BSc(Hons) Software Engineering for Business (with Foundation Year)
This course is open for applications
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'll 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'll study:
- IT Practice: Skills, Models and Methods
- Introduction to OO Systems Development
- Foundations of Computing
- Information Systems Development.
Year two
You'll 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'll 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'll 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.
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.
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 personalised virtual tour of the Computer Science and Creative Technologies facilities and experience what a typical day could look like 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*
Full-time; Sandwich course
Indicative Additional Costs
Supplementary fee information
*The UK Government recently proposed that tuition fees for Home students will increase by 3.1% to £9,535 from 1st August 2025. This increase is subject to Parliamentary approval and the vote is expected to take place later this year.
Any tuition fee which is impacted by this change will be updated following approval.
Please see GOV.UK for further 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.
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.
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.
- Welsh Baccalaureate: We accept tariff points achieved from the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales in conjunction with other Level 3 qualifications.
- Cambridge Technical: 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
- Email:
UK applicants
Admissions@uwe.ac.ukInternational/EU applicants
International@uwe.ac.uk - Telephone:
UK applicants
+44 (0)117 32 83333International/EU applicants
+44 (0)117 32 86644