Software Engineering
Software engineering is the discipline concerned with building software systems that work: not merely programs that run, but systems that are reliable, maintainable, secure and suited to the needs of the people who use them. It applies principles of engineering rigour to the challenge of designing, developing, testing and operating software at scale, addressing the complexity that arises when systems grow large, when teams grow large, and when requirements change in ways that no one fully anticipated. It is a field in which the ability to think clearly about structure, process and quality is at least as important as the ability to write code.
At Liverpool Hope University, this three-year full-time BEng degree builds your competence in software development, systems architecture, testing, agile methodology, version control, software design patterns and the professional practices that separate reliable software production from ad hoc programming. You will work with contemporary tools and languages throughout, building a portfolio of practical work alongside your theoretical understanding. The programme includes a sandwich year with work placement opportunities, giving you extended time in a professional software environment, and a year abroad, enabling you to study at an international partner institution and develop a broader perspective on the field.
Typical entry is around 120 UCAS tariff points.
Software engineering graduates are in consistent demand across every sector of the economy. Roles include software developer, systems architect, test engineer, DevOps engineer, cloud engineer, technical lead and software project manager, in organisations ranging from technology startups to financial institutions, healthcare providers and government digital services. The combination of technical depth, engineering discipline and professional experience from the placement year makes software engineering graduates particularly ready for the workplace.
Many also continue to postgraduate study or pursue chartership through professional engineering bodies.