Software Engineering

Software engineering is the discipline of building the complex systems that power the modern world. It goes beyond programming to encompass the full lifecycle of software development: designing architectures that can handle scale and change, writing code that is readable and maintainable, testing systematically to find and eliminate defects, managing the processes through which large software projects are delivered on time and within budget, and keeping systems secure. Almost every organisation now depends on software, and the engineers who can build it well are in sustained, high demand.

At the University of Portsmouth, the three-year full-time BSc develops your technical skills across the core areas of the discipline: programming, data structures, software architecture, systems design, testing, version control, agile development methodologies and cybersecurity. The degree reflects the reality that software engineers today need to understand security from the ground up, and that the principles of software engineering apply not just to desktop applications but to web services, mobile systems, embedded devices and cloud infrastructure. The programme includes a sandwich year, a year abroad and a work placement, giving you substantial professional experience and international perspectives before graduation.

Portsmouth has a significant technology and defence sector, and the university's connections with employers in these fields support the placement opportunities available to students.

Graduates work in software development, systems engineering, DevOps, cybersecurity, technical consulting and product management across virtually every sector of the economy. Postgraduate study in software engineering, computer science, artificial intelligence or cybersecurity is a natural next step for those who want to specialise or move into research.