BEng Software Engineering
UCAS code: G600
Duration: 4 years
Delivery: Full-time
School: Informatics
College: Science and Engineering
Introducing BEng Software Engineering
The study of software engineering will allow you to write good software and give you the necessary engineering skills to meet system requirements, including:
- reliability
- maintainability
- usability
- cost-effectiveness
Our programme includes the practical application of computing sciences, as computer systems grow in size and complexity.
We offer a wide range of courses delivered by leaders in their field. Our degree flexibility allows you to tailor your experience to your interests and be in control of your learning.
(Revised 15 April 2024 to remove the ‘Only apply to one Informatics programme’ section from the introduction)
All of our programmes start with a common core of mathematics courses and informatics courses, with increasing options for specialisation in later years depending on your interests. If you are taking a joint degree, you will also have to take compulsory courses in your second subject.
Each year you will have 120 credits worth of courses spread across two semesters. Some of these credits will go into compulsory courses and the remaining ones can be used on optional courses. Optional courses may be in schools outside the School of Informatics.
Please note this is an overview: you can expect the compulsory courses to remain the same, but the list of optional courses on offer changes every year.
Year 1
You will be introduced to basic principles of programming and computation.
What you will study:
- how information can be represented and processed in computer systems
- computer programming
- how to solve problems using computer programs
This year also includes courses in the mathematics necessary for all areas of informatics.
Together these form the foundations for more in-depth study of computation in future years.
You can choose option courses from various schools across the University.
Second year entry
The School of Informatics does not accept applications for second year entry to our programmes.
Year 2
You will build on Year 1, covering more advanced programming and data structures, together with the related mathematics and broader professional and societal issues.
You will develop a greater understanding of:
- software development
- foundations of data science
- algorithms and data structures
- the internals of computers and/or computer systems
- the professional, social and ethical context of computing
You can also choose option courses from various schools across the University.
Year 3
Your studies will become more focused and you will have more choice in selecting specialised courses. We offer a range of options specific to software engineering, plus other courses in informatics.
Your coursework assignments will typically provide you with:
- experience in practical work
- independent problem solving
- group work
Your exact curriculum depends on your chosen courses. Options offered in recent years include the following (among others):
- software testing
- computer security
- databases
- operating systems
- computer networks
Year 4
You will choose from a large number of advanced courses to build a particular portfolio of expertise according to your interests.
Year 4 includes an individual honours project, where you will develop a viable project starting from a given topic. You will have a variety of choices in selecting a topic, with a supervisor to guide you.
Programme structure
Find out more about the compulsory and optional courses in this degree programme.
To give you an idea of what you will study on this programme, we publish the latest available information. However, please note this may not be for your year of entry, but for a different academic year.
Our facilities
You will be mostly based in the School of Informatics with lectures, tutorials and classes held in Appleton Tower. The building is located in the University's Central Campus area, and provides purpose-built facilities and dedicated learning and teaching spaces.
You will also attend classes in the Nucleus building at the King’s Buildings campus. The King’s Buildings campus is around 15 minutes by bus from the Central Campus. The Nucleus building is a new shared learning, teaching and social hub, built to a sustainable and environmentally efficient design.
You will have access to computer laboratories in Appleton Tower and quality software support. You will also be able to use the University’s facilities, including libraries and common student spaces.
The Informatics Student Support Team is based in Appleton Tower.
Take a virtual tour
Take a closer look at all our facilities on the University’s Virtual Visit site.
Study abroad
In Year 3, you may be able to study abroad at one of our partner universities.
The University of Edinburgh has a wide range of partners across the world. Some of our partner universities are located in:
- Australia
- USA
- Canada
- Europe
- Singapore
Subject-specific agreements
Subject-specific exchanges are also open to students of the School of Informatics. Destinations of recent placements completed by students include:
- Germany
- Switzerland
- Spain
- USA
How will I learn?
You will be taught by leaders in their field through a combination of:
- lectures
- tutorials
- practical classes
In later years, you will spend more time working on projects that involve:
- building computer systems from scratch
- developing systems
- doing experimental work
- working on projects with guidance from your supervisor
Support
Students in the School of Informatics have access to services that support their learning, particularly in the beginning of their degree.
InfPALS is a peer support service for Year 1 students focusing on material covered in courses and also general topics related to informatics.
InfBase is a drop-in help desk for Year 1 and 2 students to get additional tutoring and support with their courses.
You will also be invited to join:
- CompSoc, a tech society which offers a varied programme of events
- Programming Club, to get more practical programming experience
Pastoral support is offered by the Informatics Student Support Team.
How will I be assessed?
You will be assessed by:
- coursework assignments
- larger projects
- exams
You will undertake some project work individually and some with other students.
You will complete a large individual project in your final year.
Our graduates have excellent career prospects in the IT industry and beyond.
