Two students studying in a booth.

BSc(Hons) Software Engineering for Business (with Foundation Year)

Entry year
2024/25
Course code
6F3F
Application
UCAS
Level
Undergraduate
School
School of Computing and Creative Technologies
Tariff points
72
Campus
Frenchay
Duration
Four years full-time; Five years sandwich
Delivery
Full-time; Sandwich
Programme leader
Jonathon Stadon

This course is open for applications

Page last updated 5 December 2023

Introduction

Developed by TechSkills and top graduate employers, this course will give you the practical, real-world skills you need to succeed in your career.

Accreditations and partnerships:

Why study software engineering for business?

Computers are essential to our lives. We use them at work, to organise our social lives and to play games.

They're also fundamental to services that keep society running smoothly such as hospitals, banks, governments and public transport.

Software engineering is about building programs so these computers fulfil their purpose. With more jobs available than qualified graduates, job prospects for software engineers have never been better.

Why UWE Bristol?

BSc(Hons) Software Engineering for Business was developed by TechSkills and top graduate employers.

This course is accredited as TechSkills. It gives you the technical and business skills you need to succeed as a graduate.

Discover how to build software from start to finish. Explore all the latest technologies including cloud computing, big data and cyber security. Learn how businesses manage large projects and plan, design and deliver new software on time and in budget.

Gain the skills to collaborate, negotiate and communicate effectively with colleagues and customers. Lead teams and projects and discover how companies operate profitably.

Software Engineering for Business combines traditional academic study with networking events, guest lectures, real-world projects and placement opportunities.

Meeting potential employers early in your course gives you a head start in the race for graduate jobs.

Find out how our relationship with TechSkills gave one student the opportunity to work-shadow the CIO of Telefónica UK.

Where can it take me?

A successful graduate can expect a starting salary of £26,000 to £35,000 as a software developer or engineer, depending on the industry sector.

You could become acomputer programmer, technical architect, graphical user interface designer, sales analyst, web or mobile app developer, games developer or security analyst

Structure

Content

The optional modules listed are those that are most likely to be available, but they may be subject to change.

Year zero (foundation year)

You will study:

  • Computational Thinking and Practice
  • Information Practitioner Foundations
  • Creative Technology Studies
  • Web Foundations.

You normally need to pass your foundation year before going into Year one.

Year one

You will study:

  • IT Practice: Skills, Models and Methods
  • Introduction to OO Systems Development
  • Foundations of Computing
  • Information Systems Development.

Year two

You will study:

  • IT Practice: Collaborative Project
  • Data Schemas and Applications
  • Object-Oriented Systems Development
  • Design and Analysis of Data Structures and Algorithms.    

Placement year (if applicable)

If you study on the four year (sandwich) course, you'll spend a year away from the University on a work placement after Year two.

You'll complete the Professional Experience module or International Experience module as appropriate.

See the Placements and Fees sections for more information.

Final year

You will study:

  • IT Practice: Consultancy Project
  • Ethical and Professional Issues in Computing and Digital Media
  • Software Development Project
  • Development of Information Systems Projects.

*Plus, one optional module from:

  • Entrepreneurial Skills
  • Information, Networks and Society
  • Advanced Topics in Web Development
  • Advanced Databases
  • Requirements Engineering
  • Technical Writing and Editing
  • Professional Development
  • Cryptography.

*None, if you have completed a placement year. 

The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we will inform you.

Learning and Teaching

Learn through a mix of face-to-face lectures and tutorials, virtual learning environments, laboratory-based practical work, and independent project work.

Our partner Tech Industry Gold arrange regular lectures with senior business people. Past speakers include eminent industry figures such as the former Chair of IBM, Larry Hirst.

To help you apply for graduate work, we arrange for employers to visit and give you advice on CV writing and interview techniques.

See our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.

Percentage of time spend in different learning activities, per year.

YearScheduled learning and teaching studyIndependent studyPlacement study% check
032%68%0%100%
128%72%0%100%
224%76%0%100%
319%81%0%100%

Assessment

Modules are usually assessed with an exam and two pieces of coursework. However, some are assessed by exam only and others by coursework only. Others use different methods such as in-class tests.

