience is crucial to becoming a team player and developing a creative edge.
Masters in Software Engineering study modules
Generally, postgraduate software engineering programs will consist of nine units, three of which will be compulsory. Your dissertation will also take up one unit, leaving a minimum of five other specialist subjects to select from. Here is a selection of some of the modules that may be offered in a Masters in Software Engineering:
Database technology: Core subjects provide a critical perspective on the technology behind databases, you will be taught ways of sharing and processing large amounts of information. You will also look at requirements engineering, an early stage in any software development plan. There will be a chance to study recent research into this area, the states of practice and how best to approach small or large-scale projects.
Research and evaluation: Another core module may be one which enhances your professional development in terms of evaluation and analysis. Students will look at the most effective methods of research, communication skills, and the moral issues that surround their role in providing real world solutions.
Product design: Software engineering courses will also cover product design, servicing and programming. Students can expect to learn about the visual representation of data, this helps users to identify and understand patterns by using graphics. Programming across a number of systems will also be covered, you may look at Java and C++ systems which will give students an industry focus with good preparation for their graduate role.
Open source systems: Students often investigate open source systems and their limitations, as this free software has been growing in significance during recent years. In this module students will examine the various collaborations that take place between the public and copyright holders, during its freeform development.
Applications & admissions
Postgraduate Software Engineering programs have a highly specialised focus and potential students are expected to be driven as well as qualified. The minimum entry requirement is a lower second class bachelors degree in a compatible subject, or a combined degree where computing is the major. However, applicants with two or more years of relevant work experience will certainly be considered by many admissions staff. Therefore if you wish to enrol for a Masters in Software Engineering but feel you lack the qualifications on paper, approach the university direct to discuss your options.
For students who are applying to study in the UK from abroad, there is an English language requirement. If your first degree is not from an English speaking institution, you will need to produce an English language proficiency certificate, or sit an in-house entrance exam.
Masters in Software Engineering graduate case study
One former student of City University London really enjoyed the combination of theory and practice that the course offered them and how this equipped them for the workplace. . They explain, “My course modules complemented each other well, examining software at varying levels of detail: the broader socio-economic picture, the user perspective, high-level architecture, detailed design, as well as the coding itself. This course fundamentally changed the way I approach software development…"
Funding your Masters in Software Engineering
Funding or postgraduate Software Engineering programs is available, but prospective students need to be very proactive about finding it. If paying the entire course fee yourself is not possible, you may be eligible for certain types of bursaries or grants. Universities are keen to foster mutually beneficial relationships with companies, and IT is an industry that relies on innovation. Consequently, certain employers with ties to the faculty may be willing to sponsor the most promising students. In return, they will expect you to become their employee on graduation.
Similarly, if you are hoping to take the course part-time whilst working, your employer may help with your costs, as they will eventually reap the rewards. However, you will need to be a reliable staff member, and demonstrate clearly the ways in which your performance will be improved by advanced study.
Software Engineering salaries
Software Engineering salaries are notably high, but students tend to be inspired by their varied subject more than the financial rewards. The course emphasizes the importance of genuinely helpful products, and integrating useful computerized technology further into our daily lives. For example, embedded micro computers will soon be rolled out in product packaging, ensuring marketing is focused on customers’ real time needs and preferences. The recent advances in medical science, farming and renewable energies have all come about in part, with help from software experts. On the course students will learn the technical side of designing systems to improve user’s lives and how to maintain the devices functionality.
That said, students who complete a Masters in Software Engineering are increasingly in demand, the jobs market presents openings for IT professionals in every area. Past students go into a graduate post at around £40,000 and from here, Software Engineering salaries can rise to highs of £65,000. However, this will be dependent on the sector that interests you. Technological expertise is transferable to almost any modern career, but major software houses will offer higher incentives than retailers or public service employers.
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