Graduates comfortably secure roles such as:
- software engineer
- hardware engineer
- app developer
- web developer
- programmer
Graduates increasingly work as data analysts, data scientists or business analysts in the financial sector.
Popular employers
Popular employers include:
- Amazon
- IBM
- SkyScanner
- Intel
- Samsung
- ARM
- Nvida
- Keysight
- RockStar North
- NatWest
- J.P. Morgan
- Citigroup
Other industries and professions that rely heavily on computing systems and are potential employers for graduates include:
- media (for example, BBC)
- communications (Ericsson, Huawei)
- energy (British Gas)
- medicine (Canon Medical Systems)
Start-ups and spinouts
Our school boasts a record number of start-ups and spinouts over the last ten years, including those set up by our alumni, such as:
- FanDuel, a 'unicorn' company
- Robotical
- PlayerData
- Speech Graphics
Careers Service
We support you to recognise the wealth of possibilities ahead, during your time at the University and after graduation. Our award-winning Careers Service plays an essential part in your wider student experience at the University and provides:
- tailored advice
- individual guidance and personal assistance
- internships and networking opportunities (with employers from local organisations to top multinationals)
- access to the experience of our worldwide alumni network
We invest in your future beyond the end of your degree and studying at the University of Edinburgh will lay the foundations for your future success.
Standard entry requirement
The standard entry requirement is:
- SQA Highers: AAAAA (achievement by end of S5 preferred). BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
- A Levels: A*A*A* - AAB in one set of exams.
- IB: 43 points with 777 at HL - 34 points with 665 at HL.
Minimum entry requirement
The minimum entry requirement for widening access applicants is:
- SQA Highers: AABB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
- A Levels: ABB.
- IB: 32 points with 655 at HL.
More information for widening access applicants
Required subjects
The grades used to meet our entry requirements must include:
- SQA: Highers: Mathematics at A. Higher Applications of Mathematics is not accepted in place of Higher Mathematics. Advanced Higher Mathematics is recommended. Your Mathematics qualifications must have been achieved no more than two academic years prior to entry. National 5s: English at C.
- A Levels: Mathematics at A. Your Mathematics qualifications must have been achieved no more than two academic years prior to entry. GCSEs: English at C or 4.
- IB: HL: Mathematics (Analysis and approaches only) at 6. Your Mathematics qualifications must have been achieved no more than two academic years prior to entry. SL: English at 5.
Find out more about entry requirements
International applicants
We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.
Mature applicants
We welcome applications from mature students and accept a range of qualifications.
Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies..
SQA, GCSE and IB
For SQA, GCSE and IB students, unless a higher level is specified in the stated entry requirements, a pass is required in English at the following grades or higher:
- SQA National 5 at C
- GCSE at C or 4
- Level 2 Certificate at C
- IB Standard Level at 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry)
English language tests
We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:
- IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
- TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
- C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 162 in each component.
- Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
- PTE Academic: total 65 with at least 54 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
- Oxford ELLT: 7 overall with at least 5 in each component.*
We also accept a wider range of international qualifications and tests.
Unless you are a national of a majority English speaking country, your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start of the month in which the degree you are applying to study begins. If you are using an IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL, Oxford ELLT, or Trinity ISE test, it must be no more than two years old on the first of the month in which the degree begins, regardless of your nationality.
(*Revised 24 May 2024 to change PTE Academic requirement from total 62 with at least 54 in each component, and to clarify that we do not accept PTE Academic online. Revised 29 August 2024 to add Oxford ELLT requirements.)
Selection
We normally make offers to the highest qualified applicants. If competition for places is high this may mean that offers will only be made to applicants who are predicted, or who have achieved, above the single set of grades or the upper grade level in a range. Any conditional offer made may require you to achieve grades above the upper grade level. Therefore, achieving the top of our standard entry requirements does not guarantee a place on the relevant degree.
Please apply for only one Computer Science degree as we are only able to consider one application to this subject area.
This information is part of a government initiative to enhance the material that higher education institutions provide about their degree programmes.
It is one of many sources of information which will enable you to make an informed decision on what and where to study.
Please note that some programmes do not have Discover Uni data available.
Tuition Fees
Tuition fees for BEng Software Engineering
Additional costs
You may want to buy textbooks and a personal laptop for your benefit. Otherwise, you will have access to computing facilities in Appleton Tower.
Funding
For more information on how much it will cost to study with us and the financial support available see our fees and funding information.
- Have a query about undergraduate study?
- Send an enquiry
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- Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science (BSc) GG47
- Cognitive Science (BSc) C859
- Computer Science (BEng) G401
- Computer Science (BSc) G400
- Computer Science and Mathematics (BSc) GG14
- Computer Science and Physics (BSc) GF43
- Informatics (5-year undergraduate Masters Programme) (MInf) G500
- Software Engineering (BEng) G600