Learn more about assessments.

Percentage of time spend in different assessment methods, per year.

YearWritten exam assessmentCoursework assessmentPractical exam assessment% check
031%61%8%100%
125%56%19%100%
238%41%21%100%
318%66%16%100%

Features

Professional accreditation

This course is accredited by TechSkills.

Placements

Students who get work experience tend to graduate with better degrees. Experience also hones your skills, industry knowledge and professional network, making you highly employable on graduation.

If you choose the five year (sandwich) course, you'll spend a year away from the University on a work or study placement after year two.

Our supporting companies post placement opportunities to a dedicated community website. These roles range from junior software and web engineers, to games and mobile app developers.

You'll get help to find your placement and support throughout from staff withing the School and our award-winning careers service.

Study facilities

Our industry standard facilities will help you develop practical skills and bring ideas to life.

Access over 500 workstations in UWE Bristol's 24-hour computing laboratories. Create and test software in Windows, Linux and Unix operating systems on our dedicated servers.

Collaborate with classmates and develop strategies and presentations in our well-equipped studios.

A mix of traditional and creative learning environments will enable you to learn essential knowledge and real-world skills, standing you in good stead for your professional career.

Learn more about UWE Bristol's facilities and resources.

Take a Virtual Tour of the Computer Science and Creative Technologies facilities and see what's on offer here for you.

Life

Accommodation

An excellent range of options for all of the Bristol campuses and the city centre.

Bristol

A stunning city for student living with all the qualities to make you want to stay.

Sports, societies and activities

There is more to your experience here than study. Choose to make the most of it and try new things.

Health and Wellbeing

We provide support in the way you need it.

Campus and facilities

Discover our campuses and the wealth of facilities provided for our students.

Careers

Careers / Further study

There aren't enough qualified computing graduates to fill all the technology jobs in the UK, and this trend is set to continue.

Successful graduates are highly sought-after and you can expect a starting salary of £26,000 to £35,000 as a software developer or engineer.

Other roles include computer programmer, technical architect, graphical user interface designer, sales analyst, web or mobile app developer, games developer or security analyst.

Software engineering students develop valuable analytical and problem-solving skills that will be useful in whatever career you choose.

Get inspired

Our award-winning careers service will develop your employment potential through career coaching and find you graduate jobs, placements and global opportunities.

We can also help find local volunteering and community opportunities, provide support for entrepreneurial activity and get you access to employer events.

Visit our employability pages to learn more about careers, employers and what our students are doing six months after graduating.

Fees

Supplementary fee information

Your overall entitlement to funding is based on how long the course is that you're registered on. Standard funding is allocated based on the standard number of years that your course lasts, plus one additional year.

You'll apply for funding each year that you study and Student Finance will take into account how long the course is in each year that you apply. So if you register for the four year course and then transfer to the three year course, the number of years you can apply for funding will change. Student Finance will reassess your funding based on how many years you have been in study, not just those years for which you received student finance.

Always seek advice before taking any action that may have implications for your funding.

Learn more about funding.

Additional costs

Additional costs are for items you could need during your studies that aren't covered by the standard tuition fee. These could be materials, textbooks, travel, clothing, software or printing.

Learn more about costs.

Entry

Typical offers

  • Tariff points: 72
  • Contextual tariff: See our contextual offers page.
  • GCSE: Grade C/4 in English and Mathematics, or equivalent.
  • A-level subjects: No specific subjects required.
  • EDEXCEL (BTEC) Diploma: No specific subjects required.

    For information on required Guided Learning Hours please see our minimum entry requirements page.

  • Access: No specific subjects required.
  • Baccalaureate IB: No specific subjects required.
  • Irish Highers: No specific subjects required.
  • T Levels: No specific subjects required.

Entry requirements

If you exceed the entry requirements you may be eligible for BSc(Hons) Software Engineering for Business.

International Applicants

If you are an international student your recommended route of study for this degree is through our International College, which upon successful completion to the required level and with good attendance, guarantees entry to Year one of the degree.

Read more about entry requirements.

How to apply

Read more about undergraduate applications.

For further information

Unistats

UWE Main Campus

Full Time